Who knew you could have an authentic Korean BBQ experience like you would in Korean restaurants right in your own home! You would require the perfect Korean BBQ grill to pull it off, or the flavor and texture of the meat could be off. How do you find the right one? Follow our team of chef’s expert advice for some top Korean BBQ grills.
| Premium Pick | Editor’s Choice | Budget Option |
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| Soup N Grill V2 Hotpot Grill Combo | Tectake Electric Grill & Griddle | Kitchen + Home Stove Top Grill |
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There are a lot of combo Korean BBQ grills out there, with choices between hotpot and grill or grill and griddle. This Tectake Korean BBQ grill is the latter to create even more culinary masterpieces.
The in-built drainage function ensures that the Korean barbecue grill produces less smoke and drains the excess fat and oil directly into the drip tray.
You won’t be hungry anymore since the Tectake Korean barbecue grill heats up very quickly with 5 thermostat settings so you won’t overcook and or undercook your meats again.
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Following the trend of combo grills, the Soup N Grill V2 is exactly what the name suggests, it is both a grill and a hotpot pot in one. For our chefs, your Korean BBQ grill doesn’t have to be a combo model, but if you love hot pot and Korean BBQ, this is the one for you.
You can set the heat however you wish as the hotpot and grill pan parts are heated separately. It’s a smokeless model that works well indoors and it comes free with accessories such as long chopsticks for cooking pork belly and other popular Korean BBQ dishes at home.
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Stovetop Korean BBQ grills are among the simplest to set up and clean. Our team also found portable gas stove top grills to be among the most versatile.
This stainless steel grill pan is no fuss and works on a gas stove or electric stoves. Not only is it an indoor grill, but it can also be a very handy camping tool as it requires less effort than charcoal options.
This portable stovetop grill has a drip pan that catches all the runoffs and is easy to clean. The stovetop grill pans have a non-stick surface to make sure you get all the food with an authentic smoky flavor.
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The Dezin Korean BBQ grill also has a hotpot function. It’s not as large and is perfect for a small family or couple. The hotpot allows you to bring diversity to a BBQ party and it has a variable temperature control so you can get it just right.
Of course, there is a drip tray that catches all of the runoff oil and fat to reduce flareups and sprays. Both the Korean BBQ grill pan area and the shabu shabu hotpot bowl have non-stick coating to keep the surface clean. You will also notice a lid for the hot pot bowl to help with heat retention.
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The next Korean barbecue grill on our list is also a combo option of both grill and griddle. Tectake stuns our experts once again with this item that makes us want to give up the charcoal grill - almost.
Even without a Korean traditional BBQ grill, you can still get that yummy flavor of soy sauce and your favorite marinade with a home device. The cooking process on both the grill and griddle are the same and the cleaning is super easy.
There will be no smoky odors in the house as the Tectake Electric Korean BBQ grill is completely smokeless. The grill and griddle heat fast and evenly.
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Another Korean-style BBQ grill that really impressed our team is this option from SEAAN. It’s the right Korean BBQ grill for those who want a hotpot option but also the freedom to remove it for a larger cooking surface.
That’s right, the SEAAN Electric Hot Pot Korean BBQ Grill has a removable hotpot section to enlarge your cooking area, or you can get the one that doesn’t separate. The grill is large enough for a party of 8 and the temperature can be adjusted to 5 different ranges.
The device also has a non-stick coating on all the cooking surfaces to make cleaning easier.
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For those who don’t settle for simplicity, the AONI Raclette table grill was designed for you. Not only is it a grill, but it is also a raclette that can incorporate different types of dishes with your BBQ. Our chefs cooked bacon on top and made perfect raclette eggs for breakfast.
It may look complex, but the 2-in-1 Korean BBQ grill and raclette is easy to clean, thanks to the non-stick cooking surface. All the parts are removable and any food residue comes off immediately.
Of course, there are hands-on adjustment controls to allow you to get the right temperatures for that perfect sear.
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For authenticity, you can only go with a traditional Korean-style grill, which is the BBQMM Charcoal Korean BBQ Grill. With the right side dishes and recipes that incorporate sesame oil and the famed marinated pork belly, you would think you were in Korea!
This grill suits outdoor environments as it will smoke, but that’s what you need for that authentic smoky aroma. This is the same type of Korean grills you will see in many restaurants.
It comes with an air blower and carrying bag so it is considered a portable unit, although it will require charcoal as a heat source.
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We’ve seen various 2-in-1 grill and hotpot options, but now we have one that is centered around the hotpot section in the middle. Food Party 2 n 1 grill and hotpot is fast heating and has easy-to-use temperature control knobs.
The unit comes with everything you need from the lid to the tongs and brushes. It’s quite a large device, which makes it the best grill for large families and hosting big parties.
The surfaces are easy to clean and nonstick, and the food scraps will all come off with the brushes included with your purchase that can also be used to grease the meat.
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Bring outdoor BBQ tastes inside with the Elite Gourmet Maxi-Matic BBQ grill. It’s great for steaks, seafood, vegetables, and of course, as a Korean grill. There will be no more stuck food thanks to the non-stick coating that also makes the Korean BBQ pan easy to clean.
The circular heating technology will make the pan heat up faster so there is no long wait before you can enjoy your meal. Cleaning can be a lot of work for a Korean grill, but not if some parts are dishwasher safe like the Maxi-Matic. The grill saves you time, effort, and hassle when cooking.
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Which is the best Korean BBQ grill for your needs and how do you find it? Should you pick a stovetop Korean BBQ grill or one that’s highly portable? There are many questions that our experts felt would be best answered with detailed explanations on the categories below to help you pick.
How large do you need the grill to be? A good method that will help you find the right dimensions is by considering how many people you will feed and the space you have to place it (your stovetop or dining table surface size).
There are rectangular models, round grill tops, and 2-in-1 combos, each with different dimensions and plate space. Our expert advice is to choose one with the functions you want, then look at where you intend to place it and how many people you will cook for as well.
For traditional round grill top pans, anywhere from 12 to 14 inches is pretty standard. Of course, you can find smaller and more portable options or larger ones if need be.
For those who are unfamiliar with the BTU[1], it is the measurement for how powerful your grill is. A gas grill with a gas burner is also measured in BTUs - it’s for any type of grill. Our expert chefs say Korean grills are smaller than the large pellet and charcoal grills we see in backyards, so the BTUs won’t be as high.
If you have an electric model, then pay attention to the wattage. The peak wattage is how much your Korean barbecue grill requires to function and heat all the parts and elements.
While we’re on the topic of heating, you should also consider the heat source for your grill. Does it require a separate burner? Does it work with your electric or gas stove? There are also options with a portable gas stove so you can set up your unit anywhere. These types are excellent for camping and outdoor adventures.
Many homes have a gas stove, which can make our budget option, the Korean BBQ grill pan that works on any electric or gas stove an excellent option.
The heat settings are the keys to delicious results. Without the right settings, you could end up with under or overcooked meats, and neither are going to give you a good experience. If you have a combo model, our chefs say independent heating systems and controls would be best. This way, you can customize the heat levels for both parts.
The grill top will most likely need to be hotter than the hotpot section, so independent controls will avoid undercooked meats on the grill and overboiling in the hotpot bowl.
If you can, look for temperature thermostat ranges. Many of the models our culinary team has chosen have 5 variable levels.
The cleanup is just as important as the cooking. Our team found that a Korean BBQ grill with a grease system greatly decreased the cleanup time compared to one without. The grease system could be something as simple as an oil drainage hold to a removable drip tray.
Any features that funnel and collect the excess liquids are considered part of this system. If your unit doesn’t come with a drip tray, you can consider using a heat-resistant bowl instead.
Our team reminds budding chefs to pay extra attention to the cleanup and features the grill includes. There are plenty of options we have listed that also come with accessories such as tongs and brushes to keep the grill tops clean.
Whether you have a cast iron, cast aluminum, or stainless steel grill pan, the plate coating is an indispensable feature during cooking and cleanup. Without it, the cast aluminum pan, for example, will hold onto the food for dear life. You will need to peel off your ingredients while leaving some behind.
These bits will then char and burn while you cook other foods and then become very difficult to scrape and clean off. Be sure your Korean barbecue grill of choice has non-stick coating on all the cooking surfaces.
Not only that, you need to make sure that the coating used is safe, such as the BPA and PFOA-freeoptions. You won’t want to inadvertently ingest harmful chemicals all in an effort to save cleanup time.
The size and weight our team is referring to here are independent of the plate dimensions. We’re not talking about cooking space, but the size and weight of the entire unit. These factors will impact storage, portability, cleaning, and ease of use.
You have to make sure the unit is large enough to feed everyone in the group but also not too large that finding a place for storage is difficult. Most of these devices do not disassemble completely, so you will need to find a location with enough surface space to house the device sitting flat.
Of course, a large size usually means a heavier unit, but the materials will also impact the size. Cast aluminum, for example, is much lighter weight than cast iron.
A smaller device is undoubtedly easier to clean because a large grill plate or pan is very difficult to maneuver. Then comes the portability. Even if you do have a portable gas stove for your device, a very large grill will definitely hinder mobility, ease of use, and setup.
So other than the size of the cooking space, also look at the dimensions of the entire body. This goes for the cable as well. You could fix the issue of a short power cable with an extension cord, but it would be better if your grill came with one that allowed for significant range.
One thing our team did not have to worry about was the price. The price of a Korean BBQ is relatively cheap, compared to large charcoal, pellet grills and smokers.
The features on your grill, as well as the materials, will vary greatly depending on your price range. For example, a lightweight and compact model with its own portable gas stove may cost more than just a grill pan ready-to-use on any stovetop.
Cast aluminum could be more expensive than a stainless steel grill plate and combo models will definitely increase the price.
Set a budget and see what you can get within that range. Just make sure the barbecue grill is made with safe materials.
For those who have never had Korean BBQ, you don’t know what you have been missing! It’s more than just the grill that creates yummy and authentic Korean barbecue dishes, but it’s the recipes and side dishes as well.
You can find chicken, beef, pork or mutton recipes, but most members of our team love the beef and pork ones. Korean BBQ consists of marinated meat dishes to place on the grill.
There are bulgogi and kalbi flavors that have two distinct marinades as well as deungshim, samgyeopsal, and chadolbaegi, which are unmarinated and flavored with salt. Of course, you can dip them into Korean BBQ sauce when fully grilled.
Once you have wined and dined, then you must engage in what is perhaps the most dreaded part of home cooking - the cleanup. How do you clean your grill?
Even if you have oil drainage and drip pans, soaking the pans will really speed up the process. Start the cleaning process after you the grill has cooled and use warm water. Take a silicone brush, sponge or soft cleaning cloth to the surface to remove remnants of food. Do not use steel brushes unless specified as it could damage the surface.
Remember to clean the grill after each use and wait for it to dry completely before using it again.
A Korean barbecue grill is a very versatile device and it can cook anything a regular barbecue grill can. We’re talking about meats, seafood, vegetables, and even breakfast food. There are even combo options that come with a raclette or hotpot to diversify your culinary experience.
Sometimes a grill can even come with a griddle! So, yes, you can use a griddle with the grill. The flat solid surface is used to cook different ingredients, but there is no oil drainage so be sure to wipe it clean. The solid surface is great for heat distribution.
You can also take your pick of the best griddles for gas grills.
There are plenty of smokeless Korean BBQ options that are safe to use indoors, but not all of them are. The tabletop, stovetop and combo models that are electric usually have little to no smoke, but the more traditional units with charcoal are best used outside.
The winner of the Best Korean BBQ grills list is the Tectake Electric Grill and Griddle. The 2-in-1 model is very versatile and easy to clean. It’s the perfect unit for indoor use since it is a design that emits less smoke and it even comes with a pair of tongs so you can get to cooking right away.
Seeking more options? Check out more of our roundups below:
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