Korean BBQ restaurants became a big hit in recent years, and just like most of us are with barbecue, we want to be able to replicate the same cooking process at home. If that’s something you want to do, you’ll need a Korean BBQ grill. How do you choose, though?
Here at Angry BBQ, we will help you along that journey. We’ve taken a long, hard look at what’s available out there to give you our list of our favorite Korean BBQ grills. We’ll give you that list and answer some important questions along the way:
- How does Korean BBQ differ from our traditional view of BBQ?
- What are the different fuel sources for these grills?
- How does a Korean grill handle grease?
Our vote for the best Korean BBQ grill is the TECHEF Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan with Burner. All you need is a butane cylinder and you’re ready to cook Korean style in your own home or on the go. The non-stick pan with a drain hole is removable if you want to cook on a different fuel source as well.
Read on to learn more about these awesome grills and figure out which of our top rated grills for Korean BBQ will let you enjoy great food without having to go to a sit-down restaurant!
Our Top Korean BBQ Grills at a Glance……
| IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Top PickTop PickTECHEF Korean BBQ Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Runner-UpRunner-UpIwatani Korean BBQ Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Best ElectricBest ElectricCusimax Electric Korean Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Best CharcoalBest CharcoalBaffect Charcoal Korean Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Best ComboBest ComboFood Party Combo Grill and Hot Pot |
| CHECK PRICE |
What Is Korean BBQ (And How Is It Different From Our View Of Traditional BBQ?)
For most of us who read Angry BBQ (or write for it,) BBQ means big cuts of meat smoked low-and-slow with wood smoke providing flavor. Korean BBQ is not that. It is smaller, thinner cuts of typically pork or beef, but can include chicken, grilled hot and fast. Well-marbled, tender cuts of meat are typically thrown on the non-stick surface without much seasoning beyond salt in order to let the meat’s flavor shine through, while tougher cuts like short ribs sit in a sweet-and-savory marinade based around soy sauce to make them easily enjoyed.
At a Korean BBQ restaurant, you’ll sit around a table with friends and family with a grill built into the middle of the tabletop. You’ll get to cook your own meats as you prefer. A home Korean barbecue grill endeavors to replicate that experience on typically a smaller scale. Most Korean BBQ grills you can purchase for home use are tabletop grills and can even be taken places, provided you have a way to fuel them.
What Fuel Sources Do Korean BBQ Grills Use?
There are three main fuel sources for your home Korean BBQ grill. Our vote for the best Korean BBQ grill from TECHEF uses a butane gas burner that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use as long as your house has adequate ventilation. Other gas-fueled Korean BBQ grills might use propane. Other fuel sources include electric or even charcoal.
With the different fuels sources, some Korean BBQ grills might only be considered outdoor options, while others can be used in almost any situation. Electric Korean BBQ grills only need a power source to go wherever you want, while butane-fueled options just need proper ventilation and a butane bottle.
How Do Korean BBQ Grills Handle Grease?
One of the primary concerns of a Korean BBQ grill is how it handles the grease and other liquids that come from grilling. Obviously, you don’t want grease dripping down onto a gas burner or electric heating element and causing a fire. Also, Korean BBQ is based around grilling hot and fast, not frying food in oil. Therefore each grill needs a way to handle drippings.
Some Korean BBQ grills have an included drip pan while others simply have a drain spout that you put a bowl or other receptacle under to catch the drippings. Just be aware of which grill uses which system so you aren’t caught unawares by grease dripping on your nice table in the middle of dinner.
Korean BBQ Side Dishes
If you’re looking for an authentic as possible Korean BBQ experience at home, you’ll need to learn about and get your hands on some side dishes (and possibly some Korean beers if you’re into that.) These side dishes are known as banchan and can be prepared in any number of ways.
One of the most iconic examples of banchan is kimchi, usually made with fermented cabbage. You can also find cucumber in kimchi or other banchan. Onions, chili pepper, and garlic are also common ingredients, usually to add flavor and not as the main part of banchan. You’ll also find sesame oil used to add flavor.
While Korean beer is a common sight when eating Korean BBQ, don’t forget the soju if you’re into alcohol. Traditionally it’s made from white rice, but there are versions made from tapioca and sweet potatoes among other starches. It typically carries an alcohol-by-volume of 20-50% and is consumed out of a shot glass by itself, especially at the higher volume.
Our Top Rated Korean BBQ Grills
1. Best Korean BBQ Grill -TECHEF Stovetop Korean BBQ Grill review
TECHEF’s pan and burner combination offers a fantastic combination of even heating, nonstick performance, and grease drainage that earns our nomination for the best Korean BBQ grill. The Korean BBQ grill pan is coated with multiple layers of Teflon to create a non-stick surface so not even galbi or bulgogi’s sweet marinade will stick.
As for grease drainage, a key part of Korean BBQ grills, the pan is designed with channels swirling away from the center to a larger channel running along the outer bottom edge of the pan. It all focuses on a single drain spout where you place a heat-safe bowl or tray to collect the drippings for disposal. This combined with the nonstick surface helps make for easier cleanup as well as a healthier cooking experience. The pan is even dishwasher-safe, so if you have room in your dishwasher, cleanup is that easy!
The grease drainage system also helps with a largely smoke-free experience while cooking. No one wants to be surrounded by a constant cloud of smoke while cooking (unless it’s wood smoke from a smoker) so this is a big deal, especially for when you’re cooking indoors..
The large pan, just under 12” in diameter, can accommodate plenty of food and you don’t have to use it just for Korean BBQ staples. Just be aware that the pan is slightly domed to help with grease flow, so food that easily rolls might require a little more attention than food that just lies flat. The pan’s heavy-gauge aluminum construction conducts heat evenly so you don’t have to worry about food not cooking properly in different areas of the pan.
The gas burner is capable of putting out 11,500 BTUs per hour which is capable of giving your meat that perfect sear. It uses butane bottles which are safe for indoor use provided you aren’t cooking in a room with no ventilation. You can take it outside as well without worries. It’s also perfect for areas that do not have electricity available.
At just under eight pounds of total weight and included heat sources, TECHEF has a great portable grill for Korean BBQ. Also, if you love the sound of the Korean grill pan but don’t need the butane stove, you can purchase the pan by itself.
What We Like…
- Designed with grease drainage in mind
- Non-stick coating makes cleanup a breezer
- Large pan can hold plenty of food at one time
What Makes Us Angry…
- Don’t purchase this with the intent to use the pan on your gas stove unless you have a wok ring or some other attachment to keep the pan above the burner so grease can drain properly
- Some customers complained about their pans coming scratched out of the box
2. Runner-up – Iwatani Korean BBQ Grill Review
Iwatani checked a lot of boxes with this smokeless grill. The grill pan has a non-stick coating so your food won’t stick regardless of marinade or sauce. It comes with a built-in grease management system that doesn’t require you to supply a bowl or pan yourself. The pan is slightly domed so any grease or excess liquid runs to the outer edge. There, the drippings will drop through slits in the pan down into the water pan. The water not only helps to prevent smoke by catching the drippings but can also help add some steam for cooking vegetables.
Iwatani’s grill runs on butane canisters which allows for both indoor and outdoor use as long as you have adequate ventilation in your house. The pan and gas burner together weigh less than five pounds making it one of the best portable grills for Korean BBQ. You can move it from inside to outside for enjoying the nice weather or even put it in the car and take it to a campground if you want.
The one real drawback about this grill is that the grill pan is on the small size. If you are cooking for a family or want to have friends over, it likely won’t have enough cooking space for everyone to enjoy. However, for one or two people, this is a great Korean BBQ grill.
What We Like…
- Super portable at less than five pounds
- Water pan underneath the grill pan is perfect for catching drippings without creating smoke
- Runs off small butane canisters which are fairly inexpensive and safe for indoor use as long as your house is well-ventilated
What Makes Us Angry…
- It is small which helps for portability but it’s only suited for a couple of people using it
- Instructions come in Japanese, so be warned. However, assembly is easy.
3. Best Electric – CUSIMAX Portable Korean BBQ Grill Review
If you aren’t comfortable with running a gas grill inside your house, an electric grill is a great alternative. CUSIMAX’s electric grill is one of our favorite indoor Korean BBQ grills. The grill features a temperature range of 200°-450°F, giving you plenty of range whether you’re cooking something delicate like seafood or needing to sear steaks.
As discussed above, grease management is key when it comes to Korean BBQ grills and indoor grills as a whole. CUSIMAX looked at how to do so in concert with its approach toward smoke management. The grill has a drip tray underneath the heating element that users are told to put water in. The grill plate itself has a series of holes for grease to drip down into the tray for easy cleanup. The water is part of the smoke management system by preventing grease and drippings from burning up in the tray which produces smoke. The grill also has a built-in fan to help capture as much smoke as possible.
The grill’s different temperature settings will allow users to get the right level of heat for grilling the iconic thin cuts of meat known in Korean BBQ. However, this grill isn’t confined to just that style of cooking either. The ability to drop down to temperatures as low as 200°F coupled with a glass lid can allow you to cook a number of different foods.
The grill plate not only has perforations for allowing grease to drip easily into the drip tray. It also is non-stick which is perfect for meat that has sat in a sweet-and-savory marinade. The grill plate is also dishwasher safe, along with the lid and the heat reflector, so you can simply slide it into your dishwasher to make cleanup even easier.
This is a bit on the heavier side at almost 15 pounds. Couple that with the need for electricity and it’s not a great portable grill for Korean BBQ, but you can definitely put it in a car or an RV to go places.
What We Like…
- Easy temperature adjustments and range allows you to cook a variety of foods
- The perforated grill pan can give your food grill marks while allowing grease to drip into the tray
- The combination of water in the drip tray and the fan keeps smoke production the absolute minimum
What Makes Us Angry…
- Multiple pieces need to be removed to clean properly
- If you like precision controls, heating in increments of 50 degrees Fahrenheit might drive you a little crazy
4. Best Charcoal Korean Grill – Baffect Stainless Steel Korean Grill Review
Some Korean BBQ restaurants fuel their table grills with charcoal. If you’re a fan of that style and flavor, you’ll want to look for an option to replicate that at home. Baffect’s charcoal grill is the best charcoal-fueled Korean BBQ grill that we found.
One of the coolest features about this grill is the two different types of cooking surface. If you’re cooking meat, any type of marinated food, or anything that needs oil, you can use the thick grill pan that redirects any drippings to the edges and down into the grill’s reservoir area. If you want something a little more charred that won’t drop a lot of grease like vegetables, you can swap it out for what they call a grill net. It’s a mesh grill grate that will expose the food to the charcoal’s heat directly. This allows you to cook different foods in the best way possible.
The main body of the charcoal Korean BBQ grill has two vents for helping regulate airflow to the charcoal just like you would on a regular outdoor charcoal grill. What makes this charcoal grill different (other than the size) is that you add water to the base before you insert the actual bowl that holds the charcoal. Then you add water to the tank that also collects the drippings from the grill pan. This helps reduce flareups and makes cleanup easier as well.
If you need to add charcoal while cooking or want to swap out cooking surfaces, the grill comes with a tool that fits both the grill pan and mesh grate to help pick them up while still hot.
What We Like…
- Two different cooking surfaces depending on what you want, a traditional grill pan and a mesh grate
- Charcoal makes everything taste better
- Stainless steel construction will hold up for a long time
What Makes Us Angry…
- This is not going to be a smokeless Korean BBQ grill
- Not necessarily big enough for a party of people to sit around and cook on
5. Best Combo Grill And Hot Pot – Food Party 2 in 1 Electric Smokeless Grill and Hot Pot Review
While we all think about thin cuts of meat seared to perfection when it comes to Korean BBQ, sometimes we like having some fusion elements. You want soup alongside your grilled meats? This combo grill and hot pot from Food Party will let you accomplish just that. In fact, they’ll even let you have two different liquids going at the same time with the divided chambers in the middle. The hot pot also heats independently from the grill section, giving your precise control of the liquid’s temperature. In total, it can hold up to two liters of whatever liquid you want to heat.
The grill surface circles the hot pot and is 3.5 inches wide. You can’t cook extremely large cuts of meat on it, but you’ll be able to lay out strips of beef and pork without issue. The surface is non-stick coated so you don’t need to worry about anything getting stuck and causing cleaning problems. The excess liquid and grease runs around the edge to a port with a pull-out tray for disposal.
You do need to keep an eye on that oil port if you’re cooking greasy or marinated food. It’s not very large, so it can potentially overflow and make a mess. You also need to make sure you plug this grill into an outlet on a circuit capable of handling a large power draw. Electrical requirements state 1900W of power required to operate, which means you need a 20A receptacle. Either way, make sure your electric is up to the task if you’re running the hot pot and grill functions at the same time.
What We Like…
- Independent temperature controls for the hot pot section and the grill section
- Oil runs to a port with a pull-out tray for easy cleanup
- Offers a lot of versatility between the grilling surface and the hot pot sections in the middle
What Makes Us Angry…
- The oil tray is small, so you need to keep a close eye on it if you’re cooking a very greasy meal
- Using both the grill and the hot pot at the same time pulls a lot of power. If you’ve got an old house or are running it on less than a 20 amp breaker, you’re likely to trip your breaker. The company says it pulls potentially up to 1900W running both sections at the same time
- Neither the hot pot nor the grilling surface are removable, so you need to clean it all as one piece which can be frustrating
Wrapping It Up
In our minds, the combination of simplicity, reliability, and quality design of the TECHEF Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan With Burner makes it the best Korean BBQ grill that you can get for home use. The best part is that you can use it inside or out and it’s light enough to be easily transported on the go. All you need is a butane canister and a bowl to catch grease and you’re ready to enjoy Korean BBQ without having to go to a restaurant.
If you don’t want to use a gas burner, we recommend the CUSIMAX Smokeless Portable Korean BBQ Grill. You trade off the ability to cook just about anywhere but you get a great package that runs on electricity.
What’s your favorite Korean BBQ dish? Got any must-have sides? Let us know in the comments.
| IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top PickTop PickTECHEF Korean BBQ Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Runner-UpRunner-UpIwatani Korean BBQ Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Best ElectricBest ElectricCusimax Electric Korean Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Best CharcoalBest CharcoalBaffect Charcoal Korean Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Best ComboBest ComboFood Party Combo Grill and Hot Pot |
| CHECK PRICE |
