Konro v.s. Green Life v.s. Shichirin - How to Pick a Charcoal Yakitori Grill
So, you're thinking about buying a new grill?
You're right. You're damn right! So you get on your trusty cargo bike/e-scooter/Velociraptor/Motorcycle* or slide behind the wheel of one of those old school "auto-mobiles" and cruise on down to Knifewear. You push open the front door and whoa, it's not just a few grills, but different makers and styles, and even different materials. Fear not; we're here to help guide you to the right one for you.
We start by asking if they plan to "grill on the go" or be the envy of the neighbourhood, meaning the grill is likely to live stationary in the yard. Keeping that in mind, let's get into your options.
Portable Charcoal Grills
A little muscle and a whole lot of gusto, any grill can be made portable. Just sayin'. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're trying to be due diligent here! These are a super mix of functionality and portability. Shichirin Konro Great to say and even better for usability, the Shichirin Konro is a grill in a pail— and no, not precisely, but it's bucket-shaped.
It has a space for accessories, and with a handle, you can easily carry it. Ceramic fire bricks are used in layers—the Shichirin means seven, thereby acting as a great insulator but not conductor of heat. This means you can pack it up and go at a moment's notice when that tailgate party gets the old "heave-ho" from the folks in the loud truck. Perfect for veggies and smaller meat stuff, this is how you come on, then show off at your next family picnic.
Green Life Medium Shichirin Konro
This is what the future of charcoal grilling looks like. It basically functions on the same basis as the konro but is made from steel. There is a small airspace between the outer and inner layers, where all of the holes on the outside of this grill create airflow to shoot hot air up so the outside doesn't become too hot. The capacity is enough to feed 2-4 people comfortably over an hour or two.
Small Konro Yakitori Grill
Well, much the same as with its little sibling, the Shichirin, these ceramic fire brick grills petite Yakitori grills are juuust small enough to be easily transported but juuust big enough that you can comfortably cook two burgers at once or grill up to 6 skewers. I have met many a person who has snagged 2 or 3 of these grills personally. So, you have to have a small fleet of those when you're not out-and-about, and then your next backyard gathering is just a smorgasbord of grill possibilities! You get a grill! You get a grill! YOU GET A GRILL! Who doesn't want to be the Oprah of charcoal?
Best Backyard Charcoal & Yakitori Grills
The sun is shining, you are holding a cold, frothy beverage in hand, so clearly, culinary hijinks are in order. These are the grills most fitting for the yard! While all of the grills below work wonderfully for the backyard, these few are some of the larger ones you may want to consider.
Green Life Large Shichirin Konro
Straddling the line between portable and backyard, the large Green Life is the best grill for almost everyone. It's at a great price, very lightweight, and has enough grilling space for most occasions. You can pop several steaks on this bad boy, a dozen skewers worth of yakitori, or a whole lot of veggies. If you're looking for a lifetime grill to use all summer, this is the one.
Konro Medium BBQ
Still something you could pack around in the trunk of your vehicle, this miniature beast of a Konro really shines as the staple for the backyard BBQ enthusiast. This has an increased cook surface, making it the classic westernized ceramic BBQ. Perfect for those enormous slabs o' beef and giant piles of veggies, set one of these up in the backyard, kick back, and show off your charcoal cooking prowess! With the 33cm x 21cm cooking surface, the medium BBQ is perfect for a two-person feast or entertaining a couple of friends.
Konro Medium Yakitori
This medium yakitori is the most popular size of konro grill we sell. It is the correct length for Western-style meals like ribs or a side of salmon but still narrow enough that you can easily grill skewers without the grates. In total, it's pretty light and has handles that make it easier to pack from the yard to the house, or wherever you store your grill. The cooking surface is large enough to accommodate food for 6 or 7 people at once!
Konro Large Yakitori
This is the mother of all grills: Skewers, Steaks, Veggies, Fish—all at the same time if you so desire! Perfect for feeding 10-15 people, the Large Yakitori grill is a store favorite. Heck, you could even have a section of that grill dedicated to just veggies and never have to worry about cross-contamination! If you like to host parties, this is a must for this upcoming grilling season.
From the backcountry to the backyard, packable or stationary, we've got a grill ready for anything. But don't forget the inspiration! Check out the incredible selection of cookbooks in-store; anything in the Franklin BBQ series is sure to be educational and motivational, whilst Chicken & Charcoal makes sure your next grill session has your friends and family raving about the food at every turn!
