The Best Yakitori Grills of 2023

Yakitori is one of my favorite ways to elevate the simple flavors and make them truly shine. Whether you’re preparing chicken, beef or robust vegetables, cooking them over the intense heat of a Yakitori Grill will impart a distinct smokiness that allows the protein or produce to shine. I fell in love with Yakitori while living in NYC and going to Nonono in Nomad. This cozy restaurant turned out every type of yakitori you could imagine - from chicken oyster (the best cut), neck, skin, short rib, shishito pepper and more. Magical.

While you can prepare yakitori over a traditional grill or open fire, the most effective method is to get a traditional yakitori grill. Here is a list of my top 4 yakitori grills.

YAK Grills Hibachi Charcoal Grill - Buy from Amazon: $199

This is the most my overall top choice. The YAK has a cooking surface of 15x7 which will give you enough real estate to good 2 large steaks or 9 skewers at a time. Plus, it’s stainless steel construction means it wont rust, and comes with a 5 year warranty. The clever design means that you can use the YAK on a countertop, without worrying about the heat!

Fire Sense 60450 - Buy from Amazon: $68

With a similar size cooking surface, the Fire Sense is another great option at a slightly lower price point. One key difference is that the Fire Sense is made from handmade clay which is common in traditional Japanese grills. At 20 pounds, This grill is great for camping or backyard outdoor cooking.

Zojirushi Indoor Electric Grill- - Buy from Amazon: $118

If you can’t cook outside, but still want to enjoy yakitori at home, this is your pick. With a massive 21'“x14” cooking surface, the Zojirushi does not disapoint. While you wont be able to achieve the deep charring that you will get on a traditional, charcoal fired yakitori grill, the Zojirushi will allow you to enjoy the Yakitori flavors from the comfort of your kitchen.

The Bincho Grill - Buy from Amazon: $540

For restaurant-quality Yakitori, look no further than the Bincho. Made in the USA, this grill measures 36” long which gives you enough room to cook for up to 10 people. The Bincho is made of 15 guage stainless steal, so this will remain in great condition for years to come. The grill has 2x adjustable windows for air-flow will help you control the hot coals to provide you with the heat you want and wooden handles for easy movement while cooking.

Thaan Charcoal - Buy from Amazon: $20

If you want traditional flavor on your yakitori, you will need binchotan style charcoal. This style burns extremely hot, long and clear for amazing cooking,. Traditional binchotan can be very expensive and hard to find, so I usually turn to Thaan. It is much less expensive at just $20, and deliver the same great flavor as the traditional stuff