5 Best Yakitori Grills To Use At Home (2026)

Looking to cook some delicious skewers the traditional Japanese way at home? Cooking on good traditional yakitori grills is the key to making delicious, juicy, and tender skewers. So I did all the research and found the best yakitori grills with innovative design and why they’re the best choice for yakitori grills.

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Yakitori grills are best for creating a nice char, but there are limited use cases for it. To cook even more delicious dishes, check out some of the best cookware sets to use on a gas stove. And if you need a new cutting board to prepare your yakitori, here are the best nontoxic cutting boards.

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What is a Yakitori?

Yakitori translates to “grilled chicken” in Japanese. It’s essentially Japanese style small bite-sized chicken skewers that are grilled and usually cooked over charcoal. The meat can come from all parts of the chicken including chicken breasts, thighs, chicken cartilage, and much more. Yakitori grills traditionally use binchotan charcoal or white charcoal to cook the meat. It’s the best kind of charcoal to use because it burns at a higher temperature and is the best way to sear meat.

Yakitori is a very popular Japanese food and it can be found sold everywhere in Japan. It can be both street food or a casual meal served at a restaurant. You usually eat yakitori with sweet soy sauce or savory soy sauce.

What kind of grill is used for yakitori?

Yakitori, the Japanese dish of skewered grilled chicken, is traditionally cooked on a small and portable grill called a “konro” or “shichirin.” These grills are typically made of ceramic, clay, or metal and use charcoal, often binchotan, for high heat and precise control. In recent years, electric and gas grills with yakitori attachments have gained popularity for home use. These grills offer convenience and adjustable heat settings. The goal is to achieve the smoky flavor, juicy meat, and caramelized glaze that define delicious yakitori, whether using a traditional konro or a modern electric or gas grill.

Can you make yakitori on a regular grill?

Yes, you can make yakitori on a regular grill. To do that, first, preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush some oil onto the grill. Grill the yakitori for about 4-6 minutes per side, rotating occasionally. During the last few minutes, baste the skewers with sauce and continue grilling until the sauce caramelizes slightly. The only downside of using a regular grill over a yakitori grill is it lacks the charcoal flavor. Other than that, it still works great.

Best Yakitori Grills

1. Best Overall Yakitori Grill: Fire Sense Yakitori Grill

I love this Yakitori grill. It’s handmade from clay. I find it very effective at heat retention and it creates a nice sear. The dimensions are 18″W, 10″L, and 7″H, with a substantial weight of 20 pounds.

The steel mesh grill grate makes cleaning easy. When I clean this Yakitori grill, I just wash the steel part and prevent any water from getting in the grill.

The elongated rectangular shape of this grill makes it great for sharing with bigger groups too.

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2. Best Ceramic Yakitori Grill: Hinomaru Collection Japanese Tabletop Shichirin Konro Charcoal Grill

This is a Shichirin-style konro grill and is made with ceramic so it can cook at a high temperature. The mesh grill is easy to clean. This can be used indoors.

The size is 5.5″ so it’s best for one or two people to use. The small size is especially great for a small family living in a small space and looking for a more compact Yakitori tabletop grill. This grill can be for indoor use so it’s quite convenient.

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3. Best Portable Yakitori Grill: Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill

If you’re wanting to bring a grill for a camping trip or just on the go, this is the best option for that. This portable charcoal grill is made with lightweight steel and cool-to-touch handles so it’s easy to transport. The measurements are 9.05 H x 13.67 D x 16.73 W and weigh around 19.55lbs.

What makes this one of the best yakitori grills is that it has a bamboo cutting board so you can prepare your food before grilling. The cooking surface also has a built-in heat protection shield so you use it to cook almost anywhere.

It’s the perfect portable yakitori grill for bringing on outdoor trips because it’s a good size and can easily cook for a small group of people.

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4. Best Mini Yakitori Grill: Yatai Yokotyo

Looking for the best mini yakitori grill? This is it. Most of the best yakitori grills are charcoal grills but this one is an electric yakitori grill which makes it easier to clean. The Japanese yakitori grill is very lightweight and weighs only 3 pounds. The only downside about this grill is it doesn’t produce as great of a sear on the skewers as much as the charcoal grills. But if you want a nice mini grill that looks very traditional, this one is a perfect choice.

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5. Best Round Yakitori Grill: Binchotan HIBACHI Style Yakitori Charcoal Konro Grill

This yakitori grill is 9.54″ x 10.24″ x 7.87 and weighs around 9.5 pounds. The base is made with diatomaceous earth which is great at cooking on high heat. This means your food will be cooked very well and easily. Many Japanese families have this type of yakitori grill in their homes so it’s a great option for cooking very authentic yakitori.

The design of the grill also makes it great at deflecting heat and can get really hot with just a small amount of charcoal.

The size of the grill is perfect for 2-3 people.

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