ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill Review: A Tale of Searing Heat and Shaky Quality

There’s a special kind of freedom that comes with grilling on the go. Whether it’s the savory smell of burgers at a tailgate, the sound of sizzling steaks at a campsite, or just the convenience of a powerful grill on a small apartment patio, the right portable grill can elevate any outdoor experience. For years, we’ve been on a quest for the perfect balance: a grill compact enough to travel but powerful enough to deliver a serious sear. Too often, portable means underpowered, resulting in sad, grey-looking meat. The alternative is lugging around a massive, clunky barbecue that defeats the whole purpose of portability. This endless compromise is frustrating for anyone who takes their grilling seriously. It’s this exact challenge—finding a portable grill with the heart of a full-sized powerhouse—that led us to the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill, a stainless steel unit promising a massive 24,000 BTU output in a travel-ready package.

What to Know Before You Buy a Tabletop Propane Grill

A Propane Grill, especially a tabletop model, is more than just a cooking appliance; it’s a key solution for unlocking culinary freedom outside the confines of a traditional backyard. It solves the problem of space and location, empowering you to cook high-quality meals at parks, beaches, RV sites, or on compact balconies where a full-size grill is simply not feasible. The main benefits are clear: immediate heat with precise control, minimal cleanup compared to charcoal, and the ability to pack up and go at a moment’s notice. It’s the bridge between convenience and authentic, flame-grilled flavor.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who lives an active, outdoor-oriented lifestyle—the RVer, the dedicated tailgater, the weekend camper, or the apartment dweller with a passion for grilling. It’s for the person who refuses to compromise on food quality just because they’re away from home. On the other hand, this might not be the right choice for a large family that primarily grills at home and needs a massive cooking surface for entertaining big crowds. For them, a larger, stationary four or five-burner grill would be more suitable. Similarly, the barbecue purist who swears by the “low and slow” art of charcoal smoking may find the direct, high-heat nature of most portable propane grills less appealing.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Pay close attention to the grill’s footprint, both when it’s set up for cooking and when it’s folded for travel. Measure your car trunk, RV storage bay, or patio table to ensure a good fit. Remember to account for the propane tank and a safe perimeter around the grill when it’s in use. The ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill, for instance, measures 23.6″ wide, which is substantial for a tabletop unit.
• Capacity/Performance: Performance is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). A higher BTU count generally means faster preheating and hotter searing temperatures. However, it’s the combination of BTUs, cooking area (measured in square inches), and heat distribution that truly matters. A grill with 24,000 BTUs over 286 sq. inches, like the ONLYFIRE model, signals intense, direct heat—perfect for searing but potentially challenging for delicate foods.
• Materials & Durability: Stainless steel is a popular choice for its resistance to rust and corrosion, but the gauge and grade of the steel matter. Thicker steel retains heat better and is more durable. Look for sturdy legs, a solid lid handle, and well-constructed burners and grates. User feedback often reveals the truth about long-term durability beyond the marketing claims.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A good portable grill should be simple to set up, ignite, and clean. Look for features like foldable legs, a secure lid lock, and an effective grease management system. A removable drip pan is essential for easy cleanup and preventing flare-ups. Long-term care involves regular cleaning of the grates and burners to ensure longevity and consistent performance.

With these factors in mind, you’ll be better equipped to choose a portable grill that truly fits your needs.

While the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill is an excellent choice for a specific type of user, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the ONLYFIRE GRILLS GS307: A Stainless Steel Contender

Upon opening the box, the first impression of the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill is one of polished, industrial potential. The gleam of the stainless steel body promises durability and a modern aesthetic. Weighing in at just over 33 pounds, it has a reassuring heft that suggests it’s more substantial than cheaper, flimsier alternatives. The package includes the main grill body, cooking grates, the adapter hose for a 20 lb tank, and a bag of hardware for assembly. However, this is where our initial optimism hit its first snag. As we discovered, and as numerous user reports confirm, the assembly process is a significant hurdle. The instructions are sparse and lack detailed diagrams, turning what should be a 30-minute job into a multi-hour puzzle. We noted some minor dings and bent corners on our unit, likely from shipping, which echoes feedback about quality control during packaging. Once assembled, though, it stands as a handsome, if somewhat challenging, piece of equipment, ready to be fired up. You can see its full feature set and user reviews before making a final decision.

Putting the ONLYFIRE 3-Burner Grill Through Its Paces

A grill’s true character is only revealed under fire. We put the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill through a series of tests, from searing thick-cut steaks to grilling delicate vegetables, to see if its performance could overcome its initial setup frustrations. We focused on the core aspects that matter most to an on-the-go griller: raw power, temperature management, and the overall user experience from setup to cleanup.

Assembly and Build Quality: A Test of Patience

Let’s be blunt: assembling the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill is not for the faint of heart. Our experience mirrored that of many frustrated users. The instruction manual is more of a vague schematic than a step-by-step guide. We spent a considerable amount of time deciphering diagrams and, at one point, had to rely on product photos online to correctly orient a part. This is a recurring theme in user feedback, with one person noting it took them three hours to assemble, while another needed a friend’s help interpreting photos. We also found, like others, that quality control is a significant issue. Screws were missing, and the plastic feet for the foldable legs required a hammer to fit, as one user also reported. The most concerning aspect is the welding. We saw reports of the drip pan’s mounting bracket being poorly welded and falling off—a clear safety and durability concern. Furthermore, despite the “corrosion-resistant” stainless steel claim, we found several users reporting rust appearing in as little as one month, even when the grill was kept covered. This suggests a lower grade of stainless steel is being used. While the final assembled product feels sturdy on a stable surface, these initial hurdles and long-term durability questions are impossible to ignore.

Heating Power & Temperature Control: A Blistering Inferno

If there is one area where the ONLYFIRE grill absolutely shines, it’s raw power. The 24,000 BTUs distributed across three burners is a phenomenal amount of heat for a grill this size. It heats up incredibly fast, reaching searing temperatures in just a few minutes. As one user aptly put it, it “can get blistering hot if you leave it a bit,” which we confirmed when the built-in thermometer rocketed past 650°F with ease. This makes it a dream for searing steaks and getting those coveted, deep grill marks. We cooked a 2-inch thick tomahawk steak, and the crust we achieved was nothing short of spectacular. However, this immense power is a double-edged sword. The grill’s biggest performance flaw is its lack of a true “low” setting. We, and many other users, found that even with the knobs turned to their lowest position, the grill temperature hovered around 400°F. This makes cooking anything that requires gentle or indirect heat—like bone-in chicken, thick pork chops, or certain vegetables—a constant battle against burning. You simply can’t “cook anything low and slow on this grill,” as one user accurately stated. The thermometer was also wildly inaccurate, reading about 100-130 degrees hotter than our calibrated digital probes, a dangerous discrepancy for those relying on it. Flare-ups are also a frequent occurrence due to the proximity of the heat distribution plates to the grates, requiring constant vigilance when cooking fattier cuts of meat. This is a specialized searing machine, and those seeking nuance and versatility should explore its powerful searing capabilities with caution.

Portability and Design: Functional but Flawed

The design of the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill is centered around portability. It features foldable legs that tuck underneath the body, a locking cover, and a sturdy carrying handle. The 286 square inch cooking area is generous for a portable unit, easily accommodating about 8-10 burger patties. The inclusion of an adapter hose for a standard 20 lb propane tank is a huge plus, offering fuel flexibility beyond the small 1 lb cylinders typically used for camping. This dual-fuel capability is a feature that really sets it apart for RVers or those using it as a primary patio grill. However, the execution of its portable features has some kinks. The locking mechanism for the lid works, but the overall unit can be awkward to carry. One user described laying it down for travel as “awkward and inconvenient,” and we agree. At 33 pounds, it’s portable, but not lightweight. The folding leg mechanism, while functional for setup, has been reported to undo itself when trying to roll the unit, making transport less smooth than intended. The grease management system consists of a simple, removable tray that does its job, but given the high heat and frequent flare-ups, it requires frequent checking and emptying to avoid overflow and potential fire hazards.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the user feedback for the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill paints a consistent picture of a product with immense potential hampered by execution flaws. The positive sentiment is almost exclusively focused on its incredible heating power. One happy customer noted, “This portable Barbecue is fantastic. It is portable has a fantastic heat range excellent for siring steak. Had temperature up to 650 degrees.” Another mentioned it’s a “tiny but mighty grill” that “heats quickly” and is “great for searing steaks with nice grill marks.” This confirms our findings that for high-heat applications, it performs exceptionally well.

However, the negative feedback is more varied and points to systemic issues. The most common complaints revolve around quality control and assembly. One user stated, “I would rate it’s 0 stars I’ve used it 4 times and have owned it less than a month and it’s already rusting.” Another received a unit with a “poorly welded” bracket that had fallen off. The difficult assembly is a near-universal criticism, with one user lamenting, “Manufacturers need to give detailed instructions and detailed photos.” The inability to cook at low temperatures is the other major performance-related complaint, with one person noting, “You can’t cook anything low and slow on this grill, it’ll burn your thick cuts of meat even on the low setting.” These shared experiences from other users provide a crucial, balanced perspective.

How Does the ONLYFIRE Grill Stack Up Against the Competition?

The portable grill market is fiercely competitive, with established brands offering highly refined products. While the ONLYFIRE grill brings impressive heat, it’s important to see how its overall package compares to some of the mainstays in the category.

1. Char-Broil 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill

The Char-Broil portable grill represents a simpler, more compact approach. With only one burner and a smaller cooking surface, it’s aimed at the solo camper or couple who prioritizes packability above all else. It lacks the raw searing power and heat zoning capabilities of the ONLYFIRE’s three burners. However, it’s generally easier to assemble, lighter, and comes from a brand with a long-standing reputation. Someone who primarily cooks hot dogs and burgers for one or two people and for whom storage space is the absolute top priority might prefer the simplicity and smaller footprint of the Char-Broil over the power and complexity of the ONLYFIRE model.

2. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Propane Grill 3-Burner

The Coleman RoadTrip 285 is perhaps the most direct competitor and a benchmark in the portable grill world. It also features three adjustable burners, though its total output is 20,000 BTUs, slightly less than the ONLYFIRE’s 24,000. The key difference is the integrated stand with wheels, which makes it exceptionally easy to transport and set up at a comfortable cooking height. Coleman also offers swappable cooktops for griddles or stove grates, adding a layer of versatility the ONLYFIRE lacks. A user who values an all-in-one, highly mobile solution with proven reliability and brand support would likely find the Coleman RoadTrip 285 to be a more refined and user-friendly choice, despite the slight reduction in peak searing power.

3. Weber Q1200 Portable Propane Gas Grill

Weber is synonymous with quality grilling, and the Q1200 is a testament to that legacy. While it only has a single burner with 8,500 BTUs, its cast aluminum body and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates provide exceptional heat retention and even cooking. The build quality, fit, and finish of the Weber are in a different league compared to the ONLYFIRE. It offers superior temperature control, allowing for more delicate cooking tasks. A griller who prioritizes build quality, longevity, and precise, even cooking over sheer, scorching heat will find the Weber Q1200 to be a far better long-term investment. It’s the choice for the enthusiast who wants Weber’s renowned cooking system in a portable package.

The Final Verdict: Is the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Grill Right for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill is a conditional recommendation. This is not a grill for everyone. If you are a grilling novice, easily frustrated by poor instructions, or someone who enjoys cooking a wide variety of foods requiring nuanced temperature control, we suggest you look elsewhere. The quality control issues, difficult assembly, and inability to maintain a low temperature are significant drawbacks that cannot be overlooked. However, if you are a specific type of user—one who prioritizes raw, unadulterated searing power above all else—this grill has a certain appeal. For the tailgater who wants to sear a dozen steaks to perfection in record time or the RVer who needs a powerful outdoor burner, the immense 24,000 BTU output is undeniably effective. It’s a flawed but powerful tool. If you’re willing to wrestle with the assembly and learn to manage its inferno-like heat, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best sears available in a portable package.

For those who fit this profile and are ready for a high-heat adventure, you can check the latest price and availability for the ONLYFIRE GRILLS 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill and decide if its firepower is worth the trade-offs.