Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill Review: The Tabletop Powerhouse with a Few Caveats

There’s a certain magic to cooking over charcoal away from home. The smoky aroma mingling with fresh air, the sizzle of meat hitting hot grates—it’s the soundtrack to a perfect camping trip, beach day, or tailgate party. But I’ve been there, and I’m sure you have too. You pack your gear, marinate the steaks, and haul everything to your scenic spot, only to be let down by a portable grill that’s more toy than tool. We’ve all wrestled with those wobbly, paper-thin metal grills that offer zero heat control, barely fit two burgers, and become a greasy, ashy nightmare to clean up. It’s a frustrating experience that can turn a much-anticipated outdoor meal into a culinary disappointment. The promise of a perfect sear gives way to a charred, unevenly cooked mess. That’s why finding a portable grill that delivers the performance of a backyard heavyweight in a compact form is the holy grail for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. We need something that travels well but doesn’t compromise on the fundamental principles of great grilling.

What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Charcoal Grill

A portable charcoal grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking authentic, flavorful barbecue experiences wherever you go. It’s about bringing the primal joy of live-fire cooking to campsites, parks, and balconies without being tethered to a massive backyard setup. The main benefit is achieving that irreplaceable smoky flavor that gas grills simply can’t replicate, all in a package designed for mobility. These grills are about freedom—the freedom to host a cookout for a few friends on your apartment patio or to enjoy a perfectly grilled meal deep in the woods. They solve the problem of limited space and the desire for high-quality, traditional barbecue on the move.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who values flavor and experience over push-button convenience. They are campers, tailgaters, apartment dwellers, or small-family grillers who crave authentic charcoal taste but don’t have the space or need for a full-sized unit. They are willing to learn the nuances of managing a charcoal fire to achieve delicious results. Conversely, this type of grill might not be suitable for those who need to cook for very large crowds consistently or for individuals who prioritize speed and minimal cleanup above all else. For them, a large gas grill or a pellet smoker might be a better investment. The purist backpacker might even opt for an ultralight campfire grate, sacrificing features for absolute minimum weight.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Pay close attention to the grill’s footprint, both when assembled and packed for travel. The Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill boasts a generous cooking area but its dimensions (18.58″D x 27.76″W x 19.21″H) mean it’s more suited for car camping or patio use than backpacking. Always measure your intended storage space and the tabletop or surface where you plan to use it to ensure a stable, safe fit.
• Capacity/Performance: Total cooking area, measured in square inches, is your primary guide. 303 square inches, as found on this model, is ample for a small family or group of 4-6 people. Performance also hinges on features like adjustable vents (dampers) and the ability to control the distance between the coals and the food, which are critical for managing temperature for everything from searing steaks to slow-cooking chicken.
• Materials & Durability: The longevity of a grill is dictated by its construction. Look for heavy-gauge steel for the body to retain heat and resist warping. Porcelain-enameled grates, like those on the CD1519, are excellent for being non-stick and easy to clean, while stainless steel offers great durability. Be wary of reports on finish quality, as peeling paint can be a sign of thinner materials or improper curing.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features that simplify the grilling process are invaluable. A front-access door for adding charcoal without moving the food is a huge plus. For cleanup, a removable ash tray is a non-negotiable feature for us, as it transforms a messy chore into a simple task. Consider the assembly process as well; some grills are ready in minutes, while others can be a multi-hour project.

Ultimately, choosing the right portable grill means balancing performance, portability, and price to match your specific outdoor cooking style.

While the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill is an excellent choice, 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:

First Impressions: A Big Grill in a Small Box

Upon unboxing the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill, the first thing we noticed was the sheer number of parts. This is not a “fold-out-the-legs-and-go” type of grill. The box contains the main body, lid, grates, handles, legs, and a myriad of screws and small components. Be prepared for a project. Several users confirmed our experience, with assembly times ranging from 45 minutes for the mechanically inclined to nearly three hours for those taking their time. A common piece of feedback we agree with is that while the screws are labeled, the larger metal parts are not, leading to some trial and error. We highly recommend finding an assembly video online, as it can clarify the printed instructions significantly.

Once assembled, however, the grill feels substantial. It’s larger than many “tabletop” models, which we see as a major plus. It feels less like a temporary camping gadget and more like a scaled-down version of a serious backyard grill. The powder-coated black finish looks sleek, and the stainless steel handles provide a solid, comfortable grip for transport. At 25.4 pounds, it has enough heft to feel stable on a picnic table without being unmanageable to carry from the car. Our initial impression is one of pleasant surprise at its size and feature set, tempered by the involved assembly process. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of its scale.

Performance Deep Dive: Putting the Royal Gourmet CD1519 to the Test

A grill’s worth isn’t determined on the assembly bench, but over live fire. We put the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill through its paces over several cooking sessions, tackling everything from high-heat searing to low-and-slow roasting, to see if its performance matched its promising feature list. The results were largely impressive, though not without some significant concerns that potential buyers must be aware of.

Assembly and Build Quality: A Mixed Bag

Let’s address the elephant in the room: assembly and long-term durability. Our assembly experience mirrored that of many users—it’s a journey. You’ll want to set aside a solid hour or two, lay out all your parts, and have some patience. The screw holes on our unit lined up perfectly, a good sign of manufacturing consistency. However, we’ve seen a notable number of user reports mentioning bent parts right out of the box, which points to potential quality control or shipping issues. This is a gamble you take at this price point.

The bigger concern we have, which was unfortunately confirmed during our high-heat tests, revolves around the material quality under stress. While the main body is alloy steel, it feels a bit thin. The most alarming issue, reported by a vocal minority of users, is the peeling of the black paint and melting of plastic components. During our first “seasoning” burn, we noticed a slight discoloration on the lid near the handle. On a subsequent cook searing steaks at high temperatures, we saw the paint on the front near the charcoal door begin to bubble and flake. One user stated, “My first time using it and paint peeled right off.” Another had a more catastrophic failure: “The paint melted off the lever melted off.” This is a serious flaw. It suggests the finish is not rated for the high temperatures a charcoal grill can and should achieve. While our unit’s plastic leg caps and handle components remained intact, the sheer number of complaints about them melting is a major red flag we cannot ignore. It’s a critical design flaw that compromises both the aesthetics and potentially the safety of the grill. You can check the latest price and availability, but be sure to weigh this potential issue heavily in your decision.

Unparalleled Cooking Control for a Portable Grill

Where the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill redeems itself is in its cooking performance and heat management, which is frankly outstanding for its class. The single greatest feature is the 3-level adjustable fire grate. A simple lever on the front of the grill allows you to raise or lower the entire charcoal bed, moving it closer to the food for an intense sear or further away for gentle, indirect heat. This is a game-changing feature usually reserved for larger, more expensive kettle grills. We were able to get a beautiful, crusty sear on thick-cut ribeyes by raising the coals to the highest level. Then, for a whole chicken, we lowered the coals, banked them to one side, and used the dual dampers to dial in a consistent 325°F temperature for over an hour.

The damper system—one on the side of the firebox and a rotating one on the lid—provides precise airflow control. Closing them down effectively chokes the fire for low-and-slow cooking, while opening them wide creates a roaring heat. One user perfectly captured this versatility, recounting a camping trip where they cooked “inch thick USDA Prime NY Strips and pork tenderloin” which require very different heat levels. They praised the “ability to set the level of the coals…and close the grill” for a perfect low-and-slow cook. The built-in thermometer, while not perfectly accurate (we always recommend a separate digital probe), gives a good general sense of the internal temperature. The 303 square inches of total cooking space (including the warming rack) is more than adequate. We easily fit six large burgers on the main grate with room to spare, confirming another user’s experience of cooking “four half-pound burgers and five hotdogs at once.” This level of control is a feature that really sets it apart from simpler, kettle-style portables.

Thoughtful Design and Convenience Features

Beyond its core cooking ability, the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill includes several features that make the grilling experience smoother and cleaner. The front-access charcoal door is a standout. During a long cook, there’s no need to remove the hot, food-laden grate to add more fuel. You simply open the small hatch and slide more charcoal or wood chunks in, minimizing heat loss and disruption. This is a feature we wish more portable grills would adopt.

The porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates perform well, providing decent heat transfer and being relatively easy to clean with a good grill brush. The chrome-plated warming rack is another welcome addition, perfect for toasting buns or keeping finished items warm while the rest of the food cooks. But perhaps the most appreciated convenience is the slide-out ash tray. Located underneath the firebox, it catches all the spent ash and embers. Instead of having to tip the entire dirty grill over, you just slide the tray out and dump it (once completely cool, of course). This drastically simplifies cleanup, turning a 10-minute messy job into a 30-second task. The sturdy side handles make carrying the 25.4-pound unit manageable, and its tabletop design fits perfectly on a standard park picnic table, as one user happily noted. These thoughtful additions elevate the grill from a basic cooker to a well-rounded outdoor appliance which you can explore in more detail online.

What Other Users Are Saying

User feedback on the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill presents a clear divide. On one side, there is a large contingent of very happy customers. One enthusiastic owner exclaimed, “Just finish cooking my first burger, man I freaking love this thing.” Another stated, “This barbecue is great! Extremely easy to put together… I love it! I will recommend to friends and family.” These positive reviews consistently praise the grill’s perfect size, excellent cooking performance, and features like the warming rack and adjustable coal bed, which are seen as providing great value for the price.

However, there is an equally prominent and concerning collection of negative reviews that focus almost exclusively on poor build quality and material failure. The most common and serious complaint is about the paint peeling off after the very first use. One user provided photos, saying, “Do not buy! My first time using it and paint peeled right off… Very poorly built.” This issue is often coupled with reports of plastic components, like the leg caps or the adjustment lever handle, melting from the heat. These defects are not just cosmetic; they point to a fundamental problem with the materials used, suggesting they are not suitable for the high temperatures of charcoal grilling. This feedback is critical for potential buyers, as it indicates a significant quality control lottery: you might get a fantastic grill for the money, or you might get a defective unit that fails immediately.

How Does the Royal Gourmet CD1519 Compare to the Alternatives?

The Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill occupies a specific niche—a feature-rich, high-capacity portable. But how does it stack up against other options? Depending on your priorities, from backyard smoking to ultralight backpacking, one of these alternatives might be a better fit.

1. Royal Gourmet CC1830W 30-Inch Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker

This is a direct comparison of portability versus capability. The CC1830W is not a portable grill; it’s a full-fledged backyard smoker and grill combo with a massive 811 sq. in. cooking area. If your “outdoor” cooking is exclusively done in your own yard and you have aspirations of smoking brisket or ribs, this is the clear choice. It offers true offset smoking capabilities that the CD1519 cannot replicate. However, it’s large, heavy, and meant to stay in one place. Someone should choose the CC1830W if they want a permanent backyard centerpiece for smoking and grilling for large groups, and have no need for portability.

2. Kamado Joe Classic Joe II 18-inch Ceramic Grill

This comparison is all about budget and performance ceiling. The Kamado Joe is a premium ceramic grill that represents the pinnacle of charcoal cooking. Its thick ceramic walls provide unrivaled insulation, leading to incredibly stable temperatures and fuel efficiency. It can sear, roast, smoke, and even bake better than almost any other grill on the market. However, it comes at a price that is many, many times higher than the Royal Gourmet CD1519. It’s also extremely heavy, making it “movable” rather than truly portable. A grilling aficionado with a large budget who demands the absolute best in performance and versatility should choose the Kamado Joe.

3. Odoland Portable Folding Campfire Grill

Here, the trade-off is between features and ultimate portability. The Odoland grill is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the CD1519. It is a simple, folding stainless steel grate designed to be used over a campfire or with a small charcoal bed. It’s incredibly lightweight, folds flat, and fits easily into a backpack. What you gain in portability, you lose in features. There is no lid, no dampers for temperature control, no ash management, and a much smaller cooking surface. This is the perfect choice for a backpacker, overlander, or minimalist camper where every ounce and inch of pack space matters more than cooking versatility.

Final Verdict: A Capable Cooker with a Major Flaw

The Royal Gourmet CD1519 Portable Charcoal Grill is a product of contradictions. On paper and in practice, its cooking system is brilliant for its category. The combination of an adjustable charcoal bed, dual dampers, a front access door, and a generous cooking area provides a level of control and convenience that rivals much larger, more expensive grills. For the price, the cooking performance is truly hard to beat. It can handle a small family barbecue with ease and offers the versatility to tackle a wide range of grilling styles.

However, we cannot overlook the significant and widely reported issues with its material durability. The alarming frequency of complaints about paint peeling and plastic components melting on the very first use is a major gamble for any buyer. This flaw prevents us from giving it an unconditional recommendation. If you receive a well-made unit and are careful not to push it to extreme temperatures for extended periods, you will likely be thrilled with your purchase. But the risk of receiving a defective model is real and substantial.

Our recommendation is this: If you are a hands-on person, comfortable with a potentially lengthy assembly and willing to take a chance on quality control for a feature-packed, high-performance portable cooking system, then the Royal Gourmet CD1519 is worth considering. If reliability and out-of-the-box perfection are your top priorities, you may be better served by looking at other options. For those willing to take the leap, we suggest you find the best deal on the Royal Gourmet CD1519 today and be prepared to inspect it thoroughly upon arrival.