Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill Review: The Pint-Sized Powerhouse with a Few Quirks

There’s a flavor, a specific kind of juicy, smoky perfection that only comes from a kamado grill. For years, I associated that experience with massive, multi-hundred-pound ceramic eggs that commanded a premium price and a permanent, revered spot on the patio. The problem? I love to camp, tailgate, and sometimes just grill in a different part of the yard. Lugging a fragile, 200-pound ceramic grill is not just impractical; it’s impossible. This created a dilemma: sacrifice the superior cooking technology of a kamado for portability, or sacrifice the freedom to grill anywhere for the sake of flavor. It’s a compromise many of us have faced, settling for flimsy, inefficient portable grills that scorch one side of a burger while leaving the other raw. We were searching for a way to get that incredible heat retention and fuel efficiency in a package that could actually fit in the trunk of a car.

What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Kamado Grill

A portable kamado grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking high-performance grilling and smoking in spaces where traditional setups won’t fit. Unlike standard portable grills that are often thin-walled and struggle with temperature stability, a kamado-style grill uses thick, insulated walls to lock in heat and moisture. This results in incredibly stable cooking temperatures for hours on end, remarkable fuel efficiency (you’ll use far less charcoal), and the versatility to sear steaks at 700°F or smoke a pork shoulder at 225°F with equal precision. This technology transforms outdoor cooking from a simple searing exercise into a true culinary art form, no matter where you are.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing a space or mobility constraint but who refuses to compromise on quality. This includes RV and camper owners, apartment dwellers with small balconies, tailgating enthusiasts, and even backyard pitmasters who want a smaller, more efficient secondary grill for weeknight cooks. It’s for the person who understands the value of precise temperature control. However, it might not be suitable for those who regularly cook for large crowds of ten or more, as the smaller cooking surface would become a bottleneck. If you need to feed an army, a larger, traditional offset smoker or a kettle grill with more real estate would be a better choice.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Portability is relative. The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill measures roughly 20 inches wide and 26 inches tall and weighs 33 pounds. While it’s certainly portable enough for a car or RV, it’s not a lightweight backpacking grill. You need to ensure you have adequate trunk space and can comfortably lift and carry it to your desired cooking location.
• Capacity/Performance: The 155 square inch cooking area is a key metric. This translates to about 8 burgers, a whole spatchcocked chicken, or a small pork butt. It’s perfect for couples or small families of up to four. Performance isn’t just about size, but about the ability to hold steady temperatures for long periods, which is the hallmark of a true kamado.
• Materials & Durability: Traditional kamados are ceramic, which is an excellent insulator but heavy and fragile. The AKORN Jr. uses triple-walled, powder-coated steel. This offers similar insulating properties with significantly less weight and much greater durability, making it ideal for travel. You don’t have to worry about cracking it if it gets bumped in transit, a real concern with ceramic models. The cast iron grates are another mark of quality, providing excellent heat retention for deep sear marks.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Kamado cooking has a learning curve. Mastering the interplay between the top and bottom air dampers to dial in your target temperature takes practice. Look for features that simplify the process, like a clear temperature gauge and an easy-to-clean ash removal system. The AKORN Jr.’s patented Easy Dump Ash Pan is a significant quality-of-life feature that makes post-cook cleanup far less of a chore.

Understanding these factors will help you decide if a portable kamado is the right investment for your outdoor cooking adventures.

While the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado 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 and Key Features of the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill

Upon unboxing the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill, the first thing we noticed was its solid, compact presence. The “Ash” grey powder-coated finish gives it a modern, serious look that belies its budget-friendly price point. At 33 pounds, it has a reassuring heft without being unmanageable. The body is constructed from triple-walled 22-gauge steel, a clear design choice to emulate ceramic performance without the fragility. The short, stout legs provide a very stable base, and the two side handles feel robust enough for confident transport. Assembly was refreshingly simple; the instructions were clear, and we had it fully built in under 30 minutes. However, we must address a widely reported concern: quality control. While our unit arrived in good condition, we immediately inspected the lid alignment, a common complaint among users. Ours seated properly, but we can see how a slight manufacturing variance in the hinge placement could cause a gap, compromising the airtight seal that is crucial for a kamado’s performance. It’s an area where the savings over premium ceramic models become apparent.

Performance Under Fire: A Detailed Analysis of the Char-Griller AKORN Jr.

A grill’s true worth is measured in BTUs, smoke rings, and searing power. It’s about performance when the charcoal is lit and dinner is on the line. We put the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill through a series of tests, from high-heat searing to low-and-slow smoking, to see if this steel egg could truly deliver the legendary cooking experience of its ceramic cousins. What we discovered was a surprisingly capable and versatile performer that punches well above its weight class, albeit with a few nuances that require a pitmaster’s touch.

The Heart of a Kamado: Triple-Wall Insulation and Heat Control

The core technology that sets the AKORN Jr. apart is its triple-walled, insulated steel body. This design is engineered to trap and radiate heat with incredible efficiency, mimicking the thermal properties of thick ceramic. Our testing confirmed this claim wholeheartedly. After getting a small chimney of lump charcoal lit and dumping it in, the grill came up to a searing temperature of 600°F in about 15-20 minutes. More impressively, once we shut the dampers down for a low-and-slow cook, it settled at 250°F and held that temperature for over six hours on a single load of charcoal. This level of fuel efficiency is phenomenal and something most portable grills can only dream of. One user noted being surprised by the “poco consumo de carbón” (low charcoal consumption), and our experience validates this completely. It sips fuel, making it economical for long cooks.

However, achieving this thermal stability requires practice. Temperature control is managed by a numbered sliding damper on the bottom for major air intake and a calibrated rotating damper on the top for fine-tuning. This dual-damper system is powerful but sensitive. A small adjustment can cause a 25-50 degree temperature swing if you’re not careful. We found it easy to overshoot our target temperature initially. This confirms the experience of some users who found it “hard to control temp” and eventually opted for an automatic controller for overnight smokes. While a controller like a Billows unit certainly makes it foolproof, we found that after a few cooks, we could manually dial in and maintain a stable temperature within a 10-degree window. The key is to make very small adjustments and wait 10-15 minutes to see the effect before adjusting again. The built-in temperature gauge is adequate for general grilling, but we highly recommend using a quality dual-probe digital thermometer for any serious smoking to get accurate readings at the grate level. The value proposition here is immense; with a little patience, you get true kamado efficiency and control, a feature that really sets it apart from other portable grills.

The Cooking Surface: Cast Iron Grates and Usable Space

The cooking experience is defined by the grate, and Char-Griller made an excellent choice with a heavy-duty cast iron surface. This material is revered for its ability to absorb and retain heat, translating that energy into beautiful, restaurant-quality sear marks. We tested this with thick-cut ribeye steaks, and the results were flawless. The grates produced a deep, dark crust while leaving the interior perfectly medium-rare. The 155 square inches of cooking space, while sounding small, proved surprisingly generous. We comfortably fit four large burger patties with room to spare, and a full rack of ribs (cut in half) fit perfectly. This aligns with a user who stated the “cooking surface is big enough for a family of four easily.”

For smoking, the space is ideal for a 5-6 pound pork butt or a whole chicken. The kamado design ensures even, convective heat circulates around the food, eliminating the need to constantly turn it. This indirect heat, combined with wood chunks placed directly on the coals, produced a beautiful smoke ring and incredibly moist results on a chicken we smoked for three hours. The versatility to switch from a raging-hot sear to a gentle, smoky environment is the AKORN Jr.’s greatest strength. It isn’t just a grill; it’s a true smoker and even a high-temperature oven for things like pizza (with the addition of a heat deflector stone, sold separately). The quality of the cast iron grate elevates the entire cooking process, making every meal feel like a special occasion.

Living With the AKORN Jr.: Portability, Assembly, and Maintenance

Beyond its cooking prowess, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill is designed for a life on the move. At 33 pounds, it hits the sweet spot between flimsy and immovable. The side handles are well-placed and comfortable, and the locking lid clamp is a simple but brilliant feature. It ensures the lid, grate, and any leftover charcoal stay securely inside during transport, preventing a messy disaster in your car. We took it to a local park, and moving it from the trunk to the picnic table was a one-person job. This is a stark contrast to a small ceramic kamado, which would be double the weight and require extreme care. As one user noted, “Love the size and weight for our camper and it is the reason I bought.”

As mentioned, assembly is generally straightforward. However, the recurring theme of quality control is a factor here. Reports of misaligned screw holes or missing parts, like the user who received four legs instead of three and no handle, are concerning. While our experience was smooth, prospective buyers should be prepared to potentially perform minor tweaks, like adding washers to a hinge to perfect the lid seal, as one resourceful user did. The biggest win in the day-to-day experience is the cleanup. The Easy Dump Ash Pan is a feature we wish every charcoal grill had. After the coals are completely extinguished, you simply unclip the pan from the bottom of the grill, walk it over to a trash can, and dump the ash. It’s a clean, quick, and effortless process that takes the biggest hassle out of charcoal grilling. This ease of maintenance makes you want to use the grill more often, which is perhaps the highest praise one can give. These thoughtful portability and convenience features make it a joy to own.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing the broad spectrum of user feedback reveals a clear consensus: the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill is a brilliant performer plagued by inconsistent manufacturing and shipping standards. Overwhelmingly, users who receive a good unit are ecstatic. One owner called it “one of the best I’ve ever owned,” while another celebrated a “prime rib [that] came out awesome!” The praise consistently focuses on its core function: it cooks food beautifully, holds heat exceptionally well, and is incredibly fuel-efficient, with one happy customer noting, “It holds heat well and doesn’t use much fuel at all.”

On the other hand, the negative feedback is just as consistent and centers almost exclusively on quality control. A significant number of users report their grills arriving damaged, with one describing a “golf ball sized dent” and another a “puncture hole” that was present before the powder coating was even applied. Lid alignment is the most common functional complaint, preventing the grill from sealing properly. These issues, combined with reports of poor customer service, create a frustrating “luck of the draw” scenario for buyers. One user’s experience of receiving two consecutive misaligned units encapsulates the problem perfectly. It’s a critical flaw in an otherwise stellar product.

How the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Stacks Up Against the Competition

While the AKORN Jr. carves out a unique niche, it’s important to understand how it compares to other popular portable options. Depending on your primary use case—searing, smoking, or maximum portability—a different grill might be a better fit.

1. Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Tabletop Charcoal Grill

The Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler is a rugged, no-nonsense tabletop grill built like a tank. Instead of insulation, it focuses on direct heat control with a height-adjustable charcoal tray, allowing you to move the fire closer or farther from the food. It’s an excellent choice for those who primarily grill steaks, burgers, and hot dogs and want precise control over their searing. While it can be used for smoking, it lacks the thermal efficiency and “set-it-and-forget-it” stability of the AKORN Jr.’s kamado design. If your priority is heavy-duty construction and high-heat grilling over smoking versatility and fuel economy, the Rambler is a formidable alternative.

2. Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30″ BBQ Charcoal Grill and Smoker

This Royal Gourmet model represents a completely different approach to outdoor cooking. It’s a traditional backyard barrel grill with an offset smoker box, offering a massive 811 square inches of cooking space. This is not a portable grill; it’s a stationary solution for those who need to cook for large parties. If your main goal is to smoke multiple briskets or racks of ribs simultaneously and you have a dedicated patio space, this is the tool for the job. It offers a classic “stick burner” smoking experience that the AKORN Jr., by virtue of its size and design, cannot replicate. It’s a choice of scale: massive capacity over portability and kamado efficiency.

3. Generic Portable Charcoal Grill

This type of small, tabletop grill represents the ultra-portable, budget-friendly end of the spectrum. It’s lightweight, compact, and perfect for simple, direct-heat grilling at the beach or a campsite. You can grill a few burgers or hot dogs effectively, but that’s where its capabilities end. It has thin metal walls, minimal heat retention, and virtually no temperature control for smoking or advanced techniques. For the occasional griller who values maximum portability and a low price above all else, this is a viable option. However, for anyone serious about flavor and versatility, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill offers a monumental leap in performance for a modest increase in size and cost.

The Final Verdict: Is the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. the Right Grill for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill is a game-changer in the portable grilling market. It successfully delivers the high-performance cooking characteristics of a traditional ceramic kamado—unmatched heat retention, incredible fuel efficiency, and the versatility to sear or smoke—in a durable, lightweight, and genuinely portable steel body. For its price, the cooking capability is simply phenomenal. It’s a joy to use, producing succulent, flavorful food that rivals grills costing three or four times as much.

However, this strong recommendation comes with a significant caveat: the gamble on quality control. The prevalence of shipping damage and manufacturing defects like misaligned lids is a real issue that cannot be ignored. Our final verdict is this: if you are an enthusiast seeking top-tier kamado performance for camping, tailgating, or a small patio, this grill is an absolute must-buy… provided you are willing to inspect it thoroughly upon arrival and potentially deal with an exchange or minor adjustments. If you get a good unit, you will have what we consider to be the best-value portable charcoal grill on the market today. It’s a calculated risk, but one that we believe pays off handsomely in pure cooking performance. If you’re ready to take kamado cooking on the road, you can check the latest price and secure your own Char-Griller AKORN Jr. here.