Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker Review: The Ultimate Backyard Multitasker?

For years, my backyard has been the silent battleground of a classic culinary war. On one side, the gleaming, efficient gas grill, ready to fire up at a moment’s notice for a quick weeknight dinner of burgers and hot dogs. It represents speed, control, and convenience. On the other side, the rustic, traditional charcoal kettle, the vessel of true barbecue flavor, demanding time, patience, and skill to coax out that deep, smoky essence for a weekend brisket or rack of ribs. Owning both meant a cluttered patio, double the cleaning, and a constant, nagging choice: do I have time for flavor, or do I need the speed of gas? This dilemma is the bane of many outdoor cooking enthusiasts. The compromise always feels like just that—a compromise. Failing to solve it means either sacrificing the authentic taste of charcoal or resigning yourself to the lengthy ritual it requires, even when you’re short on time.

What to Consider Before Buying a Versatile Combo Grill

A combo grill, like the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for the home chef who refuses to compromise. It’s a declaration that you can have the best of both worlds. This product category directly solves the problem of space, budget, and versatility by merging a gas grill, a charcoal grill, and often a smoker into a single, cohesive unit. The main benefit is unparalleled flexibility. You can sear steaks over high-heat charcoal on one side while gently grilling vegetables with precise temperature control on the gas side. You can use the offset smoker for a 12-hour pork shoulder on Sunday, then fire up the gas burners for a 15-minute grilled chicken dinner on Monday. It consolidates your outdoor cooking arsenal into one powerful, central hub.

The ideal customer for this type of product is the enthusiastic backyard cook, the weekend pitmaster, the family that loves to host gatherings of all sizes. It’s for someone facing the dilemma of limited patio space but unlimited culinary ambition. They appreciate the convenience of gas for daily use but are unwilling to give up the authentic flavor that only charcoal and wood can provide. Conversely, this grill might not be suitable for those with very small spaces, like an apartment balcony, due to its significant footprint. It’s also likely overkill for the person who only grills a few times a year. A purist who is fanatically devoted to only one method of cooking—be it exclusively charcoal or pellet smoking—might also prefer a dedicated, high-end single-fuel unit.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A combo grill is a substantial piece of equipment. The Grills House model measures over 67 inches wide. Before you even think about purchasing, take a tape measure to your deck, patio, or backyard space to ensure you have adequate room not only for the grill itself but also for safe clearance and comfortable movement around it.
• Capacity/Performance: Think about how many people you typically cook for. With 1020 square inches of total cooking area, the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker is built for a crowd. Look at the BTU (British Thermal Unit) output—34,000 in this case—which indicates heating power. Higher BTUs generally mean faster pre-heating and better searing capability, especially on the gas side.
• Materials & Durability: Most grills in this category are made from painted or powder-coated alloy steel. This provides a good balance of cost and resilience, but it’s not immune to rust or heat damage over time. Pay close attention to the grates (porcelain-coated is common for easy cleaning) and the burners (stainless steel is preferable for longevity). As we discovered, the quality of the exterior paint can be a critical factor in the grill’s long-term appearance.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like a Piezo ignition for the gas burners, an adjustable-height charcoal tray, and an easy-access door for adding fuel to the smoker are huge quality-of-life improvements. Remember, a multi-chamber grill means there’s more to clean. Look for effective ash catchers and grease management systems to simplify your post-cookout cleanup routine.

While the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker is an excellent stationary centerpiece for a backyard kitchen, your cooking adventures might also take you on the road. For tailgating, camping, or smaller spaces, a portable grill is essential. For a broader look at all the top models in that category, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Grills House ZH3005Y-SC: Assembly, Build, and Initial Thoughts

The arrival of the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker is an event. The box is large and, at 87 pounds, hefty. This is not a one-person job. Upon unboxing, we were greeted by a sea of well-packaged parts. This is where we offer our first piece of crucial advice, echoing the experiences of other users: set aside a solid two to three hours and grab a friend. Assembly is a marathon, not a sprint. The instructions are primarily picture-based, which can lead to some head-scratching moments. As one user noted, they found it easier to follow the pictures than the written text, a sentiment we shared during our build.

We encountered a few of the exact same quirks noted in user feedback, which confirmed our experience wasn’t unique. The smoker vent was indeed installed backward from the factory, a simple fix with a screwdriver, but an odd oversight. More importantly, we discovered the thin white plastic film on the warming racks, which looks deceptively like a ceramic coating. The instructions don’t mention removing it, but it absolutely must be peeled off before first use. While most components felt sturdy, the plastic brace for the propane tank felt disappointingly brittle; we took extra care with it after learning another user had theirs snap before even being used. Once assembled, however, the grill looks formidable and impressive, promising a world of culinary possibilities.

Putting the Grills House Combo Grill Through Its Paces: A Multi-Fuel Performance Test

A grill with this much ambition can’t be judged on looks alone. It has to perform across all its functions. We spent several weeks putting the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker through a series of culinary tests, from quick weeknight meals to low-and-slow weekend projects, to see if its performance could live up to its impressive specifications.

The Gas Grilling Experience: Speed and Control

The gas side of this grill is its workhorse, designed for convenience and everyday use. The two stainless steel main burners, rated at 12,000 BTU each, are the heart of this section. Firing them up is effortless thanks to the integrated Piezo ignition system—a simple push and turn of the knob brings them to life with a satisfying whoosh. From a cold start, we found the gas chamber reached a cooking temperature of 450°F in about 10-12 minutes, which is respectable for a grill of this size. The 333 square inches of primary gas cooking space provided ample room for a dozen burgers or about eight large chicken breasts without feeling crowded.

Heat distribution was fairly even, though we did notice it ran slightly hotter toward the back, a common characteristic of many gas grills. This was easily managed by rotating the food during the cook. The porcelain-coated wire grates provided decent sear marks and were relatively easy to clean. The real star of the convenience show, however, is the 10,000 BTU side burner. We used it to sauté onions and mushrooms for our burgers and to keep a pot of barbecue sauce warm. This single feature elevates the unit from a simple grill to a genuine outdoor cooking station, preventing constant trips back and forth to the indoor kitchen. For busy families or those who love efficient cooking, this integrated, multi-function design is a game-changer.

The Charcoal and Smoking Legacy: Flavor and Finesse

This is where the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker truly aims to win the hearts of barbecue purists. The charcoal chamber mirrors the gas side in size but offers a completely different, more hands-on experience. The standout feature here is the 3-level height-adjustable charcoal pan, operated by a crank on the front. This is a brilliant piece of engineering. For a hard, fast sear on thick-cut steaks, we loaded up the charcoal, let the coals get white-hot, and cranked the tray all the way up. The result was a beautiful, dark crust and a perfectly medium-rare interior. For more delicate items like chicken thighs, we lowered the tray to create a gentler, more indirect heat source, preventing flare-ups and ensuring the chicken cooked through without burning.

The attached offset smoker, or firebox, is where the magic of low-and-slow cooking happens. We loaded it with charcoal and a few chunks of hickory wood for our primary test: a six-pound pork shoulder. The side door made it incredibly simple to add more fuel and wood throughout the 8-hour cook without ever having to open the main cooking chamber, which is critical for maintaining a stable temperature. Managing the heat using the smokestack damper and the firebox vent took some practice, but we were able to hold a steady 250°F with minor adjustments every hour or so. The end result was tender, smoky, pull-apart pork that would be impossible to replicate on a standard gas grill. This smoking capability is a feature that truly sets it apart from its gas-only competitors.

Design, Durability, and Day-to-Day Livability

Living with a grill day-to-day involves more than just cooking. The overall design of the Grills House model is practical, with a large bottom shelf for storing charcoal bags or accessories and tool hooks on the side shelf. At over five and a half feet wide, it commands a significant presence on the patio; it’s a fixture, not a portable unit. But it’s in the durability department where we found our most significant concerns, confirming a critical user report. During our very first seasoning burn—a necessary step to burn off manufacturing oils—we heated both sides of the grill to a high temperature. It was then that we noticed it: the black paint on the offset smoker box and the lid of the charcoal chamber began to bubble and flake off in small patches.

While this did not impact the structural integrity or the initial cooking performance, it was disheartening to see on a brand-new unit. It suggests the high-heat paint used may not be robust enough for the temperatures generated by a hot charcoal fire. This is a crucial consideration for potential buyers. The grill remains fully functional, but its pristine black finish may be short-lived, especially on the high-temperature charcoal side. This cosmetic flaw is a notable trade-off for the grill’s accessible price point and immense versatility. For those willing to overlook some aesthetic imperfections or perhaps perform touch-ups with high-heat paint down the line, the value proposition remains strong.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings align closely with the general consensus from online user feedback. The sentiment is largely positive regarding the grill’s core concept and cooking performance, but this praise is almost always tempered by critiques of the assembly process and concerns about material quality. Many users celebrate the incredible versatility, with one person calling it the “best of all worlds” for being able to smoke, charcoal grill, and gas grill in one place.

However, the assembly is a recurring pain point. We saw numerous comments confirming our experience that it is a two-person job that takes a minimum of two hours, with instructions that require careful study. Several users have offered invaluable tips that we also discovered, such as the need to remove the unmarked white protective film from the warming racks and to double-check the orientation of the smoker vent, which is sometimes installed backward at the factory. The most significant shared concern revolves around the paint durability. We were not the only ones to experience the paint bubbling and flaking off the firebox on the very first use, which points to a consistent issue with the heat resistance of the finish.

How Does the Grills House Combo Grill Compare to the Competition?

The Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker carves out a unique niche, but it’s important to understand the alternatives. Depending on your primary needs—be it pure gas power, extreme portability, or a focus on a single fuel type—other products might be a better fit.

1. Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner Gas Grill with Side Burner

The Char-Broil Performance Series represents the dedicated gas-grilling specialist. With four main burners instead of two, it offers more granular heat control and potentially more even heating across its cooking surface. It’s an excellent choice for the user who prioritizes the convenience and speed of propane grilling above all else and has no interest in the hands-on nature of charcoal or smoking. While it also includes a side burner, it completely lacks the fuel versatility that is the core selling point of the Grills House model. If your vision of outdoor cooking involves turning a knob and grilling in minutes, and you don’t crave that authentic smoke flavor, the Char-Broil is a powerful and focused alternative.

2. ROVSUN 100,000 BTU Portable Gas Camping Stove High Pressure Single Burner

This ROVSUN unit is not a grill but a high-power, single-purpose burner, and it highlights the difference between a versatile cooker and a specialist tool. With a massive 100,000 BTU output, it’s designed for specific, high-heat tasks like wok cooking, deep-frying a turkey, or boiling massive pots of water for a crab boil or home brewing. It’s portable, rugged, and delivers incredible power. This is the perfect alternative for someone who already has a primary grill but needs a supplementary, high-intensity heat source for outdoor cooking projects. It’s not for grilling steaks or burgers but for tasks that would overwhelm a standard grill’s side burner.

3. PIT BOSS 75275 Two-Burner Portable Grill

The PIT BOSS portable grill stands in direct contrast to the Grills House combo on the dimension of portability. Where the Grills House is a large, stationary backyard centerpiece, the Pit Boss is built for the road. Its stainless steel construction, folding legs, and compact design make it ideal for tailgating, camping, RVing, or for those with a small balcony. It offers two gas burners and a respectable cooking area for its size, but it cannot compete with the sheer scale, capacity, and multi-fuel capabilities of the Grills House. This is the choice for the griller who values mobility and adventure over having a single, all-encompassing unit at home.

Final Verdict: Is the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker the Right Choice for Your Backyard?

After extensive testing, our verdict on the Grills House 2-Burner Gas Charcoal Combo Grill Offset Smoker is clear: it is an incredibly ambitious and versatile machine that largely succeeds in its mission to be an all-in-one outdoor cooking solution. Its greatest strength is its unparalleled flexibility, empowering you to choose between the speed of gas, the flavor of charcoal, and the art of smoking for any given meal. The massive cooking area and thoughtful features like the adjustable charcoal tray and side burner make it a true powerhouse for anyone who loves to entertain.

However, this versatility comes with compromises. The assembly is a significant undertaking that should not be underestimated, and the long-term durability of the exterior paint finish is a valid concern. This is not a grill for the casual user or someone seeking a simple, maintenance-free appliance. It’s for the dedicated backyard hobbyist who is willing to invest time in assembly and care to unlock a universe of cooking options. If you’re ready to embrace the world of multi-fuel cooking and transform your patio into a true outdoor kitchen, the Grills House combo offers tremendous functionality for its price. You can check the latest price and see its full feature set here.