MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables Review: The Budget-Friendly Grill with Big Features and Bigger Questions

There’s a universal moment every aspiring backyard chef faces: the desire for the perfect sear, the smoky aroma of charcoal, and the joy of sharing a perfectly grilled meal, all without dedicating a massive portion of the patio or budget to a behemoth grill. I remember my first apartment with a small concrete slab out back. It screamed for a barbecue, but my options felt limiting. The ultra-portable kettle grills were great for camping but lacked the prep space for anything more than a few burgers. The larger, feature-rich models were too expensive and would have consumed my entire outdoor space. The challenge was finding that “just right” solution: a grill compact enough for a small patio but equipped with the conveniences—like prep tables and storage—that make the entire cooking process a pleasure, not a juggling act. This is the exact niche the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables aims to fill, promising a full-station experience in a compact, affordable package.

What to Consider Before Buying a Charcoal Grill

A charcoal grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking authentic, smoky flavor that gas grills simply can’t replicate. It’s about the ritual of lighting the coals, managing the heat, and mastering the primal art of cooking over fire. The main benefit is unparalleled flavor infusion, creating a rich crust and deep, complex taste in everything from steaks to vegetables. For many, it’s the gateway to true outdoor cooking, offering a hands-on experience that is both challenging and deeply rewarding. It’s an investment in your outdoor lifestyle, promising countless memorable meals with friends and family.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who prioritizes flavor over convenience and enjoys the process of grilling. This includes new homeowners with a patio, apartment dwellers with a balcony, or small families looking for an affordable way to start their barbecue journey. It’s for the person who wants features like side tables and storage but doesn’t have the space or budget for a large, professional-grade setup. However, it might not be suitable for those who demand push-button simplicity and lightning-fast heat-up times; those individuals would be better served by a gas grill. Likewise, the serious pitmaster who plans to do 12-hour smoking sessions might find entry-level models lacking in insulation and long-term durability, pushing them toward heavier-duty smokers or Kamado-style cookers.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your available outdoor space carefully. A grill’s footprint isn’t just its cooking body; it includes any side tables, handles, and the clearance needed for the lid to open. The MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables measures 43 inches wide with its tables, a key consideration for tight spaces. Ensure you have enough room to operate it safely, away from flammable surfaces.
• Capacity/Performance: The total cooking area, measured in square inches, tells you how much food you can cook at once. The 332 square inches offered here (238 primary, 94 warming) is suitable for a small family of 2-4, comfortably fitting about 8-10 burgers. Performance also hinges on heat control features like adjustable air vents and a built-in thermometer, which are essential for moving beyond simple grilling to more nuanced cooking.
• Materials & Durability: This is often the biggest differentiator in price. Entry-level grills typically use thinner, powder-coated or painted steel, which is lightweight but more susceptible to rust and heat warp over time. Premium models use thicker gauge steel, porcelain-enameled coatings, or even cast aluminum, which offer superior heat retention and longevity. Pay close attention to the grates (chrome-plated vs. cast iron) and the charcoal rack, as these components take the most abuse.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Grilling should be fun, not a chore. Look for features that simplify the process, such as wheels for mobility and an easy-to-access ash collection system for cleanup. Assembly is another factor; some grills are notoriously difficult to put together. Long-term care involves regular cleaning and using a cover to protect the grill from the elements, which is especially critical for models made from thinner materials.

Understanding these factors will empower you to choose a grill that not only fits your space and budget but also matches your grilling ambitions.

While the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables 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:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Grill of Surprising Contradictions

Upon arrival, the box for the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables is surprisingly compact and manageable, weighing in at just 26 pounds. Inside, we found every metal panel individually separated and packed in thick foam, a thoughtful touch that prevented any scratches or dings during transit. As one user noted, the powder-coated finish feels smooth and consistent out of the box. However, the assembly process is where the experience can diverge. While we found the machine precision to be quite good, with screw holes aligning perfectly without any need for force, we can confirm other users’ reports that the parts themselves are not labeled with letter stickers. This turns the assembly from a simple paint-by-numbers task into a bit of a spatial reasoning puzzle, requiring careful comparison of each piece to the diagram in the manual. For us, it took just under an hour. Once built, the grill stands as a testament to clever design: it’s lightweight, easy to roll around on its 360° wheels, and the inclusion of two side tables, a bottom rack, and even a bottle opener on a grill this size feels like a luxury.

A Deep Dive into the MASTER COOK Grill’s Real-World Performance

A grill’s true worth is only revealed over hot coals. It’s one thing to look good on the patio, but another entirely to perform under fire. We put the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables through its paces, from the initial build to the final cleanup, to see if its ambitious features could overcome the questions raised by its budget-friendly price tag.

Assembly and Build Quality: A Tale of Two Experiences

The assembly process for this grill is a perfect microcosm of the product itself: full of potential but hampered by frustrating inconsistencies. On one hand, the engineering precision is commendable. As we pieced it together, we were impressed that every M5 screw found its home easily, and the panels slotted together without needing to be bent or forced. This aligns with feedback from users who had a smooth, hour-long build. On the other hand, the lack of labeling on the individual parts is a significant oversight. You’re left holding a metal panel, looking at a small diagram, and guessing if you have part “F” or part “G”. For those with patience and a bit of mechanical intuition, it’s a manageable, if slightly annoying, puzzle. For others, it could easily become a source of immense frustration, as echoed by several user complaints about a “horrible” assembly process.

Once assembled, our attention turned to the materials. The frame is made of thin, powder-coated metal. While this contributes to its light weight and portability, it’s also the grill’s most significant vulnerability. We share the concerns of several users who reported issues after the very first use. The wire rack designed to hold the hot charcoal is particularly flimsy. Under the intense heat of a full chimney of briquettes, we observed minor bending. Other users reported more severe warping, a clear indicator that the metal lacks the gauge to withstand high temperatures repeatedly. Similarly, the metal face plate by the handle showed signs of discoloration from the heat. These are the classic trade-offs of a budget grill: you get a fantastic design and feature set, but the material integrity is where costs were cut. It’s a grill that feels solid enough for casual, occasional use, but we have serious doubts about its ability to endure multiple seasons of heavy grilling. To get the most out of it, we’d highly recommend keeping temperatures moderate and investing in a quality cover to protect it from the elements.

Grilling Performance and Heat Management

With the grill assembled, it was time to cook. We loaded the charcoal tray and were immediately pleased with the overall design for heat management at this price point. The MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables features an adjustable vent on the side of the basin and a chimney stack on the lid, allowing for surprisingly effective airflow control. By manipulating these two vents, we could stabilize the temperature for different cooking styles. The built-in thermometer on the lid, while likely not as precise as a high-end digital probe, gave us a reliable enough ballpark reading to know when we were in the right zone for searing steaks versus slow-roasting chicken pieces.

The 238 square inches of primary cooking area proved to be an ideal size for our test meal for four people. We comfortably fit four large steaks on the main grate with room to spare for a few ears of corn. The heat distribution was fairly even, though we did notice a slightly hotter zone directly over the center of the charcoal pile, which is typical for any barrel-style grill. The 94-square-inch warming rack is a fantastic addition, perfect for toasting buns or keeping finished items warm while the rest of the food cooks. This two-rack system elevates the grill’s functionality, confirming reports from users who “love this grill” and found it to be the “perfect starter barbecue machine.” For everyday grilling—burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and steaks—it absolutely does the job. It gets hot, it provides that authentic charcoal flavor, and its heat can be managed effectively enough for most common backyard recipes.

Convenience and Ergonomics: The Side Table Advantage

Where the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables truly punches above its weight class is in its thoughtful, convenient design. The two integrated side tables are, without a doubt, the star feature. They transform the grilling experience from a frantic dash between the kitchen and the patio into a streamlined, organized process. We used one table for our tray of raw meat, spices, and tongs, and the other for our plate to receive the cooked food. This simple addition is a game-changer for small-space grilling, a sentiment shared by users who praised having shelves “to put some of your cooking items on.”

The convenience extends beyond the tables. The bottom storage rack is sturdy enough to hold a bag of charcoal and a chimney starter, keeping all your essentials in one place. The 360° swivel wheels make maneuvering the 26-pound unit effortless, allowing you to easily roll it from a storage spot to its cooking location. Cleanup is also straightforward, thanks to the removable ash collector tray that slides out from the back. While one user wished the side tables were retractable to save storage space—a valid point—their fixed nature also lends them a bit more stability. From the handy bottle opener for the chef’s beverage to the overall user-friendly layout, the ergonomics of this grill are its strongest asset, making it a joy to use for casual cookouts.

What Other Users Are Saying

The feedback for the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill is deeply polarized, painting a clear picture of a product that delights some and infuriates others. The positive reviews almost universally praise its value and convenience. One user celebrated it as “budget-friendly yet sturdy enough to be the perfect starter barbecue machine,” highlighting that they “didn’t want to stop grilling” after their first use. Another noted it’s a “nice charcoal grill for the value perfect for two to four people,” specifically calling out the temp gauge and side shelves as key benefits.

However, a significant number of reviews raise serious red flags about quality control and durability. The most common and alarming complaint is about the materials failing under heat. One user stated, “The wire rack that holds the charcoal in place is cheap. It bent after one use.” Another shared a more severe experience: “Very poor quality for the price… The charcoal tray bends with heat. I lost my money. I feel scammed.” Beyond material failure, some customers reported receiving defective units with missing parts or manufacturing errors, such as one who claimed their unit lacked the “slid lips that allow the drawer to hook to the grill,” leading to a frustrating customer service experience. This stark contrast in user experience suggests a potential inconsistency in manufacturing, where a buyer might receive a perfectly adequate budget grill or a deeply flawed one.

How Does the MASTER COOK Grill Compare to the Competition?

In the crowded market of charcoal grills, the MASTER COOK 17” model carves out a niche with its feature-per-dollar ratio. But how does it stack up when compared directly to some of the most popular alternatives? We looked at three distinct competitors to see who might be better served by a different option.

1. Weber Smokey Joe 14 inch Portable Grill

The Weber Smokey Joe is an icon of portability and durability. Its simple, no-frills design is its greatest strength. Made from porcelain-enameled steel, it boasts far superior heat retention and longevity compared to the MASTER COOK’s thin metal construction. The Smokey Joe is the clear winner for campers, tailgaters, or anyone who prioritizes bomb-proof build quality and ultimate portability over features. However, you sacrifice nearly everything in the way of convenience: there are no side tables, no storage rack, no wheels, and a much smaller cooking surface. If your primary need is a small, tough, take-anywhere grill, the Weber is the superior choice. If you grill exclusively at home and crave prep space, the MASTER COOK offers more functionality.

2. Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker E16620

The Char-Griller AKORN Kamado represents a massive leap in performance and versatility, placing it in a different league entirely. Its insulated, triple-walled steel body mimics the heat-retaining properties of a traditional ceramic kamado, making it exceptional for both high-heat searing and low-and-slow smoking for hours on end. It offers a larger cooking area (445 sq. in.) and the kind of temperature stability the MASTER COOK can only dream of. Of course, this performance comes with a significantly higher price tag and a much heavier, bulkier footprint. This is the grill for the aspiring pitmaster who is serious about barbecue as a hobby. It’s a true upgrade, while the MASTER COOK is a functional entry point.

3. AGM M1 Portable Folding Charcoal Grill

The AGM M1 offers a different take on portability. It’s a tabletop grill with a clever folding design, collapsing into a slim briefcase-like shape that is incredibly easy to transport and store. Made of stainless steel, it’s designed for quick setup at a park, beach, or campsite. Its primary advantage is its “pack-and-go” nature. However, it sits low to the ground or on a table, lacks a lid for temperature control or smoking, and has no convenience features like shelves. The AGM M1 is the better choice for someone who needs a grill for day trips and picnics. The MASTER COOK, with its freestanding design, wheels, and side tables, is a much better solution for a dedicated home patio or backyard setup.

Final Verdict: A Feature-Packed Grill with a Critical Flaw

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the MASTER COOK 17” Charcoal Grill with Two Side Tables is one of cautious recommendation for a very specific user. This grill’s greatest strength is its design and feature set, which delivers a level of convenience typically found on much larger, more expensive models. The side tables, storage rack, and overall mobility are fantastic, making it a pleasure to use for small-scale backyard cookouts. For the price, the functionality is hard to beat.

However, this functionality is built upon a foundation of thin, budget-grade materials that are its Achilles’ heel. The widespread reports of the charcoal tray and other components warping under heat are a serious concern that cannot be ignored. This isn’t a grill built to last for a decade; it’s a starter grill built to provide an excellent user experience for as long as it holds up. We would recommend it to the casual, infrequent griller on a strict budget who values convenience above all else and is willing to accept the risk of a shorter lifespan. If you’re a serious griller or demand long-term durability, you would be better served by investing more in a grill from a brand known for heavier-duty construction. If you fit the profile and understand the compromises, you can check the current price and see if this feature-rich grill is the right choice to start your barbecue adventures.