Char-Griller Akorn Kamado vs Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill
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Quick take: The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado costs $1 less; the Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill offers more cooking space (550 vs 314 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Griller Akorn Kamado | Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 | ~$400 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (761) | — |
| Type | Kamado | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 314 sq in | 550 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 700°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel with Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Grates |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 31 x 45 x 47 in | 57.3 x 28.1 x 51.8 in |
| Weight | 97 lbs | 86.4 lbs |
| Warranty | Limited (parts vary) | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado
- ✓At ~$350 it delivers most of the kamado experience for a quarter of a ceramic Egg's price - the best budget on-ramp to kamado cooking
- ✓Triple-wall insulated steel gives surprisingly good heat retention and fuel efficiency, close to ceramic for the money
- ✓Because it's steel, it's far lighter (97 lbs) than ceramic kamados and won't crack if it tips over
- ✓314 sq in of cast-iron grate plus a warming rack gives more usable space than a Large Egg costing three times as much
- ✓It holds low-and-slow temps well once dialed and easily reaches high searing heat too
- ✓The easy-dump ash pan makes cleanup much simpler than scooping ash out of a ceramic kamado
- ✓The locking lid and built-in thermometer add convenience at the budget price
- ✓A huge owner community shares mods (gasket upgrades, etc.) that make it perform even closer to ceramic
- ✗Steel doesn't retain heat as well as ceramic, so it's more sensitive to wind and ambient temperature swings
- ✗The thin steel can rust over time, especially at the bottom and around the firebox, shortening its lifespan versus ceramic
- ✗The stock felt gasket wears out and many owners replace it to fix air leaks and temp control
- ✗It can't hold temps for marathon overnight cooks quite as effortlessly as a thick ceramic kamado
- ✗Build quality and longevity are clearly budget - expect maybe 3-6 years versus a ceramic kamado's lifetime
- ✗The warranty is limited and shorter than the lifetime ceramic coverage of premium kamados
- ✗Paint can chip and the metal can warp with repeated high-heat cooks
- ✗The accessory ecosystem is far smaller than Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe
Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill
- ✓810 sq in of total cooking surface for $400 — roughly three times a 22-inch kettle's grate for under twice the price
- ✓The charcoal pan raises and lowers on an external crank, so you change sear distance without opening the lid or moving coals
- ✓Cast iron grates are porcelain-coated rather than bare, which is the version that survives a season outdoors
- ✓Side firebox port is pre-cut, so the Char-Griller side fire box bolts on later and turns it into an offset smoker
- ✓Runs to 700°F, high enough to actually sear, which most thin-steel barrel grills do not reach
- ✓EasyDump ash pan pulls out from the front rather than needing the grill tipped
- ✗2 lb maximum charcoal capacity is small for the grate size — long cooks need refueling
- ✗Steel barrel, not insulated ceramic, so it leaks heat badly below freezing and burns through charcoal fast
- ✗86 lbs on two wheels with a fixed front leg; it rolls on a flat patio and fights you anywhere else
- ✗Lid seal is metal-on-metal with no gasket, so smoke escapes and temperature control is coarser than a kamado
- ✗No thermometer worth trusting at grate level — the lid dial reads dome temperature