Charcoal Grill with Side Tables: What to Look For

How much cooking space do you need?

Cooking space is measured in square inches, and it decides how much food you can cook at once. A grill with 343 sq. in. of total cooking surface gives you room for a full round of burgers, steaks or chicken without crowding the grate — and crowded food steams instead of searing.

Look at how that space is split. On the grill in this guide, 221 sq. in. is porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, where the food sits over the coals, and 122 sq. in. is a chrome-plated steel wire warming rack above, which keeps cooked food warm while the next batch grills.

Smoker and grill in one

Some charcoal grills do two jobs. A 2-in-1 design switches between smoker and grill modes, so the same grill that sears steaks over hot coals can also cook low and slow with smoke. That matters if you want both quick weeknight grilling and long weekend cooks without buying two separate cookers.

Quick picks

For most backyard setups, one grill covers it. Our pick below is the grill we recommend for backyards, patios, camping, picnics and outdoor barbecue parties.

• DNKMOR charcoal grill with 2 side tables — our pick for outdoor cooking.

Our pick: DNKMOR charcoal grill with 2 side tables

This grill suits anyone cooking outdoors — in a backyard or on a patio, at a campsite, on a picnic, or at a barbecue party. It has 343 sq. in. of cooking surface, with 221 sq. in. of porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates and a 122 sq. in. chrome-plated steel wire warming rack, and its 2-in-1 design switches between smoker and grill modes.

Its strength is how much it carries in one package: two side tables hold sauces, seasonings, plates and tools right at your fingertips, two wheels let you move it where you need it, a removable ash pan makes cleanup easy, a beer holder keeps a drink within reach, and an integrated thermometer tracks temperature precisely. It also assembles easily, with detailed instructions in the package. Its limitation is that it is a charcoal grill: it needs charcoal and time to light, and the ash pan needs emptying after cooking — so it suits cooks who enjoy charcoal rather than someone who wants instant gas heat.

The extras that make grilling easier

Side tables are the extra most people notice first. With two of them, everything you need while grilling — sauces, seasonings, plates and tools — stays right at your fingertips, and there is no more running back and forth for supplies.

Wheels matter more than they look. Two wheels mean you can move the grill easily to where you need it, whether that is a shady corner of the yard or next to the table. A removable ash pan makes cleanup a quick job instead of a messy one, and a built-in thermometer takes the guesswork out of temperature.

• Side tables: space for sauces, seasonings, plates and tools while you cook.
• Wheels: move the grill where you need it without lifting it.
• Removable ash pan: effortless cleanup after cooking.
• Beer holder: keeps a beverage within arm's reach.
• Integrated thermometer: precise temperature tracking.

Setting it up

This grill installs easily and is ready to cook on right away. The package includes detailed instructions, and assembly is step by step — follow them in order and the grill goes together without fuss.

Frequently asked questions