Not all charcoal grills are built the same. And the difference between an amazing BBQ session and a frustrating one usually comes down to having the right tool for how you actually cook.
I've cooked on pretty much every type of charcoal grill available in Australia — hibachi, kettle, portable, hanging smokeless — and each one has a job it does better than the others. This guide is about matching you to the right one, without the fluff.
Why Charcoal Still Wins
Gas is convenient. Electric is low-maintenance. But if you want the flavour — that deep, smoky, properly charred taste that makes BBQ worth eating — charcoal is the only way to get there.
Charcoal burns hotter than gas (up to 900°C for lump hardwood vs ~450°C for most gas burners), which means better searing, a proper Maillard crust, and the kind of flavour you just can't fake with a propane flame. The smoke from charcoal also interacts with the fat and protein in your food in a way that gas simply doesn't replicate.
That said — different charcoal grills do different things. Here's the breakdown.
The 5 Types of Charcoal Grill in Australia
1. Hibachi Grills — Best for Skewers, Yakitori & High-Heat Cooking
Hibachi grills are long, open, trough-style grills originating from Japan. No lid, direct coal heat from below, designed for cooking close to the fire. They're the backbone of Japanese-style BBQ — built for yakitori, kebabs, flat skewers, and anything you want seared hard and fast over high direct heat.
What makes them great for Australian backyards: they store flat, heat up in 15 minutes, and don't require a permanent outdoor setup. A 30cm tabletop hibachi lives under a bench when not in use. A 100cm commercial-grade hibachi leans against a wall in the garage.
Best for: Yakitori, skewers, kebabs, fish fillets, flat-seared vegetables, anything needing intense direct heat.
What to look for: Stainless steel construction (not powder-coated, which peels and rusts), adjustable grate height, and a length that matches your typical group size. 30–60cm for 2–4 people. 80–100cm for groups of 6+.
The WillBBQ Hibachi range runs from 30cm tabletop to 100cm commercial-grade, all in 201/304 stainless steel with adjustable grates. The Multi-Size Charcoal Hibachi Grill is the most viewed hibachi product on Amazon Australia — a good sign.
2. Portable / Bench-Top Grills — Best for Camping & Small Spaces
Compact, lightweight, and built to travel. Portable grills sacrifice some cooking area for packability, but the best ones sacrifice nothing on heat. If your BBQ needs to fit in the boot of a car or live under a bench between uses, this is your category.
Best for: Camping trips, caravanning, picnics, small courtyards, townhouse patios, anyone who doesn't want a fixed outdoor installation.
What to look for: Foldable or flat-pack design, a grate that won't warp under heat, and enough cooking area for your typical group (even a 30cm × 30cm surface handles 4 skewers at once).
The WillBBQ Portable Bench Top Charcoal BBQ Grill hits this perfectly — folds flat, packs in the boot, and genuinely performs at high heat. It's the one that lives in my camping kit.
3. Smokeless Hanging Grills — Best for Covered Alfresco & Entertainment Areas
Smokeless BBQs use an oil-separation system to dramatically reduce smoke output. Not zero smoke — they still use charcoal — but 70–90% less than a traditional open grill. If smoke drift has ever been the reason you haven't grilled more often, this category is the answer.
Best for: Covered pergolas, enclosed alfresco areas, tighter outdoor entertainment spaces, anywhere with neighbours close enough to care about smoke.
What to look for: A genuine oil-separation design (not just a vented lid), stainless steel housing, and the ability to reach serious cooking temperatures. "Smokeless" shouldn't mean "low heat".
The WillBBQ Smokeless Hanging Grill ($133.20) uses 360° circular flame technology and a dedicated drip-oil separation layer. It reaches 800°C and uses 50% less charcoal than an open hibachi. The cleanest charcoal experience available without switching fuels.
Note: Charcoal grills — including smokeless models — are not suitable for enclosed apartment balconies where strata by-laws restrict open-flame use. For enclosed spaces, a gas or electric option is the compliant choice. Always check your building's rules first.
4. Kettle BBQs — Best for Low & Slow, Smoking & Whole Roasts
The domed lid is what defines this category. It turns a charcoal grill into a convection oven — heat circulates rather than just rising, which means you can cook indirectly, smoke with wood chips, and low-and-slow a brisket without burning the outside. If you want to roast a whole chicken on charcoal, a kettle is how you do it.
Best for: Slow-cooked ribs and brisket, whole roast chicken, smoking with wood, indirect heat setups, longer weekend cooks.
Weber's 57cm Kettle is the benchmark here — it's been the standard for decades and still holds up. WillBBQ focuses on hibachi and portable charcoal rather than kettles, so for this category, Weber or Ziggy are honest recommendations.
That said — if you're buying skewers, hibachi grills, or charcoal accessories at the same time, WillBBQ's accessories bundle perfectly with any kettle setup.
5. Commercial Hibachi Grills — Best for Restaurants, Caterers & Serious Home Cooks
Longer, heavier, built for volume. Commercial hibachi grills are 80–100cm+ wide with reinforced grates and thicker steel gauge — designed to handle daily use in professional kitchens or the home cook who wants to buy once and never think about it again.
Best for: Restaurants, food trucks, caterers, cooking for groups of 15+, or anyone who wants a grill that outlasts every other piece of outdoor equipment they own.
The WillBBQ 100cm × 35cm Commercial Charcoal Hibachi Grill features a 6mm thick stainless steel grate, reinforced body, and heat stability built for continuous commercial use. It's the grill we see at markets and food events across Australia. Ships Australia-wide with free delivery.
Quick Comparison: Which Type Is Right for You?
| Type | Best For | WillBBQ Pick | Price From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibachi | Yakitori, skewers, tabletop | Multi-Size Charcoal Hibachi | $89 |
| Portable | Camping, small patio, travel | Portable Bench Top Charcoal BBQ | $79 |
| Smokeless | Covered alfresco, smoke-sensitive areas | Smokeless Hanging Grill | $133 |
| Kettle | Low & slow, smoking, roasts | Weber 57cm Kettle (external) | $249+ |
| Commercial | Restaurants, catering, large groups | 100cm × 35cm Commercial Hibachi | $299 |
What Charcoal Should You Use?
Your grill is only as good as your fuel. Quick breakdown:
- Lump hardwood charcoal — the best all-rounder. Hotter than briquettes, minimal ash, great flavour. Aussie ironbark and red gum are excellent. WillBBQ's 10kg Bamboo Lump Charcoal is clean-burning with no additives.
- Heat beads / briquettes — consistent, long burn, easy to manage. Good for beginners and longer cooks. Not ideal for yakitori where you want pure, clean flavour.
- Binchotan (Japanese white charcoal) — the highest tier. Burns near-smokeless at 900°C+, holds temperature for hours, adds nothing unwanted to the flavour. The choice for serious yakitori. Available at Asian grocery stores and online.
The One Thing That Matters More Than the Grill
A chimney starter.
This is the single accessory that separates frustrating charcoal experiences from great ones. Load it with lump charcoal, light newspaper underneath, wait 15–20 minutes until the top coals are fully ashed over. Then tip into the grill. Even heat from the first cook, no lighter fluid taste, no faffing around.
If you're still trying to light charcoal with a lighter directly in the grill, the chimney starter is the upgrade that'll change everything. We stock them in the BBQ accessories range.
Final Word
The best charcoal grill in Australia is the one that fits how you actually cook. If you're a skewers-and-high-heat person, a hibachi is your tool. If you want to slow-smoke brisket on a Sunday, get a kettle. If smoke drift has been the reason you don't grill more, try the smokeless hanging grill.
WillBBQ specialises in hibachi and portable charcoal — the most underrepresented category in Australian BBQ retail, and honestly the most rewarding one to cook on. Everything ships Australia-wide with free delivery and same-day dispatch.
Share:
How to Throw the Ultimate Aussie Summer BBQ Party
Charcoal BBQ for Beginners: Your First Cook, Done Right