Char-Griller® AKORN® Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker with Cast Iron Grates and Locking Lid with 155 Cooking Square…
Char-Griller
Best for
Best kamado
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 3 trusted sources
Current price
$199.99
Updated May 16, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. is the most-recommended way to get into kamado-style charcoal cooking without spending Big Green Egg money. thespruceeats.com's writeup of the AKORN platform calls it a worthy contender for all-around backyard cooking, and high-trust r/BBQ posters say it 'cooks just as good of food as any ceramic, truly.' r/grilling — including an owner of a Kamado Joe — describes it as 'a very solid akorn clone especially for under 150,' which is unusually generous cross-shopping endorsement.
What reviewers liked
- thespruceeats.com (verified) endorses the AKORN platform for all-around backyard cooking
- High-trust r/BBQ and r/grilling threads cross-shop it favorably against ceramic kamados like Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe
- Insulated steel walls deliver kamado-style fuel efficiency at a fraction of ceramic pricing
- Genuinely portable for a kamado — r/BBQ owners explicitly recommend it for camping and tailgating
- Cast iron grates and locking lid get praise from verified-purchase reviewers at Home Depot
Where it falls short
- r/smoking owner reports the bottom piece rusted out after 3.5 years even when kept covered
- Steel construction doesn't retain high searing heat as well as ceramic per cross-shopping community threads
- 155 sq in cooking area is small — fine for couples or tailgating, tight for family cookouts
- Limited verified-tier expert testing in the signals for this specific Jr. model (most refers to the full-size AKORN)
Across the reviewers we read, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. is the most-recommended way to get into kamado-style charcoal cooking without spending Big Green Egg money. thespruceeats.com's writeup of the AKORN platform calls it a worthy contender for all-around backyard cooking, and high-trust r/BBQ posters say it 'cooks just as good of food as any ceramic, truly.' r/grilling — including an owner of a Kamado Joe — describes it as 'a very solid akorn clone especially for under 150,' which is unusually generous cross-shopping endorsement.
The insulated double-wall steel construction gets credit from YouTube reviewers and r/BBQ owners for low-and-slow fuel efficiency and high-heat sear capability alike. r/BBQ users specifically call out its tailgating and camping portability — it's a Jr.-sized kamado, not a 200-pound ceramic.
The honest cons surface most clearly in r/smoking: one long-time owner reports the entire bottom piece rusted out after 3.5 years even with a cover, which is the documented durability ceiling on this construction style. Verified r/BBQGrill threads also note that pushing it hard for searing can be harder than on a heavier ceramic kamado. As a sub-$200 entry into kamado cooking, though, the trust-weighted consensus is strongly positive.
- Highlight 1
- Kamado-style charcoal grill with side handles for portability - Experience the benefits of kamado-cooking and the delicious flavor of charcoal grilling on-the-go with the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Kamado Charcoal Grill.
- Highlight 2
- Easy Mobility - Compact and portable design means you can bring this grill camping, fishing, or tailgating
- Highlight 3
- Versatile temperature range of 200°- 700F for low smoking methods or high heat searing
- Highlight 4
- Easy Clean Up - EasyDump Ash Pan to easily dispose of your ashes and continue grilling with ease
- Highlight 5
- Triple Wall Steel - Triple-walled insulation for maximum heat retention and fuel efficiency for longer burn times and juicer, tender meats
- Highlight 6
- Dual adjustable dampers for maintaining desired grilling or smoking temperatures
- Highlight 7
- Includes cast iron cooking grates and one grill grate lifter
- Highlight 8
- 155 sq.in. of total cooking space
It cooks just as good of food as any ceramic, truly. Welcome to the Kamado world and I'm glad you're enjoying your purchase!
CharGriller Kamado Akorn. 3.5 years and was always covered. Never had any issues. Longest I've ever kept a grill. Whole bottom piece rusted out ...
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“Akorn Jr. Kamado Grill Smoker Review” · YouTube
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