Komodo Kamado OTB 23-inch Charcoal Grill

The history of the Kamado Charcoal Grill is too long and confusing to recount. Suffice to say that when Dennis Linkletter stumbled across these ceramic charcoal wonders, he knew he could make them better. From a reinvention of airflow, spring assisted lid, and laser cut stainless steel parts this is one loaded grill. Anyone who knows anything about Kamado grills know that they grill at incredible temperatures and smoke at a perfect low and slow pace. This unit takes it to the next level and does it inside a shell of pure beauty.Since the 1970s the Big Green Egg has been synonymous with the Kamado style of cooker. Many companies have tried to cash in on their popularity by imitating their design and business method. The Komodo Kamado isn't one of those. Probably the first thing you will notice about this charcoal grill/smoker is the price. This 23-inch version will run you nearly 5 times what a comparable Egg would cost at around $3,600USD. Of course there is very little comparable between the two, other than the fact that they are both Kamado style grills.

The Komodo Kamado is the epitome of over-engineering. Weighing in at nearly 600 pounds of which 82 pounds are stainless steel, this is the space age of charcoal grills. That is more than just hyperbole. The bonding agent that holds the tiles on the shell is similar in composition to what NASA uses to hold heat tiles on the space shuttle. The cooking grates are 3/8-inch welded 304 stainless rod and the remaining stainless steel pieces are CNC laser cut plate.

This Kamado style grill has a thick, heavy shell. The lid would literally be too heavy to lift but the covered spring mechanism makes the lid virtually weightless. The lid is held closed by a simple locking latch (that thumped my fingers a few times until I learned to move them out of the way). The top vent is actually a rotating cap made of the same refractory materials and covered in the same tiles as the rest of the grill. While the cap, once installed, won't fall off, it does wobble a little to allow for the expansion of the metal bolt that holds it in place.

In the area of thinking of everything, the Komodo Kamado has the only rotisserie system (sold separately) that lets you close the lid completely while in use. There is even a space to install the popular BBQ Guru airflow control mechanism that lets you control the temperature of this grill with computer precision.

This grill comes standard with three cooking grates, giving you up to nearly 1,000 square inches of potential cooking space. The bottom grate fits down inside the grill and has an open space in the front to feed the fire. The main grate has a hinged door in the front for the same purpose. The top grate sits on top of the main grate. These would be primarily used for smoking, giving you plenty of space for lots of barbecue.

The Komodo Kamado is a luxury grill. Is it better than other similar grills? Yes. Is it 5 times better? No. You buy this grill because it is attractive, extremely well built, and because you can (I personally can't). It is available in virtually any color you want and in multiple tile patterns. There is even a brushed copper design coming soon.

You buy this grill directly from the manufacturer and it is shipped to you in a big crate. Have several strong people on hand when it shows up. It is very heavy and if you are placing it on a wooden deck I suggest something to put under it so that it doesn't dent the wood. Special orders are available.