Kamado Joe Classic Joe II 18 Inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill

Overview

The Kamado Joe Classic II is an 18-inch ceramic charcoal grill and smoker sold as the KJ-23RHC package, which bundles the grill dome with a matching cast iron cart, locking caster wheels and side shelves rather than selling the cart separately.

Its Divide and Conquer system splits the grate into half-moon tiers so one half can sear while the other holds food at a lower temperature, and the Kontrol Tower top vent is rated from 225 F for slow smoking up to 750 F for searing. An Air Lift Hinge is built in so the heavy ceramic dome lifts with one finger instead of two hands, and the six-piece AMP firebox is designed to resist the cracking that plagues single-piece ceramic fireboxes.

• 18-inch grill with 250 square inches of stainless grate space
• Kontrol Tower vent runs from 225 F to 750 F
• Air Lift Hinge reduces dome-lifting effort to one finger
• Six-piece AMP firebox designed to resist cracking

Who it's for

This suits someone moving up from a kettle grill who wants to smoke, bake and sear on one appliance, or someone cross-shopping it against a Big Green Egg. It is not a fit for anyone without at least one helper on hand, since the ceramic body and cart are heavy to unbox and position, or for a home where a freight delivery truck cannot get close.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

The thick ceramic walls hold heat steady for long smokes without much fuel, and the dual-adjustment top vent lets you dial in anywhere from a 225 F smoke to a 750 F sear without swapping equipment. The half-moon Divide and Conquer grate lets two different foods cook at two different heights and temperatures in the same session, which is the main thing separating it from a single flat kamado grate.

Where it stands among charcoal grills

• #10 most-searched brand and model of the 25 charcoal grills lines we track (by search demand, not sales).

From the specs of the 45 charcoal grills we list; not a test result.

Specifications

Closest rivals on specs

Primo Oval XL 400 PGCXLC All-in-One Kamado Grill with Cradle

• Cooking Surface Area 250 vs 400 sq in (-37%)
• Item Weight 232 vs 327 pounds (-29%)

Char-Griller Pro Deluxe E2827 Charcoal Barrel Grill

• Cooking Surface Area 250 vs 850 sq in (-71%)
• Item Weight 232 vs 90 pounds (+158%)

Captiva Designs GR005 Extra Large Charcoal Grill

• Cooking Surface Area 250 vs 794 sq in (-69%)
• Item Weight 232 vs 88 pounds (+164%)