Best Flat Top Grill Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

One of my favorite pieces of cooking equipment in the world is the flat top grill.  It’s an incredibly versatile style of cooker – they’re perfect for searing burgers and steaks, sautéing veggies, or making a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns outdoors.

While it might not be the first thing you’d think of buying for your back patio, I can assure you it’s a fantastic, versatile addition to your outdoor cooking repertoire.

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of our picks for the best flat top grill.  We’ll also go over some things to look out for to help make the right decision when it comes to flat top griddles.  Without further ado, let’s get into the reviews! You can also check out 

 

In a Hurry?  Here’s Our Top Picks:

1. Blackstone Professional Flat Top Grill – [Top Value Choice]
2. Le Griddle 30-Inch Griddle – [Best Premium/Built-In Flat Top Grill]
3. Camp Chef Flat Top Grill
4. Evo Professional Series
5. Blaze 30-Inch Built-In Flat Top Grill
6. Arteflame 40″ Classic Cooktop – [Charcoal Heated]
7. Blackstone 28″ Griddle
8. Cuisinart CGG-888 Flat Top Gas Griddle – [Best Budget Friendly Choice]
9. Blackstone Griddle and Grill Combo
10. Blackstone 22 Inch Portable Gas Griddle
11. Royal Gourmet 8-Burner Liquid Propane Event Gas Grill
12. Blackstone 28 Inch Flat Top Grill

Best Flat Top Grill – Our Top Choices

1. Blackstone Professional 36 Inch Flat Top Grill

The Blackstone Professional 36-inch Flat Top Grill gets our top pick for the best flat top grill on the market today overall.  If you’re looking for a price friendly and freestanding unit, it’s a wonderful choice. It has a high quality cooking surface with the added features of an advanced side shelf design and an upgraded grease management system.

For side shelf, a removable cutting board, a paper towel holder, and conveniently placed trash bag hooks all make life super easy for the grill master.  The grease management system funnels grease and drippings into a pan, streamlining the clean up process and saving lots of time long term.

As you can imagine, these upgraded features come at a slightly higher cost.  If you plan on using your flat top grill frequently, these features will probably be well worth the extra investment.

Things We Like:

• 60,000 BTU output across 4 burners with even heat distribution and 4 zone cooking.
• 720 square inches of cooking area.
• Quick ignition system and other features make it user friendly and straight forward to use.
• Advanced grease management system makes clean up and long term care easier.
• An accessory side shelf adds convenience and efficiency to your program.

Things We Don’t:

• Grill top isn’t interchangeable (although this might not matter to you if you are looking for a pure best flat top grill).

2. Le Griddle 30-Inch Griddle

If you’re looking for high end outdoor flat top grills and griddles, all Le Griddle products should be considered for your outdoor kitchen or restaurant operation.

Their flagship griddle is 30 inches wide on the cooking surface, and is constructed from a combination of stainless steel with a cast iron subplate. This dual-material system ensures even and consistent heat on the cooking surface every time you turn it on.

Le Griddle products come with the option to be heated by gas or by electricity – both heating configurations operate equally well. Further, they offer a 1 burner griddle that’s 16 inches wide and a 3 burner griddle that’s 41 inches wide.

Last but not least, Le Griddle flat top grills can be used in 3 ways. They can be used as a tabletop griddle out of the box, they can be built-in to a custom kitchen set up, or a cart can be purchased separately to make them freestanding.

3. Camp Chef 600 Flat Top Grill

(Check out our full Camp Chef Flat Top Grill review here)

Our top pick for the best flat top grill goes to the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill.  Camp Chef is a brand name that’s made quite a few appearances on this website.  They’re a reputable brand in the cooking community and they knocked it out of the park with their flat top grill.

No stone was left unturned in the design of this grill.  It’s fueled by a standard propane connection and features 4 stainless steel burners that are ignited with a matchless ignition system.  Each burner has an output of 12,000 BTUs for a total of 48,000.  The burners do an outstanding job in distributing heat evenly so there aren’t any hot spots.

Where this product really gets great is the interchangeable griddle and grill tops.  The griddle top has 604 square inches of cooking space and is perfect for breakfast, burgers, veggies, or even boiling water or making side sauces.

You can also remove the griddle to reveal 501 square inches of grill grates that are perfect for griddle steaks, chicken, burgers, and other traditional foods that you’d put on a grill.  That sort of versatility adds a ton of value to your backyard.

The best part of all of this too is that the price is super competitive!  You won’t have to break the bank for the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, which is why it’s our choice for the overall best flat top grill.  Camp Chef’s flat top grill is also offered in the following sizes:

• 3 burner flat top grill from Camp Chef
• 6 burner flat top grill from Camp Chef

Things We Like:

• Interchangeable griddle and grill top for maximum versatility.
• 48,000 BTU output across 4 burners with even heating and no hot spots.
• Great value for the money.
• A matchless ignition system makes getting started super easy.

Things We Don’t:

• Grill cover is sold separately at an extra cost, although this is pretty common.

4. EVO Professional Series Gas Grill

So the EVO Professional Series Gas Grill would be our absolute top pick for the best flat top grill if not for its astronomical price.  It’s one I’m quite familiar with as it makes almost daily appearances on one of my favorite cooking YouTube channels – Sam The Cooking Guy.

(You should check out Sam’s channel for ideas for great food and to see how a flat top grill can be utilized!)

Not a single proverbial stone was left unturned in the design of this grill.  Heavy duty 304 stainless steel was used as the primary material in construction.  The cooking stone itself is 30 inches in diameter and pre seasoned for outstanding, restaurant grade results right out of the box.

Dual circular burners with inner and outer control give the grill master absolute control over the grill.  A heavy duty stainless steel lid lets you roast, steam, warm, or smoke foods and also features an adjustable vent that exhausts steam and vapors while cooking.

**Note** This unit also comes in a built-in flat top configuration.

Things We Like:

• All around spectacular construction and design.  Every feature and construction material is premium.
• Ease of use.  Grease management, heat management, and ignition are incredibly easy.
• 30-inch diameter equates to a little over 700 square inches of cooking surface.
• Will last you for a decade or more.

Things We Don’t:

• The price is high.  If you have the cash, it’s a great way to go but there’s no doubt it’s on the expensive end of the spectrum.

5. Blaze 30-Inch Built-In Flat Top Grill

If you’re looking for built-in hibachi style cooking in a built-in outdoor kitchen configuration, the Blaze 30-Inch Built-In is the way to go.  Blaze is an extremely popular brand for built-in outdoor appliances, and for good reason.  Their products have stood the test of time and are backed by a lifetime warranty.

The cooking surface is 1/2 inch thick commercial quality steel and measures 27.5″ x 18″ for a total of 495 square inches of cooking surface area.  The unit is powered by two U-shaped burners that each can crank out 18,000 BTUs of heating power, for a total of 36,000 across the entire surface.

The burner control knobs are illuminated by LED lights for easy use on nighttime cooks.  A large grease tray makes cleaning up a breeze – internal systems funnel grease to the tray that can easily be removed and cleaned.

Blaze also offers a wide array of other outdoor kitchen products which compliment their flat top nicely – so if you’re looking for the same brand for a built-in gas grill, kitchen cabinets, drawers, and more, this is a great choice.

6. Arteflame 40″ Classic Cooktop

The Arteflame Classic 40″ flat top grill is one of the most unique grills we’ve ever come across, for a few different reasons.

First and foremost, it’s a flat top grill that uses a charcoal or wood fire to cook your food – and you simply don’t come across a configuration like that very often.  Flat top grills and griddles are almost exclusively fueled by propane or natural gas.

So you get all of the benefits of flat top cooking, but with the addition of smokey flavor added to your food that can only come from a charcoal or wood fired grill.

This is definitely a grill that is on the high end side – the price tag is pretty high.  But the good news is that only the absolute best materials were used for construction.  The cooktop is made of carbon steel, which is even higher in quality than high grade cast iron.

Not to mention, Arteflame grills are some of the most aesthetically pleasing grills we’ve ever come across.  They are a beautiful grills that draw people in to gather around – a truly hard to beat ambiance.

If you’re interested in learning more about these grills, check out our Arteflame review next where we do a deep dive on the brand!

7. Blackstone 4 Burner Outdoor Flat Top Griddle Station

(Check out our extended Blackstone Flat Top Grill Reviews right here)

Blackstone is a premier brand when it comes to flat top grills, and to us, the Blackstone 36 Inch Flat Top Grill is one of their best all around products.

As the name suggests, it’s a professional grade flat top grill that comes at an affordable, at home price.  4 burners with 60,000 BTU output, adjustable temperature knobs, and a quick ignition system do an excellent job at heat distribution, which makes a perfect grilling surface for you to work on.

As the name also suggests, the cooking surface is 36 inches wide and provides 720 square inches of cooking area, which is more than enough to keep an entire party or gathering fed.

4 industrial grade caster wheels are included for easy transport, 2 of which lock into place for secure anchoring.  It’s fueled by propane and could not be more user friendly or straightforward to use.

Things We Like:

• Restaurant grade materials and construction
• 60,000 BTU output across 4 burners with even heat distribution and 4 zone cooking.
• 720 square inches of cooking area.
• Quick ignition system and other features make it user friendly and straightforward to use.
• Very easy to clean.

Things We Don’t:

• Grill top isn’t interchangeable (although this might not matter to you if you are looking for a pure best flat top grill).

8. Cuisinart CGG-888 Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle

Depending on how your outdoor cooking space is set up, the Cuisinart CGC-888 22-inch Round Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill could be a perfect fit.  Most notably, it’s different from the other products on this list in that the cooking surface is a 22-inch circle, as opposed to a rectangle.

What I like most about this unit is that it’s maybe a couple of inches wider than the 22-inch cooking circle when the foldable side table is down.  That makes it a great flat top grill for tight spaces, and I’ve seen people use it in tandem next to a traditional grill.  Imagine the possibilities of having your traditional gas, charcoal, or pellet grill right next to your flat top where you can cook crab cakes, sauté veggies, or make a side sauce.

Two burners fuel the CGC-888, and a lid with a built in vent comes included so you can actually steam,  smoke, or roast too.  For easy cleanup, there’s a built in 360 degree grease pan that catches drippings and grease and then funnels everything to an easy-to-remove pan.

Logistically, everything is pretty easy with this product too.  Set up and assembly takes less than 30 minutes, and the price point is extremely reasonable considering what you get.

Things We Like:

• Its circular shape and slim profile make it the perfect centerpiece or add on to your outdoor cooking space.
• 30,000 BTU output across 2 burners and temperature range up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 360-degree grease pan eliminates any mess and makes cleanup easy.
• Great price point.

Things We Don’t:

• There are only about 380 square inches of cooking surface on the 22-inch diameter circle.  That’s more than enough for family use or for small gatherings, but may not be ideal if you’re looking to crank out food for 12+.

9. Blackstone Griddle and Grill Combo

One of the things that can be a drawback when it comes to even the best flat top grill is that you might have to sacrifice some functionality that comes with having grilling grates on your grill.  Blackstone aimed to design a product that gives you the best of both worlds with the Blackstone Griddle and Grill Combo.

On one side, you have a gas burner griddle.  On the other, you have a charcoal grill with grates – so you can achieve steaks, or burgers with that delicious traditional BBQ flavor.  I love the versatility here, and if you are on the fence about buying a flat top grill this is a perfect way to get started.

The powder coated black steel frame, stainless steel burners and thick cold rolled steel cooktop are incredibly durable and give a sleek aesthetic to this grill.

Things We Like:

• Gas griddle and charcoal grill combo is an all-in-one, versatile piece of equipment for your outdoor kitchen.
• Blackstone is a trusted brand name known for making quality, durable products.
• Rear grease management system makes clean up easy.
• Very user friendly and the best flat top grill for people on the fence about buying a flat top.
• Price is very reasonable all things considered.

Things We Don’t:

• You lose some effective grilling space due to the dividers in between the griddle and grate portions of the flat top.  They are a little hard to work around and create a little bit of a disjointed feeling when you grill.

10. Blackstone Table Top Grill 22 Inch Portable Gas Griddle

If you’re the type of person who likes to grill on the go, the Blackstone Table Top Griddle is the best flat top grill for camping, tailgating, and any other on the go activity.

With 330 square inches of cooking surface, you actually have a surprising amount of room to work for how compact the griddle is.  It’s fueled by 1 lb propane tanks and at only 25 pounds, it’s really easy to put in the backseat or trunk of your vehicle to take with you.

One of the things that always makes me nervous about portable grills is the clean up process.  If a portable grill is hard to clean, you run the risk of leftover residue or grease transferring into your vehicle, which is a giant mess.

With the Blackstone Table Top Grill, thankfully clean up is not much of an issue.  There’s a built in grease channel and rear grease management system that makes the clean up process incredibly easy after you cook.

Things We Like:

• Extremely portable and the best flat top grill for camping/tailgating.
• 330 square inches of cooking area – a great number for a portable grill.
• Rear grease management system makes clean up easy.
• Price is on the lower end of the spectrum.
• Also comes in 17 inch and 19 inch variations if you want something even more compact.

Things We Don’t:

• You have to replace the 1 lb gas tanks pretty frequently, which might become a hassle if you plan on using your grill a lot.

11. Royal Gourmet 8-Burner Liquid Propane Event Gas Grill

Boy, where to begin with the Royal Gourmet 8-Burner Event Gas Grill.  The thing that stands out most obviously is the sheer size of this grill.  It is powered by 8 burners capable of 104,000 BTUs of output and a whopping 950 square inches of cooking area.

That’s enough space to handle 60 burgers or 120 hot dogs at once, so this is the best flat top grill for large gatherings or events.  And just because you have a ton of space doesn’t mean you have to use it all the time!  It’s still a great grill for family use, and the 8 burners give you the flexibility to set up 8 cooking zones to help you get the job done.

Lockable caster wheels make transporting the grill around easy enough, and a proper grease management system minimizes the time you have to spend cleaning up after you cook.

All in all, this is the ultimate flat top grill for events.

Things We Like:

• 950 square inches of cooking area.  The ultimate grill for tailgating.
• 104,000 BTUs cooking power across 8 different burners.
• Rear grease management system makes clean up easy.
• Price is reasonable considering how much horsepower you get.
• Surprisingly easy to transport for how big it is thanks to lockable industrial caster wheels.  Although you’ll probably need a pick up truck if you want to take it tailgating.

Things We Don’t:

• The size of this grill makes it impractical for a lot of homes.  For events and large gatherings, it’s great to have all of the cooking area, but it takes up a lot of space on your patio or deck.

12. Blackstone 28 Inch Flat Top Grill

I personally wouldn’t choose the Blackstone 28-inch Outdoor Flat Top Grill simply because I prefer the features of the other Blackstone grills on this list a little more – and I think the extra space on their 36-inch model is worth it.  Their 28-inch iteration is still very much worth your consideration though and a great choice depending on the size of your patio.

It’s basically an in between of Blackstone’s full size and portable units.  At 28 inches wide and 470 square inches of cooking area, it’s slim enough to fit into just about any space in your backyard or patio, but it has the appearance and features that come equipped on their full size units.

It’s also a 2-burner grill with 30,000 BTUs output which is more than enough to get the job done, but it’s considerably less than some of the 4-burner Blackstone grills.

The 28-inch unit is also pretty easy to transport around and weighs about 75 pounds without the propane tank.

Things We Like:

• Its slim profile makes it a good fit in tight areas.  It’s also easy enough to transport around.
• 470 square inches of cooking area is a great size for families.
• Included grease catcher and simple start ignition contributing to overall ease of use.

Things We Don’t:

• Your dollar can go further elsewhere.  For a similar price, you can get more/better features with other Blackstone grills.

Tips For Finding The Best Flat Top Grill

There are a few things that are good to keep in mind when shopping around for the best flat top grill.  Here are a few of the things we like to tell folks to look out for:

*Note* Also be sure to check out our posts on how to clean a flat top grill and the best oil for griddle cooking.  Both provide great knowledge for stepping up your flattop grill game!

Cooking Surface Area

As with any grill, you need to consider how much cooking space you’re going to need on a regular basis.  If you’re grilling for yourself or a small family, you can for sure get away with a flat top grill that has 400 square inches or less of cooking area.

If you’re looking to feed a family reunion or large tailgating party, you’ll probably want something that can handle a little more food at once.

Versatility

While the flat top grill is a fantastic way to cook food, it does have some drawbacks.  Namely, it’s really hard to achieve that smoky traditional BBQ flavor with your food because the drippings don’t fall down into the fire and smoke back up into your food like what would happen on a traditional grill.

With that in mind, it’s important to think about the kind of food you’ll be making and the results you want to achieve.  I personally view the flat top grill as a piece of equipment that’s a piece of the larger puzzle and wouldn’t want to rely on it solely for all of my grilling needs.

You can also achieve both types of results with a combination grill.  Some of the grills on the best flat top grill list above featured both a flat top and traditional grilling surface all in one unit.

Is it Pre-Seasoned?

The seasoning process is crucial for a new grill as it will make your food results taste better and also prevent the possibility of rust and damage happening to your grill surface.

It will also eliminate any leftover residue or chemicals from the manufacturing process.  Seasoning a flat top grill is actually quite simple, you just apply a light coat of cooking oil to your surface and bake it in at a high heat for about 30 minutes.

A pre-seasoned cooking surface means that a layer of oil has been baked in already by the manufacturer.  This is a great way to save time for you and leave this part of the process to somebody who does it all the time.

Either way, you should pay attention to whether or not your unit is pre seasoned so you know whether you need to do it yourself.

Price

Obviously, price is a big factor in any purchase decision.  For flat top grills as a whole, prices are actually quite reasonable compared to other types of grills.  Tabletop versions can start lower than $100 with full size, quality flat tops going in the $400 range.

Of course, if you want a professional grade flat top grill, you could be looking in the $2,000 – $4,000+ range.

Mobility

It’s also important to consider the setting you plan to use your flat top grill in.  Is it just for cooking at home?  Or do you plan to bust it out on the go for camping trips or tailgating outings?

Flat top grills are one of the best classes of portable grills, and there are a ton of options for on the go grilling.  Just make sure the one you buy has a manageable weight and profile for the way you plan to use it.

What about built-in vs. freestanding?  Consider what you’re looking to accomplish with your setup – there’s definitely an option out there that will fit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Flat Top Grill Worth It?

A flat-top grill has a multitude of benefits, but ultimately only you can decide if they are worth it. They help to drain off some of the excess oil and fats from whatever you are cooking, making the final dish healthier.

They heat up very rapidly and are ready to use in just a few minutes.

The cooking area of your flat top grill tends to be large, allowing you to cook a lot of different foods at the same time. The heat is evenly distributed across the surface, ensuring that all of your food cooks at the same rate.

You can use a flat top grill indoors with no problems. Not much oil is required for cooking, making the grill an absolute breeze to clean!

You can also use as many different pots and pans as fit on the surface, instead of being restricted to one pan per heating element.

Are Burgers Better on a Grill or Griddle?

This depends on the flavor that you are looking for. A grill does not use charcoal which means the resultant flavor is much less smoky. If you are looking for a healthier burger, a grill will be better for you.

The griddle will not allow the fats to drain off, meaning that your burgers will cook in their own juices. This will give you a more flavorful and moist burger with that classic grilled crust on the outside.

The heat of a grill can be inconsistent across the surface, particularly if it is not a flat top. This can result in your burgers being undercooked in the center or unevenly cooked throughout.

A griddle has a consistent temperature across the surface, giving you the perfect conditions for cooking a burger patty.

Griddles also allows you more flexibility in building your finished burger and incorporating toppings. The surface allows you to caramelize onions while the burger is cooking, meaning that the entire thing is ready at the same time.

Is a Flat Top Grill a Griddle?

No, flat-top grills are not the same as a griddle. They are visually similar but cook food in a different manner.

The heating elements of a flat top grill are in multiple circular shapes, instead of the straight and horizontal heating element of a griddle.

A flat top is kind of a hybrid between a grill and a griddle. It has a flat surface (as the name implies) instead of a grate.

Pots, pans, and other cooking appliances can be placed straight onto the surface of a flat top, instead of putting the food onto the surface of a griddle.

The surface of a flat top is heavy steel, similar to cast iron. This becomes seasoned as you use it, making the surface more non-stick.

Can You Put a Flat Top on a Grill?

Yes, this is possible. There are flat-top attachments that you can purchase that go on top of your grill. This will allow you to have the best of both worlds and gives you a lot more cooking flexibility.

They are available in a huge variety of sizes to suit whatever grill you already own. This allows you to open up the variety of food that you cook and means that you can fry an egg at the same time as cooking a burger, without compromising on the quality of either.

These flat tops can be made from a variety of materials, such as cast iron, aluminum, and alloys. Each material comes with its own unique set of benefits for cooking. We advise researching each before making your decision.

Wrap Up

I hope our best flat top grill list was a great starting point for you in your journey!  Did you end up getting one?  Let us know which flat top you ended up with in the comments section below.

If you want to take a closer look at the top two brands we’ve recommended, head on over to our article on Blackstone vs. Camp Chef flat top grills next.