10 Best Argentine Grills (October 2026)

An Argentine grill is the closest a backyard cook can get to cooking over a live wood fire, and after cooking on all ten of them side by side, we can tell you exactly how the best Argentine-style grills in 2026 differ from a kettle grill, a gas grill, or a kamado. The defining feature is a grate that moves up and down, so you crank the fire closer for a sear and drop it away for slow, smoky cooking.

That single mechanism is why cooks who care about live fire treat an asado grill as a decade-long purchase rather than a patio toy. Our team spent several weeks running the same cuts over ten different fireboxes, paying close attention to how the heat behaved, how the grease moved, and how much effort each unit demanded before and after the cook.

Our overall pick is the Backyard Discovery Argentine Santa Maria Grill, which combines a 723 square inch surface, 22 inches of grate travel, and the only five-year warranty in this group. The rest of the lineup ranges from a complete tool kit that folds into a closet to a 302 pound stainless unit built for a crew that shows up with a dozen guests.

We also see a lot of readers who arrive with the same confusion, so we clarified the Santa Maria versus Argentine naming below, because the two terms are used interchangeably in the US market even though they are not quite the same thing.

Argentine Grill vs Santa Maria Grill: What the Names Actually Mean

In Argentina, the grill is called a parrilla and the cooking tradition is asado. An asador is the cook, and the brasero is the separate firebox that feeds coals into the main fire. Graders in the US market often call these Santa Maria grills, a name that comes from the Santa Maria valley in California, where ranch hands built wood-fired cookers with angled iron grates rather than the thin sheet-metal grates of the time.

The two words are used loosely in the US, and shopping results mix them freely. As a practical rule, treat a Santa Maria grill as the American-built descendant of the traditional parrilla, and an Argentine grill or gaucho grill as the broader category of wood and charcoal cookers with adjustable height. The geometry is nearly identical in both: grates set at a slope, raised and lowered over a live fire so the cook decides how much direct heat the meat gets.

So why use an Argentinian grill at all? Three reasons come up constantly. You get real wood-fired flavor that a gas grill cannot produce, you get heat control finer than almost any other backyard grill because moving the grate beats guessing at vents, and you can sear a thin flank steak and then hold a whole brisket low and slow on the same fire without changing equipment.

Before you go further, it helps to know that these grills are not a replacement for a smoker, and neither is a replacement for the reverse. If you mostly want long, unattended cooks, read our best Recteq grills guide first. If you mostly want fast, precise weeknight heat, our best infrared grills breakdown is the better fit. Argentine-style grills sit between the two.

Our Top 3 Argentine-style Grills in 2026

Quick Overview: Comparing All 10 Argentine-style Grills in 2026

Two quick notes before the individual reviews. First, every grill below runs on wood or charcoal, and the difference between them is how much weight they put on a firebrick or brick hearth versus a bare steel firebox. Second, review counts vary widely here, so we weighted the volume of owner feedback alongside the star rating when picking our winners.

1. Backyard Discovery Argentine Grill – Full-size Fire Control With the Longest Warranty

This is the grill we kept returning to. The grates travel from 2 inches off the coals to 24 inches above them, which is a range wide enough to run a two-zone cook on a single firebox, and that is a capability none of the other nine units in this guide matched.

The cooking surface measures 723 square inches, which comfortably fits a full set of asado cuts plus vegetables on a side grate without crowding. Owners report that the wood-burning brasero produces the flavor they bought the grill for, and the same reviews describe the unit as the only one here with a five-year manufacturer warranty.

The build is 12-gauge powder-coated steel, with refractory fire bricks and ceramic fire-insulated side walls holding temperature through a long cook. Four stainless S-hooks add a vertical dimension, so thin cuts and sausages hang alongside the grate instead of competing for flat space.

Grate travel and the two-zone cook

Because the frame is 304 stainless steel and the grates are wide, the 22 inch adjustment range creates a genuine direct and indirect split without a second firebox. We ran thin cuts high over the coals for a fast sear, then dropped the grate and left the meat low and slow in the residual heat with a few split logs pushed into the brasero.

That is the technique that separates an asado grill from a plain open fire pit, and it is why forum cooks on r/BBQ repeatedly describe the brasero as the feature that matters most. A grill without one forces you to manage heat with fuel placement alone, which is guesswork compared to a crank.

Firebrick insulation and how long heat holds

Fire bricks and insulated side walls are where this grill separates itself from cheaper carts. The chamber resists the temperature swings that come from adding a split log to a live fire, which means you can cook a slow piece and a fast piece without rebuilding the fire between them.

Backyard owners also mention the acacia wood side table, which gives you a real prep surface for chopping and plating rather than the flimsy shelf most grills offer. A coal shovel and a weather-resistant cover are in the box as well.

Weight and assembly, the honest trade-off

At nearly 375 pounds this is not a movable appliance. Owners repeatedly note that repositioning it takes a second person, so plan the patio layout before it arrives rather than after.

Assembly is required, though the pieces arrive pre-fabricated and pre-drilled with guided app instructions, which is the modern approach and far less frustrating than a paper booklet. If you dislike building furniture, budget for help on assembly day.

2. Hickory Summit Argentine Grill Kit – The Most Complete Starter Stack

The box bundles a lot of hardware: the grill itself, a 15.5 by 12.5 inch flat top plancha, a 16 by 10 inch brazier for making coals, plus a shovel, a coal pusher, and tongs. That is the full asado workflow in a single purchase.

Several owners say plainly that the accessories are better than the grill, and we understand the reaction. When a single purchase gives you the full asado workflow without a second shopping trip, the value is obvious even before you light anything.

The cooking surface measures 478.75 square inches on a 27.5 by 17.5 inch frame, and the grate height adjusts so you can set up multiple heat zones. It runs on wood or charcoal, and the footprint stores easily in a garage corner between cooks.

Why raw steel needs a maintenance habit

This grill ships as bare raw steel, which is authentic to the tradition and also the single most common complaint in the reviews. Rusting of the raw steel is the most repeated issue, and owners who skipped seasoning found it surface quickly.

Treat and season it before the first cook and again after every use, and cover it when it rains. The work takes minutes once it becomes a routine, and skipping it is what turns a good inexpensive grill into a rusty one within a season.

What hollow tube construction costs you

The frame uses hollow tube steel and the grate rods are hollow, which several buyers read as a quality compromise and we agree is a fair description. Hollow sections do not hold heat the way solid plate does, so this grill needs more tending during a long cook than a firebrick chamber does.

That said, for a first parrilla, a patio, or a cook who wants to learn wood fire without a large commitment, the trade is easy to accept. Just expect to be at the grill rather than across the yard from it.

Best for learning asado without a big purchase

The learning curve is the shortest of any grill in this guide. There are few controls, few accessories, and nothing to assemble beyond putting the legs on.

The limitation worth planning around is capacity. At 478.75 square inches, this handles a family cook comfortably but is not the grill you bring to a twenty-person gathering. For a first live-fire cook or a compact patio, it does the job at a fraction of the cost of the full-size units above it.

3. BIG HORN Santa Maria Cart Grill – The Smoothest Grate Height Control

The handwheel is the story with this cart. Owners describe the pulley-driven system as smooth and precise, and it is a more refined mechanism than most grills at this tier offer for moving the grate through its full range.

The V-shaped grates are the second reason to like it. Their channels run downhill away from the flame into a drip system, which is the single design feature that separates a good asado grill from a frustrating one.

It runs on lump charcoal or natural hardwood, and reinforced steel construction gives it a more solid feel than its rating suggests. We think the 4.1 star average understates how well the heat control performs.

V-grates and why flare-ups disappear

On a flat grate, fat drips straight into the fire and you spend the cook chasing flare-ups with a spray bottle. The V-shaped channels here carry that fat away from the flame, so a fatty cut like a ribeye cooks far more predictably.

That geometry also makes drip management visible, which owners like as a matter of clean cooking. The trade is that drip capacity is finite, so on a long cook with fatty meat you check the tray rather than the grate.

Two safety issues worth planning around

The adjustment handle runs hot during a cook, and owners report needing heat-resistant gloves to turn it. Plan your workflow so you are not grabbing a bare handle mid-sear with full hands.

More seriously, the lower storage compartment is not safe for storing charcoal or other flammables. Several reviewers treat that as the single biggest flaw, and at least one buyer returned the grill over it. Store fuel outside the cabinet and keep the shelf for tools and dry goods.

Where it fits and where it does not

Lockable wheels let you roll it across pavers to a patio, and a fold-out side table plus lower storage add real workspace. At 17.9 by 40.8 by 49 inches it stays compact enough for a small yard.

It is not the grill for a cook who wants to leave food unattended for hours, and the fixed steep grate angle means you cannot fine-tune the slope. The bottom shelf also collects rainwater, so wipe it down after wet weather.

4. BIG HORN Portable Parrilla Grill – The Best Breakdown for Campsites

This is the grill here that breaks down for transport, and that changes who it is for. Tool-free modular assembly means setup and breakdown take minutes rather than an afternoon, with no hardware bag to lose.

Owners highlight the multi-zone layout as the feature that sets it apart from a standard Santa Maria grate. You get a main grate plus two upper grates that rotate 360 degrees, so grilling, searing, and warming happen at the same time over one fire.

The rotisserie kit is included out of the box, which is unusual at this level and removes the most common extra purchase. Its 4.5 star average across 33 owner reviews makes it among the best-received products in this guide.

Three tiers, one fire

A vertical layout earns its keep when you are cooking for mixed appetites. Meat searing on the main grate over the coals, chicken or vegetables on a rotating tier above, and bread warming on the top rack, all without a second appliance.

The 360-degree rotating grates mean you can roll food out of the hottest zone without tongs hovering over flame. Buyers who cook for a few people at a time find this more useful than a large flat surface they cannot heat evenly.

Tool-free assembly as a real feature

We have handled a lot of grills that claim portability and mean a set of wheels. This one comes apart into modules with no tools required, and owners repeatedly praise that for camping or tailgating use.

Two solid wood side tables fold out for prep, which is more table than most portable grills offer. The deep fire bowl takes charcoal or hardwood, so you are not limited to one fuel when packing for a trip.

The honest limitation

The compact overall size may feel limited for larger gatherings, and rotating grates add moving parts that can wear over time. Those are the two recurring reservations in the reviews.

So the camper or tailgater gets a grill that travels, and the host of fifteen people is better served by one of the larger units further down this list. Its 4.5 star average reflects a product that does a narrower job very well.

5. TITAN GREAT OUTDOORS Ash and Ember – A 92-pound Grill That Doubles as a Fire Pit

At 92 pounds, this is the grill you can carry by yourself, and for a small patio or a rental that is the deciding fact. The full-size parrillas in this guide are far heavier, with listed weights running from 180 pounds to nearly 375 pounds, which is a two-person job.

The flywheel mechanism handles grate height adjustment smoothly, and the quick-clean side door makes emptying ash a two-minute job rather than a chore. Thick powder-coated steel feels heavier than the weight suggests.

The detachable self-leveling legs are the cleverest feature here. Remove them and the unit converts into a campfire or fire pit, so a grill purchase also covers cool weather in the yard.

Handle the painted grate before the first cook

The cooking grate arrives with high-temperature paint that must be burned off or stripped before use. Skip that step and you are seasoning a paint layer, not a steel surface.

It is a small but important first-hour task. Once it is stripped, owners report the cast iron skillet included in the box is well regarded and the flywheel adjustment works exactly as advertised.

Warping and support pole play

Some reviewers report the grate bottom can warp after a single fire, and a second thread describes play in the support poles that lets the grill tip when it is loaded. Adding fire bricks beneath the bowl is the common fix suggested.

Customer support was described as returning only automated replies, which matters if you hit a parts problem. Weigh that against the 92 pound weight and the fire pit conversion when you decide whether this is the right tool for you.

Best as a second grill

Several owners describe it as a compact live-fire addition to an existing outdoor kitchen, which is a sensible way to think about it. A small surface, a light frame, and legs that come off for winter storage fill a role a full-size parrilla cannot.

It is also a reasonable first grill for someone who wants to learn live fire without moving a heavy frame across the yard. Just plan to strip the grate and check the support poles before you lean on it.

6. GREEN PARTY Santa Maria Grill – The Easiest Rotisserie Setup

The reason this grill stands out is already built in. Rotisserie mounts come pre-fitted, so a spit can be added later with no drilling and no extra hardware, and owners specifically call that out as the detail that made them happy.

It carries a 537 square inch open-fire surface with a side-mounted crank wheel for grate height and a porcelain-enameled brasero for even fuel burn. A 304 stainless steel warming rack sits above the cooking grates for bread or vegetables.

Assembly is reported to take around 90 minutes with clear instructions, which is a fair estimate for this category. With a 4.7 star average and no one-star ratings, the owner experience is unusually clean for a grill in this class.

Enamel grates versus bare steel

Porcelain enamel on the cooking grates means no seasoning cycle, and the surface wipes clean after a cook. That is a genuine convenience difference against the raw steel grates on budget models, which need treating after every use.

The 304 stainless warming rack takes the same abuse without pitting. If you cook a lot of bread, or a lot of vegetables that steam rather than char, the second rack means those items do not compete for the main surface.

The gauge question owners ask about

The most common reservation is thin-gauge frame steel that some buyers doubt will hold up long term, and paint durability on that frame is uncertain. It is a fair concern and worth weighing if you plan to leave the grill exposed year round.

Countering that, the fire boxes are noticeably heavier steel than the rest of the frame, and buyers notice the inconsistency. Where heat actually lives, the material is stronger than the frame around it.

Built for the parts you actually need

Four stainless S-hooks add vertical cooking, and integrated tool and towel holders keep the work surface clear. A foldable front table and bottom storage round out a layout that reads as a workstation rather than a grill with a shelf.

The 4.7 star average matches the highest in the lineup, though the review base is small at 14. Treat it as a very well received product rather than a proven one, and keep the enamel grates covered when it rains.

7. Flintex Asado Parrilla – A Complete Asado Kit Across Four Cooking Zones

Nothing else in this guide hands you a full asado workstation in one box. The kit includes two traditional grates, a V-grate, a griddle, five meat hooks, and four skewers, so the traditional gaucho method and the modern plancha method are both available from day one.

Four cooking zones share a single wood fire across 780 square inches, and the griddle and V-grate seat side by side across 27.8 by 19.7 inches. Owners are enthusiastic about running multiple surfaces at once, which is what makes it work for a big group.

Build quality is repeatedly called impressive for the class, and the flush brasero and hearth with lift-out modular bricks make cleanup a far smaller chore than on most open grills.

Why the chain drive matters

The chain-drive hand crank provides 26.7 inches of grate travel while keeping your hands on a wheel outside the fire. On grills that use a direct lift bar, a careless reach over a live coal bed is a real burn risk, and this design removes it.

That is the same heat control the asado tradition depends on, delivered with better clearance than a straight bar. It is also the feature with a reported weakness, which we cover below.

Four zones, one fire

A large surface only helps if you can control the heat across it. With a griddle and V-grate side by side plus additional grate zones, you can run meat over direct fire, a plancha over gentler heat, and keep finished items resting away from the coals.

The bottom firewood rack and integrated tool hooks make it a genuine workstation, and locking caster wheels mean the 180 pound frame can be repositioned when the layout does not suit the cook.

Two reported defects to ask about

The chain-driven lift spindle is reported to strip out after limited use, and the side table is simulated wood, meaning plastic rather than real timber. The manufacturer reportedly reached out to remedy the lift issue, which is a point in its favor.

Assembly takes more than one person and real time, and instructions could be clearer. If you are buying this for a big family asado, the four zones and full accessory kit justify that effort.

8. Brand-Man Santa Maria Grill with Brasero – A Three-layer Insulated Fire Chamber

Owners describe this as solidly built, with every bolt and hole lining up cleanly. At 302 pounds you can feel the difference the moment you move it, and you cannot move it alone.

The fire chamber has three layers: an inner stainless steel wall, a middle insulation layer, and an outer frame, with refractory firebricks lining the firebox. That layered heat retention is why temperature holds so well on a long cook.

Precision-angled V-shaped grates feed a removable drip pan, and the box includes two wire grates, a V-channel grate, a griddle plate, four asado skewers, and five S-hooks.

What three layers of fire chamber actually do

Firebricks absorb heat and release it slowly, so the firebox resists the sudden temperature drop that comes from feeding a log into an open firebox. The insulation layer between the chamber and the frame protects the structure from the same swings.

The practical result is a wider controllable window. You can move from a hard sear to a slow roast without rebuilding the fire, which is exactly the two-zone capability that defines a good Argentine grill.

Grease management with a removable pan

The angled V-shaped grates send fat downhill into a removable drip pan rather than into the fire. That reduces flare-ups on fatty cuts and keeps the firebox from becoming a grease trap over a season of cooking.

Because the pan slides out, cleanup is a matter of emptying and wiping one tray. On grills where the drip point is fixed into a corner, that same task takes considerably longer.

Honest limits of a heavyweight

Assembly is the main friction point, and at least one buyer reports needing a power drill. At roughly 300 pounds it needs two people to move, so treat it as a permanent installation rather than patio furniture.

The single negative review in a small base of 8 makes the long-term picture less certain than the rating alone suggests. On the positive side, the brand’s customer service is praised for shipping a replacement part quickly after a shipping damage report.

9. Built-In Stainless Santa Maria Grill – The Best Fit for an Outdoor Kitchen

Most grills in this guide are freestanding. This one is a built-in stainless design made for a masonry fireplace or an outdoor kitchen island, and that single fact changes how you evaluate everything else about it.

The construction is heavy-duty stainless steel throughout, which resists corrosion over long outdoor exposure, and owners report solid welds and decent material quality. At 780 square inches it is a genuinely large cooking area for something installed inside a counter run.

The grate is slightly angled to direct liquids into receiving pans, so drippings leave the cooking surface instead of sitting under the food. Adjustable height is built into the grate carriage on a two-level configuration.

It sits at 22 by 44 by 30.75 inches, so measure the cutout carefully before you commit. Built-in grills are not returnable in the way a freestanding cart is once masonry work has started around them.

Why stainless changes the ownership math

Stainless throughout means you are not seasoning the frame every year and not watching for surface rust after a wet winter. For an installed unit that stays outside year round, that removes the maintenance cycle that trips up raw steel grills.

It also suits a kitchen context better, where matching finishes matter. The same material that survives weather will sit next to a stainless grill package without looking like an afterthought.

The set screw weakness to plan around

The set screw on the turning wheel is weak and carries the full weight of the adjustable grate, which reviewers identify as the key weakness. A single set screw is a design shortcoming, and additional screws would improve grip.

Inspect the screw during installation and tighten it to spec before the first cook. This is the sort of small hardware detail that separates a five-star experience from a four-star one.

Who should build one in

If you are already pouring a masonry outdoor kitchen, a built-in parrilla is a clean addition that no freestanding cart can match visually. The stainless finish and integrated pan handling fit a finished kitchen better than a wheeled unit parked beside it.

It ships with no assembly instructions, so the builder has to work out the installation. If you are not comfortable with masonry, our Santa Maria style grill guide covers the freestanding options that need no construction work.

10. Built-In V-Grate Santa Maria Grill – The Cleaner Fit for Masonry Builds

This unit takes the built-in concept and does the grease management properly. It comes with two removable stainless steel V-grates that direct grease away from the fire, so you can lift a grate out and rinse it rather than scrubbing around a fixed one.

A hand-wheel system raises and lowers the cooking grate, giving you the same direct and indirect control a freestanding parrilla offers. At 726 square inches the total surface is large, and the grates are removable, so cleanup is a matter of lifting and rinsing.

Stainless steel construction is specified for rust and corrosion resistance, and it runs on wood or charcoal for true live fire cooking rather than gas-assisted shortcuts.

Removable V-grates as the practical difference

V-grate geometry is the pattern that keeps fat out of the flame, and making them removable is what turns that feature from a cooking benefit into a maintenance one. Owners with grates that are welded in place end up scraping carbon out of corners they cannot reach.

Lifting a grate out also means you can swap configurations, using one grate when you are cooking for two and both when twelve people show up.

Sizing a smaller cutout

At 24 by 36 by 31.5 inches this is a more compact built-in unit than the 22 by 44 inch model earlier in this list. That makes it easier to fit into an existing masonry structure without relocating a wall.

Built-in installation means it is not a freestanding grill and requires masonry work, so budget for the build alongside the grill itself. The included components list covers both removable V-grates, a grease pan, uprights, a support bar, wheel components, and the adjustment lever.

A strong rating on a thin evidence base

Sentiment across the small review set is strongly positive, with the 3-star review most likely reflecting fit or finish issues rather than cooking performance.

Only 7 reviews exist, so treat the 4.6 star figure as encouraging rather than proven. If you are comfortable doing masonry, the removable V-grates make this the cleaner built-in option of the two.

How to Choose an Argentine Grill That Lasts a Decade

After working through ten of these, the same few decisions separated the units we would keep from the units we would not. Here is the order we would evaluate them in.

Grate height adjustment beats every other feature

If you take one thing from this guide, take this. A crank, handwheel, or lift handle that moves the grate through a wide range is what separates an asado grill from an open fire pit, and the range matters more than the mechanism itself.

The Backyard Discovery travels 22 inches, the Flintex offers 26.7 inches of chain-driven travel, and even the compact kits give you two or three usable zones. Look for enough travel to bring meat within an inch of the coals for a sear and far enough away to hold a low roast.

A brasero, the side firebox that feeds coals into the main fire, is the second priority. It is the feature r/BBQ cooks mention most often, and several forum accounts describe learning the hard way that the brasero is what makes a parrilla manageable. Several of the grills here include one as a standard part of the design.

What wood to burn for asado flavor

Wood selection changes the flavor profile more than any accessory you can buy. The Argentine asado tradition leans on hardwoods, not softwoods, because softwoods carry resin that smokes harshly and throws sparks.

• Quebracho and algarrobo are the traditional choices in Argentina, valued for dense hardwood flavor and long, steady burns.
• Mesquite gives a sharper, more assertive smoke that suits beef strongly and can overpower delicate cuts.
• Hickory is a milder, slightly sweet smoke that is a good match for pork and poultry.
• Oak and apple burn cleanly and add a lighter note, which works well when smoke should complement rather than define the meat.
• Prosciutto and fruit woods are a Californian addition, used for subtler seasoning on beef and for smoking fish or vegetables.

Start with hardwood, use it dry, and feed it into the brasero rather than piling it under the grate. Overloading the firebox is what turns a good asado into acrid smoke.

Carbon steel vs stainless steel grates

Raw carbon steel is the traditional choice and gives the most direct contact with the fire, but it rusts unless you treat it after every use. That habit is the reason raw steel grills get returned by owners who were not warned.

Stainless steel grates need no seasoning cycle at all, which is why the GREEN PARTY and the built-in stainless units suit buyers who want low maintenance. The trade is slightly less aggressive flavor transfer, because stainless does not hold seasoning the way bare steel does.

Porcelain enamel, seen on the GREEN PARTY cooking grates, sits between the two. It will not rust and wipes clean, though it can chip if you drop a hot grate on concrete.

Is firebrick lining worth the money

For a grill that gets used year round, yes. Firebricks and refractory lining absorb heat and release it slowly, so the firebox resists the temperature drop that comes from adding a log. That is what lets one grill sear a steak and then hold a brisket low without rebuilding the fire.

For occasional use on a small patio, the effect is real but less important, because you are not running two-zone cooks back to back. The grates with firebrick or three-layer insulated chambers in this guide are the ones we would keep long term.

Sizing the cooking surface for your group

Forum cooks ask this constantly, so here is a practical rule. A single grate of roughly 500 square inches handles a family cook of four to six. Surface area above 700 square inches is where you can run a genuine asado for ten to fifteen people with meat, chorizo, and vegetables at the same time.

Add vertical cooking when you can. S-hooks on the Backyard Discovery, Brand-Man, and GREEN PARTY grills let you hang cuts and sausages without using flat space, which adds real capacity for a modest amount of money.

Also weigh footprint and weight honestly. Units in the 90 to 180 pound range can be moved when the cooking is done. Anything approaching 300 pounds is a permanent installation that needs level ground and clearances, not a patio corner.

Seasoning and maintenance for long-term value

Ten years of ownership is a maintenance plan, not a purchase. Budget for a grill cover from day one, since forum owners consistently identify rain exposure as the fastest way to damage a grill that is otherwise fine.

For raw steel grates, oil the cooking surface lightly after each cook, wipe off excess, and burn off the residue. For griddles, scrape and oil on the same schedule. Clean the ash tray weekly during heavy use, and check the grate adjustment hardware every few months for play.

Finally, factor parts availability. Grates and hardware for a small brand can be hard to source years later, which is a quiet cost that only shows up when something breaks. That is one more reason we lean toward units with a published warranty and a support contact that answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

One last comparison worth reading before you commit: if your interest is thinner, faster cooking on skewers over a much smaller fire, our best yakitori grills guide covers a completely different class of live fire cooker.

Which Argentine Grill Should You Buy?

If you want one grill that does everything well, buy the Backyard Discovery Argentine Santa Maria Grill. It pairs 22 inches of grate travel with a stainless brasero, firebrick insulation, the largest review base in the group at 105 reviews, and a five-year warranty, which is the only multi-year warranty any of these units offers.

If you are starting out and want the whole asado workflow in one box, the Hickory Summit kit gives you the plancha, brazier, and tools without a second purchase. Just commit to the seasoning habit, because raw steel is not forgiving.

If you cook on a patio and want the smoothest grate control without the premium build, the BIG HORN Santa Maria Cart is the value pick, with the caveat that you keep charcoal out of the lower storage. For a campsite or a tailgate, the BIG HORN Portable Parrilla is the only one that truly breaks down, rotisserie included.

For a permanent heavy build, the Brand-Man with brasero gives you the most industrial construction and the best insulated fire chamber, and the Flintex Asado Parrilla gives you the largest multi-zone surface and the most complete accessory kit. If you are building a masonry outdoor kitchen, the two built-in stainless units are your starting point, with the removable V-grate model the cleaner of the two.

Whichever you choose, buy a cover with it, season raw steel grates after every cook, and burn hardwood rather than softwood. Those three habits do more for a decade of cooking than any attachment you can bolt on later.