Made right here in the UK, Blok tabletop barbecues – the Hako, Naka, and Naka Wide – are modelled after Japanese konro grills. They are easy to set up and use, even if you are a total beginner, and their compact sizes make it ideal for gathering around at a table for Japanese or Korean–style barbecues. (Blok grills should always be used outdoors.) You can treat the Blok grill like portable barbecue or just a standard barbecue you bring out when the weather is nice. It is an artisanal product that is built to last a lifetime.

Before we list five reasons we love Blok table grills, here are the answers to some key questions.

Blok BBQ Table Grills: FAQs

What Is a Japanese Konro Grill?

Konro grills are high-heat Japanese charcoal grills made from a type of volcanic rock that evenly distributes and insulates the heat. With distinctly long, narrow shapes, they are traditionally used to grill yakitori skewers and smaller pieces of meat.

How Is a Blok Table Grill Different From a Traditional Japanese Konro Grill?

Besides being made in the UK, Blok BBQ Grills are more versatile. The exterior is made from robust stainless steel, with an inner lining made from a type of porous ceramic (vermiculite) that mimics the effects of traditional vocanic rock, allowing for excellent heat retention. The grill tops have location pins on the sides so you can switch between different grill tops, from the standard grill top to the 50/50 plancha, or Mini Stack for multi-level cooking. The grill tops are made from ultra-durable mild steel, which allows for excellent caramelisation and durability, as it retains heat much better than stainless steel grill tops. They are designed to have smaller, crisscrossed grill marks that provide the perfect combination of smoke and heat, with less risk of ingredients falling through.

What Kind of Charcoal Do You Need for a Blok Grill?

Traditional Japanese konro grills use binchotan, a type of compressed charcoal. But with the Blok grill, you can use any kind of charcoal, from standard lumpwood (like our favourite charcoal from Big Green Egg) to slow-burning compressed charcoal (which burns for much longer and can be reused). Adjustable airflow vents give you more control over the heat of the barbecue; the bigger models have multiple vents.

How Hot Does a Blok Grill Get?

While Blok grills can be used on a table without it leaving a mark, it may scratch a table if it's dragged across the surface. Be careful when handling the grill because it can get very hot. Make sure you are wearing gloves when handling the barbecue, especially when opening or closing the air vents.

What Are the Different Types of Blok Grills?

Blok Hako Table Grill (L 33.5cm x W 23 x H 20cm): The smallest Blok table grill, the Hako makes 2-4 servings of food at a time. It is easiest to transport for barbecues and picnics, and has two handles for easy lifting. £485.00. Shop here.
Blok Naka Table Grill (L 57.5cm x W 23cm x H 20cm): This long, narrow grill – the traditional konro shape – makes up to 4-6 servings at a time. It is heavier than the Hako, but can still be lifted easily (thanks to two handles on the sides). £585.00. Shop here.

Blok Naka Wide Table Grill (L 57.5cm x W 33.5cm x H 20cm): The Naka Wide is the largest Blok grill we carry. It’s still transportable, but heavier than the other two. It makes 6-8 servings at a time. £685.00. Shop here.

What Are the Blok Accessories You Recommend?

Blok Skewer Rack (for Hako or Naka): Since traditional konro grills excel at yakitori skewers, this accessory is a must to get the most out of your Blok. You can use them for any kind of kebab. £40.00. Shop here. (Skewers are sold separately. £35.00. Shop here.)
Blok Mini Stack: Suitable for all the Blok grills we stock, the Blok Mini Stack lets you cook on multiple levels. It’s great for cooking ingredients that require gentler heat (on the upper racks) or keeping food warm before serving. On the Hako, it covers the surface of the grill, but on the Naka grills, it covers just one section. The trays slide out like drawers, making them easier to handle (using tongs and gloves). £190.00. Shop here.
Blok Half Plancha Grill Top (Naka Grills Only): This grill top easily swaps in for the standard grill top to create two surfaces: a flat plancha griddle on one half, and the standard grill on the other. Plancha surfaces are great for grilling delicate ingredients like seafood, stir-frying vegetables, or making pancakes. From £60.00. Shop here.
Blok Burger Press: An essential tool on and off the barbecue, this burger press weighs ingredients down to maximise contact with the hot surface of the grill or a pan. Besides burgers, you can use to press sandwiches, steaks, or large vegetables down for maximum caramelisation. £35.00. Shop here.

How Do You Store Blok Grills?

It is essential that Blok Grills are kept dry at all times, so it is best not to store them outside without a waterproof cover. Since they are designed to be portable, it’s best to store them indoors and take them outside when you want to use them.

How Do You Set Up a Blok Grill?

Blok grills are straightforward to operate. All it requires is filling the base with charcoal, lighting it, placing the grill top on it, and cooking. However, they must be seasoned before use, to A) let the carbon steel surface resist sticking, and B) to make sure the barbecue does not warp. Follow these instructions before first use:

Remove the grill top. Load your grill with lumpwood or compressed charcoal, placing more on the ends of the grill than the centre.
Rub your grill top with a high-burning oil. (Sunflower, canola, rapeseed, peanut, or vegetable oil, for example.)
Once the coals are white hot, carefully place your oiled grill top over the barbecue.
Leave the grill top to heat for at least 30 minutes, or until the coals have died down. Let the grill top cool completely. Now it is seasoned and ready for cooking.

Do Blok Table Grills Come With a Guarantee?

Blok offers a 5-year guarantee for all grills and accessories that protects against manufacturing defects.

Why We Love Blok Table Grills

1. Social By Design

Blok Hako and Naka grills turn barbecuing into a social event, since everyone can gather around it on the table, or it can be placed on a separate surface off to the side. Everyone can have a turn grilling ingredients. (Think of the interactive nature of Japanese hibachi or Korean barbecue–style grilling.) It’s an excellent way to make dinner with family and friends a touch more special.

2. Thoughtfully Designed, Expertly Made

Every Blok grill is handmade in Derby by a team of craftspeople with a background in making kitchen knives and offset smokers. After creating custom barbecues for various UK-based chefs, Blok decided to create grills that combined what chefs asked for with what home cooks would find most useful.

For example, Blok grills have mild steel grill tops that excel at caramelising ingredients and only get better with time. The crisscrossed pattern is large enough to let enough smoke through, creating those coveted grill marks, but small enough that ingredients won’t fall in easily. Since carbon steel is so much more robust and heat-retaining than stainless steel, the grilling surface browns food perfectly, working like a combination of a carbon steel frying and a grill.

The base of the barbecue is lined with ceramic (vermiculite), which gives it the unique ability to hold heat for longer stretches of time. The outside of the grill is made of robust stainless steel for durability and easy cleaning, and stays relatively cool on the outside so it can be safely placed on the table. (Nevertheless, they should always be handled with care.) Airflow can be controlled with adjustable knobs, giving you more control over the heat of your barbecue. (Blok Naka Grills come with vents in the front and rear, allowing for even more control.)

3. Versatile

Traditionally, Japanese konro grills use binchotan charcoal, which comes in the form of briquettes that can burn for up to hours. Blok makes a similar type of compressed charcoal, made from hazelnut shells, which can be reused. But you can use Blok grills with any type of charcoal, which is what we recommend if you are getting started – as it is more widely available, and much quicker to light. While you can’t use wood fuel exclusively, you can add a few wood smoking chips to the charcoal for an extra boost of flavour.

With location pins on the four corners of the grill’s surface, it is easy to remove the grill top for cleaning, adding more charcoal to the grill, or using one of Blok’s other grill tops (like the half plancha), or cooking on multiple levels with the Blok Mini Stack – so you can cook over high and gentle heat at the same time.

4. Compact and Portable

There is another big reason konro grills are so popular with chefs – it takes up minimal space. Due to its rectangular shape, Blok grills are easy to store in cupboards and shelves when they are not in use. Every Blok grill has handles on their sides for easy lifting, so you can place it on tabletops or take it on camping and outdoors holidays. If you love the idea of barbecuing but don’t want to commit to a full-sized grill that requires extensive upkeep, Blok tabletop grills are ideal. They're elegant, minimal, and powerful.

5. Easy to Use

Lighting a Blok grill is straightforward: Add the charcoal and some firelighters, and light the fire.

If using lumpwood charcoal, it takes 10-15 minutes for the Blok to heat up so it’s ready to cook, and the fuel will burn for 45 minutes-1 hour before it needs to be refueled. (To do so, carefully remove the grill top, set it aside, and repeat the process to light the charcoal, like you would for a standard barbecue.)
If using compressed charcoal, it takes about 45 minutes for the Blok to heat up so it’s ready to cook, and will burn for a minimum of five hours.

Explore our range of barbecue tools and accessories to make grilling even simpler here.