I'm looking for a compact grill for the times when I need to cook for 1 or 2. I'm looking at the Weber Smokey Joe and Weber Go Anywhere - just curious the pros and cons from those who use them. I tend to do a lot of indirect heat cooking, so I'm thinking the Go Anywhere might be better because of the ease of separating into 2 zones.
Other alternatives welcome, but compact, efficient, portable, and low-priced are key.
Based upon yer stated needs, ya' may well be right...
I ain't had no Go Anywhere, but might be easier to separate yer zones...
No idea, minus research what th' in2 comparison is...
That bein' said, I have three SJS's, an' have cooked almost any smaller volume cook imaginable on them, with credible, repeatable, reportable good results...
Indirect on an' SJS, fer me, can be bankin' coals to one/ both sides, havin' a tiny area, opposite, amidships, to cook, like, mebbe two, three 4-6~ ish oz. burgers or 1~2 chx quarter, or, buildin a small, spread out,mild fire in th' lil fellers, bust up one chunk o' smoker wood, spread it all over yer coals, an utilize th' entire grill surface area.
Can give many much mo betta SJS tips, if ya' find yerself choosin that road...
Mudkat is among th' most prevalent, frequent, an' recent SJS adherents/proponents;
In fact, he has been postin many milestone SJS/CI cooks, as well as other great things!
Mebbe, he could tell ya' more on th' SJS...
Qualified Experienced Experts will come along, on th' Go Anywhere directly, I'd imagine!
Good Luck, either way!!!
Yup, Smokey Joe Silver.. I've never had th' Gold (Premium), but th' carry handle looks, well, er, uh, handy...
If I were gonna tote one from place to place, I'd prob'ly get a gold fer in th' Blue Belle...
Here at home, I have three SJS, an' love Love LOVE 'em!!!
Search th' site fer Smokey Joe, I've put up multiple cooks, as have many others!
Last edited by Mr. Bones; November 16, 2017, 04:58 PM.
If you are looking for a compact cooker, I highly recommend the Jumbo Joe. I routinely cook for 4 in mine and it cooks for 1 or 2 just as well as the Smokey Joe. The rod that serves as a lid holder can be flipped up and snaps onto the lid handle enabling you to carry the grill by the handle - very convenient. I've owned 2 Smokey Joe's and have used them extensively. They don't even compare with the Jumbo Joe IMO. If you'd like I can post pics of a couple of cooks in the Jumbo Joe.
I've got both the Jumbo Joe and Smoky Joe and use both of them. The Jumbo Joe is big enough to do indirect and the lid holder/lock carrier works great for portability. The Smoky Joe works great for direct and you can also build a mod for a a mini WSM smoker. Both grills are portable and get the job done.
I have both and lean more towards towards the WGA for a couple of reasons. I thing the WGA is more versatile for indirect cooking. I use an 8 x 8 foil pan on one side which also separates the charcoal to one side. One thing I highly recommend is cutting the grill grate in two. It not only allows the grate to be stored in the bottom of the grill making room for lots of other stuff to be stored inside as well. It allows coals and wood to be stacked higher on one side without the grate for longer cooks. I recently did a 6 hour indirect cook using lump charcoal and hickory on some beef rib tips. Had enough coal left over for another few hours and I put that down to better vent control on the WGA. It is my go to grill for smoked salmon and worked very well for some Cornell chicken a few sundays ago. As for the Smokey Joe it is not as versatile but this past Saturday night I stuck a brick in it to do some steak utilizing a 2 zone method with good success. If I had to choose i'd go with the Go Anywhere due to the better vents and inside storage especially if you cut the top grate in half.
If you get both I’d consider the propane version for the Go Anywhere. That way you’d have the convenience of gas and the greatness of charcoal. American Badass Grill is also an intriguing product. I still stab by my Jumbo Joe recommendation though.
I love my SJS, both of them. I do alot of camping so I originally wanted a small grill to do steaks, sausage, and burgers at the site without taking up a lot of room in my vehicle. It is small and even smaller when indirect cooking cause the grill space is cut in half.
As the camping patrons grew I bought another one. And an added benefit is that it makes a perfect "stove" for almost any skillet size cast iron. I cook cornbread, bread, homefries, eggs, sear steak, and many other things using that little guy and and a caste iron pan. I've left my Coleman stove at home for years. 😀
I have not used the Go Anywhere but it looks like it would provide what you're looking for. Now if you gonna get 'em both? All problems solved!
I went with the SJS at this point. Got it Saturday. I looked on CL/ebay/etc., and decided the Home Depot across the street was the best option - full retail $29.99 but quick and easy.
I did a season/burn-in Saturday night, and last minute decided to throw some pork sausage patties on while it was hot. Turned out great.
Then Sunday did a small 2 lb pork picnic roast while my PK Grill smiled in the background. It was a good test, and the pork turned out excellent. But it's not the sweet spot for the SJS compared to the PK. Just as I intended, the SJS looks to be great for steaks/chops/burgers for 1-2 people, but the PK is still better for a roast like this. But I love tinkering and will keep experimenting. At some point I'll get the Go-anywhere and post a comparison.
I love it, cooking in miniature. I had a Smokey Joe years ago, it was all I could afford, and literally cooked all kinds of stuff on it before I wore it out. It's kind of like living in one of those tiny houses, why have 1,000 sq. inches of cooking surface when 80 sq, inches will do? Way to go radshop !!!!!
I have the Char Broil Tabletop which is comparable to the Weber Go Anywhere, but not nearly as nice. But also half the price.
If I had to do it again (meaning, if I had the time to research and order a WGA online instead of needing a tabletop grill that day) I'd get the WGA.
I do like the Char Broil Tabletop for the same reasons people have been touting the WGA - way easier to manipulate coals for 2 zone cooking. It's used exclusively for tailgating and car camping, so it rarely has to do anything more complicated that brats and burgers. But it does them well.
Th' backstory makes yer pic even sweeter, Amigo!
Sorry no call, but that's important to learn, growin' up, too...
Character buildin', an' all that...
Thanks fer sharin, Brother!
I've had both, and greatly prefer the Go Anywhere. It's very easy to do a two zone cook. I find it ideal for camping trips, etc, with just my wife and me. It packs up nice and neat, holds the standard Weber tongs, etc., inside. The small chimney is perfect for it. I wouldn't go camping or to a picnic without it!
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