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Pros
Easy to assemble, reasonably priced, small, table-top size, temperature gauge
Cons
Heatproof handle gets hot, hard to control heat and grill gets very hot

Read our review of the best charcoal barbecues

First impressions of the Boss Grill The Egg XS

It’s impossible to talk about this Japanese-style of charcoal barbecue without swooning over the modern but classic design – it somehow creates a sense of anticipation about cooking on it. The materials are good quality, too, and once it’s on its stand, it feels solid and sturdy, which is impressive given that it’s reasonably priced in comparison to other kamodo-style brands. This model doesn’t come with a range of features, but includes a temperature gauge and thick, sturdy wooden handles.

How easy is the Boss Grill The Egg XS to assemble?

Surprisingly, this barbecue doesn’t come with instructions, but assembly is intuitive and takes about an hour – mostly because the pieces are heavy and it’s worth taking things a bit slow so as not to break the ceramic elements. There’s quite a bit of packaging to dispose of, including polystyrene, but the cardboard box can be recycled.

How easy is the Boss Grill The Egg XS to use?

This is a nice BBQ to use, because despite being relatively small, it feels substantial. It takes half a 3kg bag of charcoal and lights well, getting up to temperature in about 20 minutes. While there’s a temperature gauge embedded in the lid, we found it was hard to control the heat once we started cooking as the grill retains the heat. The hood is spring-loaded and closes with a nice firm action, but the handles, which should be heatproof, get quite hot, and the exterior feels warm during cooking, but not dangerously so. Designed to be a table-top BBQ, it doesn’t have wheels, and should be placed on a heat-proof surface.

Cooking results

While it distributes the heat relatively well, because it’s designed to retain it to reduce charcoal wastage, it gets so hot it can burn food, and there’s a cool spot around the top of the ceramic tiles. On test, the courgettes and halloumi kebabs cooked well with clear grill lines, but the potato slices burned before they cooked through, and the buns toasted, but unevenly.

How sustainable is the Boss Grill The Egg XS?

It comes with a one-year warranty, which is disappointingly short, although the choice of ceramic and forged steel suggests it’s built to last. It also comes with a free cover, which will help extend its lifespan, and it’s been designed to retain heat so you use less charcoal.

Conclusion

This barbecue looks good and cooks basic barbecue food well. It comes with a pizza stone and cover, too, which makes it a good choice if budget and value are a consideration. It’s also a stylish focal point for family meals or gatherings with friends, which adds to its appeal, as does the chance to try your hand at smoking and even baking on this barbie.