The Original Konro grill from Kaginushi Kogyo is made by hand in Suzu Province, Japan. Since 1932 the traditional Japanese Konro has been handmade from diatomaceous earth (diatomite) sourced from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa.

Chefslocker introduced the Japanese Konro BBQ to the UK in 2017 and we remain the largest supplier in the UK of authentic Konro Grills with the biggest selection of sizes, direct from the diatomite mine in Suzu Province. After the earthquake in January 2024 many of the diatomite mines were devastated and with growing popularity, the original Japanese Konro became widely copied in China and the West. 
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What is a Konro Grill?
Back in the Edo period of Japan the word 'Konro' referred to a small box shaped unit that would be filled with wood or charcoal to heat a traditional Japanese house in an affordable way.

Why is the Konro Grill so Special? 
Years passed and the design of these original Konro Grills improved. They started to be used for the Japanese tradional Yakitori and Kushiyaki (skewered fish). It wasn't before long that Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite) started being used to make the Konro Grill, specifically for cooking.

​What is Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite)?
The Japanese Konro grill is made from Diatomaceous Earth. Also known as Diatomite, this incredible insulating material is a sedimentary rock composed of the skeletal remains of single-cell equatic algaes known as 'diatoms'. This unique form of silica has an elaborate honeycomb structure, peppered with thousands of tiny holes ranging from a few microns to submicron diameters. It's pretty special stuff!

Why is Diatomaceous Earth used in the construction
of the Original Konro grill?
The honeycomb construction of Diatomite makes it an incredible insulator, commonly used in the production of kilns. Found only in relatively small deposits around the globe and difficult to mine, it is only Kaginushi of Ishikawa that have pefected the mining and production of the original Konro Grill. Using traditional techniques the Diatomaceous Earth is painstakingly mined and shaped into solid blocks. Using a technique more widely used in woodwork the blocks are pieced together without the use of any filler to maximize it's insulating properties. Using hammer and chisel the interior of the Konro is angled so as to reflect the internal heat in on itself. In Chefslocker trials using our Binchotan Charcoal the interior can reach a staggering 750 degrees celsius, whilst the outside remains only warm to the touch.

Why choose the Original Kaginushi Konro Grill...

The market is now flooded with Konro style grills but these are invariably made from heat bricks, not dissimilar to those that can be bought from any builders merchant. They are mass produced on a production line here in the UK, Eastern Europe or China. The thermal insulating properties are minimal when compared with the Diatomite used in the Origanal Konro Grill. The attention to detail is poor and these grills are often incredibly heavy. 

There is a lot of confusion out there...
Many of these table top grills look very similar to the origanal Kaginushi Grill but that is where any similarity ends. There is good reason why they are always in short supply and fhd preferred choice of professional Chefs.

We only sell Japanese Grills
Any table top rectangular grill can be called a Konro Grill as it's not a brand name and to our knowledge only Kaginushi of Ishikawa in Suzu province Japan produce the original Konro Grill handmade entirely from Diatomaceous Earth. Unless specified as 'Kaginushi' it will not perform in the same way and is more than likely not from Japan. With years of experience working with the mine and a network of distributors in Japan, you can always be assured that you are getting the real deal with Chefslocker.

Over the past couple of years the team here have tested a wide range of 'Konro' alternatives and found the following which you may find helpful when making your choice.

- All of the grills we trialed were incredibly heavy and we wouldn't class them as portable. Many include a large amount of metal which not only adds weight but can become incredibly hot. A comparable size Original Konro Grill from Chefslocker is roughly a quarter of the weight and only ever becomes warm to the touch.

- We found the metal finish surrounding a number of the grills and used for the legs was sharp and poorly finished. The Kaginushi Konro has smooth, heat resistant feet that are perfectly safe on any surface. Metal feet are likely to scratch the surface and possibly even cause burns.

- The walls of other grills are invariably thinner than the walls of the Kaginushi and the interior is vertical, reducing heat retention and making it harder to light your charcoal within. The original has a slanted interior which reflects heat, enabling it to reach a much higher temperature. A larger inner base of these other grills also means more charcoal is needed when starting your cook.

- The longevity of Diatomaceous earth is well known and this special material will not deteriorate. A well looked after Konro Grill should last a lifetime when used with a binchotan style charcoal. Some of the branded grills we tried offered 'kits' to replace the walls once they have worn out.

- The exterior of many of these grills becomes incredibly hot, which is not only a burn risk it conducts the heat outwards, decreasing efficiency.

In Conclusion

In our view these branded tabletop grills that come under the style of a Konro bear little in common with the traditional Konro from Kaginushi Kogyo. Michelin Chefs choose the original Konro for the same reason the Japanese have been using them in Izakaya bars throughout Japan for centuries. Nothing quite compares to the insulating properties of Diatomite when seeking a high consistent temperature for an extended period of time.

In 2015 Chefslocker was founded by a Chef with integrity. The company has forged long lasting relationships with Japanese producers and distributors to provide traditional Japanese crafstmanship. 10 years later, we will only ever stock the original Kaginushi Konro Grill and will always do our best to source the best performing Binchotan Charcoal at the best possible price for our customers.
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For information regarding our Binchotan Charcoal subscription service please visit: www.binchotancharcoal.co.uk