King of
the CoalCOOKING ON CHARCOAL, MADE FRIENDLY
Home / Recipes / Japanese Barbecue Recipes

Japanese Barbecue and Grilling

Yakitori, binchotan and cooking three inches above the coals.

Japanese grilling is built around binchotan, a white charcoal fired until it rings like stone, producing almost no smoke or flame and hours of even radiant heat. The konro grill is shaped specifically for it: long, narrow and shallow.

The technique is constant attention rather than fire management. Skewers turn every twenty to thirty seconds, and sweet tare glaze goes on only in the final minutes because the sugar burns.

At a glance

RecipeMethodGrill tempCook timePull at
Yakitori Over BinchotanDirect heat230 to 290°C (450 to 550°F)15 min75°C (165°F)
Seared Tuna Steak on CharcoalDirect heat290°C (550°F) and above3 min45°C (110°F)

Techniques used

Direct heat. Food straight over the coals. Fast, fierce, and finished before the inside overcooks.

Cookers these suit

Kamado grills. Kettle grills. Portable grills.