Quick Answer: The MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill is worth considering if you want a roomy charcoal grill with two cooking zones, adjustable charcoal trays, foldable side shelves, and storage underneath without stepping into expensive premium grill territory. It is best for backyard cooks who want more space than a small kettle grill and like cooking burgers, chicken, ribs, steaks, vegetables, and weekend BBQ meals over real charcoal heat.
MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill Review: Big Cooking Space for Backyard
Best for: Charcoal grill buyers
MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill Review: Big Cooking Space for Backyard is worth comparing on cooking space, temperature range, cleanup, owner feedback, and current price before you buy.
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This is not the grill I would buy if I wanted thick cast-metal construction, a competition smoker, or set-it-and-forget-it temperature control. But for the backyard cook who wants a large charcoal grill with useful features at a reasonable price, the MELLCOM 36-inch charcoal grill makes sense.
Who This Grill Is Best For
- Backyard cooks who want more cooking room than a basic round kettle grill
- Families who cook burgers, chicken, steaks, pork chops, ribs, and vegetables
- People who like charcoal flavor but want more control than a simple open charcoal pan
- Buyers who want side shelves, storage space, a warming rack, and adjustable charcoal trays
- Anyone who wants a grill for weekend cookouts, small parties, and casual BBQ meals
Who Should Skip It
- Anyone expecting heavy-duty commercial build quality
- People who want a true offset smoker for long brisket cooks
- Buyers who hate assembling grills with a lot of panels, screws, and parts
- Anyone who wants WiFi, pellet control, or automatic temperature management
- Cooks who only need a small grill for two people
MELLCOM 36-Inch Charcoal Grill Overview
The MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill is a cart-style charcoal grill built for backyard cooking. The big attraction is cooking space. Instead of a small single-zone charcoal setup, this grill gives you a larger rectangular cooking area with two independent cooking zones. That matters because charcoal cooking is all about heat control.
With two cooking zones, you can set one side hotter for searing and keep the other side cooler for slower cooking. That gives you more flexibility than a basic grill where all the charcoal sits in one pile and everything cooks at the same temperature.
The grill also includes features that make backyard cooking easier: foldable side tables, a built-in thermometer, storage cabinet space below, a warming rack, and adjustable charcoal trays. Those are practical features, not just decoration. When you are cooking for a family, you need somewhere to set a tray, sauce bottle, tongs, gloves, or finished food. Side shelves and storage are not exciting until you do not have them.
Design and Build Quality
The MELLCOM 36-inch charcoal grill has the look of a larger backyard BBQ station. It is not just a small portable grill on legs. It has a cabinet-style base, foldable side tables, wheels, and a wide cooking chamber. For a patio, deck, or backyard cooking area, it looks more serious than a cheap little charcoal grill.
The body is made from metal with a black finish. That is common in this price range. I would not treat it like a lifetime heavy steel pit, though. With grills like this, the long-term life usually depends on how well you protect it. Leaving it uncovered in rain and sun will shorten its life. Keeping it covered, cleaning ash out after cooks, and not letting moisture sit inside the firebox will help it last longer.
The storage cabinet underneath is a nice touch. It gives you room for charcoal bags, lighter cubes, gloves, grill brushes, drip pans, wood chunks, and tools. I would still be careful about storing charcoal in any damp environment. Charcoal can absorb moisture, and wet charcoal is no fun when you are trying to get a fire going.
Cooking Space: The Main Reason to Consider It
The biggest reason to look at this grill is the cooking area. A 36-inch charcoal grill gives you much more room than a small kettle or compact patio grill. That extra space helps when you are cooking more than one type of food at a time.
You could cook burgers on one side and hot dogs on the other. You could put chicken over medium heat and vegetables on the cooler side. You could sear steaks over hotter coals, then move them away from the direct heat to finish more gently. That is how charcoal cooking gets easier: not by blasting everything with fire, but by building heat zones.
For families and weekend cookouts, this size makes sense. You are not standing there cooking four burgers at a time while everyone waits. You have enough room to spread food out, avoid crowding, and manage flare-ups better.
Two Independent Cooking Zones
The two-zone setup is one of the most useful parts of this grill. Charcoal grills are at their best when you can control where the heat is strongest. A hot zone gives you searing power. A cooler zone gives you a safe place to move food when fat starts dripping, flames jump up, or the outside is cooking faster than the inside.
This matters with chicken especially. Chicken skin and fat can cause flare-ups. If the whole grill is screaming hot, you are stuck fighting flames. With two zones, you can brown the chicken over direct heat, then move it to the cooler side to finish without burning the outside.
For ribs, two-zone cooking also helps. This is not a dedicated offset smoker, but you can still use indirect heat. Put charcoal on one side, ribs on the other, and keep the lid closed as much as possible. Add a few wood chunks for smoke flavor. You will need to manage charcoal and airflow, but the grill gives you the room to do it.
Adjustable Charcoal Trays
The adjustable charcoal trays are another important feature. Being able to raise or lower the charcoal changes how close the fire is to the food. That gives you more control than a fixed charcoal bed.
Raise the charcoal when you want hotter, faster cooking. That works for burgers, steaks, pork chops, and quick searing. Lower the charcoal when you want gentler heat for chicken pieces, sausages, thicker cuts, or indirect cooking.
This does not replace learning fire control. Charcoal grilling still takes attention. But adjustable trays make it easier to fine-tune the heat without having to constantly move food around or rebuild the charcoal pile.
Performance for Burgers, Steaks, Chicken, and Ribs
For burgers, this grill should do well. Charcoal heat gives burgers a better backyard flavor than most gas grills, especially if you keep the lid closed enough to let smoke and heat work around the food. The wide cooking area means you can cook a good batch at once instead of doing everything in rounds.
For steaks, the adjustable charcoal tray helps. You can bring the charcoal closer to the grates for a stronger sear. Charcoal can produce excellent heat, but you still need to preheat the grill properly. Do not throw steaks on five minutes after lighting the charcoal and expect magic. Let the coals get hot, spread them properly, and give the grates time to heat.
For chicken, use two-zone cooking. Start over direct heat to get color, then move chicken to the cooler side so it can finish without turning black on the outside. This is where a larger charcoal grill beats a small one. Space gives you control.
For ribs, the MELLCOM can work, but I would call it a casual rib cooker, not a true smoking machine. You can cook ribs with indirect heat and wood chunks, but you will need to monitor temperature, add charcoal when needed, and manage airflow. If your main goal is brisket, pork shoulder, and long overnight smoking, a dedicated smoker or pellet grill is easier. If you just want occasional ribs with real charcoal flavor, this grill can handle that.
Smoke Flavor
The biggest advantage of charcoal is flavor. Charcoal gives food that backyard BBQ taste that gas grills struggle to match. Add a few wood chunks, and you can get a deeper smoke flavor for ribs, chicken, pork chops, and even burgers.
The key is not to overdo it. A few wood chunks are usually enough. Too much smoke can make food bitter, especially on chicken and vegetables. I like the idea of starting simple: charcoal first, then one or two chunks of hickory, apple, cherry, or oak depending on what you are cooking.
For chicken and pork, apple or cherry wood is a safer choice. For beef, oak or hickory can work well. Mesquite can be strong, so I would use it carefully.
Heat Control and Airflow
Charcoal grills live or die by airflow. You control heat by managing the charcoal amount, charcoal position, lid position, and air vents. The MELLCOM design gives you more tools than a very basic grill, but it still requires hands-on cooking.
If you want hotter temperatures, open the vents more and bring the charcoal closer to the food. If the grill is running too hot, reduce airflow and move food away from the hottest area. Do not shut everything down completely unless you are trying to choke the fire out.
One mistake many newer charcoal cooks make is opening the lid too often. Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes and oxygen rushes in. That can cause temperature swings. For longer cooks, set up your heat zones, close the lid, and check only when needed.
Side Tables and Storage
The foldable side tables are more useful than they may look in pictures. When cooking outside, you always need landing space. A tray of raw food, a pan of cooked food, seasoning, tongs, gloves, sauce, thermometer, and paper towels all need somewhere to go.
Foldable shelves are especially helpful if your patio space is limited. You can open them when cooking and fold them down when the grill is parked. That makes the grill easier to live with than a wide fixed-shelf design.
The cabinet storage underneath is also handy, but I would not overload it. Use it for tools, lighter cubes, grill brushes, gloves, and maybe a small charcoal bag if the area stays dry. Keep the grill covered when not in use.
Assembly: What to Expect
This is the kind of grill that may take some patience to assemble. Cabinet-style charcoal grills usually have several panels, shelves, wheels, trays, handles, and hardware pieces. The old version of this article made assembly sound too easy. I would rather be honest: expect some work.
Lay out all the parts first. Do not fully tighten every screw until the main body is aligned. If you tighten too early, some panels may fight you later. Having a second person nearby can help, especially when lining up the larger pieces.
Once assembled, check that the charcoal trays move properly, the shelves fold correctly, the lid closes evenly, and the wheels roll as they should.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Charcoal grills need cleaning. There is no way around that. The most important thing is removing ash after the grill cools. Ash holds moisture, and moisture can cause rust. Leaving ash sitting in the bottom of a grill is one of the fastest ways to shorten its life.
After cooking, let the charcoal burn down safely. Once everything is fully cool, empty the ash area. Brush the grates, wipe grease where needed, and keep the lid closed when the grill is not being used.
A cover is strongly recommended. This is especially true for a grill with a cabinet base, shelves, moving trays, and wheels. Rain, humidity, and sun are hard on outdoor cooking equipment.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Large cooking area for family meals and backyard cookouts
- Two cooking zones make direct and indirect grilling easier
- Adjustable charcoal trays help control heat
- Foldable side tables add useful prep space
- Storage cabinet helps keep tools and supplies close
- Charcoal flavor is better than basic gas grilling for many foods
- Good choice for burgers, chicken, steaks, vegetables, and casual ribs
Cons
- Not a set-it-and-forget-it grill
- Assembly may take patience
- Not a true offset smoker for long brisket cooks
- Metal construction needs protection from weather
- Ash cleanup is required after cooks
- Temperature control depends on user skill and airflow management
How It Compares to a Kettle Grill
A kettle grill is simple, affordable, and excellent for many cooks. But a kettle grill can feel crowded when cooking for a family or group. The MELLCOM 36-inch grill gives you more flat cooking space, shelves, storage, and easier two-zone cooking across a wider surface.
The kettle wins for simplicity and usually takes up less space. The MELLCOM wins for cooking area and convenience. If you mostly cook for one or two people, a kettle may be enough. If you often cook for a family, the larger cart-style grill is more comfortable.
How It Compares to a Gas Grill
A gas grill is easier to light and easier to control. Turn the knobs, preheat, and cook. The MELLCOM charcoal grill takes more work. You have to light charcoal, manage heat, clean ash, and pay attention.
But charcoal wins on flavor. For burgers, steaks, chicken, and ribs, charcoal adds something gas cannot fully copy. If convenience matters most, buy gas. If flavor and backyard BBQ feel matter more, charcoal is hard to beat.
How It Compares to a Pellet Grill
A pellet grill is easier for low-and-slow cooking. Set the temperature, add pellets, and let the controller do most of the work. The MELLCOM charcoal grill is more hands-on. You are managing fire yourself.
Where charcoal can win is high-heat flavor and direct grilling. Many pellet grills struggle with true searing unless they have a special flame system. Charcoal can get hot and give food a stronger grilled taste.
If you want easy smoking, look at a pellet grill. If you enjoy managing fire and want stronger charcoal flavor, the MELLCOM is more traditional and more involved.
Best Foods to Cook on the MELLCOM 36-Inch Charcoal Grill
- Burgers: Great fit because charcoal adds strong backyard flavor.
- Steaks: Use a hot charcoal bed and raised tray for better searing.
- Chicken thighs and drumsticks: Start direct, finish indirect to avoid burning.
- Ribs: Use indirect heat and wood chunks for casual BBQ-style ribs.
- Sausage: Cook away from direct flame to reduce splitting and flare-ups.
- Vegetables: Use a grill basket or cooler zone for better control.
- Pork chops: Sear first, then move to gentler heat to finish.
Tips for Better Results
- Use enough charcoal to build a strong hot zone, but do not cover the entire bottom with fire unless you need full-surface direct heat.
- Create a hot side and a cooler side before placing food on the grill.
- Keep the lid closed when cooking thicker foods.MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill Review: Big Cooking Space for Backyard BBQ
- Use a meat thermometer instead of guessing doneness.
- Add wood chunks sparingly for smoke flavor.
- Clean ash out after the grill cools.
- Cover the grill when not in use.
Is the MELLCOM 36-Inch Charcoal Grill Worth Buying?
The MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill is worth buying if you want a roomy charcoal grill with more features than a basic kettle. The two-zone layout, adjustable charcoal trays, foldable side shelves, warming rack, storage cabinet, and charcoal flavor make it a practical backyard grill for families and weekend cooks.
The best buyer for this grill is someone who enjoys the process of charcoal cooking. If you like lighting coals, adjusting vents, moving food between heat zones, and getting that real grilled flavor, this grill gives you room to work.
The wrong buyer is someone who wants easy push-button cooking. This is not a pellet grill or gas grill. It requires cleanup, fire management, and some patience. But that is also part of why charcoal cooking tastes different.
Final Verdict
The MELLCOM 36-Inch Large Charcoal Grill is a good fit for backyard cooks who want a large charcoal grill without paying premium prices. It offers enough space for family meals, enough control for direct and indirect cooking, and enough convenience features to make outdoor cooking easier.
I would not call it a professional-grade smoker or a lifetime heavy steel pit. But as a large backyard charcoal grill for burgers, chicken, steaks, vegetables, and casual ribs, it has a useful feature set and a lot more flexibility than a small basic grill.
Final rating: 4.1 out of 5
Best for: Families, weekend BBQ cooks, charcoal flavor lovers, and buyers who want a larger grill with useful shelves and storage.
Skip it if: You want automatic temperature control, heavy commercial steel, or a dedicated long-cook smoker.
FAQ
Is the MELLCOM 36-Inch Charcoal Grill good for beginners?
Yes, but beginners should expect a learning curve. The grill gives you useful heat-control features, but charcoal cooking still requires practice with airflow, coal placement, and timing.
Can you smoke ribs on the MELLCOM 36-Inch Charcoal Grill?
Yes, you can cook ribs using indirect heat and wood chunks. It is not as easy as using a pellet grill or dedicated smoker, but the large cooking area and two-zone setup make casual rib cooks possible.
Does this grill work better than a small kettle grill?
It depends on what you need. A kettle grill is simpler and takes up less room. The MELLCOM gives you more cooking space, side shelves, storage, and easier two-zone cooking for larger meals.
Is charcoal better than gas for flavor?
For many backyard cooks, yes. Charcoal gives food a smoky grilled flavor that gas grills usually do not match. Gas is easier, but charcoal has the stronger traditional BBQ taste.
How do you keep this charcoal grill from rusting?
Clean out ash after cooking, keep the grill covered, avoid leaving it exposed to rain, and do not let moisture sit inside the firebox. Ash and moisture together are hard on charcoal grills.
Can you cook for a crowd on this grill?
Yes, this grill is better suited for family cookouts and small gatherings than compact charcoal grills. The larger cooking area lets you cook more food at one time.
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