Iwatani CB-GHP-A review: a gas grill for the dinner table

Iwatani CB-GHP-A at a glance

First impressions of the Iwatani CB-GHP-A

In Japan and Korea, cooking at the table is a normal part of eating together.

Everyone grills their own meat, flips their own okonomiyaki and reaches into the same hot pot.

The Iwatani CB-GHP-A is made for exactly that.

In Japan, it's sold as the Yakijozu-san Alpha, which roughly means "good at grilling."

The first thing I notice is the design.

It has a clean, modern look in white and black that fits on a dining table rather than looking like camping gear.

Japanese owners often call it stylish, which matters for something that lives at the center of the table.

The second thing I notice is that there's no cord.

A butane cassette slots into the side, and you're ready to cook anywhere: dining room, balcony, garden or campsite.

A clean, modern design made to sit at the center of the dining table.

What the Iwatani CB-GHP-A actually is

Iwatani is Japan's best-known maker of cassette gas stoves, the portable burners used in homes and restaurants across Asia.

The CB-GHP-A combines one of those burners with a large hot plate.

The burner delivers up to 2.1 kilowatts, or about 1,800 kilocalories per hour.

That's a lot of heat for a tabletop appliance, and it's the main advantage over many electric hot plates.

Iwatani rates it at about 120 minutes of continuous burning at full flame on a single canister.

The unit measures about 47 × 33 × 17 centimeters, or roughly 18.5 × 12.8 × 6.7 inches.

It weighs around 4.5 kilograms, or just under 10 pounds.

The plate is large and deep, which helps contain juices, sauces and splatter.

It attaches to the base with magnets, so it sits securely while you cook.

Two appliances in one: hot plate and cassette stove

The cleverest part of this design is how it switches roles.

As a hot plate

With the plate on, the burner heats a panel underneath that spreads heat across the cooking surface.

Iwatani calls this a heat panel design, made to use the gas efficiently and keep the heat steady until the canister is empty.

It's ideal for grilling thin slices of meat, vegetables, gyoza, yakisoba and okonomiyaki.

As a tabletop stove

Lift the plate off and there's a trivet underneath that holds a pot or kettle.

That turns the CB-GHP-A into a regular cassette stove for hot pot, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki or a clay pot.

Japanese owners like this flexibility, using it for grilling one night and nabe the next.

Optional plates

Iwatani sells extra plates for some of its hot plates, including a takoyaki plate for octopus balls.

Check compatibility with the CB-GHP-A before you buy one, since plate designs differ between models.

Design, build and safety

The body is powder-coated steel, with a stainless steel burner underneath.

On this family of Iwatani hot plates, the cooking plate is die-cast aluminum with a nonstick fluororesin coating.

Aluminum heats quickly and evenly, and the coating makes cleanup easy.

Ignition is a simple push-and-turn knob with a piezo spark, so there are no matches or batteries needed.

The flame control lets you go from a gentle simmer to full heat.

For safety, the CB-GHP-A has a pressure-sensing safety device.

If pressure in the canister rises too high, for example because it gets too hot, the device cuts the gas and pops the canister free.

That's a standard and important feature on quality cassette stoves.

A push-and-turn igniter and a deep, nonstick cooking plate.

Cooking with the Iwatani CB-GHP-A

Here's how it handles the dishes it's built for.

Yakiniku and Korean barbecue

This is the classic use, and US owners call it the best portable grill for KBBQ.

The gas burner recovers heat quickly after you lay down cold meat, which helps it sear rather than steam.

Thinly sliced beef, pork belly and marinated chicken all suit it well.

Okonomiyaki, yakisoba and gyoza

The large, flat plate is good for savory pancakes and fried noodles.

The deep sides keep sauces and oil in place.

For gyoza, you can fry, add water, and use a lid to steam them through.

Hot pot

With the plate removed, a clay pot or shallow pan sits on the trivet for nabe or shabu-shabu.

One Japanese owner enjoyed yaki-shabu, a grilled take on shabu-shabu, and found the heat more than enough.

Outdoors and emergencies

Because it runs on cassette gas, it works on a patio, at a campsite or during a power outage.

Owners in Japan point out how handy that is for outdoor meals.

Tabletop meal ideas to start with

The best part of a tabletop grill is that dinner becomes an activity.

Here are a few easy meals that suit the CB-GHP-A.

Korean barbecue night

Thinly sliced pork belly, marinated bulgogi beef and chicken thighs are the classic trio.

Serve them with lettuce leaves, rice, kimchi and dipping sauces, and let everyone grill their own.

Cut meat thin so it cooks in a minute or two, which keeps the table moving.

Japanese yakiniku

Yakiniku is similar but usually simpler, with lightly seasoned beef, onions, peppers and mushrooms.

A tare dipping sauce of soy, mirin, sugar and garlic does most of the work.

Okonomiyaki and yakisoba

Mix a simple batter with shredded cabbage, pour it onto the plate and top it with pork slices.

Finish with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes, then use the rest of the plate for yakisoba.

Hot pot

Lift the plate off, put a clay pot on the trivet and simmer a light broth.

Add thin beef or pork, tofu, mushrooms, leafy greens and noodles at the end.

Tips for a smoother evening

Prep everything before you light the burner, so nobody is chopping while the grill is hot.

Keep a paper towel handy to wipe excess fat off the plate between batches.

And keep a spare canister nearby, so dinner doesn't stop halfway through.

Gas canisters and running costs

The CB-GHP-A runs on standard butane cassette canisters.

Iwatani recommends its own canisters, which are widely sold in Asian supermarkets and online.

A canister lasts about two hours at full flame, and longer at lower settings.

For a typical barbecue dinner, one canister is often enough.

Butane doesn't vaporize well in the cold, so performance drops below about 50°F.

For winter camping, look for canisters with a butane-propane mix designed for low temperatures.

Store spare canisters in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.

Safety tips for tabletop gas grilling

Cassette gas grills are safe when used correctly, but a few rules really matter.

Always use it in a well-ventilated space.

Open a window, run the range hood or cook outdoors, because burning gas produces carbon monoxide.

Never use two cassette stoves side by side, or place a pan that's larger than the unit over it.

Both can reflect heat onto the canister and cause it to overheat.

Check that the canister clicks in correctly and the notch lines up before lighting.

Keep the grill away from curtains and paper, and never leave it burning unattended.

Let it cool fully before you remove the canister or put it away.

Cleaning and care

Japanese owners say the plate is easy to wash, which is a big deal after a greasy barbecue.

Let it cool, then wash it with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge.

Avoid metal scrapers and steel wool, which damage the nonstick coating.

Use wooden or silicone tongs and spatulas while cooking for the same reason.

Wipe the body and burner area with a damp cloth once cool.

Don't get water into the gas compartment or the ignition.

Always remove the canister before storing, and keep the canister cover clean.

The nonstick plate washes up easily; skip metal scrapers.

Buying a Japan-market model in the US

The CB-GHP-A is designed for the Japanese market, and that has a few practical consequences.

The labels on the unit and the manual are likely to be in Japanese.

The controls are simple, but it helps to look up an English guide or video before your first use.

Because it runs on gas, there's no voltage issue, which makes it easier to import than electric Japanese appliances.

Canister compatibility matters, though.

Iwatani-brand canisters are the safest choice, and they're easy to find in Asian supermarkets in most US cities.

Warranty and repair support from Japan may be limited, so buy from a seller with a clear return policy.

Also check what the listing includes, since some sellers bundle canisters and others don't.

If you prefer a US-market product with English support, Iwatani America sells several cassette stoves and grills locally.

What owners say about the Iwatani CB-GHP-A

The CB-GHP-A has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Amazon from more than 1,500 ratings, with reviews from both the US and Japan.

What owners like

Heat output is the most common praise, with owners saying the gas flame is strong and responsive.

Couples like the size, which several describe as just right for two after downsizing from a larger grill.

Owners also like the easy-to-wash plate, the stylish look and the ability to use it as a regular cassette stove.

What owners complain about

Complaints are few, but some Japanese buyers mention packaging that looked hand-assembled.

For US buyers, the main issues are price and the fact that it's a Japan-market product with Japanese labels and manuals.

Check the seller and return policy, since warranty support from Japan may be limited.

Is the Iwatani CB-GHP-A worth the money?

On Amazon US, the CB-GHP-A sells for about $288 because it's imported.

That's well above its price in Japan and above many electric indoor grills.

What you get for the money is real gas power, a cordless design and two appliances in one.

If you cook at the table every week, those advantages add up.

If you only grill indoors now and then, an electric grill or a basic cassette stove with a separate grill pan costs much less.

Factor in canisters too, which add a small cost to every meal.

Prices move, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy.

Iwatani CB-GHP-A specifications

From Iwatani's Japanese specifications, retailer listings and the Amazon listing.

Iwatani CB-GHP-A vs electric grill vs cassette stove

Here's how it compares with the two most common alternatives for tabletop cooking.

Best Iwatani CB-GHP-A alternatives

If the CB-GHP-A isn't quite right, here are other routes.

Iwatani's newer Yakijozu-san Beta models follow the same idea with updated designs.

The Iwatani Yakimaru is a smokeless cassette grill with a round, ridged plate built specifically for barbecue.

A basic Iwatani cassette stove paired with a cast iron grill pan costs much less and is easy to find in the US.

For indoor cooking without gas, an electric hot plate is a simple alternative, like the one in our Cadco CSR-3T review.

And for cheese-focused tabletop dinners, a raclette grill is a fun option, as in our WMF Lono Raclette Grill review.

How I scored the Iwatani CB-GHP-A

I based this review on Iwatani's Japanese specifications, retailer listings, more than 1,500 owner ratings and reviews from the US and Japan, and a comparison with rival tabletop grills.

I scored four things, and each one gets its own subscore.

• Cooking power (8.6): burner output, heat recovery and burn time.
• Versatility (8.8): hot plate and stove modes, plate size and portability.
• Ease of use (8.2): ignition, cleaning, safety features and canister handling.
• Value (7.4): US import price, canister costs and rivals.

The overall score of 8.3 is an editorial rating. BrasQ editor-in-chief Ryan Mitchell reviewed the facts and figures before publication.