There’s a certain allure to charcoal grilling and smoking that you just can’t replicate with gas. For years, I wrestled with the idea of getting a dedicated smoker to complement my basic charcoal grill, longing for that authentic, smoky flavor for briskets and ribs. The problem was twofold: space in my small yard and budget constraints. Without a versatile solution, I was stuck with limited cooking methods, unable to unlock the full potential of backyard barbecue. It felt like a wasted opportunity, knowing the incredible food I could be making if only I had the right equipment.
- 811 Square Inches: Includes 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, 184 sq. in. chrome-plated warming rack and 184 sq. in. offset smoker
- Tasty Smoke Flavors: The offset smoker is firmly attached to charcoal grill to ensure good circulation of heat and smoke. Easy to open side door to add charcoal and remove ashes; air vent stokes fire...
- Adjustable Pan: 2-level height-adjustable charcoal pan creates better heat control and holds up to 4.4 lbs. of coal
Considering Your Options Before Choosing a Charcoal Grill and Smoker
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been bitten by the live-fire cooking bug. Charcoal grills offer that classic sear and flavor, while smokers take it to the next level with low-and-slow techniques that produce incredibly tender, flavorful meat. The appeal of a charcoal grill and smoker combo is obvious: it promises the best of both worlds without needing two separate units.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who loves the hands-on nature of charcoal cooking, is eager to experiment with smoking, and is working within a reasonable budget. They’re likely someone who enjoys the process, is patient, and isn’t afraid to get a little dirty. This person is also probably willing to learn how to manage fire and airflow, which is key to success with charcoal and smoking.
However, a grill like this isn’t for everyone. If you prioritize convenience, instant ignition, and precise temperature control without effort, a gas grill or pellet smoker might be a better fit. Similarly, if you demand top-tier build quality, heavy-gauge steel that will last decades without modifications, and perfectly aligned parts straight out of the box, you might need to invest significantly more in a higher-end model.
Before committing to a charcoal grill and smoker, consider your available space, how often you plan to grill and smoke, the types of food you want to cook, and critically, your budget. Also, think about your tolerance for assembly challenges and potential minor tinkering to optimize performance. Features like cooking surface area, material construction, ventilation design, temperature monitoring, and workspace are all factors worth weighing.
- 811 Square Inches: Includes 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, 184 sq. in. chrome-plated warming rack and 184 sq. in. offset smoker
- This Weber kettle grill has space to hold up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press; The durable-plated steel cooking grate, crafted from premium steel, offers a resilient surface that stands up...
- Main Smoking Area: 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates with 184 sq. in. chrome-plated steel wire warming rack offer enough space to cook large cuts of meat.
Introducing the Royal Gourmet CC1830S
Stepping into the world of combination cooking without breaking the bank often leads people to models like the Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30″ BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker. This unit promises the versatility of both direct heat charcoal grilling and indirect heat smoking using an attached offset firebox. At its core, it’s designed to be an accessible entry point into the world of smoking while still serving as a capable charcoal grill. When you purchase the CC1830S, you get the main grilling chamber, the offset smoker box, cooking grates (porcelain-enameled steel wire), a chrome-plated warming rack, and assembly hardware.
This particular grill and smoker combo is ideal for the backyard cook who wants to explore different cooking methods without a massive investment. It’s suitable for someone who enjoys the process of managing a charcoal fire and the flavors it imparts. It might not be the best fit for someone accustomed to premium, heavy-duty smokers or those who want a hassle-free, set-it-and-forget experience, as it often requires a bit more attention and perhaps some simple modifications for optimal performance. Compared to significantly more expensive, thicker-gauge steel smokers, the Royal Gourmet CC1830S is a budget-friendly alternative that delivers similar *types* of results, provided you understand its limitations and work within them.
Here’s a quick look at some pros and cons based on my experience and user feedback:
Pros:
* Offers both charcoal grilling and offset smoking capabilities in one unit.
* Very affordable entry price compared to many dedicated smokers or higher-end grills.
* Generous cooking surface area (811 sq. in. total).
* Adjustable height charcoal pan for heat control.
* Includes convenient side and front shelves, plus a bottom shelf.
* Integrated lid thermometer for monitoring temperature.
Cons:
* Assembly can be challenging due to potentially misaligned holes and vague instructions.
* Thinner gauge steel construction compared to premium models, which can affect heat retention and structural rigidity.
* Prone to smoke leaks, especially around the offset smoker attachment and lids, often requiring sealing modifications.
* Reported issues with parts arriving dented or missing.
* Some users note that vents or lids may not fit perfectly flush, impacting airflow control.
Diving Into the Features and Benefits
Using the Royal Gourmet CC1830S over time has given me a real sense of its capabilities and where it shines, as well as its quirks. Let’s break down the key features and what they mean for your cooking experience.
Expansive Cooking Surface
One of the immediate benefits of the CC1830S is the sheer amount of cooking real estate it offers. With a total of 811 square inches, you’ve got room to work. This is divided among the main grilling grates (443 sq. in.), a warming rack in the main chamber (184 sq. in.), and the grates within the offset smoker box itself (184 sq. in.). For grilling, the main area is large enough to handle a family cookout – burgers, dogs, chicken pieces, corn on the cob, you name it. The porcelain-enameled steel wire grates do a decent job for direct grilling. The warming rack is useful for keeping cooked food warm without drying it out, or for gently cooking items that require lower heat away from the direct fire. For smoking, the generous space in the main chamber allows you to lay out briskets, racks of ribs, pork butts, or multiple chickens simultaneously. This ample room is a significant advantage for hosting or meal prepping larger quantities of food, providing flexibility whether you’re grilling hot and fast or smoking low and slow on the Royal Gourmet CC1830S.
Functional Offset Smoker Box
The headline feature for many is the offset smoker box. It’s physically attached to the main cooking chamber, a design intended to draw heat and smoke from the firebox across the food in the main chamber before exiting through the chimney. This indirect heat method is crucial for traditional low-and-slow barbecue like smoked brisket, ribs, or pulled pork, yielding that deep smoke ring and tender texture. The smoker box has a side door that makes it relatively easy to add more charcoal or wood chunks during a long smoke without opening the main lid and losing precious heat and smoke. There’s also an air vent on the firebox to help stoke the fire and control airflow.
However, this is often the area where the budget nature of the CC1830S becomes apparent. The seals where the firebox attaches to the main chamber, and the lid of the firebox itself, can be prone to leaking smoke. Smoke leaks mean you’re losing not just flavor, but also heat and control. Many users, myself included, have found that adding high-temperature gasket material or using methods like the “Oklahoma Joe” mod (using RTV silicone or foil tape) to seal these gaps is necessary for optimal performance and stable temperatures, particularly for long smoking sessions. While it adds an extra step, addressing these leaks significantly improves the smoker’s efficiency and temperature management, allowing you to achieve those sought-after smoky results.
Adjustable Charcoal Pan
Within the main grilling chamber, the charcoal pan’s ability to adjust to two different height levels is a useful feature for direct grilling on the Royal Gourmet CC1830S. Lowering the pan allows for a less intense, more even heat, good for cooking larger cuts of chicken or indirect grilling in the main chamber if not using the offset box. Raising the pan brings the charcoal closer to the grates, providing higher heat necessary for searing steaks, chops, or getting crispy chicken skin. This adjustability gives you better heat control for various grilling tasks, helping you prevent burning while ensuring food is cooked through. The pan can hold up to 4.4 lbs of charcoal, which is sufficient for most grilling sessions, though you’ll need to replenish for longer smokes.
Integrated Temperature Monitor
The lid-mounted thermometer gauge on the main chamber is a convenient addition. It gives you a quick visual reference for the internal temperature of the grill/smoker, which is essential for both grilling and especially smoking. Monitoring the temperature allows you to maintain the desired cooking range, crucial for rendering fats, breaking down connective tissues in tough cuts, and ensuring food safety. While the built-in thermometer is a good starting point, its accuracy can sometimes be less precise than after-market digital thermometers. For serious smoking, many enthusiasts recommend using a separate, more accurate probe thermometer placed at grate level, as the lid thermometer can reflect the temperature higher in the dome rather than right where the food is cooking. Nevertheless, the included gauge on the CC1830S provides valuable feedback and is certainly better than guessing the temperature.
Practical Workspace and Storage
Cooking outdoors involves juggling plates of food, tools, seasonings, and sauces. The Royal Gourmet CC1830S addresses this with both a front table and a side table. The front table is a great spot for holding platters of raw meat before they go on the grill or cooked food coming off. The side table provides additional space for tools, spices, or a cutting board. While not massive, these surfaces are incredibly helpful and keep your essentials close at hand, reducing trips back and forth to the kitchen. Below the main chamber, a bottom shelf offers extra storage space. It’s handy for keeping your bag of charcoal, lighter fluid, or other grilling accessories right there, though the manual notes a weight limit of 20 lbs when evenly distributed, so don’t overload it with heavy logs. These simple additions significantly enhance the usability and convenience of the grill during a cookout.
Construction and Assembly Nuances
The Royal Gourmet CC1830S is constructed primarily from alloy steel for the outer shell and steel for the inner components. This keeps the cost down and the weight manageable (around 50 lbs). However, as mentioned earlier, the steel is not as thick as on more expensive smokers. This can mean it’s slightly less efficient at retaining heat in cold weather and might be more susceptible to cosmetic dents during shipping or handling, as noted by some users who received units with dings.
Assembly is another point frequently raised in user feedback. While manageable, the instructions are often described as less than clear, and some bolt holes might require a little coaxing to line up perfectly. It’s definitely not a “snap-together-in-30-minutes” affair; plan to spend a couple of hours putting it together, ideally with another person. Some users have reported parts being wobbly once assembled or firebox vents not closing completely flush. These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, especially at this price point, but they reinforce the idea that this is a functional, budget-friendly grill that might require a little patience and possibly some minor modifications to get the absolute best performance out of it.
Overall, using the CC1830S has been a learning experience. It required me to understand fire management better and to accept that a perfect smoke might involve a little extra work like sealing seams. But the payoff – delicious, smoky food – is absolutely worth it for the price.
What Other Users Are Saying
Looking around online, it’s clear that my experience with the Royal Gourmet CC1830S resonates with many others. I’ve seen lots of positive feedback, especially considering the price. People appreciate that it’s an affordable way to get into smoking. Many echo the need to make some easy modifications, like sealing up seams, to get the best results, describing it as a worthwhile effort. On the other hand, some users have mentioned frustrations with the assembly process, citing unclear instructions or parts that didn’t align perfectly. A few reviews noted receiving units with minor dents or feeling the materials could be sturdier. Despite these points, the general consensus is that for the cost, it’s a decent grill and smoker that performs well once you understand its characteristics and perhaps make a few minor tweaks.
Concluding Thoughts
If you’ve been dreaming of that deep, smoky flavor that only comes from an offset smoker or the perfect sear from charcoal, but space and budget have held you back, the Royal Gourmet CC1830S offers a compelling solution. The complications of not having a versatile grill mean missing out on incredible backyard cooking experiences and limiting your culinary adventures. The CC1830S is a great fit because it provides dual grilling and smoking functionality in one unit, it’s highly affordable, and it offers ample space for cooking for family and friends. While it might require a bit of patience during assembly and perhaps some simple modifications to seal up smoke leaks, it serves as an excellent entry point into the world of smoking and a solid charcoal grill. Ready to start your smoking journey? You can click here to check the product out and see if it’s the right fit for your backyard ambitions.
Last update on 2025-09-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API