After a failed experiment with a cheap Vision brand kamado (fail In that it was an expensive pos, not that we didn't like it,) we want to go ahead an buy a good brand. The two front-runner appear to be bge or kamado joe.

Thoughts?

Out of those two, it's BGE no question. If you're looking at BGE, the other comparable ones are Primo and Grill Dome.

Good luck!

User error? I have a vision and have done pizzas, brisket, pork butt, filet, ribeye, whole chickens, turkey, pork loin with ease. Find it very easy to hold the temp I need.

I'm down to a kamado Joe or primo and will be buying one of the two this month...leaning towards the primo

Kamado Joe has pretty neat and useful accessories. I have a Saffire Grill and I would buy a KJ if i could do it again.

I would go Joe

Haven't checked prices lately but when I was in the market the Grill Dome was better quality and better priced than the BGE. I have a Grill Dome and a BGE and find the Grill Dome to be my favorite.

Let us know if we can help if you're in the Houston market. www.creekstoneoutdoors.com

Grill Dome

Shiner Bock said:

---

User error? I have a vision and have done pizzas, brisket, pork butt, filet, ribeye, whole chickens, turkey, pork loin with ease. Find it very easy to hold the temp I need.

---

I have no particular complaints with the function of the unit. Worked fine. My complaints are in the quality of the construction and the customer service or lack thereof.

Hadn't heard of grill dome. Will check it out. Liked the concept and willing to spend to get quality that will last and be supported. Want to get the best.

Absolute said:

---

Hadn't heard of grill dome. Will check it out. Liked the concept and willing to spend to get quality that will last and be supported. Want to get the best.

---

Well, if you want the best, then this is what you get. Be careful what you wish for. This is the Ferrari.

https://komodokamado.com

FDT 1999 said:

---

Absolute said:

---

Hadn't heard of grill dome. Will check it out. Liked the concept and willing to spend to get quality that will last and be supported. Want to get the best.

---

Well, if you want the best, then this is what you get. Be careful what you wish for. This is the Ferrari.

https://komodokamado.com

---

Okay, let me revise that statement. Really good quality for people with middle class income and kids in college.

Damn. That's nuts.

Looks like someone's pre-teen daughter took a bedazzler to dad's egg!

$4200-$4400 for the equivalent of a LBGE. Because nothing says brisket like a pimped out rhinestone covered kamado.

Kamado Joe from the costco road show.

OP, if you are looking at primarily smoking, consider a pellet smoker. Or get a pellet smoker with a sear burner.

I recently bought one and it's the bomb. I smoke stuff every week now.. Thus far, I've smoked 2 briskets, 1 butt, 5 chickens, 3 back ribs, and several sets of jerky. All turned out excellent, especially the briskets. Fill it up with your favorite wood, set it and forget it.

garc said:

---

OP, if you are looking at primarily smoking, consider a pellet smoker. Or get a pellet smoker with a sear burner.

I recently bought one and it's the bomb. I smoke stuff every week now.. Thus far, I've smoked 2 briskets, 1 butt, 5 chickens, 3 back ribs, and several sets of jerky. All turned out excellent, especially the briskets. Fill it up with your favorite wood, set it and forget it.

---

Do more regular grilling than smoking.

I own a Kamodo Joe and am very happy with it.

FDT 1999 said:

---

Out of those two, it's BGE no question. If you're looking at BGE, the other comparable ones are Primo and Grill Dome.

Good luck!

---

Why BGE "no question?

i can't really think of an advantage BGE has over Kamado Joe...not that BGE is a bad choice by any means. i've had a Grill Dome and will be in the market for another one soon and will go with a Primo XL or Big Joe.

Bo Darville said:

---

FDT 1999 said:

---

Out of those two, it's BGE no question. If you're looking at BGE, the other comparable ones are Primo and Grill Dome.

Good luck!

---

Why BGE "no question?

---

there are no questions if you don't put any thought into a recommendation.

i have a kamado joe and it is one of the best cooking related purchases i've ever made.

that said, amazingribs.com was high on the primo, i believe, because of the oblong shape, which is good for the things you would typically smoke (briskets, rib racks, tenderloins, etc.)

Same. Really glad I went with the KJ. I especially like the gasket and dome closure assist on the classic II.

We carry all 3 brands (BGE, Primo, and KJ). Come on in if you want us to walk you thru each models pros/cons:

In a nutshell:
BGE - 1st to market, best quality ceramics, great customer service, great dealer support, tons of accessories

Primo - only American made ceramic, black tends to be a more desirable finish, oval XL is a great shape for larger cuts like brisket, very easy reverse sear set up, great customer service

KJ - all in one packages keep it simple, rain cap and damper in 1, spring assist and hood latch, different gasket

AggieSam02 said:

---

We carry all 3 brands (BGE, Primo, and KJ). Come on in if you want us to walk you thru each models pros/cons:

In a nutshell:
BGE - 1st to market, best quality ceramics, great customer service, great dealer support, tons of accessories

Primo - only American made ceramic, black tends to be a more desirable finish, oval XL is a great shape for larger cuts like brisket, very easy reverse sear set up, great customer service

KJ - all in one packages keep it simple, rain cap and damper in 1, spring assist and hood latch, different gasket

---

Kj customer service?

Primo XL vs Big Joe...what are the big differences outside of oval shape of the primo and the fact that KJ includes most of the accessories. I'm really leaning to the aesthetics and use case for the Primo XL.


Change my mind...

Does KJ not so black anymore? That's strange.

As far as customer service, I had the ceramic piece that holds the charcoal crack on me about 3 years in. Sent customer service a pic and they had a new one for me free of charge within the week.

It's okay. I wouldn't say bad necessarily. We seem to have more issues out of the box with them than the other two. Broken latches, messed up gaskets, missing nuts, etc. Most of that is derived from being made overseas (China) and a lower level of QC. We offer free assembly and delivery so that can be somewhat of a pain for us on the dealer side.

No black KJ. Only the red/orange.

Glad to hear it was smooth getting the replacement parts. We haven't had major issues getting them either but hasn't been quite as smooth as their competitors.

Not a lot. Primo is working on a different hinge mechanism. That's probably the biggest detractor from their product when compared to the other two. The lid seems extremely heavy when compared to the KJ and the BGE.

We expect them to have an update next year.