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Top 5 Flat Top Grills for Backyard Cooking in 2026

Flat top grills give you more flexibility when you’re cooking outside.

The large, solid cooking surface works for burgers and steaks, but also for foods that are harder to make on traditional grill grates, like eggs, pancakes, vegetables, seafood, and fried rice.

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I love that it also lets you cook the way you do in your kitchen, with sautéing, searing, and flipping all in one spot.

There are also different setups to choose from.

You can get a freestanding griddle for your patio, a built-in model for an outdoor kitchen, or a teppanyaki-style grill for hibachi-style cooking.

If you’re looking for a flat top grill in 2026, here are five places I think are worth checking out.

1. Grillio

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If your idea of backyard cooking goes beyond throwing a few steaks on the grill, Grillio is a good place to start.

Its flat top selection covers brands including Le Griddle, Blaze, Blackstone, Twin Eagles, Fire Magic, Coyote, DCS, and EVO.

There are built-in and freestanding choices, from smaller griddles to models made to take center stage in your full outdoor kitchen.

What Makes It Stand Out?

I like that the variety gives you plenty of room to choose based on how you actually cook.

Maybe you want a compact flat top next to your main grill for smash burgers and breakfast.

Or maybe you want a larger griddle that becomes one of the main cooking surfaces in your outdoor kitchen, perfect if you love prepping family-style meals or feeding a crowd.

Grillio has options for both, including propane and natural gas models.

And if your plans go beyond one griddle, you can also find gas grills, complete outdoor kitchens, BBQ islands, appliances, and outdoor pizza ovens.

Grillio even offers free design services if you need some help putting the whole setup together.

A few other perks I’d point out include:

  • Free shipping on orders over $49
  • 30-day guarantee
  • Low-price guarantee with competitor price matching
  • Financing options, including as low as 0% financing
  • Quick Ship Warehouse with thousands of products stocked
  • Expert support through phone or instant chat

Things to Consider

With so many choices, it helps to know what you want before you start comparing models.

Think about how often you’ll use the flat top, how many people you normally cook for, and whether you want it to replace your regular grill or sit alongside it.

I’ve found those three questions can narrow down your options pretty quickly.

2. Kickass Grills

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Kickass Grills is another place to check if you want a flat top for your backyard.

Its gas griddle selection includes both built-in and freestanding models, with different sizes available for smaller and larger cooking spaces.

You can find brands like Le Griddle, Blaze, Coyote, Fire Magic, and Summerset.

What Makes It Stand Out?

One of the things I like about Kickass Grills is the range of sizes.

You don’t really need a huge griddle to enjoy flat-top cooking.

A smaller built-in model can sit next to your regular gas grill and give you extra space for burgers, vegetables, eggs, or seafood, so your sides finish right alongside your mains.

If you regularly cook for a larger group, there are bigger options too.

The site also has a dedicated outdoor kitchen section, so you can shop for your griddle alongside other parts of your setup instead of treating it as a separate project.

Things to Consider

Before you choose a size, think about what you’ll actually cook most often.

A big flat top gives you more cooking space, but it also takes up more room.

If you want a gas grill, pizza oven, or other appliances in the same outdoor kitchen, I think a smaller griddle might be the smarter choice.

For built-in models, always check the exact measurements and fuel requirements before buying.

3. Barbeques Galore

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Barbeques Galore gives you another way to approach flat-top cooking, especially if you like the idea of a teppanyaki or hibachi-style setup.

The retailer carries outdoor cooking brands like Fire Magic, Coyote, Napoleon, DCS, Twin Eagles, and Turbo.

What Makes It Stand Out?

Barbeques Galore isn’t only about picking a griddle and calling it a day.

If you’re planning a complete outdoor kitchen, the company offers custom BBQ islands, prefab kitchen options, and free 3D design services.

That means you can get a better idea of how your whole space will look, including where your prep counter and tools will sit, before you start building.

I think its focus on teppanyaki-style cooking is also worth mentioning.

A flat cooking surface gives you plenty of freedom with meals like:

  • Smash burgers
  • Steak and vegetables
  • Seafood
  • Fried rice
  • Breakfast
  • Hibachi-style meals

If you enjoy cooking while everyone gathers around, that can make your flat top one of the most-used parts of the backyard.

Things to Consider

If you’re only looking for a simple griddle for occasional weekend cooking, you probably won’t need all the outdoor kitchen planning services.

But if your flat top is going into a permanent kitchen, I’d say those services can be much more useful.

4. The Outdoor Appliance Store

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The Outdoor Appliance Store is a little more focused on the full outdoor kitchen experience.

Its selection includes built-in griddles from brands like Blaze, Coyote, Le Griddle, and Twin Eagles, along with other major outdoor cooking appliances.

What Makes It Stand Out?

I think this is a good place to look if you already know your flat top will be built into an outdoor kitchen.

Instead of shopping for the griddle alone, you can compare it with your main gas grill, refrigeration, storage, and other appliances at the same time.

That can help you build a setup around the way you cook.

For example, you might want a traditional gas grill for steaks and chicken, a flat top for burgers and breakfast, and an outdoor refrigerator nearby for drinks and ingredients.

Keeping your marinated meats and chopped veggies within arm’s reach makes cooking outside feel as smooth as cooking indoors.

Shopping for these larger pieces together can make planning your space a little easier.

Things to Consider

The Outdoor Appliance Store makes more sense for permanent outdoor kitchens than for someone who simply wants a movable griddle on the patio.

Built-in models also need a bit more planning.

Before ordering, make sure the size, fuel type, and installation requirements work with the outdoor kitchen you have in mind.

5. BBQ Authority

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BBQ Authority is another option if you’re shopping for a flat top as part of a larger backyard cooking area.

The retailer carries built-in griddles alongside traditional grills and other products for outdoor kitchens.

What Makes It Stand Out?

One reason I’d look here is if you want a griddle and a traditional grill in the same setup.

You don’t really have to choose between the two.

The gas grill can handle the classic backyard cooking, while the flat top gives you a completely different surface for breakfast, smash burgers, vegetables, seafood, and other meals.

Having both can make sense if you cook outside often and want more ways to use the same space.

BBQ Authority also carries outdoor kitchen products, so you can compare different parts of your setup while deciding how much room you want to give each cooking surface.

Things to Consider

Before adding both a large grill and a large griddle, take a look at how much space you actually have.

If your outdoor kitchen is on the smaller side, I think a compact flat top next to your main grill may be more useful than trying to fit two large cooking surfaces into the same island.

Flat Top Grill or Regular Gas Grill?

You don’t have to choose just one.

A traditional gas grill is great when you want to cook directly over grill grates.

A flat top gives you a solid surface, which opens up completely different meals.

That’s why I think having both can work so well in an outdoor kitchen.

You can grill steaks or chicken on one side while cooking onions, vegetables, or burgers on the flat top.

It’s a lot like using your oven and stovetop together, so your whole meal is ready at the same time.

And when breakfast moves outside, your griddle becomes the obvious choice.

If you have enough room, the two can work together instead of competing.

Picking the Flat Top Grill That Fits Your Backyard and Cooking Style

In the end, the best place for you to buy a flat top grill depends on what you’re looking for.

Grillio offers a wide range of options, while Kickass Grills, Barbeques Galore, The Outdoor Appliance Store, and BBQ Authority are also worth checking out.

Compare the size, setup, and brands available, and choose the option that works best for your backyard and the way you love to cook.

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Michael Cook is the Founder, Culinary Expert & Cooking Mentor behind MyConsciousEating. His lifelong passion for cooking is rooted in family traditions and years of dedicated culinary study. He's built this site to teach and give everyday home cooks like you the guidance and confidence to enjoy making great food.
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