Kamado Joe Joe Jr

In this kamado joe joe jr review, the short answer is that the Kamado Joe Joe Jr is the best portable kamado grill in our 2026 guide of 10 models, ranking eighth overall because it trades cooking space for real ceramic performance. The Joe Jr, model KJ13RH, costs $429.31 and holds 4.6 stars from 788 Amazon ratings. Its 13.5-inch ceramic body gives you 150 square inches of cooking surface, about six burgers at once. That makes it a fit for couples, small families, campers, tailgaters and balcony cooks, not for anyone feeding a crowd. It weighs 75.6 pounds, so two people can move it, and the cast iron stand keeps it steady.

On the performance side, the Joe Jr uses the same thick-walled ceramic shell as its larger siblings, so it holds smoke and moisture at low and high temperatures. A cast-iron air vent controls airflow, which means you can dial in 225 degrees Fahrenheit for ribs or push toward 600 degrees Fahrenheit for steak. The 304 stainless steel cooking grate resists rust better than the chrome wire grates on cheap portables, and the built-in temperature gauge saves you from buying a separate thermometer. In practice, heat deflectors let you cook indirect for smoking, while the single rack keeps setup simple. Because the body is small, it reaches temperature fast and sips charcoal. However, 150 square inches is a genuine limit: a brisket or a spatchcocked turkey will not fit.

Value is where this kamado joe joe jr review gets interesting, because $429.31 buys you a lifetime warranty on ceramics and five years on metal parts from Kamado Joe, coverage that most budget portables never match. By contrast, the full-size Classic Joe and the 24-inch models in our guide cost more and demand patio space, yet they cook for eight or more. Even so, the Joe Jr shares the same ceramic material and vent design, so you are not giving up cook quality, only capacity. That said, if you regularly host more than four people, a larger kamado will serve you better. For camping, tailgates, small patios and quick weeknight dinners, this is the one to get.