Written by: Jin Fujisaki / Published: 2026-02-04
On a weekend evening, you suddenly crave yakiniku. You head to the supermarket, pick up some good cuts of meat, sizzle them at home, and crack open a beer. It's a moment of pure bliss. But the price you pay is enormous.
White smoke fills the entire room, the smell of grease soaks into your curtains and sofa, and the floor turns greasy. Despairing at the smell that lingers even when you wake up the next morning, many people have sworn off home yakiniku for good, declaring, "You really shouldn't grill meat at home." For those "retired home yakiniku enthusiasts," the "Smokeless Yakiniku Grill Yakimaru II"—developed by Iwatani, the king of cassette stoves—is here to call you back into the ring.
| Why is there no smoke? The secret lies in strict "210°C–250°C" control
image Amazon
"No smoke? That sounds too good to be true." It's tempting to be skeptical, but this isn't magic—it's physics. The main cause of that billowing smoke when you grill meat is "the meat's fat burning at high temperatures (around 220°C and above)."
Thanks to a special structure that traps heat between the burner and the grilling surface, the Yakimaru II keeps the plate's surface temperature consistently within "210°C–250°C, the range where fat is unlikely to vaporize into smoke." By holding the temperature just below the smoking threshold, the meat cooks beautifully while almost no smoke is produced.
What's more, the design ensures that fat rendered from the meat slides smoothly down grooves into the water tray below. Because the fat falls into the water without touching the flame, there are no flare-ups either.
| Different from a hot plate. The overwhelming deliciousness of "open flame"
image Yahoo
If smoke-free were the only goal, there are also electric smokeless roasters out there. But what truly sets the Yakimaru II apart is that it's a "cassette gas (open flame)" model.
Electric hot plates inevitably struggle with weak heat output, and the meat tends to lose its moisture and end up "boiled" before it ever properly sears. The Yakimaru II, by contrast, uses a direct gas flame to sear the surface in one go, triggering a robust Maillard reaction (that perfect char) and locking the meat's umami inside. "Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside." You can recreate that restaurant-quality flavor right at your own dining table.
| Small and light. Setup and cleanup are dramatically easier
image AZ Kitchen
There's no need to wrestle a massive piece of equipment, like a hot plate, out from the back of your cupboard. The Yakimaru II is incredibly compact, measuring about 30 cm in diameter. You just pop in a cassette gas canister—no cords needed. You can even take it out to the balcony or garden.
The plate features a non-stick fluoropolymer coating, so grime slides right off. Resistance to burning and easy post-meal washing are also key reasons why it lowers the bar for home yakiniku.
| Who is it for? For meat lovers living in apartments
image RAIFU
This grill delivers its strongest performance in the following environments:
- People living in condos or apartments where the smoke detector might go off
- Those who want to minimize odors transferring to curtains and fabric goods as much as possible
- People who want to easily enjoy "solo yakiniku" at home
- Those who want to grill meat easily while camping or barbecuing, without lighting charcoal
Prices range from about ¥6,000 to ¥8,000. For the cost of one or two trips to a yakiniku restaurant, you get a lifetime of "comfortable, smoke-free home yakiniku."
| Summary: This weekend, your home becomes a "high-end yakiniku restaurant"
image Sny Market
The Iwatani Yakimaru II is more than just a cooking appliance. By eliminating the stress of "smoke," it's a tool that gives you back precious time with family and friends.
Throwing the windows wide open, cranking the ventilation fan to "high," and still ending up smoked out—those days are now behind you. With this one device, the day you get the craving is a perfect day for yakiniku. So go ahead—grab the best cuts at the supermarket and a cold beer.
