Weber Go-Anywhere Review: The No-Frills Portable Charcoal Grill

The Weber Go-Anywhere is a no-frills portable charcoal grill that promises to deliver big flavor in a small, convenient package. 

At 12 lbs and with 160 square inches of cooking space, it will allow you to cook backyard staples like steak and burgers anywhere your travels take you.

In this Weber Go-Anywhere review, I’ll share my experiences after six weeks of putting the “Go-Anywhere” through its paces.

Read on to learn what this grill can do and what it can’t. There’s also a nice surprise feature for those who own a smoker, but more on that later.

Weber Go-Anywhere overview & first impressions

This rectangular-shaped grill isn’t very big. I’m pretty sure my last pair of Jordans came in a similar-sized box. But, its small size can be a good thing if you’re looking for something that is easy to transport and won’t take up much space. 

Weber Go-Anywhere specifications:

Fuel	Charcoal (Lump or Briquette)
Weight	12 lbs.
Product Dimensions	11.5″H x 19.5″W x 15″D
Total Cooking Area	160 square inches
Warranty	10-year rust 5-year plastic 2-year parts
BTUs	N/A
Price	Check Latest Price

The Go Anywhere focuses on nailing the basics that are crucial to cooking with charcoal.

There are two adjustable vents on the side and one up top to help adjust the temperature.

The grill includes a stand that converts into a locking system when you’re moving it around. A nice feature for when you’re done cooking and can’t dispose of the ash where you are at. 

Locking down the lid will prevent all that dusty ash from accidentally spilling all over your automobile on your way home.

It also feels well made which is important for something so small. During my testing, I accidentally knocked it off a table while moving around some furniture in the backyard. It landed on concrete after a 3 foot fall. Thankfully, there wasn’t a dent or scratch to be seen. 

Inside the grill are two levels of grates. The first holds your charcoal briquettes, while the second is for your food.

If you’re a fan of indirect cooking, there’s not enough room to sensibly do so on this grill. If you want a portable charcoal grill that can sear and cook indirect, look at the Weber Jumbo Joe or the PKTX. 

What we like:

• Portability – Small and lightweight, the grill is really easy to transport from place to place. 

• Temperature control – The adjustable dampers allow for adequate temperature control. Since it is a charcoal grill, you can’t expect more than that.

• Well built – The materials used are durable and constructed to the standard that is expected from Weber. Just because it is a lower cost grill, doesn’t mean it shows in the area of build quality.

What we don’t like:

• Swapping coals – In order to swap coals or even add more, you have to remove the grate you’re cooking on. Some charcoal grills have features that act as a workaround, but this one does not.

• No dome temperature probe – You’ll have to use your own probe to read the ambient temperature of the grill. Or, you could use the hand method. Since you can cook little more than burgers, steaks, and pork chops on here, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker. 

Unboxing and setup the Weber Go-Anywhere

Here are some things I noticed after opening the box and removing all of the contents:

• Every item was packaged and protected well inside the main vessel of the grill.
• No tools were included to assist with the set-up process. I used a flat and phillips head screwdriver.

Due to the minimal amount of pieces, assembly took only about 5 minutes. It was a really intuitive process so I didn’t need the instructions.

Build quality

The Weber Go Anywhere is solidly constructed and can withstand any accidental drops or dings that may occur during transport. As mentioned before, I can personally attest to this.

The porcelain enameled lid and base allow for heat retention which reduces the temperature swings that can be expected from charcoal grilling.

The steel grates are well built and easy to clean off any debri stuck to them. 

Using the Weber Go Anywhere

I chose briquettes over lump charcoal simply because lump charcoal will not fit in the grill. I also used quick start charcoal. With a grill so small, you’re not going to be crafting a masterpiece, so opt for simplicity. 

Temperature control

Since the grill does not come with a lid thermometer probe, I used an Inkbird Bluetooth Digital Thermometer to measure temperatures. It comes with a probe specifically designed to measure ambient temperatures in addition to 3 meat probes. 

This is a nice feature, especially when you’re cooking with old school grills like these that don’t include any built in thermometers.

Learning how to control temperatures was pretty simple. If you want to get your grill up to temperature, open both side vents after adding the lit coals. For steaks, I just keep both vents open all the way so I can get the coals as hot as possible. 

Once you have reached the temp you like, close the top vent ¾’s of the way. This is a good setting for roasting something like a chicken or pork loin at a consistent 350°F temperature without burning out the coals too quickly. 

Air will enter through the bottom vent, feed the flames and minimal heat will escape out the top.

If you want to decrease temperature, close the side vents and open the top. To extinguish the coals altogether, close all vents and let your grill sit for at least 20 minutes. The lack of air in the grill will cause the charcoal to eventually flame out. 

Portability

This is a grill you can take almost anywhere and enjoy a quickly grilled piece of meat. It makes a great option for the beach or at a tailgate and you can fit it inside any vehicle, no matter the size. You may even be able to fit it on the back of a motorcycle if you have the right equipment to mount it properly.

Cooking on the Go-Anywhere

Since the cooking rack is so close to the coals, you can get your grill hot enough to sear meat. If you want to try to cook a steak cowboy style, simply remove the cooking rack and cook directly on the coals themselves for an excellent char.

Where I found this grill useful at home is as a reverse sear station for my electric smoker. After smoking some thick steaks low and slow for 45-90 minutes, you can get a wonderful crust by placing your steaks on the scorching hot grill grates of the Go Anywhere. 

During my testing, I also cooked burgers, pork chops, chicken thighs, and bratwurst. It was easy to cook each meat evenly as the flat, square design of the grill makes it very easy to spread the coals properly.

If you’re hoping to cook something longer over lower temperatures, don’t. This grill is best for hot and fast grilling and searing. For “low and slow on the go”, check out the Weber Jumbo Joe which you can maintain temperatures longer and even perform indirect cooking.

Cleaning the grill

Due to the small number of parts, cleaning the entire grill involved a short, 1-hour soak in grill cleaner and a spray from the hose.

Cleaning the grates themselves took little effort to scrub the debri off. 

Testing the product

Using an external digital thermometer, I found the Go Anywhere was able to get as hot as 600°F and maintain that temperature for about 20 minutes or so. Since there isn’t enough room to stack coals, your flame will go out shortly after that.

Maintaining an even temperature throughout the grill surface is controlled by how well you equally distribute the coals. It should cook fairly even if you are able to do so.   

Word of advice. This grill gets way too hot to place on any kind of plastic picnic table. See the picture below for what happens when you do. Either place on concrete or a well-insulated thermal welding blanket while cooking. 

When it comes to how many coals to place in the grill, a little goes a long way on something this small. Unless you want a scorching hot grill, there is no need to fill the whole box with charcoal. When cooking something like chicken, fill it about halfway instead of full. 

Alternatives to consider

If you want something with a little more features, that will provide more cooking options and is still relatively easy to travel with, then check out the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill. It’s only about 5 lbs heavier than the Go Anywhere and has a bit more room to cook more food on.

I have also tested and reviewed the Weber Traveler.

While it’s not exactly an apples to apples comparison since the Traveler is a gas fueled grill, if you want a larger sized-grill that offers portability and convenience it’s definitely one to consider. With a unique, foldable design the Weber Traveler gives you the full experience of backyard grilling at a variety of locations. 

Should you buy Weber Go-Anywhere?

I’ll be honest, for portability, I prefer a gas grill. But since charcoal wins in the flavor department, the extra effort ensures you can enjoy a well charred steak or hamburger, no matter where you are.

For portable charcoal grills, the Weber Go-Anywhere also shows to have some use around the home as well.