The Best Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchen Island?


Hi, I’m Chris. I started PelHeat.com back in 2007.

I’ve previously written a general article on pellet grills for outdoor kitchens, and within that article, I touched on the modular stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets from Grilla Grills. However, at the time, their modular outdoor kitchen system had only just been announced, and not all of the modules were available. Well, that’s now changed, so I wanted to write a dedicated article discussing why I think this modular outdoor kitchen system from Grilla Grills is one of the best ideas for an outdoor kitchen, whether you want a Grilla Grill pellet grill or not. We’ll look at which other pellet grills/smokers it can accommodate.

Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchen Modules
All modules that make up the Grilla Grills stainless steel outdoor kitchen are now available as a bundle or to be purchased separately: Image – GrillaGrills.com

Disclaimer: Hey! By the way… any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links, and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.

PelHeat Pellet Grill/Smoker Database

Research/compare over 240 pellet grills/smokers on sale today


Why A Modular Outdoor Kitchen & Why Stainless Steel?

So anyone who uses their grill more than on a semi-regular basis will at some point have thought, ‘really, I need more prep space out here!‘.

Sure, working on the front and side shelves of a grill and maybe an outside table or two can work for most people most of the time.

However, if you are frequently cooking outdoors, going back in and out of the house to fetch things whether its the meat, rubs, sauces etc or food prep utensils can get boring.

Furthermore, cooking BBQ can be messy work, therefore, having access to a tap and sink to properly wash your hands while outside would obviously be ideal.

Now you could get in contractors to build you an outdoor kitchen, or you could even construct a DIY outdoor kitchen yourself. Both are potential options.

The contractor option has the downside of cost. For even a modest setup, you will be looking at $5K plus.

With the DIY option, if you go the timber route, be prepared for frequent maintenance to keep it in good condition.

If you go for masonry (brick/stone), you would have a long-lasting durable solution. The problem with all these options. However, is if you move, you cannot take it with you.

Mark at Grilla Grills discussing the benefits/flexibility of their modular stainless steel outdoor kitchen solution: Video – GrillaGrills.com

People move home now more often than they have previously. Therefore, tying up a lot of money/time into a fixed outdoor kitchen set-up is, in many cases, just not the most logical option.

Therefore, that’s why I really like this stainless steel modular outdoor kitchen solution from Grilla Grills.

As the units can all fit together in various different layouts, if you move home and take them with you, you can make them fit in the new space.

However, the other benefit of it being modular/movable is it will hold its value. Say you decided you didn’t need it anymore, say you needed the funds.

Well, with this modular kitchen system being made of durable stainless steel, it will stay in a good condition no matter what the elements throw at it.

Again, making it a more logical investment than putting money/time into a fixed outdoor kitchen layout.

The latest addition to the Grilla Grills outdoor kitchen modules is the Fridge & Sink module: Video – GrillaGrills.com

As Mark from Grilla Grills discusses in the video above, along with the durable stainless steel construction of the cabinets, the worktops are porcelain coated.

Not only does that mean the worktops will be extremely hard-wearing you can put hot trays/pans etc directly onto the surface without the fear of damage/discolouration.

Furthermore, as Mark discusses in more detail in the video above, the key module of their outdoor kitchen is now available, the outdoor sink/fridge module.

Now, getting a hot water connection to that sink unit is going to be more difficult than the cold water connection.

Most people already have an outdoor faucet for a hosepipe which could easily be modified to provide a new connection for that outdoor sink module.

Furthermore, the power for the fridge will come from the same power point which would be used to power the pellet grill/smoker.

Pellet Grill/Smoker Options For The Outdoor Kitchen Module

Grilla Grills would obviously like you to choose one of their pellet grills/smokers to fit within the grill cabinet for the built-in grill.

If you are not aware of Grilla Grills and its offerings, I would encourage you to read my Grilla Grills article and my Grilla Grills FAQ page. The outdoor grill module can accept any of the Grills Grills pellet grills.

Furthermore, Grilla Grills have now updated their range with WiFi connectivity with their AlphaConnect panel and the Built-In Silverbac from Grilla Grills is one of the cheapest built-in pellet grills on the market currently.

Built-In Grilla Grills Silverbac
The built-in Grilla Grills Silverbac is definitely a solid option to consider for under $1,000, though not the only pellet grill/smoker which can fit the grill module: Image – GrillaGrills.com

The width of the grill module is 48″ inches. However, only 45″ is available to actually accommodate a grill. I say ‘only’ then again, pretty much every built-in pellet grill/smoker that I know of would fit.

The only built-in pellet grill that I know of that wouldn’t fit is the Three Star General from MAK GRILLS.

So below in ascending price are a couple of other built-in pellet grills/smoker options that are below 45″ in width to fit into the grill module.

Louisiana Grills Estate Series (LG ESTATE 860BI)

The built-in Louisiana Grills pellet grill has a width of just under 44″, so it should fit, though only just. In terms of price point, this pellet grill/smoker typically retails for just under $1,900.

A more expensive option than the Grilla Grills Silverbac above, but then again, this is a full stainless steel pellet grill.

Furthermore, its made from high-quality 304-grade stainless steel, which is the highest grade you will find on a grill.

However, currently, as a new purchase, I wouldn’t recommend the ESTATE 860BI due to its control panel.

Louisiana Grills Estate Series (LG ESTATE 860BI)
The Louisiana Grills Estate 860BI is quite good value from the perspective of being a full stainless steel 304-grade pellet grill/smoker. However, its control panel is in need of an update: Image – BBQGuys.com

I go into the reasons why I wouldn’t personally pick up an Estate model currently in my Louisiana Grills article.

While Louisiana Grills have their latest Black Label and Founders Series grills with PID & WiFi control panels, the Estate range is currently fitted with a control panel running older time-based temperature programs and no WiFi functionality.

Hence, temperature accuracy on the Estate models does not currently match their cheaper Black Label/Founders Series grills.

Therefore, I’m expecting an update of these Estate models with new control panels with PID/WiFi functionality.

Until that point, the Estate models are just not equal in terms of functionality to their competition.

Coyote Built-In Pellet Grills/Smokers

Coyote is more well known for their gas grills. However, they have now also entered the pellet grill game. Coyote currently offers two built-in pellet grills with either a width of 28 inches or 36 inches.

In terms of price, the 28″ model can typically be found for just under $2,500, whereas the larger 36″ built-in model costs just under $3,000.

Like the Louisiana Grills Estate model above, these are full stainless steel pellet grills made of 304-grade stainless steel.

However, the control panel on the Coyote is a large colour screen with PID technology. Therefore, the Coyote pellet grills can manage their temperature to within 5-degrees of the set temperature.

Coyote Built-In Pellet Grills/Smokers
The Coyote 28″ wide built-in pellet grill (left) and 36″ wide built-in pellet grill (right): Images – BBQGuys.com

What is slightly odd is that while Coyote did include PID functionality into their control panels, they did not include WiFi/App functionality?!

For a luxury pellet grill, I find the omission of WiFi/App functionality baffling, as its a feature I get asked about a lot, and even many budget pellet grills today include the feature.

However, other than the missing WiFi/App functionality, the Coyote pellet grills are quite a good package with their direct-flame access and high 650-degree maximum temperature setting.

You can learn more in my Coyote pellet grills article.

Memphis Grills Pro & Elite Built-In Pellet Grills/Smokers

Memphis is a pellet-focused brand in the sense they only produce full stainless steel pellet grills/smokers.

They did not move into the pellet cooking market from making gas grills, as is the case with Coyote above and Twin Eagles below.

Now, Memphis were previously a made in the USA pellet grill brand. However, they have now moved their manufacturing base overseas.

You can learn more about them in my Memphis Grills article and my Memphis ITC3 article.

In terms of built-in pellet grills, they have the smaller Pro model with a width of 28 inches and a larger Elite model with a width of 39 inches.

Memphis Built-In Pellet Grills
The Memphis models are available as the 28″ Pro on the left and the 39″ Elite on the right: Images – BBQGuys.com

Beyond just the size difference between the Pro and Elite models, there are some differences in specifications which you can check out through the BBQGuys link above.

For instance, the maximum temperature setting on the Pro is 650 degrees, whereas the Elite can get a little hotter at up to 700 degrees.

In terms of price points for these Memphis built-in pellet grills, the Pro is typically found for around $3,900, whereas the Elite is priced closer to $5,000.

Twin Eagles Built-In Pellet Grill Smoker

So if you want the absolute best of the best (and you can afford it) for your outdoor kitchen Twin Eagles, which is a US-based company that also manufacturer in the US produces a 36″ wide pellet grill smoker.

The cost? Right, brace yourself for this, its currently retailing for around $6,300. That’s a significant chunk of change to spend on a grill, but hey, if you do have the funds, its a great piece of kit.

Twin Eagles Built-In Pellet Grill/Smoker
The 36″ Twin Eagles Built-In is currently the most advanced (and most expensive) pellet grill/smoker on the market: Image – BBQGuys.com

In terms of specifications, it beats every other pellet grill on the market today for features/maximum temperatures etc, as you would obviously want/expect for spending this sort of cash.

I recently wrote an article on rotisseries for pellet grills and reference the Twin Eagles as one of the few pellet grills currently on the market that offer a built-in rotisserie, though you will have to pay an additional $500 for the privilege.

Conclusions On The Grilla Grills Stainless Steel Kitchen Island

So to summarise my thoughts on the Grilla Grills modular stainless steel outdoor kitchen solution, its the flexibility and value retention that I really like.

Say you want to have multiple grill modules for a pellet grill, gas grill, charcoal grill etc, no problem.

Say you want to try the fridge/sink at one end, then you might later find you want it in a different position/order, no problem.

Later on, if you want to move home, you can easily take it with you to set it up in the new backyard.

I like options, and I feel this modular outdoor kitchen is currently one of the best options I’m aware of that can provide the most options for more convenient outdoor cooking.

That’s it! Thanks for reading. I hope you found this post on the Grilla Grills stainless steel outdoor kitchen modules interesting/useful.

If you wish to review more of your wider options, please check out my Wood Pellet Grill/Smoker Guide. 🙂


PelHeat Pellet Grill/Smoker Database

Research/compare over 240 pellet grills/smokers on sale today


Chris - PelHeat.com

Hi, I’m Chris. I started PelHeat.com back in 2007. This website is intended to be an educational resource on BBQ pellets, pellet grills & smokers. I hope you find the information useful.

Recent Posts