Kamado Joe is a well-known kamado brand and, for many buyers, the model they compare everything else against. If you're looking for a Kamado Joe alternative, what you really want to know is: which features will I actually use, and can I get those from another brand? In this guide we go through a good kamado, feature by feature: cooking in multiple zones, indirect cooking, adding smoking wood, removing ash, workspace and grill size. For each feature you'll see what the available Keij Kamado models include as standard and what you'll need to arrange yourself. There's a table per cooking style and a step-by-step plan for putting together your own alternative.
In short: choose an alternative based on the features you use, not the brand name. The Keij Legend comes as standard with a zone system (Divide & Conquer), a base with large wheels, side tables, a chip feeder, an ash drawer and a cover; the Pro includes a base, zone system and cover. No model comes with a deflector in the box, so factor one in if you want to make pizza or low & slow.
At a glance: today's prices
| Product | Today's price | |
|---|---|---|
| Keij Legend Large (21 inch) | €1,199 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
| Keij Kamado Pro Large (21 inch) | €879 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
| Keij Legend Compact (15 inch) | €449 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
| Keij Kamado Pro Compact (15 inch) | €399 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
| Keij Legend XL (23 inch) | €1,399 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
| Keij Legend Large Solo (21 inch) | €1,079 at bol.com | View at bol.com → |
Honest upfront: what we do and don't compare
Kamado Joe is not included in our comparison. That's why we don't list sizes, feature names, warranty terms or prices for Kamado Joe; you'll find those at the dealer or on the brand's website, and they change by model and by year. What we do is describe the features you should look for in any premium kamado, and show what Keij's product information says for each feature. That way you can hold the Kamado Joe model you're considering up against it yourself.
Are you comparing mainly on ceramic, warranty and the complete setup? We cover that in Big Green Egg alternative: Keij Kamado compared. You can compare the Big Green Egg itself on the Big Green Egg brand page. Here, the focus is on what you do with the kamado.
Which features should you look for in a premium kamado?
Every ceramic kamado works on the same principle: thick ceramic holds the heat, and with an air vent at the bottom and a damper or flap on top you control the temperature. The difference between a basic kamado and a premium one lies in everything around it. These are the features that make the real difference in practice:
- Multiple cooking zones. A system that lets you divide the kamado so you can grill directly on one side and cook indirectly on the other, or cook at two heights at once.
- A deflector or heat shield. A ceramic plate between the fire and your food. Essential for pizza, bread and long low & slow sessions.
- Adding smoking wood. A chip feeder or opening that lets you top up wood chips without opening the lid and losing heat.
- Removing ash. An ash drawer makes the difference between sliding it out and scooping the kamado out.
- Base and workspace. A kamado is heavy. A base with wheels and side tables with hooks make it far more pleasant to use in practice.
- Grill diameter. How much actually fits, regardless of the size name.
- A dedicated range of accessories. Grills, plates and pans designed for your size.
Write down what you cooked on the barbecue last summer. If you mainly grill steaks and sausages, you won't get much use out of an extensive zone system; if you smoke pulled pork every month, you'll want a deflector and a chip feeder. How you cook determines which features are worth the money.
Feature by feature: Keij Pro and Legend
This table shows, for each feature, what the product information for the complete Keij models says. The Legend Large Solo isn't included here: it's supplied without a base, side tables, Divide & Conquer or protective cover.
| Feature | Keij Pro | Keij Legend |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking zones | Divide & Conquer | Divide & Conquer |
| Deflector | Not listed | Not listed |
| Adding smoking wood | Not listed | Chip feeder |
| Ash drawer | Not listed | Yes |
| Base | Yes, 21 inch with wheels | Steel, large wheels |
| Side tables | Not listed | HDPE, with hooks |
| Protective cover | Yes | Yes |
| Grill | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, Ø 30 or 47 cm |
| Temperature | 50 to 350+ °C | 50 to 350+ °C |
| Ceramic warranty | See product page | Lifetime |
| Colours | Black | Black, blue, green |
The 30 cm grill diameter applies to the Legend Compact and 47 cm to the Legend Large; for the XL and the Pro models, the product information doesn't state a grill diameter. The Legend's lifetime warranty covers the dome, the lid, the firebox and the fire ring. All models have a dome and firebox made of cordierite ceramic. If you want to see models side by side, use the comparison table.
What do you need for each cooking style?
Features are only worth something if you use them. That's why below you'll find, per cooking style, what you need and how to cover that with Keij.
| Cooking style | What you need | With Keij |
|---|---|---|
| Steaks and burgers | High heat, a grill that retains heat | Cast iron grill or plate with ridges |
| Meat and vegetables together | Direct and indirect zone | Divide & Conquer (not with Solo) |
| Low & slow smoking | Deflector, smoking wood, long burn time | Chip feeder (Legend); arrange deflector separately |
| Pizza and bread | Deflector and pizza stone | Arrange separately, not standard |
| Stewing and braising | Cast iron pan | Dutch oven and casserole dish |
| Eggs, fish, pancakes | Smooth griddle plate | Half-round plate, smooth side |
Pizza or low & slow? Sort the deflector out now
A deflector isn't on the list of standard items for any Keij model, and a separate deflector for Keij is currently not available. Ask at purchase which deflector fits your size, so you're not left without one when you make your first pizza. You can read how to bake pizza on a kamado in baking pizza on the kamado.
How to put together your own alternative
Instead of looking for one model that looks exactly like a Kamado Joe, you can also work the other way round: start with your needs and build the setup from there. Here's how to do it in four steps.
If you're cooking for two or three people, or the kamado will sit on a balcony, 15 inch makes sense: the Legend Compact has a 30 cm grill and weighs 50 kg. For a family, 21 inch is the standard size, with a 47 cm grill for 4 to 6 people in the Legend Large. For large gatherings there's the 23 inch Legend XL.
The Pro gives you the ceramic core with a base, Divide & Conquer and a cover. The Legend adds side tables, a chip feeder, an ash drawer, a lifetime warranty on the ceramic and three colours. The Solo is the Legend Large without a base or accessories, for an outdoor kitchen or if you already have your own base.
Use the table above. A cast iron grill or plate is the first upgrade for anyone who grills a lot, and a Dutch oven for anyone who stews. For pizza and low & slow, arrange a deflector that fits your size.
Choose lump charcoal for a predictable fire. If you buy the Solo, budget for a base or table and a cover as well; with the complete models, the cover is already in the box.
You can read in detail what's already in the box and what you really need in kamado accessories: what do you really need?
The Keij models at a glance
According to the product information, Keij Kamado is a Dutch brand. All models have a dome and firebox made of cordierite ceramic and a temperature range of 50 to just over 350 °C. These are the models that are most likely to work as an alternative.
Keij Legend Large (21 inch)
The Legend Large comes with every feature from the table as standard: Divide & Conquer, a chip feeder, an ash drawer, side tables with accessory hooks, a steel base with large wheels and a protective cover. The working height is approx. 90 cm and it weighs 89 kg. It's also available in matt blue and matt green.
Keij Kamado Pro Large (21 inch)
The Pro Large has the same size and ceramic core, with a steel base with wheels, Divide & Conquer and a protective cover. Side tables, a chip feeder and an ash drawer aren't listed. A sensible choice if you mainly grill and want to decide for yourself what else to buy.
The two 15 inch models are designed for a terrace or balcony. The Legend Compact has the same equipment as the larger Legends, while the Pro Compact has a base, Divide & Conquer and a cover. If you're using a balcony, keep the 50 kg weight in mind.
The XL is the largest Keij, for big gatherings and long smoking sessions. The Solo has the same ceramic and the same warranty as the Legend Large, but without a base, side tables, Divide & Conquer or cover. That makes it appealing for an outdoor kitchen, but you do miss the zone system. You'll need to buy a cover separately, for example the Platinum AeroCover kamado cover, Ø 94 cm; check yourself that the size fits your setup.
You can read all the differences between the Pro and the Legend in detail in buying a Keij Kamado: Legend vs Pro.
Grills and plates for more zones
The zone system only becomes truly flexible with half-round grills and plates. According to the product information, you use a half-round grill on a higher level in the Divide & Conquer system for an indirect cooking zone, while you grill directly on the lower grill. The half-round plate has a smooth side for eggs, fish and pancakes and a side with grill ridges. They come in 46.5 cm for 21 inch and 33 cm for 15 inch.
Half-round grill 21 inch
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Half-round plate 21 inch
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Half-round grill 15 inch
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Round grill 21 inch
View →If you like to stew, the Keij 3.5 litre Dutch oven is a sensible addition. According to the product information, the cast iron is heat-resistant up to approx. 260 °C, so don't run the kamado at full heat when the pan is on it. For fuel, lump charcoal works best, such as the Marabu restaurant kwaliteit houtskool in pieces of 5 to 20 cm. The full range is available in the barbecue accessories section.
Your wish list: tick what you need
Tick the features you're really going to use. What's left is your list to ask about with every brand, including the Kamado Joe model you're considering.
- I want to cook directly and indirectly at the same time (zone system)
- I want to bake pizza or cook low & slow (deflector)
- I smoke regularly with wood chips (chip feeder)
- I want to get rid of the ash easily (ash drawer)
- I want to be able to move the kamado around (base with wheels)
- I want workspace next to the fire (side tables)
- I cook for four or more people (grill of 47 cm or larger)
- I want a colour other than black
How to read your wish list
- Mainly grilling and a zone system: the Keij Pro covers your basics
- Also a chip feeder, ash drawer and side tables: look at the Legend
- Your own outdoor kitchen or base: the Legend Large Solo, with the zone system arranged separately
- Pizza or low & slow ticked: factor a deflector into any model
- Colour ticked: only the Legend comes in blue and green
Still not sure whether a kamado is the right barbecue for you? Read kamado or gas barbecue or take the selection guide.
Common mistakes
Buying features you won't use
An extensive zone system and a row of accessories are nice, but if you mainly grill steaks, you're paying for things that will stay in the shed. Start with how you cook.
Forgetting the deflector
For pizza and long smoking sessions, you need a heat shield. If your model doesn't come with one, factor it into your comparison.
Choosing the Solo and missing the zone system
The Legend Large Solo doesn't have Divide & Conquer. If you want to cook on multiple zones, choose a complete model or arrange the zone system separately.
Assuming accessories will transfer
If you already have grills or a deflector from another brand, measure the diameter. Accessories are matched to a specific brand and size.
Underestimating the weight
A 21 inch Keij weighs 89 to 91.5 kg, the XL 95.5 kg. Place it on a firm, level surface and, if it's going on a balcony, check what the floor can bear.
Already chosen?
Before your first session, read how to use a kamado, and keep it in top condition for years with cleaning your kamado. All available kamado barbecues are listed under kamado barbecues.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to a Kamado Joe?
A ceramic kamado with the features you actually use: a system for multiple cooking zones, a base with wheels, workspace, an easy way to add wood chips and remove ash, and a grill large enough for your guests. In this article we work through the Keij Kamado: the Keij Legend has all of these points as standard, and the Pro has a base, zone system and cover. You can also compare the Big Green Egg here.
Does a Keij Kamado have a system for multiple cooking zones?
Yes. According to the product information, the Pro and the complete Legend models have the Divide & Conquer system, which lets you grill directly and indirectly at the same time. Only the Legend Large Solo is supplied without Divide & Conquer. With a half-moon cast-iron grate or a half-moon plate, you can add an extra cooking zone or a second level.
Does a Keij Kamado come with a deflector or plate setter?
According to the product information, no. None of the Keij models include a deflector or plate setter in the standard contents list, and a separate deflector for Keij is currently not available. If you want to bake pizza or cook low and slow with a heat shield, ask the seller which deflector fits your size.
Which Keij size should I choose as an alternative to a Kamado Joe?
Compare by grill diameter in centimetres, not by the size name. The Keij Legend Compact, 15 inch, has a 30 cm grill, and the Legend Large, 21 inch, has a 47 cm grill, intended for 4 to 6 people. The Legend XL, 23 inch, is the largest. Put the grill diameter of the Kamado Joe model you are considering alongside it.
Do Kamado Joe accessories fit a Keij Kamado?
Don't assume they do. Grates, plates and heat shields are matched to the internal dimensions of a specific model, and these differ between brands and sizes. Keij makes its own cast-iron grates and plates: 46.5 cm for the 21 inch and 33 cm for the 15 inch. If you're unsure, measure the diameter first.
