Best Argentine Grill for Your Outdoor Kitchen: Built-In & Freestanding Gaucho Grills
By Matthew Jackson, BBQ Kitchen Pros · We sell, design and install these grills · Prices checked October 18, 2026
An Argentine grill is a wood or charcoal parrilla, also sold as gaucho grills or asado grills or an Argentinian grill: a grate you raise and lower over embers, with a brasero beside it where hardwood burns down to coals, giving you some of the best wood-fired BBQ flavor in the world. We sell, spec and specialize in traditional Argentine grills from Tagwood BBQ and Sunterra, so these picks come from the models we put into backyards and outdoor kitchens, with every price checked on our product pages.
If you are new to the style, start with how the brasero and crank work. Both premium brands burn wood or lump charcoal for flavors only Argentine grilling can give you.
Our top three
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Swipe to see all columns →
| # | Best for | Grill | Install | Build | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best overall ↓ | Tagwood BBQ03SS | Freestanding | All 304, firebrick brasero | $5,750 |
| 2 | Best freestanding, USA-made ↓ | Sunterra ASB48-1GC | Cart, or built-in later | 3/16″ plate, firebrick | $3,639 |
| 3 | Best value ↓ | Tagwood BBQ18SI Chief | Freestanding | Painted body, firebrick brasero | $2,500 |
| 4 | Best for big groups ↓ | Tagwood Beast BBQ02SI | Freestanding | Six zones, hood, clamp grill | $10,000 |
| 5 | Best built-in ↓ | Tagwood BBQ05SS | Built-in | All 304, firebrick brasero | $4,500 |
| 6 | Best drop-in ↓ | Tagwood BBQ09SS | Built-in insert | All 304, open hearth | $3,000 |
Prices are our listed prices on October 18, 2026, with free shipping. Tap a category to jump to the full review.
Best Freestanding Argentinian Grills
These roll into place on casters and cook the weekend they arrive. They weigh 267 to 778 pounds, so plan the delivery path.
Best overall
1. Tagwood BBQ03SS
$5,750 · painted BBQ03SI $3,950
The full Argentine setup in a body that never needs paint.
714 sq inCrank wheelFirebrick braseroGriddle and S-hooks328 lb5-year warranty
Why it won
Turn the wheel and the 34-by-16½-inch main grate rises or falls over the coals. Burn wood down in the brasero, rake embers under the grate, and use the secondary grate, griddle and S-hooks for the rest of the meal. Tagwood rates it for a party of twelve to fifteen.
We also considered the BBQ03SI, the same design in a 1/8-inch painted cold-rolled body for $1,800 less, and the Sunterra side brasero cart, which has thicker plate but no griddle or hooks.
What we love
- ✓Body and every cooking surface in 304
- ✓Four cooking surfaces off one fire
- ✓Five-year Tagwood warranty
What to know
- •$1,800 more than the painted BBQ03SI
- •Round-bar grate standard; a V-shape grate is a $650 add-on
- •No hood; a roof grill is a $600 add-on
Great for: Asado hosts feeding twelve to fifteen who want stainless.
Free shipping · five-year Tagwood warranty
Best freestanding, USA-made
2. Sunterra Side Brasero Grill 48″ with Cart (ASB48-1GC)
$3,639 · 304 grate upgrade $3,818
Plate steel, firebrick and a flywheel on a chain, made to order in the USA.
48″ x 24″ firebox3/16″ steel plateFirebrick floor and wallsChain-drive flywheel4 grate choicesMade to order, 4–6 weeks
Why it won
The fire burns in a V-shaped basket beside the grate, about a 70/30 split of the box, so feeding it and raking coals is easy. A heavy flywheel on a chain lifts the grate, V-channel grates carry fat to a drip tray, and a swing-down door lets you pull ash without lifting anything. Later, the head lifts off the cart and drops into a masonry island.
We also considered the rear brasero cart (from $3,859), which keeps the fire behind a full-width grate, and the NSF Pro Series cart (from $5,119) for restaurants.
What we love
- ✓3/16-inch plate, thicker than the painted Tagwoods
- ✓The fire is at your elbow
- ✓Lifetime warranty against firebox burnout
What to know
- •Painted carbon steel: keep it covered
- •750 lb crated; plan the delivery
- •Made to order, so allow 4 to 6 weeks plus shipping
Great for: Cooks who want a U.S.-built grill on a cart that can become a built-in later.
Skip it if: you want a griddle and hooks in the box. The BBQ03SI includes them.
Free shipping · made to order in about 4–6 weeks
Best value
3. Tagwood BBQ18SI Chief Series
$2,500 · all-304 BBQ18SS $3,500
The least expensive way into ember cooking we sell.
556 sq inFirebrick brasero2 preset grate heightsLid and ash drawer267 lb1-year warranty
Why it won
The Chief keeps the parts that matter: a 32¼-by-17¼-inch round-bar grate, a firebrick brasero, a top lid and a front ash drawer. There is no crank; you lift the grate with handles to one of two preset heights, low to sear and high to roast. It feeds a family of eight to ten.
We also considered the BBQ18SS, the same grill in stainless for $1,000 more with a three-year warranty.
What we love
- ✓The lowest price we sell an Argentine grill for
- ✓A lid that covers the grate between cooks
- ✓The same brasero cooking as grills twice the price
What to know
- •No crank wheel, just two heights
- •Secondary grate sold separately
- •Painted body needs a yearly touch-up
Great for: A first Argentine grill and families of up to ten.
Skip it if: you want to set any height. Step up to the BBQ03SI and its crank wheel.
Free shipping · one-year Tagwood warranty
Best for big groups
4. Tagwood Beast BBQ02SI
$10,000 · all-304 BBQ02SS $17,000
Six cooking zones and 1,700 square inches off one fire.
1,700 sq in6 cooking zones360° clamp grillHood and chimney778 lb3-year warranty
Why it won
One brasero feeds a crank grate that travels 2½ to 12 inches, a 360° clamp grill, a swivel grill, a secondary grate, a warming rack and a roof grill under a full hood. Tagwood says it feeds thirty.
We also considered the BBQ06SS ($8,500), which adds clamp and roof grills for 1,600 square inches, and the BBQ23SS XL ($9,900) with a 26¾-inch-deep grate.
What we love
- ✓Feeds about thirty from one fire
- ✓Clamp grill for ribs and whole cuts
- ✓The hood adds a smoking and warming zone
What to know
- •110½ inches tall: measure under any pergola
- •778 lb
- •Painted body; the all-304 version is $17,000
Great for: Big families and regular parties of twenty or more.
Skip it if: it has to fit under a low roof. The BBQ06SS is 64½ inches tall.
Free shipping · three-year Tagwood warranty
Best Built-In Parrilla Grills for Your Island
A built-in unit drops into a non-combustible island, with counter space on both sides and the fire at the center of the kitchen. Our free 3D design service sizes the opening, counters and hood before anyone pours concrete.
Best built-in
5. Tagwood BBQ05SS Built-In
$4,500 · smoke hood $4,150
The BBQ03 cooking system, made to be framed in stone.
48½″ wideCrank, 2¾–20½″Firebrick rated 2,870°FFront access door250 lb5-year warranty
Why it won
The same crank grate, brasero, griddle and S-hooks as the BBQ03SS, in a body designed to be set into masonry. The firebrick protects your stonework as well as the metal, and a front door lets you rake embers without reaching over the grate.
We also considered the BBQ08SS ($7,000), which adds a 360° clamp grill and a secondary grate, and the BBQ25SS XL ($8,500), ten inches deeper with 1,103 square inches.
What we love
- ✓All 304, nothing to repaint
- ✓Protects the island as well as the grill
- ✓A matching smoke hood for covered patios
What to know
- •Needs a non-combustible opening
- •Under a roof, budget $4,150 for the hood
- •Check clearances in the owner's manual
Great for: Outdoor kitchens built around a live fire.
Skip it if: your island is short on space. The BBQ09SS is nine inches narrower.
Free shipping · five-year Tagwood warranty
Best drop-in
6. Tagwood BBQ09SS Insert
$3,000
The lightest way to put a crank grate into an island.
656 sq in33½″ x 22″ grateCrank, 1–10″39¾″ wide164 lb3-year warranty
Why it won
The BBQ09SS is a drop-in grill: an open hearth with a crank-elevated grate, designed for compact islands. There is no separate brasero; you build the fire right in the hearth. At 164 pounds, a mason can set it in an afternoon.
We also considered the BBQ05SS, which adds a firebrick brasero and a front door for $1,500 more.
What we love
- ✓The lightest, narrowest built-in we sell
- ✓Griddle and S-hooks included
- ✓Round or optional V-shape grate
What to know
- •No brasero
- •The shortest height range, 1 to 10 inches
- •Three-year warranty
Great for: Compact islands and fires built right under the grate.
Skip it if: you want to feed embers from a brasero. Step up to the BBQ05SS.
Free shipping · griddle, hooks and tools included
Prefer Sunterra in the island?
- ✓Painted: the 36-inch rear brasero from $2,879 and the 48-inch side brasero from $3,079; 4 to 6 weeks.
- ✓Pro Series, NSF certified: the PSARB36-1G from $3,299, for restaurants, resorts and caterers.
- ✓All 304: the SSARB36-1G at $6,949 up to the 72-inch split grate at $14,289, with two grates on their own flywheels; 8 to 10 weeks.
Every Sunterra carries a limited lifetime warranty against firebox burnout (registration required; rust is not covered). See them all in Sunterra Argentine-style grills, and every Tagwood island model in Tagwood built-in gaucho grills and Tagwood smoke hoods.
Tagwood vs Sunterra: How the Two Brands Compare
Tagwood BBQ
OriginGaucho-style designs; U.S. warehouse in Miami
Body304 (SS models) or painted 1/8″ cold-rolled (SI)
BraseroSide, firebrick-lined (none on the BBQ09SS)
Grate liftCrank wheel; two preset heights on the BBQ18
ExtrasGriddle, S-hooks, clamp grills, hoods
Warranty1 to 5 years by model
Price$2,500 to $30,000
Sunterra
OriginMade to order in the USA by a San Antonio, Texas company
Body3/16″ plate: painted, NSF powder coat or 304
BraseroRear (full width) or side, firebrick floor and walls
Grate liftFlywheel with chain drive; split grates on larger sizes
ExtrasFour grate choices, drip trays, swing-down door
WarrantyLimited lifetime on firebox burnout
Price$2,879 to $17,229
Tagwood is the pick if you want the traditional parrilla kit, with hooks, griddle, clamp grills and big multi-zone setups like the Beast. Sunterra wins on 3/16-inch plate across every model, a full-width rear brasero option, NSF certification and made-to-order U.S. builds. Our Tagwood review goes model by model.
How to Choose an Argentine Grill
Built-In or Freestanding Asador
Choose a freestanding grill if you want to start grilling this season or might move. Choose a built-in if you are planning an island anyway; it needs a non-combustible opening and, under a roof, a hood. A drop-in insert is the lightest built-in. Sunterra's cart models give you both: cook on the cart now, build it in later.
Brasero, Firebox and Parrilla Grill Grate
The brasero is where the fire lives, and firebrick in the firebox keeps the heat steady and protects the body. An adjustable grate is the real temperature control: two inches over the coals is a hard sear and eight inches is slow roasting. Round bar gives grill marks; V-channel grates carry fat to a drip tray so it cannot flare. A rear brasero keeps the fire out of your way; a side brasero puts the embers within reach.
Size, Stainless Steel and Accessories
About 550 square inches feeds eight to ten, 714 feeds twelve to fifteen, and the Beast feeds thirty. All-304 bodies never need paint and suit pools and coastal air; painted bodies cost less but want a cover and a yearly touch-up. Add-ons like a secondary grate, rotisserie kit, wind guard and top lid are in our Tagwood grill accessories, and Sunterra makes fitted covers for every size ($239 to $419). We don't carry an asado cross, the iron frame used to roast a whole lamb beside the fire; Tagwood's clamp grills and rotisserie kit do that job.
Getting Wood-Fired Flavor: Asado Cooking Basics
Wood-fired flavor comes from embers, not flames. At an Argentinian asado, the asador lights hardwood in the brasero and in about twenty minutes has coals to rake under the grate: thick on one side to sear, thin on the other to finish. That is the core of Argentine grilling: you set the heat with the height of the grate and the depth of the ember bed, not a knob. Quebracho, oak, hickory and mesquite all make good open-fire wood; lump charcoal is the easier charcoal fuel, a charcoal parrilla cooks exactly the same way, and many cooks use a mix of both.
A traditional asado in Argentina runs in courses: chorizo and provoleta first, then skirt steak low over hot coals, then short ribs high on the grate for two hours. Cooking this way keeps the food over steady, moderate heat, so check the temperature with your hand or a probe instead of chasing flare-ups. A hood adds a zone for smoking meats and keeping food warm. Our asado grill guide walks through the whole cook step by step, with recipes for chimichurri and salsa criolla.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand makes the best Argentinian grill?
For most backyards, Tagwood BBQ: the BBQ03SS freestanding and BBQ05SS built-in carry the full setup with a five-year warranty. Sunterra is the choice for thicker plate, a full-width rear brasero, NSF certification or a U.S.-made build.
What type of wood is best for an Argentine grill?
Dense hardwood. Quebracho is the traditional choice; oak, hickory and mesquite work well, and lump charcoal is fine. Avoid softwood and anything treated. Our guide to cooking over embers covers building the coal bed.
What is the difference between a Santa Maria grill and an Argentine grill?
Both raise and lower a grate over the fire. A Santa Maria model usually builds the fire right under the grate, while the Argentine style adds a brasero to burn wood down to embers and often uses a V-channel grate. See Santa Maria vs Argentine grills, or our Santa Maria grill picks.
What are Argentinian grills called?
In Argentina it is a parrilla, and the person cooking is the asador. In the U.S. you will also see gaucho, asado and Argentine-style grills.
Is a built-in gaucho grill worth it for an outdoor kitchen?
If you are building an island anyway, yes. A built-in gives you counters on both sides and becomes a permanent part of the kitchen. Budget for the island and, under a roof, a hood; Tagwood's matching hoods start at $4,150.
What kind of Argentina-style grill is available at Costco?
Availability changes by warehouse and season, so check your local store. The Costco live-fire grill we found in October 2026 was a small Santa Maria-style crank grill sold in some warehouses, good for trying the style. Grills like that differ from Tagwood and Sunterra in body thickness, the grate lift and, usually, the lack of a firebrick brasero.
Still comparing live-fire styles? Everything here is in our wood fired grills collection, and the open fire grills collection puts parrillas next to Santa Maria and plancha grills.
Not sure which parrilla fits your space?
Send us your space and how you cook. We will size the grill, the cutout and the hood for free, and the owner answers the phone: 888-678-3530.
Matthew Jackson
At the heart of our business is Matthew Jackson, the founder and owner of BBQ Kitchen Pros. With an impressive 20 years in design, construction, and implementation of outdoor kitchen spaces, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and a deep-seated passion to the table. It's not just about selling products; it's about crafting a lifestyle. Outdoor cooking isn't just our business; it's our way of life, ingrained in every recommendation we make and every product we offer.