Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable Griddle
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The Royal Gourmet PD1301S proves you don't need to spend $300 to get a quality portable griddle. At $115 with three burners and 316 sq in of cooking surface, it delivers surprisingly good performance for the price.
What We Love
- +Three burners at $115 — exceptional value
- +316 sq in cooking surface
- +24,000 BTU total output
- +Detachable legs for tabletop or standing use
- +Rear grease trap
- +Compatible with 1 lb and 20 lb propane
Watch Out For
- −Thinner steel than Blackstone or Camp Chef
- −Seasoning takes more effort initially
- −Ignition can be unreliable in cold weather
- −Legs are less stable than competitors
- −Paint chips around burner controls
Specifications
Cooking Area
316 sq in
Burners
3 (24,000 BTU total)
Fuel
1 lb or 20 lb propane
Weight
31 lbs
Material
Cold-rolled steel
Warranty
1-year limited
The Full Review
At $115, the Royal Gourmet PD1301S is roughly half the price of a comparable Camp Chef and a third less than a Blackstone 28-inch. So what do you give up? Mostly build quality refinement, not cooking performance.
The cooking surface is thinner gauge steel than premium competitors. It heats up faster (good) but develops hot spots more easily (less good). After proper seasoning — 3-4 rounds of oil-and-heat — the surface becomes reasonably non-stick.
Three burners at this price is unusual and genuinely useful. You get real heat zone control that $99 single-burner portables can't match. The usual approach is the center burner on high for searing and the sides on medium for cooking.
The detachable legs let you use it as a tabletop griddle on a picnic table or as a standing griddle with legs attached. Both configurations work fine, though the legs feel less robust than Camp Chef's.
For tailgating and casual camping, this delivers 90% of the Blackstone experience at 40% of the price. The trade-off is durability — I'd expect 2-3 seasons of regular use before the steel shows wear, versus 5+ years from a Blackstone.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest portable flat top griddle rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable Griddle (this) | 4.2 | $115 | A solid budget portable griddle with 3 burners and 316 sq in of cooking surface. |
| Blackstone 17-Inch Tabletop Griddle | 4.4 | $99 | The most portable Blackstone — 17 inches of flat top that fits in a backpack. |
| Blackstone 28-Inch Griddle | 4.5 | $249 | The compact Blackstone that fits smaller spaces without sacrificing flat-top performance. |
Who Is It For?
Budget-conscious cooks who want portable griddle cooking without the premium price. First-time griddle buyers testing the category. Tailgaters who need a beater griddle they won't worry about.
Final Verdict
The Royal Gourmet PD1301S is the best budget portable griddle available. At $115 with three burners, it's an incredible entry point into flat-top cooking.
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