Mangal Portable BBQ Review: The Foldable Charcoal Grill That Lets You Cook Anywhere

Author: Sasha Halabi  Date Posted:3 March 2026 

Portable foldable charcoal shashlik grill cooking skewers of chicken and vegetables on raised skewer rack.

If you love the flavour of charcoal BBQs but you do not want to be locked to the backyard every time you cook, this one is going to feel like a cheat code. The Flaming Coals Mangal Portable BBQ is built for the kind of cook who wants real fire cooking on the go, whether that is a mate’s place, a weekend away, or a campsite where power points are not part of the deal. It is a portable BBQ that still cooks like a serious charcoal barbecue grill, with motorised skewers, a proper top rotisserie skewer, and a full size grill plate to cover the basics.

What Is The Flaming Coals Mangal Portable BBQ

This unit is our Deluxe Foldable Grill, built around one simple idea: you should be able to get the versatility of a full charcoal setup in a portable BBQ that packs down and moves easily. It runs two cooking zones that work independently.

Up top you have an 8 mm skewer powered by an 8 kg rated battery motor, which is ideal for chickens, gyros, and smaller roasts. Down below, you have 12 flat skewers designed for kebabs, shashlik, kofta, and chunkier cuts that you do not want spinning or sliding around while they cook. As the top skewer and the bottom skewers are independent, you can roast above while the kebabs cook below at the same time.

Chicken and vegetable skewers cooking over charcoal on a portable shashlik grill with wooden handled flat skewers.

You also get a 68 cm by 32 cm grill, which means when you want a more classic charcoal grills experience, you can throw on steaks, snags, veggies, halloumi, or whatever the crew is chasing.

Why This Portable BBQ Is Different From Most “Portable” Options

A lot of portable BBQ gear is either small and fiddly, or it is designed for quick grilling only. This one is different because it is designed to cook in multiple styles, using charcoal as the hero fuel.

Here is what stood out immediately when we built, ran, and analysed it.

Motorised Skewers Make It Easy To Cook Evenly

With the bottom skewers turning for you, you get even colour, even rendering, and less babysitting. That is a big deal when you are cooking for people, and you would rather be part of the chat than stuck hovering over the fire.

The flat skewer design is also a practical win. Bigger chunks stay put, mince-based kebabs hold their shape better, and softer items like veggies and tomatoes cook with less drama.

Motorised shashlik grill rotating kebab skewers over charcoal outdoors for even cooking.

Battery And USB C Power Keeps You Cooking Anywhere

One of the biggest advantages of a portable BBQ is being able to cook where you want, not where the power is. The Mangal is built around that reality. The motor can be powered by USB-C for the back motor or the accompanying battery pack for the top one, so you can keep cooking when there is no power nearby.

That makes it a seriously good option for camping, parks, and events, and it is also handy at home if you want to set up away from the house, down the back, or near the fire pit zone.

It Packs Down Properly, Not “Sort Of” Packs Down

This is not a unit you buy and then leave in the shed because it is annoying to move. It is built for portability and durability, with a sturdy powder-coated mild steel body, two large wheels, and a foldable design that collapses into an easy-to-move case. If you have ever tried to load an awkward charcoal barbecue grill into a car, you will appreciate how much this matters.

Portable foldable charcoal grill packed down and wheeled for easy transport outdoors.

What You Can Cook On The Mangal Portable BBQ

This is where the fun starts, because you are not locked into one cooking style.

On the top skewer, the 8 mm rotisserie setup is excellent for:

  • Chickens and wings with proper charcoal flavour
  • Gyros-style meat for wraps and plates
  • Smaller roasts when you want that slow turning finish

Father and child cooking gyros style meat on a backyard rotisserie spit over charcoal.

On the bottom skewers, the 12 motorised flat skewers are ideal for:

  • Shashlik-style skewers with big chunks
  • Kebabs, including kofta-style mince kebabs
  • Veggies, mushrooms, tomatoes, and mixed skewers

Motorised skewer BBQ cooking kofta style mince kebabs over charcoal on Flaming Coals grill.

Note: The mangal BBQ comes with a galvanised sheet to keep the fire off the body of the unit. However, if you want better fire managemet you can grab a charcoal (as an accessory) to keep the fire contained and for additional stability to prolong the lifespan of the unit. You can grab the correctly sized charcoal pan to fit here. 

On the grill plate, you can cover everyday charcoal grills for cooking:

  • Steaks, snags, chops, and burgers
  • Seafood and chicken pieces
  • Sides like corn, capsicum, onions, and flatbreads

If you have been looking for a portable BBQ that can replace multiple bits of gear, this is one of the rare ones that actually can.

Set Up & Use: What It’s Like In The Real World

Here is our honest experience of how it feels to use.

The concept is simple. Load your charcoal, get your heat where you want it, set your skewers, flick the motors on, and let the rotation do the work. You can run the top skewer while the bottom skewers turn, or you can use one zone at a time, depending on what you are cooking.

The biggest benefit is how relaxed it makes cooking. It turns a busy cook into something you can manage easily, especially when you are doing lots of skewers for a group.

Who This Portable BBQ Is Best For

If you are shopping for portable bbq options and you care about charcoal flavour, this one suits a few clear types of cooks.

  • Backyard entertainers who want something different from the usual grill routine
  • Campers who still want proper charcoal BBQs instead of tiny gas plates
  • People who love kebabs, shashlik, and gyros and want consistent results
  • Families who want a compact unit that can do weeknight grilling and weekend feeds
  • Anyone who wants a charcoal barbecue grill that can travel without being a pain

Family gathered around a backyard rotisserie cooking gyros on a charcoal BBQ enjoying outdoor entertaining.

A Few Tips To Get Better Results On Your First Cook

  1. Start your charcoal early so you are cooking over clean heat, not smoky startup fuel.
  2. Keep your chunks consistent on the skewers so the motor does not fight uneven weight.
  3. Use the flat skewers for mince kebabs and larger pieces so they grip and cook evenly.
  4. When roasting up top, balance the load so the 8 kg-rated motor spins smoothly.
  5. Cook skewers in batches if you are feeding a crowd so you can keep heat consistent.

Where To Next If You Want One

If you want to check out the Flaming Coals Mangal Portable BBQ on our site, you can find it here.

If you are comparing options and want help choosing the right charcoal grill setup for your style of cooking, reach out to our team, and we'll push you in the right direction.

FAQs About The Mangal Portable BBQ

Is this a good option if I am specifically searching for a portable bbq?
Yes, because it is designed to move easily, it packs down into a portable case, and it can run on USB-C or a battery pack, so you are not tied to mains power.

Does it work as a normal charcoal barbecue grill as well?
Yes. The included 68 cm by 32 cm grill gives you a classic charcoal barbecue grill surface for everyday cooking.

Can I cook two things at once?
Yes. The top skewer and the bottom skewers work independently, so you can roast above while skewers cook below.

What kind of food suits the flat skewers best?
Larger chunks, mince kebabs, and mixed skewers with veggies are great options.