KoKoMo Classic Series · Model KO-BAK3BG
A Full-Capability Built-In Grill That Fits a 23½-Inch Cutout
Most outdoor kitchens don't fail because the grill was too small. They fail because the homeowner bought a 40-inch grill for a 26-inch island and spent the next six years wishing they had counter space. The KoKoMo 26" three-burner is the answer for compact islands, bar-height builds, and second cooking stations — 36,000 BTUs and 560 square inches of grilling surface in a footprint that still leaves you somewhere to set the platter down.
It is built from the same 304 stainless steel, the same ceramic briquette searing system, and the same SureLight ignition hardware as KoKoMo's larger islands-grade units. Nothing about it is a scaled-down compromise except the width.
36,000Total BTU
560Sq. In. Cooking Area
304Stainless Grade
3Independent Burners
At a Glance
What You're Actually Getting
- Three stainless pipe burners at 12,000 BTU each, individually controlled
- 560 sq. in. of total cooking area, including the warming rack
- 22½" × 18¼" primary cooking grid in commercial-grade stainless
- Ceramic searing briquette system beneath the grates for heat distribution
- SureLight ignition on every burner, with flash-tube backup lighting
- Dual-wall hood with a seamless polished edge and mounted temperature gauge
- Full-size stainless drip tray that pulls straight out
- 1" flange around the full perimeter to conceal your island cutout
Fit & Application
Who This Grill Is Built For
The compact island build
If your island runs 5 to 7 feet, a 26" grill leaves you usable prep counter on both sides. A 40" unit in the same island turns your countertop into a shelf.
The second cooking station
Homeowners adding a poolside, side-yard, or covered-patio station alongside an existing main grill. Full capability without duplicating a large footprint.
The four-to-six-person household
560 square inches handles a full family cookout comfortably. If you're regularly feeding twelve or running a rotisserie, step up to the 40" five-burner instead.
Worth knowing before you order: this model does not include an infrared back burner, and the rotisserie kit is an optional add-on rather than standard equipment. If rotisserie cooking is a priority, the 40" five-burner is the model to look at — call us and we'll walk you through the difference.
The Heat System
Three Burners, Three Zones, No Guesswork
Each of the three stainless pipe burners produces 12,000 BTU and runs on its own valve and its own igniter. That's what makes real two-zone cooking possible on a grill this size — sear over the left, hold over the right, and never move food onto a surface that's the wrong temperature.
Ceramic searing briquettes
Underneath the cooking grids sits a bed of commercial-grade ceramic briquettes acting as the flame tamer. They spread burner heat laterally so the surface temperature stays consistent from edge to edge, and they intercept drippings before those drippings reach an open flame — which is what causes most flare-ups. Unlike lava rock, they don't break down and need replacing every season.
Commercial-grade cooking grids
The grids are non-coated stainless, tighter-spaced and heavier than what typically ships on grills in this class. Heavier grids hold thermal mass, which is what puts actual sear marks on a steak instead of just cooking it. Non-coated also means you can scrape them hard without stripping a finish.
Construction
304 Stainless, Front to Back
KoKoMo builds this unit entirely from 304 stainless steel — the grade specified across commercial kitchens and marine applications for its corrosion resistance and its ability to be sanitized. That matters more outdoors than most buyers realize: an outdoor grill lives through rain, sprinkler overspray, pool chemistry, and salt air, and lower stainless grades show it within a couple of seasons.
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Dual-wall hood construction — two layers of stainless with an air gap, which keeps the exterior surface cooler and holds heat in the cooking chamber
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Seamless polished edge along the hood perimeter, so there's no welded seam line to collect grease or discolor
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Full-size stainless drip tray running the width of the firebox, removable for cleaning
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Hood-mounted temperature gauge so you can read chamber temperature with the lid closed
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1" mounting flange around all four sides, which hides a rough cutout edge and gives the finished install a clean drop-in look
Ignition & Control
It Lights on the First Click — and There's a Backup If It Doesn't
SureLight primary ignition
Every burner has its own dedicated SureLight igniter. This is the detail that separates a grill you enjoy from one you resent: on single-igniter systems, one failed component means the whole grill needs a match. Here, each knob operates an independent system, so a failure on one burner doesn't affect the other two.
Flash-tube secondary ignition
Behind the primary system, a flash tube carries flame between burners as a secondary lighting path. Combined with the individual igniters, that's redundancy on a component that is historically the first thing to fail on an outdoor grill.
Manual lighting is documented too. The included manual covers match-lighting procedure through the lighting tube, along with the five-minute gas-clearing wait between attempts. Worth reading once before your first cook.
Measurements
Dimensions & Island Cutout
These are the numbers to hand your mason or cabinet fabricator. Print this section or open the cutout dimension sheet linked below before anyone starts cutting.
Island Cutout Opening
Per KoKoMo's official cutout dimension sheet. The grill rests on its flange on the lip of the opening — the cutout must be smaller than the grill's outside frame.
Width23½"
Height8⅝"
Depth21¼"
These come from KoKoMo's official cutout dimension sheet, linked in the documentation section below. Print it and hand it to your fabricator directly. If anything about your island is unusual — a corner build, a tight return, an existing opening you're working around — call
833-777-2962 before anyone cuts.
Cooking Surface
Primary cooking grid
22½" × 18¼"
Total cooking area
560 sq. in. (includes warming rack)
Grid material
Non-coated commercial-grade stainless steel
Flame tamer
Ceramic searing briquette system
Burner & Fuel
Main burners
3 stainless pipe burners
Output per burner
12,000 BTU
Total BTU output
36,000 BTU
Infrared back burner
Not included on this model
Primary ignition
SureLight, independent per burner
Secondary ignition
Flash tube
Fuel type
Liquid propane or natural gas
Natural gas regulator
Supplied with unit, set to 4.0" water column
Liquid propane regulator
Not supplied; requires 11" water column regulator
Rotisserie kit
Optional upgrade
Materials & Configuration
Exterior material
Stainless steel
Collection
KoKoMo Classic
Before You Build
Island Requirements & Clearances
A built-in grill is only as safe as the structure around it. KoKoMo publishes specific requirements — these are not suggestions, and your local inspector may ask about them.
Non-combustible construction
The island itself must be built from non-combustible material. Framing a grill cutout in wood is the single most common and most dangerous mistake in DIY outdoor kitchen builds.
Clearance to combustibles
Minimum 14" from the sides and 16" from the back to any adjacent combustible construction. Plan your island depth around this before you set the block.
Gas line access
Route the gas line away from heat sources and sharp edges with as few bends as possible, and confirm the connection point stays accessible once the grill is seated.
Permits and local code
Installation must conform to local codes, or to National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1 where none exist. Check with your city and fire department — outdoor kitchen construction often requires a permit.
Have your gas connection made by a licensed professional. Improper installation can affect your warranty coverage, and gas work is not the place to save a few hundred dollars.
In the Crate
What Ships With Your Grill
Included
- Grill head, fully pre-assembled
- Three stainless pipe burners, installed
- Ceramic searing briquette flame tamer system
- Commercial-grade stainless cooking grids
- Stainless steel warming rack
- Full-size stainless steel drip tray
- Hood-mounted temperature gauge
- Natural gas conversion kit
- User manual and care guide
Sold separately
- Liquid propane regulator (11" water column)
- Gas flex connector, sized by your installer
- Rotisserie kit with motor and forks
- Sear burner upgrade
- Griddle plate insert
- Protective canvas cover
- Grill cart, if you're not building it in
A note on gas type. KoKoMo ships these units configured for liquid propane, with a natural gas conversion kit included in every shipment. If you ordered the natural gas variant, the conversion still needs to be performed — and per the manufacturer, it should be done by a licensed gas professional. Factor that into your installation quote.
Optional Upgrades
Two Add-Ons Worth Considering
Sear burner
Uses a dense array of small flames to reach very high surface temperatures — KoKoMo rates it up to 1,800°F in about 30 seconds, at 12,000 BTU. If steakhouse crust is what you're after, this is the component that produces it. Compatible across the KoKoMo grill line.
Griddle plate insert
A removable flat-top surface with raised side walls that keep juices on the plate instead of in the firebox. Opens up breakfast cooking, smash burgers, fajitas, and anything that would fall through a grate. Also compatible across the KoKoMo line.
Not sure which upgrades make sense for how you actually cook? Call 833-777-2962 and we'll talk it through — we would rather you buy one accessory you use than three you don't.
Warranty & Support
Manufacturer Warranty Coverage
KoKoMo covers this grill under a tiered limited warranty to the original purchaser under normal residential use. Coverage periods by component:
Limited Warranty Periods
Stainless steel frame and housing
Lifetime
Welded stainless steel and tube bar burners
10 years
Stainless steel flame tamer and grates
10 years
Igniter system and other components
2 years
Grill accessories
30 days
Warranty applies to residential use and excludes rental or commercial applications. It does not cover rust, corrosion, oxidation, or discoloration arising from moisture or overheating, and does not cover labor charges. Coverage is valid at the original delivery site with proof of purchase. Full terms are in the manual.
Register your unit
The serial number is on the left side of the firebox. Record it along with your model number and purchase date before installation — once the grill is seated in an island, that label becomes considerably harder to reach.
Authorized dealer support
Buying through an authorized dealer is what keeps your warranty valid and gives you a real person to call. If something needs a claim filed, reach us at 833-777-2962 or info@smokeforges.com and we'll handle it with KoKoMo directly.
Common Questions
Questions Before You Buy
Can I use this grill on a cart instead of building it in?
Yes. The same grill head that drops into an island also mounts to a KoKoMo grill cart, which adds side shelving and enclosed storage for a propane tank. If you're not ready to commit to a masonry island — or you're renting — the cart route lets you buy the grill now and build around it later. Call us and we'll confirm the current cart availability for the 26" head.
What's the difference between this and the KoKoMo Professional Series?
The Classic line uses stainless pipe burners rated at 12,000 BTU each. The Professional line steps up to cast stainless burners rated at 15,000 BTU each, along with other changes to the firebox and trim. Both are 304 stainless and share the same ignition and briquette systems. If you cook year-round in a cold climate or you want maximum output per square inch, the Professional line is worth the look; for most residential cooking, the Classic delivers what you'll actually use.
Does 560 square inches include the warming rack?
Yes — and we want to be straight about that, because a lot of listings blur it. The primary cooking grid measures 22½" by 18¼", which is roughly 410 square inches of direct grilling surface. The warming rack accounts for the remainder. That's still a genuinely useful amount of space for a 26" grill, but plan around the grid number when you're figuring out how many burgers fit.
Do I need a permit to install this?
Possibly. KoKoMo advises checking with your city and fire department before building, since outdoor kitchen construction frequently requires a permit. Requirements vary widely by jurisdiction — some municipalities treat a gas-fed built-in island as a standard mechanical permit, others require plan review. Your gas installer will usually know the local process.
My grill is natural gas — is it ready to connect out of the box?
Not quite. KoKoMo ships these grills configured for liquid propane, with the natural gas conversion kit included in the crate. The orifice change-out needs to be performed before you connect to a natural gas line, and the manufacturer specifies a licensed gas professional for that work. The natural gas regulator is supplied and should be set to 4.0" water column.
What kind of maintenance do the ceramic briquettes need?
Very little. Unlike lava rock, ceramic briquettes don't crumble or need seasonal replacement. Periodically burn the grill on high with the lid down for about ten minutes to carbonize accumulated drippings, then brush the grates. Pull and wash the drip tray on a regular schedule — that's the component most people neglect, and it's the one that causes problems.
What does shipping look like on a grill this size?
It ships free on all orders. At 90 pounds crated, this unit moves by freight rather than parcel. You'll be contacted to schedule delivery, and you should plan to have a second person available — both for offloading and for setting the grill into the cutout, which the manual specifically calls for two people to do.
Can I return it if it doesn't fit my island?
Eligible unused returns are subject to our published return policy, including freight and restocking conditions; and we'd much rather help you avoid the situation entirely. Measure your opening against the cutout dimensions in the section above, and if there's any ambiguity, call
833-777-2962 before you order. Ten minutes on the phone beats a freight return every time.
Documentation
Manual, Specs & Install Guide
KoKoMo User Manual & Care Guide
The complete 28-page manufacturer manual. Covers island build specifications, clearance requirements, gas connection and leak testing, LP to natural gas conversion, lighting procedure, warranty terms, and a troubleshooting FAQ.
Open the KoKoMo manual (PDF)
KoKoMo Cutout Dimension Sheet
The manufacturer's cutout reference covering every KoKoMo built-in appliance — grills, side burners, power burners, drawers, doors, refrigeration, and sinks. If you're planning a full island, this is the one page your fabricator needs.
Open the cutout dimension sheet (PDF)
Before you order
Confirm your island cutout, your gas type, and whether your installer is supplying the LP regulator. If any of those are unsettled, we can sort it out in one call.
Call 833-777-2962
Email info@smokeforges.com
Authorized KoKoMo Grills Dealer
Build the Island Around the Right Grill
The KoKoMo 26" three-burner ships free to your door with authorized dealer support from cutout planning through your first cook. If you're still deciding between this and the 40", call us — that's a conversation worth having before the concrete sets.
Call 833-777-2962
Prefer email? Reach us at info@smokeforges.com
Free Shipping on All Orders Easy Returns Authorized Dealer 304 Stainless Construction
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flame :: 36,000 BTU Across Three Burners
shield :: 304 Stainless Steel Construction
ruler :: 560 Sq. In. Total Cooking Area
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