I live in an apartment with a balcony the size of a parking space. A full-size gas grill was never happening. But I wanted to grill — burgers taste different when they have been cooked over fire and I am willing to die on that hill. After trying three different compact grills over two summers, here is what works and what does not.

Electric Grills: The Apartment Life Saver

Electric grills are allowed in almost every apartment because there is no open flame and no charcoal. The Weber Q1400 ($250) is the gold standard — it gets hot enough to actually sear (most electric grills do not), the porcelain-enameled grates leave real grill marks, and it heats evenly. It is pricey for an electric grill but it is the only one I have used that comes close to the flavor of a gas grill.

Budget pick: the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor grill ($55). It is fine. It cooks food. It does not sear. The grill marks are faint. But it costs $55 and works on a balcony or indoors. For someone who grills twice a summer, it is plenty.

Portable Gas Grills: More Flavor, More Rules

If your apartment allows gas grills (check your lease — many do not), the Weber Q1200 ($230) runs on small propane canisters and fits on a tiny balcony. It gets properly hot — 500+ degrees — and the cast iron grates hold heat better than the cheap steel on most portable grills. It cooks for 4-6 people. The single burner means no indirect heat, so you cannot do low-and-slow, but for burgers, dogs, chicken, and veggies it is perfect.

Cheaper alternative: the Cuisinart CGG-180T ($120). Lighter, flimsier, but works. The legs are wobbly — put it on a solid surface. The grate is thin and rusts if you leave it outside uncovered.

Charcoal: The Flavor King (If You Can Have It)

Nothing beats charcoal flavor. The Weber Smokey Joe ($45) is a classic 14-inch kettle that fits on the smallest balcony. It grills about four burgers at a time. The air vent system actually works — you can control temperature by adjusting vents, which is rare at this size and price. The downside: charcoal is messy, takes 20 minutes to get going, and many apartments ban it outright because of the smoke. Check your lease.