A wood-fired pizza oven is something people pick a restaurant for, it’s a point of difference and brings a flavour that is hard to emulate in the oven. But sometimes you want simplicity, so a pizza oven that can do it all seems a logical choice.

For a look at the Ooni Karu 2 multi-fuel I turned to my Brother-in-law Brad who’s efforts with the iGulu home brewer received so much praise it seems clear he could have a knack for this!

Here’s Brad’s review of the Ooni Karu 2:

If you’re looking for a compact, versatile pizza oven that won’t blow the budget, the Ooni Karu 2 is definitely worth considering. I’ve been using it for a while now, and it strikes a great balance between portability, power, and performance. It’s a great option for anyone who wants authentic, wood-fired–style pizzas at home without committing to a huge outdoor setup.

The Good

  • Lightweight and portable – Easy to take to the park, camping, or a friend’s place without feeling like you’re lugging a full outdoor kitchen around.
  • Multi-fuel versatility – Works brilliantly with both gas and wood, giving you flexibility depending on how hands-on you want to be.
  • Small but capable – The compact size means it heats up fast, often reaching cooking temperatures in around 15 minutes, yet it’s still large enough to handle a standard pizza.
  • Closing door design – Helps trap heat effectively, resulting in faster preheating and more consistent cooking temperatures.
  • Great entry price – Produces genuinely impressive pizzas, making it excellent value for the cost.

The Not-So-Good

  • Side temperature gauge isn’t very useful – The lack of clear readings makes it more of a decoration than a functional tool.
  • Controls at the back – Both gas and wood adjustments are behind the oven, which can get annoying when you’re trying to make quick flame changes mid-cook.
  • Swapping fuels is fiddly – You need to remove the gas attachment to switch to wood, so it’s not ideal if you like alternating between the two.
  • Glass door fogs up with wood – Looks great at first, but once you start burning wood the glass gets smoky and loses clarity.
  • Gas attachment sold separately – It’s an added cost (around $179 from Joes BBQs), so keep that in mind when budgeting.

Additional Thoughts

The overall build quality feels solid for the price point, and the oven holds heat surprisingly well for something this small. With gas, it’s extremely user-friendly and consistent. With wood, it becomes more of a craft experience—fun, rewarding, but a bit more hands-on. Once you learn the sweet spot for managing flame and airflow, the results speak for themselves.

Cleaning is straightforward, especially when using gas, and the oven cools down quickly due to its compact size. Storage is easy too, making it a good fit even for small balconies or limited outdoor space.

Overall

I’m really happy with the Ooni Karu 2. You can pick it up for as low as $578 from JoesBBQs.com.au, making it much more affordable than many competitors while still delivering top-quality pizzas. Whether you’re a weekend pizza maker or someone who wants a portable oven you can take anywhere, it’s a strong, reliable option that performs above its price bracket.