Black Earth Grills - Teppan 29: Review
A Versatile Live-Fire Cooker That Blends Teppanyaki, Plancha, and Fire Pit Cooking
If there’s one thing I love about live-fire cooking it’s that it feels a lot more hands-on and social. Those aspects are often amplified by flexible and unique live-fire cookers that are far from a traditional backyard grill set-up. On that note, the Black Earth Grills Teppan 29 is one of the most interesting and adaptable backyard cookers that I have used.
At first glance, it looks like a modern fire pit with a carbon steel cooking surface wrapped around it. And in many ways, it is that… but from a chef’s point-of-view, it’s also lot more versatile than that.
Black Earth Grills, Teppan 29.
More than a Flat Top: This is a Live-Fire Cooking Platform for Serious Backyard Cooks
Part of the live-fire magic of this cooker is the heat management options that you have. Because it runs on wood (or hardwood lump charcoal, if you want to go that route) and uses a thick carbon steel cooktop (a solid half-inch thick), you can build your fire exactly the way you want it. While the carbon steel cooktop is exceptional, it also has a very heavy-duty little grill that sits over top of the fire opening in the middle. The flat-top surface provides over 700 square inches of grilling space, while the removable grill gives you another 140 square inches of cooking space. The grill is roughly big enough for two or three good size steaks, or four chicken breasts (two or three if they’re pounded thin).
You can adjust the grill to be close to the fire or a little further away. It also swings out of the way entirely, for convenience (both for access to the fire and to create a less-hot zone in a two-zone setup). The grill can also be removed completely if you’re not using the grill grate. So if you need searing heat for a steak, go ahead and load up your favourite hardwood and let the Teppan 29 bring the heat.
At the same time, you can be cooking quite a few other items on the thick carbon steel cooktop. With a coal bed beneath the cooktop you can cook vegetables, seafood, smash burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, breakfast and so on. It’s time to let your imagination and creativity take over. For slower-paced social cooking with friends standing around the fire, the Teppan 29 is there for you. This rig embodies the true magic of live-fire cooking because it’s not rushed, and it provides ambiance for the yard. The beauty of this unit is that as it heats up, you get the visible ambiance of the fire, which is a nice touch to any yard. Allow at least an hour for the unit to heat up and get some sort of coal bed going..
Super-thin-sliced NY Strips.
Part Teppanyaki Grill, Part Brasero, Part Backyard Fire Pit
Lighting a fire in the Teppan 29 is quick and easy. Simply use a classic cross-stack setup with small to medium-size logs (whatever fits into the opening) on the bottom and kindling on top. Use a tumbleweed lighting coil in the middle to get things going. I seasoned the carbon steel cooktop with a very thin layer of canola oil (grapeseed oil is also good, as both have a high smoke point) before the first use (as it heated up) and the cooktop was ready to go. I also seasoned the grilling grid as well, for good measure.
As noted above, I would allow for at least an hour for the cooktop to heat up, so bear that in mind if you are in a rush (it will take longer, of course, for a bigger amount of coals to build up). What I really like about the Teppan 29 is the ability to move coals around underneath the cooking surface. You can get creative with hotter and less-hot zones across the cooktop by moving the coals appropriately underneath. This is part of what separates this unit from a standard flat-top griddle and lets you know you’re working with a true live-fire cooking station. For me, this cooker sits somewhere between a teppanyaki grill, a plancha, and a brasero-style cooker, which makes it one exceptional unit.
Heating up the Teppan 29.
The Kind of Live-Fire Cooker that Makes You Want to Cook Outside More Often
The build quality is exceptional as well. The thick carbon steel top holds heat beautifully and the whole unit feels incredibly solid and well-built. Nothing about it feels flimsy or disposable, not by a long shot. This is the kind of cooker that develops character over time.
I like how the Teppan 29 doubles as a backyard gathering spot—guests really love it. Not just because it’s unique (you don’t see units like this in every backyard), but also because it acts like a magnet that draws guests nearer. People want to be around this thing. Once cooking is done, it naturally transitions into a fire pit for hanging out and roasting marshmallows. That kind of versatility matters because it means the unit gets used more often (and longer into the evening), not just for dedicated live-fire cooking sessions.
I opted for the leg extensions to raise the cooking height to counter height, which I would recommend for comfort if you plan on cooking on it regularly. Without the risers, it would feel more like a firepit—which is perfect if that’s what you’re going for. I also mounted mine on a heavy-duty mobile base (the kind originally designed for woodworking equipment), which makes it much easier to move around the yard.
If I had one addition, it would be that I would love to see some sort of drip-catching solution around the perimeter edge. I haven’t yet had an issue, but I can see how grease or oil (or an errant onion or shrimp) could escape, depending on what you’re cooking. Although in practice it’s pretty manageable and easy to avoid any issues if you cook smart and pay attention to food placement. I’m not 100% certain, but it looks like the cooktop may be ever-so-slightly angled towards the centre opening as well, which is helpful. All of this led me to try using a carbon steel pan in some cases (like for greasy bacon), which I placed right onto the carbon steel cooktop. I actually love this flexibility and it has opened up a whole new world of using the Teppan 29 for traditional pan-style dishes (and even some desserts).
Shrimp and veggies on the carbon steel cooktop.
One of the Most Flexible Live-Fire Cookers I Have Used
Overall, the Teppan 29 feels a lot less like a conventional grill and a lot more like a live-fire cooking platform. It encourages experimentation, social cooking, and a more interactive style of barbecue than most other typical grills or cookers. Plus, it’s easy to clean with scrapers and a little water (while it’s still hot), followed by a good wipe down. Keep it lightly seasoned and it’s always ready and waiting for whatever you want to send its way.
One of the final things I’m working on is finding a way to hang a few utensils and fire-management tools from the unit. The wooden cutting boards (accessory option) that can be attached to two sides are a plus, but you’ll still want easy access to a few essential tools hung from the Teppan.
Teppan 29, by Black Earth Grills.
Black Earth Grills is a Canadian company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the build quality of this unit is top notch. It’s heavy, sturdy and very well made. You can tell that Black Earth Grills really cares about what they do and that goes right down to the finer details of production and assembly (including the plain language and easy-to-follow instructions that come with their grills). The Teppan 29 is as solid as they come and you definitely won’t have to worry about quality if you decide to purchase.
For full disclosure: this unit was provided to me by the company. That said, I would not keep using it (nor would I review it) if it did not genuinely deliver (and then some). And the Teppan 29 from Black Earth Grills definitely delivers. I find this unit to be an ideal size for a backyard setup. At 29" x 29" x 17" high (not including the riser legs, which bring the height to approx. 34 inches), it should fit nicely into any yard. However, if you want something bigger, they also make a larger version of this grill. So if you have the space and want to level up your game, they have you covered.
From high-heat favourites to unique global live-fire dishes, the Teppan 29 from Black Earth Grills would be a worthy addition to any backyard kitchen. Recommended.
By Mike Belobradic
Founder of Smoke Fire Grill™ and the Northern Barbecue™ Method of Live-Fire Cooking