Iron Plate, Iron Griddle, Teppan Grill, Sure Thing
noun
Well, you've got iron and you've got a board. You'd probably just call it an iron plate, though. But this often isn't just any iron plate. If you could guess from the reading, it's often used in cooking as an iron griddle, or a teppan grill. Ever heard of Teppanyaki? Figuratively, it means a sure thing or a practically guaranteed success. For example, you can use 鉄板 for a racehorse almost certain to win, or a joke that consistently gets big laughs.
てっぱん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on'yomi readings of the kanji. Watch out for the rendaku and you should be good!
業務用の鉄板を一枚注文した。
I ordered a single commercial-grade iron plate.
みんなで鉄板を囲んでお好み焼きを食べるのが好きだ。
I enjoy gathering around a teppan grill with everyone and eating okonomiyaki.
これ、オレの鉄板ネタなんだ。
This is one of my surefire jokes.