MK Restaurant, Central Festival (updated March 20, 2016)

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The MK Restaurant is located on the sixth level (5th floor) of the Central Festival Mall on 2nd Road. It is one of the six MK branches in Pattaya and the three hundred or so nationwide. Like all MK Restaurants, the Central Festival branch specializes in Thai-style hot pot meals cooked directly at the diners' tables, but also has an extensive a la carte menu. MK itself says the main offering of its restaurants is Thai-style "suki," although Thai-style hot pot cooking isn't very similar to Japanese sukiyaki. The MK hot pots are more akin to Chinese hot pot cooking, which has existed for at least 1,000 years in Chinese cuisine.

The MK Restaurant at CF is spacious, brightly lit and very clean. Service is fast and attentive and has one special feature you won't find at many restaurants- more about that later.





The diners order the ingredients for the hot pot- meat, seafood, veggies, noodles, dumplings, etc.- from an extensive photo menu. The waitress fires up the cooking plate under the pot of broth and the ingredients are added as they arrive. We ordered some dim sum as an appetizer and it came immediately.





The main ingredient in our hot pot was finely sliced pork.





Chicken livers:



In goes the first set of ingredients:







Then the tray of mushrooms went in:





And the veggies:





A taste test:



And a sample to see if the pork and veggies had cooked long enough:



One of many bowls out of the hot pot. The broth was delicious! There are different sauces with varying degrees of heat in which to dip each bite.





My dinner companion:



I'm not sure of the timing, but several times over the course of an evening the staff will do a line-dance routine to music. Just about all the staff - waiters and waitresses; bus boys; managers, etc, get into the act. It's fun and amusing, but the staff didn't really look like they were enjoying themselves.







I really liked the hot pot meals I've had at MK. It's also very popular with Thai girls. How cheap or expensive it gets depends on what and how many trays of ingredients you order, but our meal came in at around 700 baht for two.

Before anyone comments, I know there may be cheaper, more authentic and perhaps even better hot pot restaurants in Pattaya, but my companion asked to go MK at Central Festival. It was her choice. Our goal wasn't to eat in Pattaya's best hot pot restaurant, but to go to a restaurant she liked and she wanted to go the MK at Central Festival.

Evil

Edited March 20, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[steamer 158]

I love MK.

 

There are 5 other branches in Patts? Really?

[bigmick 840]

You took a good looking lady for lunch and did a nice write up of the time in the restaurant, why should you care what anyone thinks about the cost of the lunch. I know i wouldn't.

 

Good write up and thanks for the pictures.

[GlynRhedyn 32]

Thanks for the reminder although I think the dance routine may be new. I've been there and can only echo what you have said. Like you the choice was made not by me but by my companions, two which turned into three, all FLB girls getting fed before work.

Glyn.

[steamer 158]

Thanks for the reminder although I think the dance routine may be new. I've been there and can only echo what you have said. Like you the choice was made not by me but by my companions, two which turned into three, all FLB girls getting fed before work.

Glyn.

 

 

I first saw them doing the dance in Hua Hin maybe 2 years ago. They aren't the same everywhere so maybe each location does their own dance. It's certainly possible to have your meal and not even see the dance.

 

Edited August 8, 2013 by steamer

[Counterpointing 14]

Big favorite of the Thai girls. Get dragged to MK at least 3 times a trip. They seem to love Shabushi also.

[GlynRhedyn 32]

I first saw them doing the dance in Hua Hin maybe 2 years ago. They aren't the same everywhere so maybe each location does their own dance. It's certainly possible to have your meal and not even see the dance.

 

Maybe they did dance but I couldn't take my eyes off my companions

Glyn.

[Gabor 296]

Great report, thank you very much.... Yeah, many years ago MK was the top restaurant for the girls you could bring them....still now really popular. My own experience says, when we are with TGs we have always great food, but when we are alone only farangs, always a failure....despite we try to do the same we made with the girls....

[bratpack 91]

Your food companion doesnt need chop sticks,her fingers are just as long lol lol.Couldnt resist that,sorry.

[syd_tybil 70]

I have seen the line dancing thing happening occasionally when I walk by that restaurant. Reminded me of the staff at Joe's Crab Shack in Las Vegas where the staff gets up and dances around. The Vegas staff seemed to get into more than the MK ones.

 

Thanks for the review.

[jacko 8,815]

It isn't surprising you have to cook your own food with the staff dancing around all the time!

 

Not keen on the hot-pot idea myself, I think I tried it once and I was the one cooking.

But they do reasonable duck dishes and I like the dim-sum.

[marleyboy 140]

All the Thais I know love MK.! ive not seen them doing the dance routine there...............though I do remember years ago.! I used to go into Mike Department Store..........................just to see ALL! the staff dancing whenever Chiil Cha Cha came on!

[BigDUSA 71]

Good food at a reasonable price.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I love MK.

 

There are 5 other branches in Patts? Really?

 

That's what I was told. Believe most (all?) of the others are in Big C stores.

 

Evil

[steamer 158]

That's what I was told. Believe most (all?) of the others are in Big C stores.

 

Evil

 

The only other one I can picture is the one at the Big C on second but I found this ....http://newpattaya.com/restaurants/

 

'MK Restaurants. There are a total of 6 MK Restaurants in Pattaya. In Tesco South, Tesco North, Big C South, Big C Extra (used to be Carrefour), Big C North and Central Festival Pattaya Beach. MK is very popular among the thais. I highly recommend the duck and especially the souce that comes with the duck.'

Edited August 9, 2013 by steamer

[Severn 109]

That's what I was told.  Believe most (all?) of the others are in Big C stores.

 

Evil

 

The only other one I can picture is the one at the Big C on second but I found this ....http://newpattaya.com/restaurants/

 

MK Restaurants. There are a total of 6 MK Restaurants in Pattaya. In Tesco South, Tesco North, Big C South, Big C Extra (used to be Carrefour), Big C North and Central Festival Pattaya Beach. MK is very popular among the thais. I highly recommend the duck and  especially the souce that comes with the duck.

and the sliced pickled ginger that comes with the duck.

 

Sent from my GT-S6500 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[teelack 9,640]

Thanks Evil. I pass by these places but have never dined that way so your review was very interesting. I suggested to a lady last time I was there that we go to a Thai place that does these meals and she said that she didn't think my stomach could handle it! Ah well, its yet another Pattaya experience on the Bucket List.

[gaijin 146]

I go to MK every trip, sometimes several times. Duck is their signature dish. Also the garlic and green noodles are pretty good.

[Fornicator 106]

I love this place and always eat there several times each trip!!

[bratpack 91]

I have a steam pot at home,and we try many different dishes,good if friends visit too.

[DrPat 423]

I’m a big fan of ‘Food Wave’ on the top floor of Royal Garden Plaza, but I’ll certainly be checking out MK on my next trip. I’ll try to refrain from joining in with the dancing, but can’t promise.

 

Thanks for the top-notch report.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

A few more pics from another meal at MK. I ate with BM capdagde and we went with one of the "sets" for three people. Besides the plate of raw ingredients that went into the hot pot, it included cooked noodles, a plate of greens and roast duck. The cost was 1,030 baht and with non-alcohol beverages and a small tip, the total cost for three was 1,200 baht. Unfortunately, I lost the picture of the duck dish due to file corruption.

 

Evil

[BigDUSA 71]

Good food at a reasonable price.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Another update from MK, which is the "most-favored restaurant" of a girl with whom I spend a lot of time.

 

Shrimp, chicken and mushrooms:

 

 

Veggies:

 

 

Mostly seafood, but also some pork:

 

 

The hot pot merrily bubbling:

 

 

A final plate of mushrooms:

 

 

 

Evil

Edited September 22, 2013 by Evil Penevil

[ThaiLearner 18]

i do enjoy the MK places the duck is excellent.

 

I have not seen them do the dance in the Central one but many times at Big C north