Bar-B-Q Plaza: Our First Mookata Experience in Bangkok (2024)

Last Updated on February 29, 2024

Hubs and I have been to Thailand a few times. But it was only on our recent trip that we decided to try mookata in Bangkok! Since we have mookata in Singapore, we wanted to see how different it is from what we have here. If you are interested in our mookata experience in Bangkok, continue reading for more details~! ⸜( *ˊᵕˋ* )⸝

Save This on Pinterest!

Do you love this post and want to revisit it in future? Click on the save button and pin it to your Pinterest board 📌 so you can easily find it! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Why Bar-B-Q Plaza for its Mookata in Bangkok?

You might think that with so many mookata restaurants, why did we choose to visit a commercialised brand? Well, hubs and I initially shortlisted a place called Pla Thong Mookata. The reviews, food and place were good on Google. And the best thing is that it is near our hotel in Phaya Thai! I was so looking forward to it. As our trip was nearing, I decided to look through all the places we wanted to visit. And then I realised that Pla Thong Mookata is permanently closed! (⊙_⊙)

To be honest, I was kind of sad since I thought we could enjoy a good mookata meal the day before we flew back to Singapore. (´-ω-`) Well, we still wanted to try mookata in Bangkok, so hubs and I started to Google for alternatives. And that was when we came by Bar-B-Q Plaza and decided to check it out at Siam Centre.

Our Mookata Set at Bar-B-Q Plaza Bangkok

We reached Bar-B-Q Plaza around 7.15 PM. And by then, there were already a few tables of people having their meal there. When we were halfway into our meal, the whole place was almost full. It seems like Bar-B-Q Plaza is a popular place for gatherings. ( ´ ω ` )

Anyway, we did not take any photos of the menu, so I don’t know what we ordered. I tried to check against photos on Google reviews, and I think ours is a Full Pork Set. The set came with a simple mushrooms and vegetables platter, pork belly, sliced chicken, pork collar, miso pork and corn with bacon. Based on the menu posted on Google, the set cost 619 THB (~24 SGD), which is quite reasonable for the amount of meat given. Aside from the set, we also ordered a bowl of fried garlic rice to have some carbs in our meal. Haha!

Every table also comes with a free flow of shredded cabbage, that is served on the side. We don’t have this in Singapore, so hubs and I were both wondering what it was for. I even thought that we were supposed to make a salad with it, like how some tonkatsu restaurants do with their free-flow cabbages. It doesn’t help that there IS a bottle of sauce on the side, so we were nearly going to make a salad with it. LOL. (・・;)ゞ Anyway, to be on the safer side, hubs and I decided to Google for an answer. But before sharing with you the answer, let me share with you how to eat mookata! ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝

How to Eat Mookata (in Bangkok and Everywhere Else!)

The staff here at Bar-B-Q Plaza were really friendly. But once they realised that we did not speak Thai, everyone seemed to be avoiding our table. I’m not sure if this is normal, but we ended up with no one telling us how to eat the mookata. So in case this is your first time having mookata, I hope the short guide below can help you! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

Prepping the Grill Pan

The first thing you should do when having mookata is to oil the grill pan before cooking anything~! Do not panic if you do not see any oil on the table, as that is not how mookata works. Instead of cooking oil, you will be using a piece of lard to oil the grill pan. This piece of lard is found among the meat platter. It is quite easy to spot it as it is the only thing that does not make sense on the platter. Haha! Anyway, just put the lard in the middle of the grill pan and let it do its work~! (´• ω •`)ﾉ

Once the lard has helped to oil up the grill pan, it is time to cook the meat! We usually prefer to grill the meat, as with most people. But if you prefer to dip it in the “soup” as shabu-shabu, you are free to do so as well. There are no rules on how you eat everything that is on the table. (ᵔ◡ᵔ)

Preparing the Soup

Usually, the mushrooms and vegetables will go right into the water to turn the water into a flavourful soup. If you want, you can also grill them on the grill pan. (¬‿¬ ) And you remember the cabbages? Well, after some Googling and observing what the locals were doing, we realised the cabbages are for the soup!

Initially, we had only added the mushrooms and vegetables into the water, but the soup still tasted quite bland. After learning about the purpose of the cabbages, adding them to the soup helped to make it taste better! They also tasted quite good after softening them in the soup. I guess you could think of them as a source of fibre after eating so much meat. ( ´ ω ` )

And if you need more water, remember to ask the staff to top it up for you~! We ended up asking them to refill once or twice as the pan was way too shallow! The water could hardly cover the vegetables when we put them in, and after some boiling, the water was just gone. LOL.

Making the Dipping Sauce

Now that you know how to prep your grilling pan and soup, it is time to know how to make the dipping sauce! Usually, in Singapore, I think the restaurants have a sauce station for us to prepare our dipping sauce. But since no one here told us anything, hubs and I were once again thrown into another round of confusion. And this time with the condiments on the table. (´･ᴗ･ ` )

Lucky for us, we found an answer on Google! You are supposed to use the condiments on the table to make your dipping sauce. The brown sauce is Bar-B-Q Plaza’s special dipping sauce, and you can add your preferred amount of green chilli and minced garlic. So basically, you just add the three into a small saucer and mix them to create your dipping sauce~! ⸜( ´ ꒳ ` )⸝

Our Mookata Experience at Bar-B-Q Plaza Bangkok

In general, I think the pork tasted quite okay for the price given. Both hubs and I have nothing to complain about it. But the corn with bacon that came with the set was kind of underwhelming. But the worst was the garlic rice. I was expecting the fragrant garlic rice that you find in Japanese restaurants. Instead, we got a bowl of garlic rice that had NO umami at all. If you want to have carbs in your meal, I don’t recommend ordering this AT ALL. (*/ω＼)

As I mentioned, the staff were generally quite friendly. They even approached our table enthusiastically. That was until they realised we didn’t speak Thai that they started avoiding eye contact with us. Haha! ┐(‘～`;)┌ Luckily we were able to figure out everything ourselves, so all was good.

The price here at Bar-B-Q Plaza is quite reasonable, but I think the food was average at best. Putting that aside, being able to have mookata in an air-conditioned environment was quite nice. We also noticed the majority of the diners seemed to be locals, so it looks like Bar-B-Q Plaza is a good place for gathering with your friends and family. Considering the price and comfort, I think it is a good place to try out mookata if you have not done this in Bangkok yet! ⸜( *ˊᵕˋ* )⸝

Information about Bar-B-Q Plaza

BAR-B-Q PLAZA, SIAM CENTRE

⏰ Opening Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
☎️ Phone Number: +66 2 658 1702

There are a lot of branches of Bar-B-Q Plaza in Bangkok, and I am only putting the details of the branch at Siam Centre since that is the one we visited. For other branches, you can consider checking out the links below:
🔎 Website | Facebook | Instagram

Spread the Love!

Loved what you just read? Think your friends or family would enjoy it too? Hit your favourite share button below, and let’s make good vibes travel! Your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch for being awesome! (´• ω •`) ♡

Useful Travel Resources

Pack your wanderlust, and let’s set sail! I have prepared the following travel resources that you might find helpful to fuel your next adventure. This section will be ever-growing, and if you think there is anything that you want me to add to this list, drop me a message to let me know! ⸜( *ˊᵕˋ* )⸝

💰 BEST Cards to Use for Your Overseas Spending

Want to enjoy seamless spending overseas without the pesky fees? Check out my post on the best card to bring overseas – the Trust Bank and YouTrip cards!

Photo Gallery

Bangkok-Related Posts

Getting ready for your escape to Bangkok and wondering if everything’s sorted? No worries, my comprehensive Bangkok guide has got you covered! Need help getting around the city? Dive into my guide on private and public transportation for tourists. And if you’re on the hunt for the tastiest spots in town, be sure to explore my dedicated Bangkok food guide too! Or, if you’re seeking delicious recommendations, explore my dedicated posts on Bangkok’s culinary delights below! (＠´ー`)ﾉﾞ

Let’s Connect!

If email isn’t your cup of tea, you’re welcome to stay in touch through my social media channels! I have the latest posts and updates on Facebook and weekly photos on Instagram. Now and then, I drop by IG with travel stories, too! So, feel free to say hello and connect!

If you prefer a more direct line, you can always reach out through this contact form. I’m excited to connect with you! Thanks for visiting! (´ ε ` )♡