thai moo krata bbq — *Nothing is better than enjoying Moo Krata on the beach*

You’ve heard of Korean BBQ, you’ve heard of Japanese Yakiniku, but have you ever heard of Thai Moo Krata? Moo Krata has been sweeping through the internet lately but it’s been a staple of the local Thai culinary experience for quite some time now.

A genius combo of hotpot and barbecue, Moo Krata is probably the most amazing food creation in recent memory and in this blog post I will introduce you all to the magic of Moo Krata, Thailand’s version of hotpot and barbecue!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. By clicking on the links and purchasing the product, I will receive a partial commission at no cost to you. All of these products are ones that I fully trust and recommend with my heart. Thank you for your support!

My YouTube Video on Thai Moo Krata!

Experience the deliciousness of eating Moo Krata via checking out my YouTube video on eating Moo Krata in Thailand! Also if you enjoy the video how about subscribing to my YouTube Channel? ;)

What is Moo Krata?

moo krata thai bbq — *Can’t decide between hotpot or bbq? Moo Krata has got you covered!*

Moo Krata is a uniquely Thai dining experiences that gives you the best of both worlds, fatty grilled meats, and soothing hotpot. It’s an interactive meal that you enjoy with family and friends, similar to Korean BBQ.

The literal translation for “Moo Krata (หมูกระทะ)” translates into “Pig Pan” which sounds a bit gross but that’s kind of literally what Moo Krata is! Different slices of pork laid on top of a hot charcoal skillet while a moat of soup, vegetables, and noodles bubble away.

The Iconic Moo Krata Skillet

We can’t talk about Moo Krata without mentioning what makes it so special, the iconic Moo Krata skillet! This skillet is usually made from metals that evenly distribute heat, you’ll mainly find aluminium/steel and sometimes like a brass skillet. Stainless steel is rarely used because your chopsticks and spoons will be manhandling the skillet a lot causing the coating to wear off quite quickly.

The Moo Krata skillet features a convex domed center where your porks and various other proteins are grilled. As your meats are grilling the flavor packed juices are water-falling down into the moat that surrounds the center dome.

This moat is filled with a your vegetables, noodles, and any other things that you would usually cook in hotpot form. Most if not all of the time the soup in the moat is quite bland in flavor being something like a simple vegetable stock.

But that’s the magic, as you keep eating, the flavors from the meat and various ingredients you put in will slowly turn this bland soup into a flavor packed explosion.

The “Moo” in Moo Krata (and Other Proteins)

slices of pork — *So many choices of sliced meats to choose from!*

In the United States, “Moo” is a sound that cows make but in Thailand “Moo” means pig and that is specifically the main protein option you’ll have when you’re eating Moo Krata. You’ll often have the choice of different cuts of pork like pork belly, pork neck, pork shoulder blade, etc…

Though pork is the main option you also have other meats like squid, shrimp, chicken, and sometimes beef, not to mention the various fishballs or any other addons that the restaurant can come up with. My favorite is the pork belly because of the fat.

Vegetables are also a plenty, all your classic veg like cabbage, bok choy, eringi mushrooms, carrots, etc… As well as noodles usually Thai instant Mama noodles, udon noodles, or egg noodles.

Basically the Moo Krata skillet is your creative canvas for any combination of ingredients you can think of.

The All Important Moo Krata Sauce

thai moo krata dipping sauce — *Come on, doesn’t that just make your mouth water?*

When talking about Moo Krata, I see a lot of people and blog posts disregard this most important aspect of the Moo Krata eating experience, the Moo Krata dipping sauces can make or break your meal! No joke.

Because your ingredients are rarely ever marinated, your food will taste pretty bland, that’s why a lot of Moo Krata restaurants pride themselves on their dipping sauces. In fact the dipping sauces are what makes each restaurant different, and every local’s preferences mostly depend on how good an establishments sauces and ingredient selections are.

Most places will give you the choice of 2 sauces; A sweet and thick spicy chilli sauce, and a spicy and sour Thai seafood sauce. However, restaurants are free to come up with their own special sauces, I’ve seen a popular restaurant in Ban Thad Thong add a soy sauce marinated egg yolk to their seafood sauce making for an incredibly rich and umami spicy sauce.

Don’t forget about the sauces, people! A Moo Krata restaurant lives and dies by their sauces.

The Origins of Moo Krata

genghis khan bbq hotpot — *A Genghis Khan BBQ, the skillet is similar to Moo Krata except there’s no room for soup*

Moo Krata as it is known in it's modern day iteration originated in Northern Thailand but this eating method can be found in surrounding South East Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.

However the cooking method has roots in Korean influences. Though sources are unclear as to when exactly did Moo Krata appear in Asia’s culinary repertoire. We do know that this idea of a communal meal of grilling meat over a skillet is Korean in origin and has been adopted into Thai cuisine. In fact, originally Moo Krata was referred to as Korean BBQ by the local Thais.

traditional thai mookrata skillet — *A traditional Thai aluminium Moo Krata Skillet, this one is a pain to clean*

Overtime time the cooking method evolved to become uniquely Thai, such as the change to grilling over charcoal and the addition of Thai style sauces, and the cultural focus of dining as a group.

I think the addition of the soup moat was added later on when local Thais took some influences from Chinese hotpot, specifically during the Mongol Empire when Chinese style hot pot originated. The Thai locals created this Frankenstein contraption that we know today as the Moo Krata Skillet from a combination of these influences. Though I might be wrong about this, sources are rather murky.

How to Eat Moo Krata Like a Real Thai?

While it brings me great joy to see tourists in Thailand trying this amazing dining experience, I often see some of you struggle to make sense of how to enjoy Moo Krata to its fullest. That’s not your fault as there are some hidden nuances to enjoying Moo Krata that only a seasoned veteran would know.

I’ll be sharing some top tips to make sure you enjoy Moo Krata like a real local! These aren’t “rules” by the way it’s just a couple of suggestions, you don’t have to follow them, after all part of the fun of Moo Krata is expressing your culinary creativity.

moo krata fat — *A chunk of pork fat, use it to coat your Moo Krata skillet in a thin layer of oil*

USE THE FAT! - Every Moo Krata meal includes a chunk of pork fat, this used to coat the pan in a layer of oil to add a bit of flavor but most importantly to make sure that your meats wont stick and burn the pan.
Always Fill Your Moat - The moisture and steam from your soup will help the meats not burn and stick to the Moo Krata skillet.
Be Experimental - You don’t have to grill the meat, put it in your hotpot moat if you want! I typically do that near the end of the meal. Try combining the sauces, or mix them straight into your hotpot moat.

Common Complaints of Moo Krata

One complaint that I often hear (and honestly annoys me) is “Why would I pay to cook my own food”. Ok, Imagine, you host a backyard family barbecue, you grill the burgers and hotdogs while happily chatting along with family members and friends.

Moo Krata is basically the same, but instead of buying your own ingredients and planning the event yourself (which honestly is more expensive), you pay for a wide selection of proteins, vegetables, and sauces, not to mention the Moo Krata skillet. It’s the same vibe except in a restaurant.

And plus Moo Krata is at its core, a communal dining experience. Sure you go there for food, but deep down you’re actually eating Moo Krata for the social experience whether you are aware of it or not. Unless you’re dining alone, but there’s nothing wrong with that, I actually admire people who can solo dine, I am too socially anxious for that.

Places to Try Moo Krata in Bangkok

Everyday Mookrata riverside — *Everyday Moo Krata Riverside, good food and good views!*

Moo Krata is usually served as a set with a plate of vegetables and a tray (or bowl) of sliced meats, buffet-style restaurants are uncommon but they do exist. You can find Moo Krata at quite a few places in Bangkok especially districts with a large student population like Ban Thad Thong street near Chulalongkorn University. Here are a few of my recommendations for where to eat Moo Krata in Bangkok:

Chaun Kin MooKata - A $10 Moo Krata Buffet located in Ban Thad Thong, I love this place because 1. buffet, 2. only $10, 3. actually good quality ingredients and selections.
Poopunmookrata - Popular with locals, good, clean, delicious food.
Everyday Mookrata Riverside - Modern casual Moo Krata with a gorgeous view of the Chao Phraya river

You can also check out my blog post on my personal recommendations for Moo Krata if you would like to see more options.

Making Moo Krata at Home

thai electric mookrata skillet — *Modern electric Moo Krata Skillets like these can be found in your local Asian supermarkets*

Of course you could definitely do Moo Krata at home, however sourcing the Moo Krata skillet can be a bit difficult, you’ll need to order it online or through your local Asian supermarket.

You’ll have an even bigger amount of creative freedom because you can literally buy any ingredients you want. You don’t even have to limit yourself to Thai dipping sauces.

If you’re worried about charcoal, don’t worry you can find electric Moo Krata skillets as well. In fact, I have one that I use constantly when I was at my dorm in university. My friends and I would buy meats and veg from the local Makro Supermarket and just have a Moo Krata party, complete with a few bottles of Soju. Ahh good times.

Looking for Things to Do in Bangkok?

SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World - Encounter over 400 marine species and 30000 creatures
Floating Markets Day Tour - Tour 3 major markets: Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong, Amphawa
Safari World Bangkok - Meet exotic and friendly animals at Bangkok’s animal kingdom
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price

Useful Resources for Traveling in Thailand

Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Thailand
4G/5G SIM Card - 8 days, 15GB, Important for staying connected while in Thailand
Private Airport Transfers - Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city without worry
Best Bangkok Hostels - A list of the best hostels to stay for cheap and meet new friends