Best mookata in Singapore: Where to eat cheap, authentic Thai BBQ and steamboat with grilled meats
Craving a late-night supper with a group of your friends? We can’t think of a better way to end the day than bonding over a steaming-hot mookata platter. Not savvy with this Thai communal dining tradition? Mu kratha, as it’s known in Thailand, marries the joys of hot grilled meats (think Korean barbecue) and the soupy goodness of Chinese hot pot. Here are seven of our fave spots to grill and slurp the evening away!
Tom Yam Kungfu
Want mookata in the Serangoon area? You’re in luck! Grab your mates and head down to this modern, casual Thai eatery for some savoury steamboat nosh. While there’s plenty of Thai fare on the menu, we zero in on their affordable, fresh mookata sets. Its regular set, fit for two to three diners, includes pork, pineapple chicken chop, pork belly, scallops, prawns, fish cake, and assorted vegetables ($49.90).
Tom Yum Kungfu, 2 Maju Avenue, Singapore 049372. p. 6536 1646.
Soi 51 Mookata
Mookata mavens and hungry East-siders will be no strangers to this institution. Its success (and expansion to three outlets) is not surprising considering the affordable prices and generous portions of meat and vegetables. The all-you-can-eat mookata buffet for $20 (available for August 2016) and fresh seafood selection make this chain particularly attractive.
Soi 51 Mookata, 51 Guillemard Road, Singapore 399705. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-1am. Closed Mon.
Mookata Traditional Thai BBQ
Marinade often makes a difference between a meh mookata and a magnificent one, and this resto prides itself on its rich, umami-laden marinated meat selection. Crowd-pleasing favourites here include the richly flavoured tom yam chicken and pork, or up your mookata game with premium meat selections like wagyu beef and kurobuta pork. If that pesky smoke smell on your clothes puts you off this divine dining experience, fret not; this resto is equipped with an effective exhaust system.
Mookata Traditional Thai BBQ, 103 East Coast Road, Singapore 428797. p. 6344 2985.
Siam Square Mookata
Of course, we can’t leave out the Thai enclave of Golden Mile Complex in this guide. There is no shortage of options here, but Siam Square wins points with us for authenticity and its selection of seafood options like oysters, scallops, cockles and jumbo tiger prawns. While the Golden Mile outlet is the most famous, Siam Square Mookata has eight other outlets islandwide, so you won’t need to travel very far to get your mookata fix.
Siam Square Mookata, various locations.
Kin Tub Thai
Another restaurant that scores points for authenticity is Kin Tub Thai. This restaurant’s popularity with Thai expats is proof enough that you’re getting the real deal. Order the standard, meat lovers (lots of pork belly and bacon!) or seafood platter if you want to skip the fuss of choosing individual dishes. Oh, and definitely order a round of their especially flavourful Thai milk tea!
Kin Tub Thai Steamboat, 1 Sophia Road, Peace Centre, Singapore 228149.
Aroy Mak Mookata
Can’t get enough of salted egg yolk? At Aroy Mak Mookata, you’ll get the rather unconventional option of adding a dipping pot of salted egg yolk sauce (or nacho cheese sauce) that’ll pair perfectly with the grilled meats in your mookata. In addition to that, the resto also offers one of the most affordable all-you-can-eat mookata buffets for just $17.80 (with free Thai milk tea!).
Aroy Mak Mookata, 510 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368208. Open daily 5pm-12.45am.
New Udon Thai Food
Grill well-marinated meats like chicken and pork on a lard-greased metal skillet, and cook other ingredients (like the glass noodles) in the soup. Prices are a bit steep for a mookata joint (approximately $45 per set of meat, vegetables, eggs, and noodles), but trust us when we say it’s worth it
New Udon Thai Food, #01-55 Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Road, Singapore 199588.