Description
Mi-Hao Moogata (มิ-ฮาว หมูกระทะ) is a Thai style barbecue restaurant near the back side (Gate 5) of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University. Moogata is similar to Korean barbecue or a Chinese hot pot. It is a buffet style dining experience, where you select various pieces of beef, pork, fish, and seafood to barbecue over a shared hot pan, which has a broth area around the edge of the pan (or in the center) where you can also cook vegetables, mushrooms, and rice noodles.
The Thai name Moogata (หมูกระทะ) is also spelled in English as Mu Kratha or Mookata. Translated, it literally means "pork pan". Moogata establishments tend to have similar quality meats (i.e. good quality). Thus the really deciding factor that impacts the popularity of a Moogata restaurant is the deliciousness of the dipping sauces. Usually there are 3 different sauces, two different styles for meats (spicy and sour) and one for seafood.
At Mi-Hao Moogata, all the dipping sauces are excellent! In fact, we would say that they probably have the best tasting dipping sauces we have had (to date) at a Sakon Nakhon moogata. In addition to thinly sliced meats (which look kind of like thinly sliced cold cuts), they have thicker pieces of bacon and pork, as well as delicious marinated beef cubes.
In Issan (Northeast Thailand), the quality of the seafood, in particular shrimp and squid, can often be mediocre, compared to Bangkok and other places closer to the sea. However, the shrimp and squid at Mi-Hao Moogata (มิ-ฮาว หมูกระทะ) were surprisingly fresh and firm. The squid was especially good!
As to drinks, most customers drink soda or water. No beer is served. However, there is a small shop nearby where you can buy cans of beer and bring them to your table. The service at the restaurant is prompt and attentive. Ice cream is available for desert. They are open for lunch and dinner. To enjoy a coffee drink after eating at the Moogata, you could visit the nearby Nakai Cafe coffeehouse.
