MK HISTORY

The restaurant business is one of the most competitive industries in Thailand.

Food outlets are everywhere, from small carts dotting every street and alleyway to five-star restaurants at some of the world’s finest hotels, and everything in between.

New restaurants face the challenge of differentiating themselves from their more established competitors. While Thai food remains by far the most popular, the number of varieties and new concepts are constantly on the increase. Within the Thai food sector there are a number of successful restaurant chains, including several offering Thai suki, or just “suki” as it is known to Thai people.

Suki was first introduced to Thai consumers more than three decades ago. While the name suki might sound Japanese – and most people might assume it is a variation of Japanese shabu shabu – suki is actually a twist on a Chinese steamboat dish. But it is uniquely Thai.

Perhaps more than any other restaurant sector, the suki business is dominated by large chain restaurants. MK Restaurants, one of Thailand’s suki chains (formerly known as MK Suki), has been serving Thai consumers for more than twenty years. More recently, it has taken its successful formula to several destinations overseas, with a total of twenty restaurants opened outside Thailand in the past eight years. MK serves a wide range of customers. The great taste of MK’s suki and the enjoyment customers get out of cooking their own food at their own table appeal to all age groups, from children and teens to adults and seniors. Suki is also a popular choice for dining out in large groups. The high concentration of vegetables combined with quality cuts of meats and seafood as main ingredients – all boiled rather than fried – has allowed suki to capitalise on the growing trend of healthier eating among the population at large.

ACHIEVEMENTS
MK Restaurants was the first suki chain to use electric suki pots at every table. Before MK, suki restaurants in Thailand used gas stoves which were dangerous and has been the cause of numerous explosions and fires around Thailand. MK also introduced an innovative serving plate called “condo” to alleviate the problem of limited table-top space. Condo plates can be stacked high to help free up table space.

In recognition of its consistently high standards, MK Restaurants has been awarded ISO 9001: 2000 status for attaining exceptionally high quality in manufacturing ready-to-cook products (fresh food, suki-sauce, dim sum, roast duck and dessert) and best practice among chain restaurants: service for food , beverage and home delivery. Along with its ISO status, MK Restaurants has also received HACCP and GMP certification.

In addition to frequent recognition for the quality of its food and high management standards, MK has been recognised frequently in recent years for outstanding advertising campaigns.

1962 - 1986 Our Beginning

  • 1962

    Thai Restaurantat Siam Square Soi 3

    A small Thai restaurant in a one block commercial shop house in Siam Square Soi 3 managed by Aunty Thongkam Mekto was the beginning of MK. The name MK was derived from the former owner of the shop, Makong King Yee, the Hong Kong businessman who relocated to Boston, USA in 1962. Aunty Thongkam has operated the business with service minded and hospitality which have brought the customers back again and again. The famous menus included rice with boiled chicken, goulash beef, Padthai noodles, Korean charcoaled grilled beef, and all sorts of spicy salads. Delightful cakes were also offered in New Year seasons.

  • 1962

    Thai Restaurantat Siam Square Soi 3

    A small Thai restaurant in a one block commercial shop house in Siam Square Soi 3 managed by Aunty Thongkam Mekto was the beginning of MK. The name MK was derived from the former owner of the shop, Makong King Yee, the Hong Kong businessman who relocated to Boston, USA in 1962. Aunty Thongkam has operated the business with service minded and hospitality which have brought the customers back again and again. The famous menus included rice with boiled chicken, goulash beef, Padthai noodles, Korean charcoaled grilled beef, and all sorts of spicy salads. Delightful cakes were also offered in New Year seasons.

  • 1984

    Green MK

    Mr. Samrit invited Aunty Thongkam to open her first branch of MK at Central Ladprao with the mouth-watering menu, Sukiyaki, which keeps customers coming all the time.

  • 1986

    First Branch of MKat Central Ladprao

    Mr. Samrit invited Aunty Thongkam to open her first branch of MK at Central Ladprao with the mouth-watering menu, Sukiyaki, which keeps customers coming all the time.

1987 - 1996 Our Growth

1994

MK has opened its first branch
in Japan

1995

MK celebratedthe opening of the 30th branch

1996

All branches have changedthe gas operated pot to
electronic ones

MK

1997 - Now Our Development

  • 2000

    MK celebrated the opening of the 100th branch

  • 2005

    MK celebrated the opening of the 200th branch

  • 2009

    MK celebrated the opening of the 300th branch

  • 2010

    MK has opened its first branch in Vietnam

  • 2013

    MK celebrated the opening of the 400th branchin Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam