🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phichit is a small town and the nights are quiet, but the mookata strip is where it comes alive. Once the heat drops around five or six in the evening, the table-grills start filling up and the smell of grilled pork drifts down the lane. There's a spot for every budget here, from buffets in the low 200s of baht to pay-by-weight places where you only pay for what you actually eat. We've sorted out which place is which so you can pick the right one before you even sit down.
8 Phichit mookata & grill spots locals go to
We ranked these by how often Phichit locals bring them up and how good the value is for each style. A spot lower on the list isn't worse — each one has its own thing going for it, so pick by the kind of dinner you're after. All prices are rough and can shift depending on the time of year, so check the restaurant's page before you head over.
PN Mookata (in-town branch)
The first name most Phichit locals think of for mookata. It's right in town, easy to reach, with plenty of fresh meat laid out and a punchy dipping sauce. Families and groups of friends meet here for dinner often, and weekend evenings get packed — come a little early to grab a good table.
Nosen Mookata
The go-to for pay-by-weight in Phichit, at around 199 THB per kilo. You scoop whatever you want from the cooler — the first plate is roughly 1 kg, then top-ups are charged by weight. Vegetables, glass noodles and mushrooms are free refills, and they serve two dipping sauces, one for mookata and one for seafood. Great if you don't eat a lot, since you only pay for what you take. It's over near the Phichit waterworks.
Rak Mookata (Phichit branch)
All-you-can-eat buffet at around 239 THB a head, seafood included, with no time limit on your table. Good for groups who want to settle in for a long dinner, and worth it if you're a big eater. The branch is near the Phichit roundabout and easy to find.
Kerd Jak Rak Mookata
A lakeside spot on the Bueng Bua park side of Bueng Si Fai, where the draw is the sunset and the cool evening breeze. They do both mookata and moo joom (the soup-style version), with several dipping sauces, snacks and parking. Open 16:00–22:00 daily — a relaxed pick for friends or family. Sets start around 279 THB.
Long Mor Grill & Shabu
Grill-and-shabu charged by the plate, 10 THB each, with over 40 items to choose from — mookata, shabu, mala, udon and ribeye. Good for people who like picking plate by plate and keeping the budget in check. Kids and lighter eaters tend to prefer this style.
Mai Ngam Mookata & Fresh Seafood
A seafood-leaning spot with both buffet and pay-by-weight options, and they take catering and tour groups too. The fresh seafood is the standout — not something you usually find at a regular mookata place. It's near the Je Khiad market on Bussaba Road, good for big groups who want both pork and seafood.
Cham Mookata
A mookata spot on the way into Phichit, out around Pho Prathap Chang district. Laid-back vibe, a big open yard and easy parking — handy if you're driving in and want to stop for dinner before reaching the town center.
Bueng Si Fai lakeside mookata (the regulars' spot)
Besides Kerd Jak Rak, there are long-running mookata spots around Bueng Si Fai that Phichit locals have eaten at for years. You sit by the lake in the evening breeze, prices are friendly, and it's the pick for nights when you want open space over sitting in town. Ask a local which one's open that day.
Which style is the better deal
If you're 2–3 people and don't eat a ton, pay-by-weight like Nosen works out better since you only pay for what you actually eat. But if you're a big group of hearty eaters, a buffet like Rak Mookata wins — no time limit and you can keep refilling the seafood.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phichit food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Buffet, by weight, or per plate — which suits you
Phichit mookata is priced three ways. Knowing them before you sit down keeps you on budget, since each one suits a different style of dinner.
- All-you-can-eat buffet — one flat price per head, around 230–290 THB, refill as much as you want. Worth it if you're a big eater in a big group, and great for settling in for a long, chatty dinner.
- Pay by weight — you pay for the weight you scoop, starting around 199 THB per kilo, with free vegetable refills. Worth it if you don't eat much or you're only a few people — no forcing yourself to eat to get your money's worth.
- Per plate — pick the plates you want at 10 THB each, so you control the budget down to the detail. Good if you only want certain things, or you've got kids along.
- Lakeside at Bueng Si Fai — the selling point is the view and the breeze. Prices run a touch higher, but you're paying for the setting. Nice for a special dinner or for showing visitors from out of town a good time.
The best time for a mookata dinner
Most mookata spots in Phichit open from late afternoon into the night, roughly four in the evening onward. The busiest stretch is six to eight in the evening on Friday and Saturday. If you'd rather not wait for a table, come before six. And if you want the sunset at a lakeside spot, aim to be there around half five to catch the good light.
Keeping the grill from burning
Brush oil around the rim of the pan first, then keep a little broth topped up around the edge — it stops the meat sticking and you get a sweet broth from the vegetables too. Grill a little at a time; piling it on cools the surface and the meat ends up tougher.
What to order alongside for a full meal
A good mookata dinner isn't just the meat. Phichit folks like ordering snacks to pick at while the grill heats up, then finishing with something cold and sweet.
Snacks to pick at
Fried chicken wings, grilled meatballs or crispy chicken to nibble on while the grill heats up — most spots have a few options.
Cold drinks
Soda, herbal drinks or a cold beer to cut the richness. Some buffets don't include drinks, so check before you order.
Dessert to finish
Ice cream or chilled fruit to round off the grill session and freshen up. Many buffet spots have a free dessert corner.
Plan a full eat-and-explore trip to Phichit
See the Phichit travel guide →