Mr. Baan's Bar and Mookata

Found out about Mr.Baans after dining at Lom Wong and decided to comeback and give it a try. It’s a fun experience and there’s a fair amount of food included (more than the two of us were able to eat). The food was great but what really put it over the top was the service. Everyone was so nice and helpful. Only hiccup was that our table was not ready until about 20-30 minutes after our reserved time, but Brad made sure to make it right which was really appreciated!!

Souper interesting and fun experience! I enjoyed the meats and broth flavor. Service was great and so was the atmosphere. It was a fun way to spend a birthday. Thanks!

Wonderful experience. Food was fantastic, drinks fantastic. Our server was attentive and helped us get started with the grill and broth. Pricey, but worth it for a special night. It’s the only thing like it in town! Kind of a mix of hot pot and kbbq.

For the price we paid, both the food and service were just average. The only standout feature of this restaurant was the pot itself, which differs from other BBQ and hot pot places I've been to. The quality of the food and vegetables didn’t justify the $50+ per person charge; I could have gotten better food for much less at another restaurant. The bar was decent, with fun drinks, but they were also quite pricey. The service was questionable. The restaurant felt disorganized, with orders frequently being delivered to the wrong tables. Our server also forgot about us, leading to a wait of an hour instead of the 30 minutes we were initially told.

We could not have asked for a better experience than we had tonight. Fabulous from start to finish. Everyone here went out of their way to roll out the red carpet and make sure my husband and I had the best experience. Excellent cocktails based on recommendations from the bartenders, exceptional service including a detailed tutorial of the grill from Brad and our waitress, and continued attentive service throughout our meal. Food was SO good and plenty of it. A very unique experience with quality ingredients and great favors. Truly a meal you have to experience to appreciate. The ambiance on the cozy patio was perfect for our date night. We will absolutely be coming back! Thank you all for taking such great care of us tonight!

Treat yourself to a fabulous dining experience at Mr. Baan's! My husband and I had Mookata with friends for the first time and it was super fun and memorable. The food is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. If you've never had Mookata, you've got to try it here! And if you already know and love Mookata, you've got to visit Mr. Baan's for unforgettable meal.

Good but did not appreciate the mandatory 20% service charge included. I would have given the same anyways, but I did not like that gratuities are chosen by provider instead of customer. Reply to owner: The 20% tip was not stated upfront and we were never told about it, which is why it came as a surprise. Consider paying better wages to your servers who work so hard instead of having them rely on tips. Like I said, I would have paid 20% tip anyways, the service was great and they deserved it. I just don’t appreciate the deceptive tactics of the owner.

This original Mookata! Mookata is Thai home style charcoal bbq. Everything is right, taste was amazing like in Thailand. The foods are good amount we couldn’t finish it all. Broth is amazing taste. I saw some comments said meat it’s not quality but for me I understand how the Thai style bbq look like, not like a premium Korean bbq or Yakiniku. The service and cocktails were amazing. I had Lum Yong and Somtum smash cocktail. They were blow my mind. I took off one star because it’s a little expensive but it’s very good experience and happy to not clean the grill by myself. Will back for sure if we visit phoenix again

I didn't really know what to expect but completely open to a new culinary experience. The only thing I knew going into dinner was that their drinks are unique and good and that dinner was a combo of hot pot and kbbq. The vessel you cook your food in is heated with charcoal. Yes, this is a cook your food type of experience. This place is great to go to I'm the winter or on a cold evening because it keeps you nice and warm. The table is given 4 or 5 veggies/sides and 4-5 meats, enough for the party size. The meats were a good quality and marinated well. It was also a good variety of different flavors. The chicken and minced pork were my favorites in terms of flavor. The veggies/sides were napa, mushrooms, soft tofu, and mung bean thread. They were all great bit in the future would love to see a greater variety. The broth was flavorful and the fat from pork belly enhances the flavor. Dinner also comes with 2 dipping sauces. They were both great complements to the food. Overall, a fun and worthwhile experience. The price is by person and you can bring your cooked leftovers home. The vessel for the hot pot is a little small and we were really had to dig for our items but a minor detail.

This is a great experience to have for dinner on a chilly night. You cook your own food on a combined grill and hot pot that is set up over real charcoals. The charcoals can get pretty smoky and sometimes the meat fats will splatter, so don't wear anything too important! We made a reservation for 6 ahead of time and waited in the bar while they got our table ready. The bartender was really helpful with the menu and we got to try their Thai shot ($10). It had a very sweet and fruity flavor without being very strong in alcohol. I also got the smile lung chai ($16) cocktail. The alcohol taste was not strong either. The servers showed us how to properly grill the meat (assortment of marinated pork, beef, and chicken) and cook hot pot ingredients (egg, pork meatballs, egg tofu, vegetables, and glass noodles), then mostly left us alone aside from occasionally getting us more water and broth. The grilled meats all had a similarly sweet marinade to them. Combined with the 2 dipping sauces we each got (both of which also were somewhat sweet), the meal was overall on the sweeter side. This was balanced well by the pork-based broth which was not sweet at all, but as the broth boiled down it got more and more salty until I couldn't even drink it anymore. We ended up topping off the pot with water instead of broth because it was too salty. Overall this was a unique experience that I never had before! It is a fun thing to do with a group of friends.

I thought that the experience here overall was great. First the positives: The staff is lovely! They were very kind and inviting. The food was delicious. The meats were seasoned phenomenally and the pork broth was rich and flavorful. The side sauces were bursting with Thai flavors and were the perfect accompaniment to the meats. You must like beef and pork, as there is only one chicken option. They also brought out a birthday ice cream sundae which was nice. The negatives: Wildly expensive for what you get. $250 for 3 adults and two mocktails (including $40 automatic gratuity). The price alone will keep me from returning I think. We arrived on time for our 6pm reservation, but had to wait 30 minutes for our table to be ready. This seemed a bit excessive, especially since we were one of four tables of guests. The mookata device itself isn't conducive to getting the soup out. The spoons don't fit well so it takes a lot of effort to remove the broth. Overall a great experience, but likely won't be back unless it's for another very special occasion due to the cost for perceived value.

The food was great! Moo Kata is definitely something you should experience. The broth was rich and, for a party of 2, we almost tapped out eating so much, beware, it's so addictive. The service was awesome. We loved coming across every one of the staff members present on Valentine's Day! Thanks for making it feel so welcoming! This was a great experience. We will definitely come again and will be recommending this. This place is worth every bite and the drinks were delicious too! We give this place, the food, the staff a 10/10.

4.5 actually. It's such an interesting experience! Each table prepares their own food table side using a coal fired kettle thingy. They give you proteins and veggies and broth so you can create your own soup. I actually loved it but that was because we were with a couple who had been there before. They showed us the ropes and cooked for us! That looked intimidating to me but I'm grad I tried it. Service was good. The green sauce was delicious.

Tremendous experience and deliciously seasoned food ready to grill tableside. Conscientious staff always there to maximize your visit.

My boyfriend and I came in around 8pm on a Wednesday, we had called in earlier to reserve a spot! We were the only ones in the restaurant so it made for a very intimate night! The bartender Derek was super friendly and made us some delicious drinks before we got sat for our Mookata! Our server gave us a backstory on Mr.Baans and the owners. It was interesting and detailed to the perfect extent! We got a run down on the different meats, veggies and techniques for our night with our Mookata! We had also enjoyed some mouth watering Pork skewers that had a perfect char on them which was a delicious appetizer! You get a full liter of the pork broth to refill as it gets low, It was super easy to refill and the server came to check on us in case we needed more drinks/ shots or water. Very attentive service which we appreciated! It was my first time trying enoki mushrooms and it was so flavorful as it was cooked in the hot pork broth. The glass noodles were also very yummy with the pork we cooked on top! It was nice to be able to customize every single bite! The two sauces we got were so flavorful and the green one was my favorite a little spicy but that enhances flavor to me! I got the Ooey Tooey drink which was so refreshing and surprising it had fish sauce but it was a pleasant surprise. My boyfriend loved the Phed Yaang, which was similar to an Old Fashion. Derek was amazing at recommending drinks as the drink menu might be overwhelming at first. I definitely enjoyed my night here in this little hidden gem behind lom wongs! Need to come back to try the restaurant and get a full experience of the owners visions! Definitely a spot to try with friends after work or for a get together with family! My boyfriend and I spent a good two hours munching and drinking with some good music as well! I loved how different this spot is for Downtown Phoenix, skip the usual burger and taco joints and try this lowkey spot out you won't regret it!

Unique cocktails continue as the theme with the new Baan's Bar. Surprised that on a Saturday night, we had no issues getting seated in the bar, but it was going into the holiday weekend and the weather wasn't too favorable. Personal touch by the staff, and shout out to Anisah who shared with us about the transition and what goodies to anticipate from the new place as I believe they were open for about 1 month. Mainly focused on cocktails this trip so we had, 2 Dusty Thai Tea drinks and 1 Karaoke King and figured I'd dip for a little taste with some Skewers... so I got the Luk Chin Mu (pork meatballs) from Mookata to give me a preview. We had a little inconsistency with the 2 Dusty Thai cocktails but learned it had more to do with the new batch that was provided for the 2nd drink. Both were still good, but the 2nd lacked the same alluring "after-taste" that was as good as the 1st. I was the only one to take on the Luk Chin Mu... I wasn't blown away by the presentation (had a food truck snack feel) as it seemed to have too much of the sweet/spicy sauce. I did shoot for just the meatball, with limited sauce, and didn't get the wow taste I was hoping for. Looking forward to a return trip for dinner and other cocktails as I did enjoy the vibe. Felt it was a 3.5 overall but leaned towards 4 this time around.

Treat yourself to a fabulous dining experience at Mr. Baan's! My husband and I had Mookata with friends for the first time and it was super fun and memorable. The food is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. If you've never had Mookata, you've got to try it here! And if you already know and love Mookata, you've got to visit Mr. Baan's for unforgettable meal.

Bar is open to the public without RSVP! Noticed lots of people coming in just for the bar. Tiny space but has adequate seating for several samll different parties at the bar area. The staff here are absolutely amazing. We made RSVPs at 6pm. This is an outdoor dining only establishment. The sun is still pretty high up at 6pm so we were invited inside at the bar area to have some drinks while waiting for the sun to set for shade at the patio. We were sat at our seats around 6:30pm but the sun was still shining bright and hot at our table. The demonstration and explanation of how to cook was fun. Austin noted the heat discomfort while cooking so he shared his cooling techniques. Really grateful for the help. We were excited to try the food but the heat was really affecting our experience. We REALLY appreciated all the attention to help cool us down. The food itself is a great experience. Four different meats, one being the fatty pork for the flavors. The meats were not finished between the two of us. Vegetables were a huge hit for the hot weather. Soup broth was my personal favorite. The bbq was also good but the broth was my favorite. The house green dipping sauce were both of our favorites. Madame Madame Cocktail: BOOOOOMMMMBBB!! Just a really refreshing drink to have between bites. THANK YOU TO AUSTIN AND ANISHA FOR THE HOSPITALITY!!

I'll start this off by saying do not make reservations at 6pm in the middle of summer. The restaurant is outdoors and the combination of the sun + mookata is uncomfortable. However, I still had a phenomenal time and would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. Arrived at 6PM and was able to sit at the bar while our table was getting prepared. Our server Austin gave us wet towels to have since it was so hot and that definitely helped! Mr. Baan's is an absolutely delicious restaurant and I would go back numerous times. Definitely a unique experience! You get 4 meats + vegetables + broth + noodles. It's like korean bbq and hotpot put together. When looking at it, it doesn't look like a lot but it fills you up quickly. Also, they have bar with really unique drinks. The bar is open to anybody and a few people walked in during dinner for some drinks. Definitely worth the 5 stars.

Fun eating experience, but pricey at $60. Was great food and if you can afford it I would try. Loses a star because of the automatic 20% tip for our table of four. Owner and staff were friendly and helpful though. Appetizers were also mediocre so skip out on them if you are doing the Mookata.

Such a fun dining experience! Dinner started with a helpful demonstration on history/how the grill. The staff were extremely friendly. Our favorites were the Thai Tea Cocktail and Pork belly (comes with the grill). It's an outdoor dining experience, so be sure to watch the weather before you go.

We are mad fans of Lom Wong and when my husband received an email from the restaurant in regards to a brand new place serving mookata, we were all over it! Initially, he made a reservation, thinking it was for the restaurant, but later realized he had reserved a spot in the bar area. After correcting the reservation, we secured a table for an early dining time at 5:15 pm, instead of our preferred time after 7 pm. We arrived 15 minutes early. Upon arrival, we discovered it was a soft opening, and we were seated at the bar while they prepared our table. They apologized for still ironing out details on their first day. While waiting for our dining table, we ordered drinks. Not being a frequent bar-goer, I found the drink prices steep for the ambiance. in general, I'm realizing that prices in Scottsdale/Phoenix area equals or even surpasses prices in New York. (sigh) My husband and I joked that the cost of one drink could probably cover an entire meal in Thailand. It also seemed the bartenders were still in training, discussing the ingredients for various drinks. Regardless, our drinks were delicious, and I have no complaints. Finally about 15 minute past our reservation time, we were seated at our table. We realized that they are all outdoor seating and they were prepping our mookata grills while we were waiting, because the grill and the broth in it were already at a roaring boil by the time we were seated. All the raw meat in a see-thru acrylic containers were neatly compartmentalized by different meat. We were instructed how to grill and prep the meat before eating. It's a cross between K-BBQ and Chinese hot pot where you grill the beef and pork bellies on top of the dry grill and dunk the ground pork and chicken inside the broth. Chicken is boiled first then finished up by grilling on top of the grill top. The weather was absolutely perfect for an al fresco dining, but I don't see how they can open this place during the hot summer months! When it gets colder, they'll need to provide heat lamps. We were provided plastic tongs to grill the meat, but maybe they should think about switching to metal ones so that they're reusable and don't break. I had to get another tong as they broke on me. Another suggestion is providing individual plates along with the bowls for a more convenient dining experience. All the meat, including the chicken, was incredibly tender and delicious. We struck up a conversation with a pleasant young couple seated next to us, and the wife, who happened to be Thai, confirmed the authenticity and high quality of the mookata. She also expressed her love for Lom Wong. Overall, we are delighted to have this new addition to Lom Wong and truly appreciate the culturally authentic experience it brings to the Phoenix dining scene.

Stopped in during their soft opening on first Friday. Mr. Baan's is located in the alley behind Lom Wong. The interior was dark and moody but with enough light still to see who you were with. Because it was a soft opening there was a limited menu. The staff was friendly while working the kinks out. I got the karaoke king. It was bright and refreshing drink with mezcal and ginger beer. The skewers were flavorful and perfectly cooked. I can't wait to go back once they have their full menu up and running. The only downside was the pricing. But I'll wait to pass judgement on that until I see the normal menu/prices.

What an outstanding interactive dining experience and so much fun! You enter Baan's from the alley behind its sister restaurant Lom Wong and it feels like a culinary adventure. The space is cozy and inviting with a fabulous energy from the staff. Seated at tables with a grill in the center our server walks us through how to create your Mookata. Thin slices of marinated pork, chicken, beef, that you grill as tofu, glass noodles, vegetables, egg and ground pork simmer in this amazing broth. As the proteins grill the juices marry with the broth to create these absolutely delicious flavors. Don't forget the craft cocktails "Madame Madame" vodka, lemongrass, lemon, lychee and soda is a must try! What a gem!

Great outdoor seating and delicious food that you have ti cook for yourself. It was very entertaining as a family celebrating our youngest daughter's birthday. However, I did feel busy cooking and trying to eat. Ee bad a blast nonetheless. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend.

Being Thai myself and a huge fan of Moo Kra Ta, I highly recommend checking out this place. It brings me so much joy to have it in town, especially considering there are only three places in America that offer this delicacy. You definitely shouldn't miss out on the opportunity to try it.

Cute little restaurant where Khla used to be. The service was kind of strange. Bartender didn't seem like he wanted to be there and didn't greet us when we came in, took him a minute to acknowledge us even though we sat right in front of him. Our waitress was nice, they had trouble starting our pot as well and the presentation didn't go very smooth but they're still new so they're probably trying to still figure it out. Cocktails were good but my garnish had mold on it which really grossed me out, they were nice enough to comp the drink but not the greatest way to start your meal. As for the food itself the meat was marinated perfectly and the broth was tasty . They give you a huge portion. We paid around $60/per person which is pretty expensive for hot pot. We left full and my friends enjoyed it but nothing out of this world for the price.

Awesome experience. Imagine the best aspects of Korean BBQ and Japanese/Chinese hotpot combined with some of the best craft cocktails. Most importantly, some of the most attentive service we've had despite being technically a DIY experience. Finally, there's no better location to enjoy charcoal hotpot than outdoors. A truly unique and memorable experience. This place is a must-try!

we checked out Mr. Baans last night for a quick bite to eat and we were blown away! They had a great hot dog special going on (which included a beer) and the tofu skewers. Service was great and the restaurant itself was very cute. I would definitely come back here next time im visiting PHX.

Cute little spot and contrary to the owner's desire expressed in a review comment, people will come here to see the ONLY restaurant in AZ to make the NYTimes top 50 in America list. Duh!!! That is what our party of eight did. We expected extraordinary in every element of the experience, given the accolade. We got mediocre across the board. All eight of us agreed there was no need to return or recommend it to others. The same dining party ate at Lom Wong's - the sister property - in May and LOVED it! Go there instead for a 100% delightful experience.

The bar menu is out of this world. They have some of the most flavorful, delicious drinks I've ever had. And the cherry on top, most of the cocktails can be made into mocktails. I'm currently not drinking alcohol so it was such a delight especially since it's hard to find a place that can make unique mocktails. The whole experience was great. We arrived, had some party members who were late, and were seated once everyone arrived. Our server ran through the process and was extremely helpful with orienting us, teaching us about the place, the cuisine, and how to eat. Other reviews mentioned this-- they say the meal is a marathon, not a sprint! So be prepared to spend a decent amount of time eating here! Our server offered to be as hands-on/off as we wanted her to be. We felt comfortable enough to manage most things on our own so we cooked most of the food ourselves. Our sever checked in often, making sure we had enough broth, making sure we were doing well. The meal consisted of pre portioned veggies, noodles, and raw meats (pork, beef, chicken). The concept is similar to hot pot AND bbq, all combined in one! The pot has a bbq surface surrounded by a space for soup. It reminds me of a castle and its moat . Anyway, the bbq surface looks like some sort of metal but the meat comes out tasting like it's been grilled with charcoal. As the food cooks, the fats melt and go into the soup, further flavoring the soup. Even without the meat fats, the broth is pretty dang tasty. There were glass noodles, few veggies and two different sauces. Soup is unlimited refills. Unfortunately veggies and meat are finite. They weigh it and once you're done, you're done. Extra noodles are available at an extra cost. No worries though. The 4 us got through all the food, but our server said that most people do not. We made reservations online. Reservations do require a deposit, but it is refunded we show up for the reservation. This place is located where KHLA used to be. It's a very small and intimate place. I absolutely love it.

We had so much fun! We loved mixing all the fun food together to cook that delicious soup! Drinks and ambiance were awesome! Definitely returning when we are in town again! :)

I felt like I was back in Thailand! the setting, the food, even the temperature! Everything was impeccable, and it's my new favorite restaurant in Phoenix, next door to its also extremely delicious sister Lom Wong. My boyfriend and I had a great time and cleaned up the entire mukata serving. I don't drink but he enjoyed his cocktail as well. Thank you to all Mr Baan's staff for a wonderful meal and evening. It was my last weekend in Phoenix before moving out of state and it was just a wonderful way to spend the evening.

We stopped in during a vacation to try Mookata after seeing it on food shows. The food was amazing, and a fun experience. Drinks were great too, with lot of unique flavors you wont find easily like longnan. Well worth the price!

Easily one of the best meals I've ever had!! Thai BBQ will change your life. The grill is surrounded by a soup base that they add egg yolk to, and when combined with the meat & veggies it creates new and original flavors that are just downright mouthwatering. The not-so-hidden gem are the cocktails. Each one comes out looking like it belongs in a Netflix show, and they each taste so good it's srly outta control. I tried my darnedest to taste each one (I failed). Doesn't hurt that the bartenders and servers are top notch too. And don't even get me started on the crème brûlée ya'll!!! I've made myself very hungry while writing this review. I will be back again soon. Hot damn

I've never had the need to write a bad review before until today. I was shocked to learn that the man I had a bad experience with was the owner. If you are looking to have a great evening, pick another place. Wouldn't recommend, don't waste money.

The Mookata is such a fun and interactive experience. The flavor profiles of the meat are complex and delicious, and the flavor of the broth develops as you continue to cook the food. The service was friendly, the cocktails delicious (i got the haripunchai and my husband got a madame madame mocktail), and I can't wait to come back with more friends. For any non-drinkers: they can make any cocktail into a mocktail except for the "spirit forward" group of drinks. Great for anyone who doesn't want alcohol!

The experience of this place is great and worth trying. But beware of the pricing for Mookata. There is no price listed on their website, and it ended up being about $70 per person with tip!! And they add a 22% tip automatically. Mr. Baans, I would recommend being more transparent with your website pricing or informing people upfront.

Mr. Baan's is owned by the same people who operate Lom Wong. Because Lom Wong is so off the charts good, we had high expectations of Mr. Baan's. We were not disappointed. First timers at Thai bbq and everyone in our group loved it. After a brief and needed explanation of the process, you cook delicious marinated meats on a charcoal grill at the table. The grill is surrounded by a moat of broth that fresh veggies go in as you like. As the night goes along the broth just gets tastier from the juicy goodness dripping from the meat above. Throw in a few absolutely delicious dipping sauces to add to your portion and it's all just so good. The communal experience of the cooking and talking and drinking just makes in even better as you try different combinations of flavor. Speaking of drinking, the cocktails are as unique and creative as you will find anywhere with Thai inspired ingredients. All this happens in a very cool atmosphere. You walk down an alley a few feet behind Lom Wong to a small sign in front of the door. It's almost like a secret entry way into a laid back bar and then the dining area that is softly lit with a hint of smokiness from the grill where pork and chicken skewers are cooking. If I lived in Phoenix or worked in the neighborhood, this would be a great after work happy hour for a cocktail and a couple of skewers without doing the whole dinner. With nice music going on in the background you can easily enjoy a couple hours in here feasting on Mookata. The staff seems to really enjoy being there and is very friendly and accommodating. We had adult kids in town with a two year old in tow. So we went a little early for the little guy. He loved it and they took good care of him so it works for a little one if you need that. But don't worry, this is not a place that will have kids running around. They left early and we stayed with our friends eating and drinking and visiting along with other tables just enjoying a fun delicious experience. What a great place to go with friends or to take out of town visitors. We will be back.

Three guests, including one vegan. Vegan was fine with not being able to eat anything, had actually expected that. They did, however, tell the server at the start that one was vegan and asked if there was anything available. Server said no. Bil came *with a different server*; vegan was charged. Vegan explained. Server said website tells you something about this. Said we did not read website, nor was that a requirement. Sever said we should have told original server. We said we did. Server said we should have asked original server for some food we could eat. We said we did. Sever spoke to manager. Manager declined to remove charge (something like $60) or even reduce. Nor did manager appear at the table to tell us themselves though it's a tiny place and they clearly could have been available. Was birthday meal for one guest, vegan's treat. Two eating guests enjoyed food but all three left with bad taste in mouth. Very tacky. Nor are we the first to experience this charge for eating nothing. Also beware of 20% service charge added even for small parties. Good food, very unprofessional management decisions. Once again: vegan fine with nothing to eat but not with being charged.

I am so dissatisfied with the placement of Mr. Baan's Bar and Mookata (Phoenix, Arizona) by the New York Times as the top 50 restaurants in the USA. Right after seeing the top 50 recommendation I made a reservation and group of 4. I have no idea what made this restaurant stand out. I was so disappointed; I can't believe that this place made your list, I thought better of the New York Times. There was nothing special about this place -there was no input by a chef, no input by a person helping with the meal besides a menial server with no knowledge of what we were eating, and nothing that really stood out as anything other than mediocre. The meat, veggies, and broth that went into the soup tasted fine but totally overvalued, not organic, not special, and not worth the cost. We realized it was an outside dining experience but there was nothing special about venue. At $59 a head and a mandatory 20% tip it was a very expensive bowl of not so worthy soup. Shame on you NYT for putting this restaurant in the top 50 when there are thousands of more worthy dining establishments at this price point.

We had a reservation for 4 on Saturday night and weren't quite sure what to expect beyond a few quick videos from mookata dining in SF and Thailand. MBB&M turned out to be a delightful experience and I'm sure it'll only get better as they get their stride. The online reservation and prepayment system was easy to use and communication was clear. We showed up ontime and were immediately walked to our table. The mookata charcoaol was riproaring and the meat and veggies were already on the table. Our waiter gave us a quick tutorial and we began adding to the grill and broth as instructed. It was fun and immersive and made for a great shared experience. Our waiter stressed that this is a marathon not a sprint and we had to keep reminding ourselves because the intensity of the fire seemed to keep you moving. Given you jump right into cooking I might arrive early and enjoy a cocktail in the bar first.