What does it take to run a diner?

[georgegeorgia]

I was in a restaurant/ diner yesterday in Soi Bukhao 

I looked to see a farang couple running it 

I looked around and imagined I could own this and imagined the sign out the front changing to George's 24 hr Diner 

I often imagined when I was a kid watching that TV comedy show "Alice ' where she was the waitress in Mels Diner and I was Mel the angry owner

 

I couldn't move here to Pattaya and do nothing ,it's morning here I think 5am  now and I was in bed last night at 7pm

Im looking for ideas on what makes a good diner 

I want to run one in Soi Bukhao and make it 24 hours with News TV screens 

 

I found the diner I went to yesterday a bit expensive but then again I heard their breakfasts are 99 baht ...how would they make a profit on that ?

Can anyone tell me ?

Maybe coffee is not included?

 

.

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:21 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I was in a restaurant/ diner yesterday in Soi Bukhao 

I looked to see a farang couple running it 

I looked around and imagined I could own this and imagined the sign out the front changing to George's 24 hr Diner 

I often imagined when I was a kid watching that TV comedy show "Alice ' where she was the waitress in Mels Diner and I was Mel the angry owner

 

I couldn't move here to Pattaya and do nothing ,it's morning here I think 5am  now and I was in bed last night at 7pm

Im looking for ideas on what makes a good diner 

I want to run one in Soi Bukhao 

.

 

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Nicky's on Soi Buakhou since 2004, is popular, foreign owners. 

 

It'd be heart breaking at times, putting up with the many moaning, miserable foreigners. 

 

 

Lots of hard work, I think you are too lazy.

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:24 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Lots of hard work, I think you are too lazy

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Yes your right ,that's why I work a government job , I don't like to work hard , 

 

 

[jacko45k]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:21 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Maybe coffee is not included?

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I believe tea or coffee is included. 

[blaze master]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:28 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Yes your right ,that's why I work a government job , I don't like to work hard , 

 

 

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If you don't like hard work then I highly suggest you take a serious look into this great idea.

 

You would be really good at it I think. You being the face and general attitude the place would put out. .....

 

Money baby. 💰 

[georgegeorgia]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:33 PM, blaze master said:

You would be really good at it I think. You being the face and general attitude the place would

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Yes thanks 

I watched the farang couple sitting outside the diner I was at yesterday 

They didn't seem to be working too hard 

Im sure I can do better and change it up George's 24 hours diner 

Do you think I should have news tv screens in there ?

[blaze master]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:39 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Yes thanks 

I watched the farang couple sitting outside the diner I was at yesterday 

They didn't seem to be working too hard 

Im sure I can do better and change it up George's 24 hours diner 

Do you think I should have news tv screens in there ?

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Yes. Make sure its always tuned into American politics.

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

  On 3/15/2025 at 11:02 PM, blaze master said:

 

Yes. Make sure its always tuned into American politics.

 

 

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I'm not really into that 

Do you think the customers will be ?

 

[Olmate]

Make em an offer on Cheap Charlies..... "Grungey Georgies" suits you! 

[Halfaboy]

Some time ago the Hungry Hippo was for sale.

[cdemundo]

The overwhelming majority of restaurants fail in the first year.

In Midnight Run, DeNiro and Charles Grodin, "If I were your accountant I would discourage you from investing in a restaurant...".  Hilarious exchange.

[Gsxrnz]

I'm going to a foreign country to open a restaurant. 

 

I mean, I can't speak or read the language, have never owned or managed a business before in my country. In fact I've always been an employee and never had to worry about budgets, cashflow forecasts, working capital, tax regulations, local authority regulations, business licences, property leases, lazy and light-fingered employees, inventory management, unreliable suppliers, accounts payable, quality control etc..

 

Actually, beyond bacon and eggs standard, cooking is somewhat of a mystery to me.

 

It should be a breeze.

 

Signed by 129,423 former foreign Pattaya restaurant and bar owners. 

[CHdiver]

If you want my expert advice, you have to put an i into run. Then we can talk ....

[cjinchiangrai]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:39 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Yes thanks 

I watched the farang couple sitting outside the diner I was at yesterday 

They didn't seem to be working too hard 

Im sure I can do better and change it up George's 24 hours diner 

Do you think I should have news tv screens in there ?

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If you do not have experience in the food industry, you will not survive. Tight margins, a lot of labor and fickle clients. Way too much to pick up on the job. The visa requirements just make it worse.

[Jeff the Chef]

Have run a few pub restaurants and eateries in the UK, did ok in some rubbish in others,  my advise, if you think it's easy, forget it, worry, stress, competition and finance will send you to an early grave.

[Yagoda]

To run a diner in the USA, you need hairy knuckles, no offense to my Greek or Italian brethren.

[Jeff the Chef]

I know the places you've seen in Pattaya, all looking busy and successful, which the well established ones probably are, but only after years of hard graft.

The Thai rules of business for expats, employment laws would be another factor to consider.

I'm a fan of Cheap Charlies IMHO they do a good job on service and food and I've often sat there after a meal day dreaming, thinking I could have done that better, then reality steps in, it's a tough business not for the feint hearted.

[georgegeorgia]

  On 3/16/2025 at 2:22 AM, Gsxrnz said:

cashflow forecasts 

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Interesting words 

I have copied them and will use it once I found out what it means 

[scorecard]

  On 3/15/2025 at 11:02 PM, blaze master said:

 

Yes. Make sure its always tuned into American politics.

 

 

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Why American? Do you believe all foreigners in Thailand are American?

 

 

[Andre0720]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:21 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I was in a restaurant/ diner yesterday in Soi Bukhao 

I looked to see a farang couple running it 

I looked around and imagined I could own this and imagined the sign out the front changing to George's 24 hr Diner 

I often imagined when I was a kid watching that TV comedy show "Alice ' where she was the waitress in Mels Diner and I was Mel the angry owner

 

I couldn't move here to Pattaya and do nothing ,it's morning here I think 5am  now and I was in bed last night at 7pm

Im looking for ideas on what makes a good diner 

I want to run one in Soi Bukhao and make it 24 hours with News TV screens 

 

I found the diner I went to yesterday a bit expensive but then again I heard their breakfasts are 99 baht ...how would they make a profit on that ?

Can anyone tell me ?

Maybe coffee is not included?

 

.

 

Expand  

To run any restaurant in Thailand, all you need is a huge stock of refined sugar.

The poisonous stuff as we all know...

[Andre0720]

  On 3/16/2025 at 4:53 AM, Andre0720 said:

To run any restaurant in Thailand, all you need is a huge stock of refined sugar.

The poisonous stuff as we all know...

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Oh dear, I got two morons confused. Must be more clear for morons, After all, it is not their fault that they are like that... Genetics you know...

""Sugar Is a Poison, Says UCSF Obesity Experts

UC San Francisco

https://www.ucsf.edu › news › 2009/06 › sugar-poison-...

Jun 25, 2552 BE — “High-fructose corn syrup and sucrose are exactly the same,” Lustig says. “They're equally bad. They're both poison in high doses.""

 

 

 

 

[transam]

  On 3/16/2025 at 5:13 AM, Andre0720 said:

Oh dear, I got two morons confused. Must be more clear for morons, After all, it is not their fault that they are like that... Genetics you know...

""Sugar Is a Poison, Says UCSF Obesity Experts

UC San Francisco

https://www.ucsf.edu › news › 2009/06 › sugar-poison-...

Jun 25, 2552 BE — “High-fructose corn syrup and sucrose are exactly the same,” Lustig says. “They're equally bad. They're both poison in high doses.""

 

 

 

 

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They use sugar to treat infections that were/are difficult to cure.

Elephants like sugar too.......😋

[GammaGlobulin]

If one is planning to run a diner, then one must first move to NYC, where true Diners still exist, even though they are quickly becoming extinct, unfortunately.

 

[quake]

  On 3/16/2025 at 5:13 AM, Andre0720 said:

Oh dear, I got two morons confused. Must be more clear for morons, After all, it is not their fault that they are like that... Genetics you know...

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Oh dear, someone was triggered.

 

 

[cjinchiangrai]

  On 3/16/2025 at 5:15 AM, transam said:

They use sugar to treat infections that were/are difficult to cure.

Elephants like sugar too.......😋

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It is genetically programmed. Sweet things are generally safe and poisons are usually bitter. Animals attracted to bitter things died and those that were attracted to sweet things lived long enough to breed.

[blaze master]

  On 3/16/2025 at 4:53 AM, scorecard said:

Why American? Do you believe all foreigners in Thailand are American?

 

 

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Oh dear.

[Middle Aged Grouch]

Risky even for the experienced.

 

Today, 1 single disgruntled customer can bring you down on Google, FB, Tik Tok etc....

 

Not to mention that you need to be around constantly as if you are not there, the employees will make a mess of the operation and clients will not come back.

 

Even assuming all goes fine, I could never entertain all those drunk, rude, arrogant westerners with their oversized egos and downsized wallets, acting big in Thailand with their rent-a-week thai lady and her friends out to get a free meal.

[jacko45k]

  On 3/16/2025 at 1:56 AM, Halfaboy said:

Some time ago the Hungry Hippo was for sale.

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For many a long year or three..... did Robin eventually sell it?

[Halfaboy]

It looks like nothing has changed, but I have not seen him in his restaurant for a long time.

[georgegeorgia]

  On 3/16/2025 at 10:50 PM, jacko45k said:

For many a long year or three..... did Robin eventually sell it?

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Most of these people want too much for their business 

I don't know this guys particularly case but I bet he wanted several million baht for it 

They overvalue it