Ulysses G. Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) Mike's Burgers went out of business a few weeks ago and the building has been empty ever since. Today, I noticed that the "Mike's" sign has been removed and it says "BB Burgers" instead. It also advertises "sanwich [sic]" for sale, which means that it is very unlikely that the owner is the guy running the White Plate. Mike's was a Chiang Mai landmark and was really good when Mike started it many years ago, but it has been going downhill ever since. It will be interesting to see if BB Burgers can recapture that lost glory. Edited April 6, 2014 by Ulysses G. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 O goody a burger thread. I have a date tomorrow for a burger at Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbanda Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I do not think it is out of business....A while ago, dining at Miguel's (Mike's in Spanish), a well known Mexican Restaurant, the new owner told me that the original owner of his restaurant and of Mike's Hamburger is a Canadian guy named Mike who likes to creates successful business and resell it. May be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaideeguy Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 What about his other franchises?? He seemed like a savvy businessman and built and sold his franchises then got out, as I heard it. Also had the best greasy burger in town for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) I do not think it is out of business....A while ago, dining at Miguel's (Mike's in Spanish), a well known Mexican Restaurant, the new owner told me that the original owner of his restaurant and of Mike's Hamburger is a Canadian guy named Mike who likes to creates successful business and resell it. May be true. Almost correct. The original owner of Mike's and Miguel's is American. The present owner of Miguel's is Canadian. Mike was in Florida the last that I heard. Every once in a while he sends me an e-mail threatening to come back to Chiang Mai and open a real New York Pizza place, but I will believe it when I see it. Edited April 6, 2014 by Ulysses G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Bob Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I do not think it is out of business....A while ago, dining at Miguel's (Mike's in Spanish), a well known Mexican Restaurant, the new owner told me that the original owner of his restaurant and of Mike's Hamburger is a Canadian guy named Mike who likes to creates successful business and resell it. May be true. Made a big mistake in re-visiting Miguel's Mexican Restaurant in Nong Hoi (on old road to Lamphun). Discovered that it's no longer Miguel's, but rather "Tex-Mex" Restaurant, and the food and service are bad, very bad. Who are the new owners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusd Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I thought the original owner was English and runs a new restaurant,near kad suan kaew Marcusd. Via tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) I thought the original owner was English and runs a new restaurant,near kad suan kaew Marcusd. Via tapatalk That was the second owner. He even called himself "Mike" when he owned it, but that is not his real name (Brian?). I am told that the owner of the Tex Mex restaurant was the Thai manager of the same place when it was called Miguel's. Edited April 6, 2014 by Ulysses G. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heybruce Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I do not think it is out of business....A while ago, dining at Miguel's (Mike's in Spanish), a well known Mexican Restaurant, the new owner told me that the original owner of his restaurant and of Mike's Hamburger is a Canadian guy named Mike who likes to creates successful business and resell it. May be true. Almost correct. The original owner of Mike's and Miguel's is American. The present owner of Miguel's is Canadian. Mike was in Florida the last that I heard. Every once in a while he sends me an e-mail threatening to come back to Chiang Mai and open a real New York Pizza place, but I will believe it when I see it. Tell him he's bluffing and challenge him to live up to those words. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger1999 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Mike's on Nimmen also closed it's doors a few weeks ago. It looked like they were renovating, but nothing seems to be going on there now. I assume it's a different owner but I could be wrong. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusd Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I thought the original owner was English and runs a new restaurant,near kad suan kaew Marcusd. Via tapatalk That was the second owner. He even called himself "Mike" when he owned it, but that is not his real name (Brian?).I am told that the owner of the Tex Mex restaurant was the Thai manager of the same place when it was called Miguel's. yes it is Brian. Marcusd. Via tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PostmanPat Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. "Hand Formed" ??? Whats that? sounds like something to be avoided at all costs! ( NOTE. Burgers are flattish and circular. Are hand formed ones a different shape, if so they wont fit the buns ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MESmith Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. "Hand Formed" ??? Whats that? sounds like something to be avoided at all costs! ( NOTE. Burgers are flattish and circular. Are hand formed ones a different shape, if so they wont fit the buns ! Thought he was talking about the charcoal. Ouch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. "Hand Formed" ??? Whats that? sounds like something to be avoided at all costs! ( NOTE. Burgers are flattish and circular. Are hand formed ones a different shape, if so they wont fit the buns ! IMO, Gecko's Burgers are pretty good for Thailand and not expensive. They are charcoal broiled, which makes Thai beef taste better. Edited April 6, 2014 by Ulysses G. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave2 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 re Burgers are flattish and circular hes right dave2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 PostmanPat, on 06 Apr 2014 - 17:52, said: northernjohn, on 06 Apr 2014 - 16:28, said: Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. "Hand Formed" ??? Whats that? sounds like something to be avoided at all costs! ( NOTE. Burgers are flattish and circular. Are hand formed ones a different shape, if so they wont fit the buns ! ...........unless they (the buns) are "hand formed" to fit the aforementioned burgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thighlander Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I hope the meat at Gecko is a lot more recent than the beer I tried...was 11 months old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BB1955 Posted April 6, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 6, 2014 Two places I have yet to have a bad meal or service is Geko and Dukes ... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> Mike's on Nimmen also closed it's doors a few weeks ago. It looked like they were renovating, but nothing seems to be going on there now. I assume it's a different owner but I could be wrong. I think they remodeled about two years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaptainrob Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers. "Hand Formed" ??? Whats that? sounds like something to be avoided at all costs! ( NOTE. Burgers are flattish and circular. Are hand formed ones a different shape, if so they wont fit the buns ! Patties made by hand, NOT pressed out by a Macca's type machine. White Plate and Dukes are hand formed from top quality beef mince. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansVilder Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Mike's was a Chiang Mai landmark absolutely! 10yrs ago was my first taste (when original Mike was very much in control) agree that after he sold it . . . it went slowly down hill, shame really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean1953 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 So, there's enough money in establishing new resturants in CM, and then selling them, to be able to retire to Florida. It sounds like a business plan for ex pats with time on their hands. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) Mike did it when there was a lot more Westerners with money coming here and the world economy was much better. He also had a lot of restaurant experience back home. It probably would not work now, although Dave the Duke might be able to pull it off. Edited April 6, 2014 by Ulysses G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thighlander Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 look what has happened to rent in the last 10 years in Dollars or even THB at those high foot traffic locations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orang37 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 They are charcoal broiled, which makes Thai beef taste better. "Thai beef" is to "tastes better" as "anorexia" is to "attractively slender." ~o:37; 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrilled Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I eat McDonalds,it works for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I eat McDonalds,it works for me They work for me as a break from the higher class burgers at Burger King. More like a snack compared to the burger at Burger King. Of course you pay more for the one at Burger King. Looking forward to my hand formed char broiled hamburger at Gecko's. Has any one had any thing to eat at the old Mike's on the moat? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I rode by there this evening in one of those new, hi-so, fancy, red tuk-tuks. The new "no-name" Burger place was bustling with Chinese customers, so I guess some tourists don't care about the nuanced history of this hallowed burger corner of Chiang Mai and will eat anything that comes from a novel-looking stand where you sit on a stool breathing traffic fumes while you dine. The burgers that Brian/formerly known as Mike does at his current restaurant "Pern's" are way better than anything he could have turned out back when he was in burger corner. And, of course, when you're really in the mood for a burger, there's really only one place to go in Chiang Mai -- Duke's, of course. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donniereadit Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 With the prices they were charging I'm not surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansVilder Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 And, of course, when you're really in the mood for a burger, there's really only one place to go in Chiang Mai -- Duke's, of course. why Duke's didn't jump on this Legendary (yes, that's right...Mike's deserves that status in CM, it certainly goes without saying for those that have been here for more than 6 or 7+ years) spot . . . well who knows?!? high rent? unaware ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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