No more Mike's Burgers

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[northernjohn]

O goody a burger thread.

I have a date tomorrow for a burger at Gecko's. Hand formed charcoal cooked burgers.

[umbanda]

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.

[jaideeguy]

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.

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[Mekong Bob]

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?

[marcusd]

I thought the original owner was English and runs a new restaurant,near kad suan kaew

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[heybruce]

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.

[roger1999]

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.

[marcusd]

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

[PostmanPat]

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 !

[MESmith]

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

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[dave2]

re

Burgers are flattish and circular

hes right

dave2

[Vacuum]

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.

[Thighlander]

I hope the meat at Gecko is a lot more recent than the beer I tried...was 11 months old.

[BB1955]

Two places I have yet to have a bad meal or service is Geko and Dukes ...

[northernjohn]

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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.

[kaptainrob]

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.

[HansVilder]

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.

[Dean1953]

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.

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[Thighlander]

look what has happened to rent in the last 10 years in Dollars or even THB at those high foot traffic locations.

[orang37]

They are charcoal broiled, which makes Thai beef taste better.

"Thai beef" is to "tastes better" as "anorexia" is to "attractively slender."

~o:37;

[thrilled]

I eat McDonalds,it works for me

[northernjohn]

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?

[NancyL]

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.

[donniereadit]

With the prices they were charging I'm not surprised.

[HansVilder]

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 ??