Any advices for openning a restaurant in Huay kaew Residence

[Roy yang]

Hi everyone.. Sawadeeka Guys

Im Roy, Chinese. I want to open a restaurant in Huay kaew Residence on Huay Kaew Road(next door of Lutos Hotel).

I hope I can get some tips from you guys. That will be a great help for me. Thank you so much all repliers.

My concept is open kitchen, you can see inside the kitchen, and everything is clean, and my food is healthy, fresh. (So I dont have deep fry food).

I opne from 8am to 11pm. My menu like this(just some ideas)

1, Granola with yoghurt with fruit compote.

2, Ciabbattas, have around 7 flavors, like Tuna avocodo ciabbatta, Roast pumpking Ciabbatta, Tendoori chix cia, chix basil pest chix, etc(all with rocket and emmental cheese, and anyone know a good supplier who can supply Ciabbatta bread?)

3, Some Chinese breakfast.

4, Rissotto, soup, salad, lasagne, and some chinese food.

5, Home made dessert. Coffee, fresh drink.

Oh, my restaurant food will be halp Chinese food and half Western food. I have worked in western restaurant for 8 years in Beijing, thats why i do western food. And I didnot find any good Chinese restaurant in CM, and I love Chinese food, that's why I do another half Chinese food.

The location is net door of Huay Kaew Residence management office, not close to the main road, but close.

What is your guys opinings about my idea? What do you guys think my location of the restaurant? And if I open a restaurant like this, do you think I will success or not? you will come to eat or not?

Sorry for my bad English. Thanks for everybody to read this. Good luck everyone.

[MaeJoMTB]

Success depends on price, location, and competence.

Chances of success ........ very slim ..... few make it past 6 months.

[elektrified]

Idea sounds very good but that is a terrible location, IMO.

[kalbo123]

Not on that location...

Try Nimanhaeman, Thinkpark, Maya, etc.

[uptheos]

Most of the guys in Huay Kaew Residence eat in TOPS food court Kad Suan Kaew for 40 baht.

[Airalee]

Not only does the location not sound good, but the food sounds like a random mishmash of dishes. If you say that there are no good Chinese restaurants in town, then why not just specialize in Chinese food? There seem to be enough Chinese tourists in town to support a Chinese restaurant. But to be completely honest, I wouldn't buy sandwiches from a Chinese restaurant nor would I buy Chinese food from a deli.

[cyberfarang]

You are considering opening a restaurant and asking for advice on a forum how to do it? If you don`t have the experience or the support from people with experience, then think again, otherwise you`re be out of business before you`ve had time to shout, last orders please.

[Chiengmaijoe]

Most businesses fail within a year or two, and the likelihood of yours failing, based on the fact that you are not clear about what your customers want, is very high.

[arunsakda]

Rule number 3. "Do not open a business".

[LivinLOS]

Oh, my restaurant food will be halp Chinese food and half Western food. I have worked in western restaurant for 8 years in Beijing, thats why i do western food. And I didnot find any good Chinese restaurant in CM, and I love Chinese food, that's why I do another half Chinese food.

Hong Kong lucky seems to be doing well and getting rave reviews despite fairly ambitious pricing..

I personally wont go there due to the actions and attitude of the owner, and the Shark fin on the menu..

[junglechef]

I think doing market research one if many good actions before deciding to open a business, incl. asking here if one knows how to interpret the info.

I can cannot personally give my opinion with the limited details supplied but I do agree the OP does sound a bit naive in his approach.

LOL, are these actions anything to do with FB pages rules and promos?

Edited December 21, 2015 by junglechef

[NancyL]

Best to take a lesson from "Le Brunch", a little restaurant that opened in Nakorn Ping Condo a few months ago. She has a very well-edited and focused menu with each item exquisitely prepared. And to set the restaurant apart from the hole-in-wall Thai restaurant also in the same building, Le Brunch is very clean and has aircon. That makes it very popular during the hot season. At first the customers were just the building residents, but soon the word got around.

[Oscar2]

Oh, my restaurant food will be halp Chinese food and half Western food. I have worked in western restaurant for 8 years in Beijing, thats why i do western food. And I didnot find any good Chinese restaurant in CM, and I love Chinese food, that's why I do another half Chinese food.

Hong Kong lucky seems to be doing well and getting rave reviews despite fairly ambitious pricing..

I personally wont go there due to the actions and attitude of the owner, and the Shark fin on the menu..

the owner (from his facebook postings and that of his proxy) seem to indicate that he is a very nasty fellow who tries to bully his way around C.M. i would never patronize his place. the shark fin is also another consideration...

[Dante99]

Yeh right OP, there is no good Chinese food in CM. Perhaps you need to look around more.

[mascarabertha]

the building is filled with 4,000 baht a month hovels. that's your customer base.

[Oscar2]

Yeh right OP, there is no good Chinese food in CM. Perhaps you need to look around more.

i've been to every one of them (almost). never found anything remotely close to good.

[arunsakda]

Rubbish. China Kitchen Restaurant at Shangri La. (Szechuan). In October went with 5 people and ate in a private Kitchen view dining suite. Best Chinese food I have had in years. Except for the Peking Duck not even that expensive.

Hong Kong Lucky Cafe Nimman. ++

Another place on Chiang Klan with Peking duck (sorry don't know the name).

[spooky2015]

We lived there in this residence for couple of days. From what i have seem is that many Shops are available for rent there. I am just talked with that Lady from Minimart....she also want to Close. That Lady from Laudry Service she also don´t looks like she is happy.

Problem in my mind is, the most of peoples who have room there they go outside for eat, for buy anything or do whatever. Because they have big choice in Walking distance. And....Price outside is really cheap also.

Regards​

Edited December 21, 2015 by spooky2015

[MaeJoMTB]

Best to take a lesson from "Le Brunch", a little restaurant that opened in Nakorn Ping Condo a few months ago. She has a very well-edited and focused menu with each item exquisitely prepared. And to set the restaurant apart from the hole-in-wall Thai restaurant also in the same building, Le Brunch is very clean and has aircon. That makes it very popular during the hot season. At first the customers were just the building residents, but soon the word got around.

And the 'Thai place', Easy Corner next to it is always far busier.

Might be due to the fried chicken sandwich and cup of tea for 55bht.

Hard to fight a place pricing like that.

[MESmith]

Best to take a lesson from "Le Brunch", a little restaurant that opened in Nakorn Ping Condo a few months ago. She has a very well-edited and focused menu with each item exquisitely prepared. And to set the restaurant apart from the hole-in-wall Thai restaurant also in the same building, Le Brunch is very clean and has aircon. That makes it very popular during the hot season. At first the customers were just the building residents, but soon the word got around.

And the 'Thai place', Easy Corner next to it is always far busier.

Might be due to the fried chicken sandwich and cup of tea for 55bht.

Hard to fight a place pricing like that.

Earl Grey?

[HenryB]

Most of the guys in Huay Kaew Residence eat in TOPS food court Kad Suan Kaew for 40 baht.

If they spent that much money

Area of Cheap Charlies

[MESmith]

Most of the guys in Huay Kaew Residence eat in TOPS food court Kad Suan Kaew for 40 baht.

If they spent that much money

Area of Cheap Charlies

Why are they "Cheap Charlies". that's the going rate for a meal at a food court. Would you prefer it if food courts doubled their prices?

[Roy yang]

Thank you for all you guys reply, I read all replys over and over again. That is great tips and help, Im really appriciated that. So I decided that all of you 17 guys can get 2 free meal from my restaurant if my restaurant open.(I will send you guys a number code when my restaurant open, it will open in May perhaps.)

It seems the bigest problem is the location. As my opinion, location is not a big deal if the food and atmosphere and hygienics are all good enough. And I have not found a better place and I dont want to wait.

Reply to MaeJoMTB: The price of dishes is about from 60 baht to 150 baht. Moast of dishes is around 80 baht to 120 baht. You guys think the price is ok or not?

Reply to elektrified, kalbo123: About the location. in front this restaurant and inside this community you can park you car or motorbike. And there is a very large front yard which is nice and clean. and the kitchen size is what i want, I can rebuilt the kitchen make it like almost open kitchen and I make wall white with glazed tile. And inside the restaurant have 2 air-con. And I have a some backyard. And 2 nice clean toilet. Thats why I choose this place to be my restaurant. Even Nimman or Maya have a same place I wont choose, because that kind of place is too many people, I want my customers enjoy his/her meal with a good atmosphere. It is quiet here.

Reply to uptheos:I live in Huay Kaew Residence, I think people live here only go to eat in Kad Suan Kaew once a week or less. The food in Kad Suan Kaew is disgussting(for me i only eat few times there). the restaurant have not open, thats why they have to go to eat that shit food. Hope my restaurant will help them to get better food:)

Reply to Airalee: About random mishmash of dishes. My menu only 2 or 3 pages, 1 page is drink, 1 or 2 pages is food. Very simple food, the menu I give above is what I good at, I can make that better than a Michilin 2 star chef, because I learned that from a Italian Michilin 2 star chef for years. And I give my restaurant name SPRING DELI, I supprised you can call it out before I tell you. So you can get 3 free meal from my restaurant.

Reply to Cyberfarang: I just ask some advices, I have made plan and prepared. Thanks so much.

Reply to mascarabertha: My customers is not only the people who live in this building. My customers is from the whole city.

Reply to Oscar2: This lunch time I went to a chinese restaurant, it is chinese owner, the food is ok, but the atmosphere is horrible, the glass and the table and the chair is <deleted> dirty.

Reply to spooky2015: I also talked to that lady, I saw 'For Rent' sign on the window of her shop. I agree people live here they go outside to eat, but that does not matter for me. If my food delicious and everything clean, people live in other place will come to eat here.

That is my opionin and considering. Thnak you to all your guys reply. Im very glad to communicate with all of you guys.

[buddhalady]

Great reply , Roy Yang - you covered all the bases! Best of luck with your dream - although I live out of town I'll visit when you open. CM needs more guys like you - the international food quality needs an upgrade as regards taste compared with price! Not all of us have unlimited means, but that doesn't mean we don't like good food on a night out, preferably set away from the ghastly noise at Nimmanhaemin.

[Roy yang]

And my girlfriend will take care the kitchen, I will take care the front. Because she good at cook and my English is far more better than her.

The investment is about 1,200,000 to 1,5000,000 baht, I am already prepared to accept fail in 1 year. that is ok, Im not scare. So I will try and do my best in this restaurant.

Hope all of you guys come to get your free meal when my restaurant open.

Thanks everyone.

[Oscar2]

i wish you the best of luck, seriously...

but you should reconsider the location....

management had an eye out for the successful businesses in there. if they liked it, they took it. you don't have any say in the matter.

[jobin]

I think very nearby the mentioned location a small japanese restaurant recently closed up, probably on the back side of HK Residence. Located down the lane from new large stationary shop on the corner of HK Road.

But new owner already sweeping the floor and adverts suggest breakfast and good Thai food. So restaurants pop up like mushrooms after the rain, and vanish as quickly.

[CMKiwi]

I do like the OPs gusto and enthusiasm. It's a breath of fresh air really (Especially on ThaiVisa) The catering world/business is a very hard thing to make a living from. There is so much competition with very little return....unless you have a niche market or your product is far superior than your competitor.

Price can be a big thing here with your customer so it ends up a huge juggling act. You must remember that you too need a wage. Don't run a business purely cause you love it.....bills need to be paid, and a profit is the name of the game. If you run at a loss then it's not a business....its a liability.

But getting back to your original post. If you do the research and have a business plan and at the end of the day it all is positive then go for it.

I'd be quite happy to meet you and dine in your restaurant. I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

Edited December 21, 2015 by CMKiwi

[kalbo123]

My advice is look at restaurants that are successful, and try to find out why....

Often it's not about the food, but about location, price and atmosphere..

Salad concept, I mean it are just salads, but location is good, it's presented well and people like to be seen there.

Chez Marco, in any other European town just a mediocre French restaurant, but location is good and food not too bad.

Riverside and Goodview, just good locations, food not bad but not good either. And popular with Thais!

All the MooKaTa places, food not nice, but you get a lot for almost no money.

Jee Thong Heng at superhighway, good food, but lousy atmosphere, good parking facilities.

And there are many more successful places, check out why, and make up your mind...

[LawrenceChee]

I agree having been in the hospitality business for this Long and seen some ups and downs

The whole idea of F&B that is successful is all about consistency ...when you see the number of old stalls in the city and out of the city , they specialise in one or two things they are really good at Andrew the place clean and the price reasonable

There are enough success stories there and judging from the crowds at my fav Khao Soy place Lum Duan you can clearly see their location is not fantastic , their place is kinda of run down but it's adds to the flavour of dining there and certainly operating costs Low

They all seem to making mega bucks by the sheer bulk of customers as the boss is wearing some very nice gold blinks