Would a Chinese Restaurant Work in Hua Hin?
Would a Chinese Restaurant Work in Hua Hin?
HI all, I'm thinking of opening a Chinese restaurant in HUa Hin as there doesn't seem to be one except at the Hilton, which apparently costs an arm and a leg, and doesn't taste too good (or so I am told). Would appreciate all your feedback as part of my market research before I take the plunge! And throw in your favourite Chinese dishes too so that I won't miss anything on my menu!
Was in HH in June/July last year and took my GF to the Chineese in the Hilton for her Birthday. We both enjoy Peking Duck, so had that, a couple of beers and a bottle of wine and cost about 1800baht.
Price I though was very reasonable and the food was fantastic.
We even got a free birthday dessert that we did not know about, presented to us by the staff, and then they all sang happy birthday to my (GF).
It is like everything when going into business, it is matter of chance, there are a lot of British who live in HH, so you may get a lot of local trade, but remember that there is not really a 12 month tourist trade in HH. Even in June/July it was very quiet there, and if you are going to rely on it for a 12month income it may be a bit hard.
As much as I like the local food in Thailand, when I was in HH, I did miss having a place where you could get a decent sandwich with some decent ingredients while you are out.
I do not mean a Subway type place, but somewhere where you can get a decent coffee and a decent roast beef or roast chicken roll or sandwich (fresh or toasted).
I did try some of the local places, but after seeing the ham that they put in my sandwich, was not game to try again.
As the age group that visits HH is a fair bit older than most of the Thai resorts, plus you have a lot of British and European residents as well there, it could make a good meeting place for people who want a change from the bar and normal cafe/resteraunt scene.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Price I though was very reasonable and the food was fantastic.
We even got a free birthday dessert that we did not know about, presented to us by the staff, and then they all sang happy birthday to my (GF).
It is like everything when going into business, it is matter of chance, there are a lot of British who live in HH, so you may get a lot of local trade, but remember that there is not really a 12 month tourist trade in HH. Even in June/July it was very quiet there, and if you are going to rely on it for a 12month income it may be a bit hard.
As much as I like the local food in Thailand, when I was in HH, I did miss having a place where you could get a decent sandwich with some decent ingredients while you are out.
I do not mean a Subway type place, but somewhere where you can get a decent coffee and a decent roast beef or roast chicken roll or sandwich (fresh or toasted).
I did try some of the local places, but after seeing the ham that they put in my sandwich, was not game to try again.
As the age group that visits HH is a fair bit older than most of the Thai resorts, plus you have a lot of British and European residents as well there, it could make a good meeting place for people who want a change from the bar and normal cafe/resteraunt scene.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Would a Chinese Restaurant Work in Hua Hin?
A good and cheap chinese restaurant like the indians would be a good alternative to all the farang restaurants I suppose.
Some of the local have chinese meals but not the chinese atmosphere.
Some of the local have chinese meals but not the chinese atmosphere.
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Guess
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I have now been through all these postings and I still have obviously missed something.
I also like Chinese food. I have eaten in at least ten in the centre of Hua Hin. I am aware of another ten or twenty without thinking too hard. My wife reckons that there is probably one hundred Chinese Retaurants here in HUa Hin. It is the only food that wife will eat other than ultra hot curry.
BTW this is Hua Hin in Pruchuap Kiri Khan BTW (12 34 N 99 57 E) just in case you are in one of the other Hua Hins in Thailand.
My favorite is the one on the corner of Nebkerhardt Road and Dechanucit opposite an real-estate agent. It is mainly become my favorite because it is only a few yards from where I live and the menu is varied. Anther two to try are both situated on Petchkasem on the sea side of the road past the banks heading down towards Khao Takieb. Great for Dim Sim, Hainanese Chicken and Dick Noodle soup.
You generally won't find chop houses, congee houses and cantonese food here though. Most of the food tends to be of the south western style with a bit of Hainanese here and there.
What I guess here is that what is being suggested is that a Farang Chinese style restaurant is started like the type you find in Brtish High Streets, in other cities in Europe and in more built up areas of the US. IMHO that would require a very large setup cost and would really need the backing of a franchisor or a ridiculously high marketting bill. I am not aware of any such franchisor.
There are three Japanese franchises in Thailand but that is because Japanese food is not easily available and a gap was spotted in the market.
As Chinese food is abundant in Thailand in most areas it would seem pointless.
I also like Chinese food. I have eaten in at least ten in the centre of Hua Hin. I am aware of another ten or twenty without thinking too hard. My wife reckons that there is probably one hundred Chinese Retaurants here in HUa Hin. It is the only food that wife will eat other than ultra hot curry.
BTW this is Hua Hin in Pruchuap Kiri Khan BTW (12 34 N 99 57 E) just in case you are in one of the other Hua Hins in Thailand.
My favorite is the one on the corner of Nebkerhardt Road and Dechanucit opposite an real-estate agent. It is mainly become my favorite because it is only a few yards from where I live and the menu is varied. Anther two to try are both situated on Petchkasem on the sea side of the road past the banks heading down towards Khao Takieb. Great for Dim Sim, Hainanese Chicken and Dick Noodle soup.
You generally won't find chop houses, congee houses and cantonese food here though. Most of the food tends to be of the south western style with a bit of Hainanese here and there.
What I guess here is that what is being suggested is that a Farang Chinese style restaurant is started like the type you find in Brtish High Streets, in other cities in Europe and in more built up areas of the US. IMHO that would require a very large setup cost and would really need the backing of a franchisor or a ridiculously high marketting bill. I am not aware of any such franchisor.
There are three Japanese franchises in Thailand but that is because Japanese food is not easily available and a gap was spotted in the market.
As Chinese food is abundant in Thailand in most areas it would seem pointless.
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Bamboo Grove
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To me hardly any Chinese restaurant does food that tastes Chinese. The taste is a mixture of Chinese and Thai. The only authentic ones that I've been to have been in Bangkok (run by mainland Chinese). I would like it very much if there was one real, not too expensive one in HH. My favourites are the hotter ones from Sichuan and Hunan and of course good dumplings.
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Thanks you guys for all your comments. They were most helpful and I will certainly take all of your suggestions into consideration when making the final decision. The Chinese restaurant I have in mind is nothing elaborate but one that does both authentic chinese cuisine as well as westernised favourites. Of course, there will be your spring rolls and fried wontons to cater to tourists, but U will also find spicy sichuan chicken, sweet & sour meats and other cantonese stir fries which are more true to the Chinese gourmet experience. You won't be paying Hilton prices so don't expect the imperial cuisine, but it will be tasty, simple chinese food that one could afford to eat every other day if not every day. I believe it will be a nice change for most from your "pad kapow gai." Well, you'll definitely hear about it when it happens, should it happen. Meanwhile, keep your comments coming.
You know where to advertise if you want instant customersFaye wrote:Well, you'll definitely hear about it when it happens, should it happen. Meanwhile, keep your comments coming.
Personally I think a restaurant that can offer the type of Chinese food that we get in the west would be a good thing since most of it here is Thai-Chinese style and quite different.