Mu kratha resembles a combined Korean barbecue and a Japanese or Chinese hot pot.

Sliced meat (most often pork) is grilled on the dome in the centre while the vegetables and other ingredients, such as fish balls, cook in the soup (also called Thai suki).

The best foods for this cooking method are pork, chicken, mutton, lamb, seafood, vegetables, and mushrooms.

The local traditional Thai mu kratha is usually served with nam chim suki, a popular dipping sauce.

When cooking mu kratha, a chunk of fat is commonly grilled at the apex of the pan to prevent food from sticking.