Mike’s takes its burgers to the beach

Customers wait in line at Mike's Burgers in Phnom Penh's Camko City last year. Eli Meixler

Mike’s takes its burgers to the beach

Wed, 2 March 2016

Ayanna Runcie

Home-grown burger chain Mike’s Burger House will expand its presence beyond Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and open a new outlet this week in the coastal town of Sihanoukville.

After a conservative start seven years ago, the burger chain will open its fifth location this Saturday to serve up customers in the tourist-friendly beach destination, said the chain’s Khmer-American owner Mike Chenda Im.

“I figured a lot of people go to the beach and we have a lot of loyal customers already, so if they go to Sihanoukville they will have us in mind as good food,” he said. “If we are there, it is convenient for our loyal customers.”

The chain currently has three outlets in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap, which opened six months ago. The new Sihanoukville branch marks the third opening in the last six months.

According to Chenda, the expansion has helped provide more job opportunities to people who were looking to get trained in the food and beverage sector.

“The reason I’ve expanded is because I want to create jobs for Cambodian youth,” Chenda said. “This is a real training program and a real job where they can earn a good salary.”

Long-time Phnom Penh resident John Mulder, a frequent customer of Mike’s Burger House, said the chain could continue to build on its success, given that it was better than any other local burger joint. “They should open up in Aeon Mall and drive out Burger King,” he said.