Foodies realise what 'MKT' means on restaurant bills and it's putting them off

If you have had a busy or stressful week, it is always a good idea to treat yourself to something that will cheer you up and help you relax. Going out for dinner at a restaurant and enjoying good food never goes amiss, whether it's to try a new cuisine, celebrate a special occasion, or enjoy a night off having to cook at home.

However, recently people have been left confused after noticing three letters on their receipt. It comes after a trio of friends went out for a steak dinner recently. After getting their bill, they were confused after seeing the letters 'MKT'. The clip, shared byTikTok user @aribella_menold, amassed over 2.2 million views and shows a receipt totalling $159.14 (£118) between the three diners, with the text overlay "POV: You didn't know what 'mkt' meant on the steak menu and now you're paying for it" .

Viewers flooded the comments to share their similar confusion, asking: "What does MKT mean?". The hospitality payment experts atDojo are offering their insight. Dojo notes that you are likely to see items likeseafood, prime meat cuts, seasonal fruit and vegetables, and imported ingredients labelled as MKT.

They said: "When MKT (or MP) is printed on a restaurant menu or receipt, it means 'market price'. This indicates that the price of the item is not fixed and will fluctuate depending on the current market rate. Listing items on menus as 'MKT' allows restaurants to adjust their pricing in line with their cost, without reprinting menus."

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Is it the customer's job to ask, or the server's to explain?

The viral TikTok didn't just spark confusion; it kicked off a debate in the comments over who's ultimately responsible when 'MKT' pricing catches diners off-guard.

One commenter wrote: "Honestly, shame on your server for not informing you of the price when it’s clearly not listed."

Another wrote: "I have never been anywhere where they told you the cost upfront unless you asked…it's totally the customer's fault for not asking when there is NO PRICE LISTED."

A third added: "I looked up market value once and then asked the price. It was like double what Google told me."

The experts at Dojo say: "In these situations, transparency from both sides is key. It's likely the server assumed the customer was familiar with the pricing or would ask if unsure.

"To avoid confusion, diners should feel comfortable asking for clarification on any 'MKT' priced items. Equally, it's good practice for servers to offer a prompt, such as: 'Just to note, I can provide today’s price for any items listed as MKT upon request'."

Have you noticed this? Comment below...