Diners learn what ‘MKT’ means on restaurant bills and it’s off putting

There’s nothing quite like indulging in a sumptuous meal out with loved ones, avoiding the cooking and washing up – and being able to relax in surroundings beyond your own four walls.

Yet when the bill arrives, sharp-eyed diners have noticed that occasionally three letters appear on their receipts – and are now questioning what it means. Following a steak dinner shared between three companions, they examined the receipt and were baffled to discover ‘MKT’ printed on the bill, having absolutely no clue what it represented.

The footage, posted by TikTok user @aribella_menold, garnered over 2.2 million views and displays a receipt totalling $159.14 (£118) among the three guests, with the text overlay “POV: You didn’t know what ‘MKT’ meant on the steak menu and now you’re paying for it.”

Commenters were equally as perplexed, having no understanding of its meaning either, while questioning why the total was so substantial.

Hospitality payment specialists at Dojo offered their expertise to resolve any bewilderment. Dojo explains you are likely to encounter items such as seafood, premium meat cuts, seasonal produce, and imported ingredients marked as MKT.

This is because it carries a very particular significance, and occasionally, it can perplex diners when they simply dismiss it as a hospitality peculiarity. They explained: “When MKT (or MP) is printed on a restaurant menu or receipt, it means ‘market price’. This indicates 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.”

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

The viral TikTok didn’t merely spark confusion; it ignited a debate in the comments section over who ultimately bears responsibility when ‘MKT’ pricing leaves diners bewildered.

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

Another posted: “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 contributed: “I looked up market value once and then asked the price. It was like double what Google told me.”

The specialists at Dojo remarked: “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 ever found yourself in this predicament previously?

Let us know in the comments…