This Arizona Asian Plaza Added 32,000 Square Feet Of Dining, Shops, And Global Finds

A shopping center gets much more exciting when lunch can jump between udon, hot pot, Korean fried chicken, and Taiwanese sweets.

One Arizona plaza recently expanded by 32,000 square feet, adding new dining, retail, services, and even more reasons to stay longer than planned.

The variety is almost the whole experience.

A supermarket packed with unfamiliar produce can lead into dessert, a claw machine, beauty finds, or another meal you absolutely did not need yet.

Delicious chaos, anyone? Give yourself time to wander without a strict agenda.

Languages, aromas, snacks, and storefronts change every few steps, making the plaza feel less like an errand stop and more like a compact cultural tour.

Twelve New Businesses, One Big Expansion

Construction dust has settled, and the payoff is impressive. The expansion at Mekong Plaza represents a $10 million capital investment, adding 32,000 square feet of brand new space.

The expansion was announced with space for twelve new businesses and roughly 200 new jobs, though individual tenants have opened in stages through 2026.

I walked the new wing slowly, because the layout rewards curiosity. Restaurants, retail shops, dessert counters, and personal services sit shoulder to shoulder.

The original building already covered about 100,000 square feet. With the addition, the whole complex feels like a small indoor city.

What struck me most was the variety packed into one stop. You can order noodles, buy a plush toy, and book travel help without moving your car.

Mekong Plaza posts general hours of 9 AM to 9 PM daily, though individual restaurants, shops, and businesses in the new wing keep their own schedules.

The original Mekong Plaza is listed at 66 S Dobson Rd, while the Phase 2 expansion was formally opened at 138 S Dobson Rd in Mesa.

Hot Pot, Udon, And Korean Fried Chicken

My stomach filed a formal complaint about all the choices. The new dining lineup includes Haidilao Hot Pot, a globally known traditional Chinese hot pot brand with interactive tableside cooking.

Right nearby sits Udon Shin, a celebrated Tokyo udon restaurant making its very first United States appearance in Mesa, Arizona. Thick, chewy noodles are the whole point.

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House was announced as an expansion tenant, but a current Mesa location could not be independently verified as open, so check its status before planning a visit around it.

BB.Q Chicken is currently open in the expansion, while Hong Kong Cafe remains listed as coming soon on Mekong Plaza’s current directory.

ANH was announced as a customizable Vietnamese bowl concept for the expansion, but its current opening status could not be independently confirmed.

My strategy was simple: order small plates at two places instead of one giant meal. Sharing lets you taste more without waving a white flag.

Waits can vary considerably by restaurant, especially because each expansion tenant keeps its own hours and operating schedule.

Miniso, Claw Machines, Photo Booths

Retail therapy here comes with a side of silliness. Miniso, the Japanese-inspired lifestyle retailer, anchors the new shopping additions with playful and affordable goods.

Shelves hold quirky home items, plush toys, stationery, and accessories. I planned five minutes inside and stayed considerably longer.

Claw Zone gives claw-machine fans a dedicated arcade filled with plush toys, collectibles, and other prizes.

Cloud Studio offers Korean-style photo booths with studio lighting, modern backdrops, and instant prints.

Older shops keep the browsing varied, with current tenants selling Chinese teas and herbs, Asian jerky, bamboo plants, cultural gifts, anime merchandise, stationery, and other specialty goods.

Beauty salons and small specialty boutiques fill the corners between restaurants. Every visit turns up something I somehow missed before.

Browsing before picking up takeout can make shopping easier, while visitors should check the arcade’s current payment system before playing.

Shoppers hunting unusual gifts across Arizona often end up here for exactly that reason. Birthday presents and thank-you trinkets are genuinely easy finds.

From Empty Target To Cultural Anchor

Every landmark starts somewhere unlikely. Back in 2008, a former Target store was transformed into a 100,000-square-foot Asian shopping hub.

That bold conversion became the seed for what is now proudly called Mesa’s Asian District. Growth came slowly, business by business.

Mesa’s Asian District extends primarily along Dobson Road between Main Street and Broadway, with restaurants, markets, and shops continuing to grow throughout the corridor.

Developers Peter Quach and Jimmy Lai were behind the original Mekong Plaza project, which opened in the converted Target building in 2008.

Mesa has reported more than 100 Asian businesses throughout the broader Asian District, reflecting substantial growth since Mekong Plaza opened in 2008.

Mekong Plaza became an early anchor for the surrounding Asian District, which continued expanding along Dobson Road after the plaza opened.

Since opening in a converted former Target in 2008, Mekong Plaza has grown from fewer than ten businesses into a larger dining, retail, and community destination.

The plaza sits near US-60 and Loop 101, giving it convenient road access from Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and other parts of the Valley.

Dim Sum Carts And Soup Dumplings

Rolling carts still make me a little giddy. Mekong Palace has served Cantonese dim sum and Chinese cuisine in Mesa since 2010 and remains one of the plaza’s longtime full-service restaurants.

Servers push carts loaded with freshly steamed regional Chinese specialties. You point, they serve, and the table fills quickly.

Steamed BBQ pork buns, shrimp shumai, and rice wrapped in lotus leaves are classic picks. Full-range dim sum is currently served from 11 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday and from 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday and Sunday.

Happy Bao’s currently specializes in handmade dumplings, baos, noodles, rice dishes, and other Chinese favorites, including sheng jian bao and several dumpling varieties.

Sizzling House takes a different route with Japanese dishes on cast iron platters. Some orders even arrive courtesy of robot cat servers.

Diners pick udon noodles or rice, then add protein and house sauces. The presentation crackles and steams right at your table.

Vietnamese options include UnPHOgettable, Bún Bò Huế, and Cơm Tấm Thuận Kiều, with the latter specializing in broken rice plates, grilled meats, noodle soups, and other Vietnamese dishes.

Boba, Bingsu, And Rolled Ice Cream

Dessert deserves its own itinerary. Meet Fresh joined during the expansion, bringing Taiwanese sweets, boba, and layered dessert bowls.

Snowy Village arrived too, serving Korean bingsu shaved ice in generous portions. Frozen treats and desert heat make excellent partners.

Older favorites still hold their ground beautifully. Tea Snow Boba and Coffee pours flavors like brown sugar, lychee, and taro.

Toppings range from popping pearls to cheese foam. Choosing takes longer than drinking, at least for me.

Coconut Jelly King serves coconut jelly straight from the shell. The texture is springy, cool, and oddly addictive.

Roll Avenue Ice Cream Rolls turns dessert into a small performance. Cream gets spread, chopped, and scraped into ribbons on a frozen plate.

Sweet Time Bakery currently serves cakes, pastries, breads, coffee, and other drinks for visitors wanting something beyond the plaza’s frozen desserts.

Outdoor seating near the pond gives you a shaded spot to sit with your treat. I watched families circle the water while my ice cream slowly surrendered.

Inside The Sprawling Asian Supermarket

An hour vanished and I had only reached aisle nine. Mekong Supermarket anchors the complex and works as a destination all by itself.

Shelves carry specialty items from Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and beyond. The instant noodle selection alone borders on absurd.

Produce is where things get exciting for curious cooks. Rambutan and jackfruit sit beside herbs that rarely appear in standard grocery stores.

Fresh vegetables arrive in quantities that suggest serious home cooking. Bundles of lemongrass, Thai basil, and greens fill the bins.

The supermarket includes meat and seafood departments along with live seafood tanks, offering fish and shellfish used in many Asian cuisines.

Frozen aisles hold an overwhelming number of bao varieties. Sauces, pastes, vinegars, and spices stretch across multiple rows.

The supermarket’s major draw is its broad selection of specialty ingredients, produce, noodles, sauces, meat, seafood, and pantry goods that can be difficult to find in conventional grocery stores.

Shopping traffic varies by day and time, so visitors who prefer a quieter trip may want to allow extra flexibility rather than rely on a specific crowd pattern.

Getting There And Timing It Right

Logistics can make or break a food outing. The plaza sits near US-60 and Loop 101, so routes from Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, and Gilbert stay simple.

Nearby Valley Metro bus and light rail services provide another way to reach the area, though visitors should check the current route and stop that best fits their trip.

Flying in? Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is roughly a 15-minute drive away. That makes this an easy first or last stop on any Arizona trip.

On-site parking is available, though demand can vary with restaurant traffic, events, and individual tenant schedules.

Mekong Plaza itself lists 9 AM to 9 PM daily, but individual businesses may open later or close at different times.

Beyond food and shopping, practical services fill out the complex. Heads Up Spa offers Japanese-inspired scalp treatments and hair washing.

Current services include hair and beauty businesses, Thai Foot Massage, Phoenix International Travel & Tours, insurance and financial services, and Hi Tech Dentistry, alongside the plaza’s restaurants and shops.

Follow the plaza’s posted signs for current restroom locations rather than relying on a fixed hallway description.