Mekong Plaza, located in a repurposed Target on the southwest corner of Dobson and Main Street in Mesa, has been the heart of Asian culture and commerce in the area since 2008. Chosen for its convenient freeway access, the location reflects the longstanding Asian influence in Mesa and is considered the catalyst for what has become known as Mesa’s Asian District—the state’s most extensive collection of Asian restaurants, grocery stores, and shops.
Mekong Plaza, along with H Mart—the Korean superstore chain out of New Jersey that opened in 2020—serves as a gateway to this vibrant Asian District that stretches south to another cluster of Asian businesses at Dobson and Southern. According to the City of Mesa, there are now more than 70 Asian businesses within a 2-mile radius of the plaza.
As one of the first Asian establishments in the area, Mekong Plaza stands as an anchor for the entire district. The plaza’s businesses include beauty salons, gift shops, and specialty stores offering everything from imported tea and Asian jerky to happy bamboo plants and lucky cats, all centered around the Mekong Market grocery store.
The dining scene is exceptionally bustling, and you will be hard-pressed to find a parking spot during popular weekend hours. The plaza’s growing popularity is evident in its ongoing $10 million, 35,000-square-foot expansion, which will bring even more options, including Haidilao, China’s largest hot pot chain. Curious to experience it firsthand, I embarked on a culinary journey across Asia, sampling Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Taiwanese cuisines, all conveniently located under one roof.
With nearly 20 dining options, the size of my stomach and budget precluded me from trying everything. So, I focused on finding a go-to dim sum restaurant that might evoke memories of my travels to San Francisco, so I started at the plaza’s signature restaurant, Mekong Palace.
Mekong Palace: Mekong Palace is a prominent tenant at the plaza, offering a spacious, well-lit interior ideal for large groups. The restaurant is renowned for its traditional dim sum, featuring options including steamed BBQ pork buns, shrimp shu mai, spareribs with black bean dumplings, and steamed chicken feet. Diners can select from a variety of freshly made items brought around the dining area on carts. The restaurant also offers delicacies à la carte, such as Peking duck served with green onions, plum sauce, and bao buns, and whole roasted pig (requires advance ordering).
Happy Bao’s: Happy Bao’s is a popular Chinese restaurant specializing in handmade baos, soft, steamed buns that originated centuries ago in Northern China. The menu features a variety of baos such as xiao long bao, or “soup dumplings,” filled with pork, scallions, and chicken broth, as well as spicy chili dumplings and sheng jian bao—bread dumplings filled with a savory selection of vegetables, chicken, or pork, and pan-fried so that their sesame-crusted bottoms become crispy. Happy Bao’s also offers handmade noodles and rice plates, including dan dan noodles and Hong Kong fried rice.
Sizzling House and Ramen: Known for its sizzling cast iron platters, Sizzling House and Ramen presents platters so hot they arrive with a protective ring to prevent burns. Diners choose a base of udon noodles or rice, accompanied by a protein along with shelled edamame, corn, and purple onions. The protein is served with either black pepper or mushroom-based house sauce and topped with garlic butter. After mixing, the dish forms a delectable crust reminiscent of the Persian specialty tahdig. I was thankful for the ice-cold water jug and metal cups that tempered the heat of the dish and the AZ sun.
Coconut Jelly King: Coconut Jelly King specializes in coconut-based treats, particularly a coconut jelly resembling a custard. Served in a glass jar with a lid, the base flavor is plain coconut, with over a dozen mix-ins available, including fresh mango, pineapple, hazelnut-chocolate, blueberry, taro, and red bean. The shop also serves boba tea, crepes, and egg waffles.
Roll Avenue: Roll Avenue is a dessert spot specializing in rolled ice cream, a trend that originated in Thailand. To make this ice cream, a liquid ice cream base is poured onto a frozen metal surface, spread out thinly, and rolled into thin sheets before being scraped into delicate rolls. These rolls are then served in a cup and topped with a variety of ingredients, creating a visually appealing and refreshingly cold treat.
Tasty Pot: Tasty Pot is a popular Taiwanese hot pot restaurant known for its individual hot pot servings, allowing customers to customize their meals. The menu features a variety of broth bases and ingredients and diverse menu options such as spicy Szechuan, Taiwanese-style, Korean kimchi, and more. Each hot pot comes with a mix of vegetables, proteins, noodles, and other accompaniments.
written & photographed by: marci symington
mekong plaza: 66 south dobson rd, mesa, az 85202
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