Arizona Has An Old Target Store That’s Now Full Of Dim Sum Carts, Pho Kitchens, And Boba Shops
A former Target building now holds dim sum carts, Peking duck, soup dumplings, and a whole roasted pig. I can’t imagine a better plot twist for a big-box store.
It traded shopping carts for steaming bamboo baskets.
The lineup keeps going from there. There are Vietnamese pho kitchens, Thai curries, Korean shaved ice, and Taiwanese hot pot.
A bakery sells Korean stuffed hodo cakes, and several boba shops sit just steps apart.
I like how one parking lot in Arizona can feel like a full food tour. You can grab groceries, slurp noodles, and finish with rolled ice cream.
Nobody needs a passport or a plane ticket.
A recent expansion added even more restaurants and shops to the mix. So how many stops can one hungry person realistically make in a single afternoon?
An Old Target Turned Into Arizona’s Asian Food Playground
Mekong Plaza sits on the southwest corner of Dobson Road and Main Street in Mesa. It’s an indoor shopping center packed with Asian restaurants, shops, and a large supermarket.
The building has a fun backstory. It opened in October 2008 inside a former Target store, which is a pretty clever second act for a big-box space.
Back then, the plaza started with fewer than 10 businesses. It grew to around 30 vendors before its latest expansion arrived.
That growth mattered beyond the plaza walls. Mekong Plaza is considered a catalyst for Mesa’s Asian District, which the City of Mesa officially recognized in 2019.
So when you pull into this lot, you’re visiting more than a mall. You’re stepping into the place that helped spark an entire neighborhood identity in Arizona.
The mix inside covers a lot of ground. Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean flavors all share one roof here.
Shoppers also find gift stores, beauty salons, foot massage spots, and even dentists. It’s the rare errand run where picking up groceries and booking a massage happen in the same trip.
Think of it as a one-stop hub. Plan for a longer visit than you expect.
Thirty-Two Thousand New Square Feet Of Reasons To Return
Ten million dollars buys a lot of new noodle real estate. A major expansion broke ground in July 2022 and wrapped up in 2025, adding roughly 32,000 square feet.
That extra space brought big names. Haidilao, the well-known Sichuan hot pot chain, opened in the new area.
Udon Shin arrived too, known for house-made noodles and tempura. Korean favorite bb.q Chicken joined the lineup with its fried chicken.
Dessert fans got a gift as well. Snowy Village Dessert Cafe now serves traditional Korean bingsoo, the fluffy shaved ice treat.
Two Los Angeles favorites, Hong Kong Cafe and Mama Lu’s Dumpling House, are opening in a shared space. ANH also joined, focusing on customizable Vietnamese bowls.
The refresh went beyond food. Some outdoor areas were beautified, and a pond now gives visitors a pretty place to sit with a treat.
Retail got a boost too. MINISO, the Japanese lifestyle store, joined the mix along with Claw Zone and Heads Up!
Spa.
If you visited years ago, the place has changed. A return trip feels a bit like meeting an old friend who just remodeled the whole house, and kept the snacks.
Dim Sum, Peking Duck, And A Whole Roasted Pig Await
Steamer baskets are the main event at Mekong Palace. The restaurant is known for traditional dim sum, Peking duck, and whole roasted pig.
That’s a serious menu for a strip on Dobson Road. Classic picks like har gow and siu mai make the rounds, along with congee.
The dining room carries a lively community feel. Tables of friends and families gather for yum cha, the cherished tradition of tea and small plates.
Across the plaza, Happy Bao’s takes a handmade approach. It serves baos, xiao long bao soup dumplings, spicy chili dumplings, and pan-fried sheng jian bao.
Noodles and rice plates round out its menu. It’s an easy pick for families splitting a few dishes.
Craving something bubbling at the table? Haidilao brings Sichuan hot pot, while Tasty Pot offers a Taiwanese take on the same cozy idea.
Chinese food here clearly isn’t a single lane. It’s more like a whole highway of dumplings.
My advice is simple. Bring friends, order more plates than seems reasonable, and share everything.
Dim sum truly rewards a crowd. The more people at the table, the more little baskets you get to try.
Pho Lovers Get Three Bowls Worth Debating
Three separate pho specialists under one roof feels almost unfair to your decision-making skills. Hue Gourmet, MyLynn Cafe, and UnPHOgettable all focus on the famous Vietnamese noodle soup.
Yes, that last name is a pun. Honestly, any pho shop willing to commit that hard to wordplay earns a little respect.
Broken Rice offers another side of Vietnamese cooking. Formerly known as Com Tam Thuan Kieu, it serves broken rice plates, noodle soups, and stir-fried noodles.
Broken rice plates are a beloved Vietnamese comfort meal. They’re a fun choice if you usually default to soup.
Then there’s ANH, a newer arrival. It focuses on customizable Vietnamese bowls, so picky eaters can build exactly what they want.
The variety makes this corner of Mesa a strong stop for Vietnamese food fans. You could visit several times without repeating a meal.
A friendly rivalry might be the best plan. Gather a group, try a different pho spot each visit, and argue about your favorite later.
Nobody has to win that debate. The real prize is getting an excuse to keep coming back to Mekong Plaza for another bowl.
Thai Curry Good Enough To Justify A Long Drive
Curry fans, your stop has a name. Thai Spices serves authentic Thai cuisine, including curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
Its pull reaches well beyond the neighborhood. Some diners happily travel many miles across the Valley just for a meal here.
That kind of loyalty says plenty. A restaurant inside a busy plaza still manages to stand out among dozens of choices.
The menu covers comforting Thai classics. Noodles bring the slurp factor, while stir-fries and curries offer something hearty for every appetite.
Thai tea also pops up around the plaza. Its bright orange color is basically a dessert announcing itself.
Thai food makes a nice balance with everything else here. After a dim sum weekend, a curry night feels like a fresh adventure.
Pair the meal with a wander afterward. The supermarket and gift shops sit close by, so dinner easily turns into a relaxed evening outing.
During Arizona’s hot months, that indoor stroll is a gift. You get a full night out without baking in a parking lot.
Bring a friend who claims they can handle spice. Then let the curry settle that question for you.
Hodo Cakes, Fresh Bread, And One Very Sweet Detour
Walnut-shaped little cakes filled with sweet goodness might be the cutest snack in Mesa. Sweet Time Bakery sells Korean stuffed hodo cakes alongside its other baked goods.
The shelves don’t stop there. Artisan bread, pastries, and cakes make it easy to grab breakfast, a snack, or a birthday treat.
Asian bakeries often lean softer and less sugary than typical American ones. That makes them dangerously easy to snack on during a shopping trip.
The bakery also fits the plaza’s grab-and-go rhythm. Pick up something sweet, then keep wandering past the gift shops.
For a fancier dessert, Snowy Village has you covered. Its bingsoo is a traditional Korean shaved ice treat that suits Arizona summers perfectly.
Roll Avenue Ice Cream Rolls adds a little show to dessert. Watching ice cream get rolled into neat spirals is half the fun.
Meet Fresh brings Taiwanese desserts into the picture too. Between all of them, your sweet tooth has a full itinerary.
A bakery box also makes a great gift. Bringing home hodo cakes to share is a quick way to become everyone’s favorite person.
So Many Boba Shops You Might Need A Strategy
Picking just one boba shop here is a real challenge. Several tea counters compete for your attention, and each has its own personality.
Coconut Jelly King leans into coconut-based treats. It also serves boba tea, crepes, and egg waffles.
Egg waffles are a Hong Kong street snack with puffy little bubbles. They’re fun to tear apart and share while you walk.
Tea Snow Boba & Coffee offers a long lineup. Expect boba teas, smoothies, shaved snow, and Vietnamese coffee.
Vietnamese coffee is strong and sweet. It might be the boost you need between your noodle lunch and grocery run.
Crafti Tea & Mocktail takes a more tea-focused path. Its menu includes matcha, hojicha, oolong, fruit, and herbal teas.
Meet Fresh, a Taiwanese spot, also features boba and desserts. That’s a lot of tapioca pearls for one Arizona plaza.
My suggestion? Treat it like a tasting challenge.
Try one new shop per visit and keep score with your friends.
Families and teens especially enjoy this part of the plaza. It’s a cheerful hangout where a small drink stretches into a long chat.
A Supermarket Where Half The Aisles Feel Brand New
Grocery shopping rarely feels like exploring, but Mekong Supermarket changes that. The large anchor store stocks items from Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan, and beyond.
Fresh produce, seafood, and meats fill big sections. A butcher shop and seafood counter make it a strong stop for home cooks.
The ramen and instant noodle selection is impressive. Shelves of frozen bao and dumpling options can make choosing feel impossible.
Sauces get their own spotlight too. Cooks hunting for one specific ingredient often find it here after striking out elsewhere.
That’s what makes this store special for many Arizona families. It brings hard-to-find flavors close to home.
Browsing can easily eat up an hour. Plenty of products may be completely new to you, which is half the fun.
Bring a reusable bag and an open mind. Grabbing one unfamiliar snack each trip is a budget-friendly way to explore new flavors.
Pair your shopping with lunch nearby. Eating first is smart, because hungry grocery trips tend to end with a very full cart.
Lucky Cats, Foot Massages, And Other Happy Surprises
Waving lucky cats line the shelves of the gift shops here. They sit alongside happy bamboo plants, imported tea, Asian jerky, and other cultural items.
Those small gifts are handy to keep around. They work well for birthdays, thank-yous, or a tiny dose of good fortune.
MINISO adds Japanese lifestyle goods to the shopping mix. Claw Zone brings arcade-style fun, which kids will definitely notice.
Relaxation is on the menu too. Foot massage services and Heads Up!
Spa offer a break after hours of walking and snacking.
The plaza even handles everyday errands. Clothing stores, beauty salons, wireless shops, real estate offices, and dentists all share space.
That mix gives the place a true neighborhood feel. It serves the local Asian community first, and everyone else gets to enjoy it too.
Mekong Plaza suits many types of visitors. Families, foodies, retirees, and curious day-trippers all find something worth their time.
The atmosphere is friendly and lively. It’s the kind of spot where a quick errand quietly turns into a full afternoon.
Your Game Plan For A Delicious Day In Mesa
Getting there is refreshingly easy. Mekong Plaza sits at 66 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202, near the corner of Dobson Road and Main Street.
Drivers from across the Valley can reach it without much fuss. Phoenix and Tempe visitors make it a simple day trip.
The plaza is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Individual restaurants and shops may keep their own hours, so check ahead for specific stops.
Parking is plentiful in the large lot. Saturday mornings and weekends can get busy, so arrive early for the easiest spot.
Prices span a wide range. You can grab a cheap boba or settle in for a full dim sum feast with family.
That flexibility makes it a great value outing. A small budget still buys a tasty, memorable afternoon in Arizona.
So is it worth the drive? I believe it is, especially for anyone who loves trying new flavors close to home.
Bring friends, wear comfy shoes, and pace yourself. With pho, bao, curry, cakes, and boba waiting, one visit probably won’t feel like enough.