Did you know that the East Valley of Phoenix, AZ is a booming hot spot for the Asian community, and for Asian cuisine? The Asian community in Phoenix has grown so big that a couple of years ago, the city of Mesa officially recognized the Asian District, a collection of more than 70 Asian-themed restaurants, stores, and other small businesses on a two-mile stretch on Dobson Rd. Read on to learn about, and eat, the delicious Asian food in the Asian District of Phoenix, AZ.
While not technically in Mesa, Phoenix Palace in Chandler, AZ is known for its dim sum. The simplest way of describing dim sum is tapas-style tastings of a variety of Asian dishes. Older Asian women come around in dim sum carts, sporting big Asian flavors in little tin containers. Popular items to order include huge shrimp shumai, scallop dumplings, and sesame rice balls stuffed with red bean. Usually this is a popular “Sunday Funday” activity for families and friends alike.
H Mart, a Korean grocery store popular on the East Coast, opened to a huge welcome from the community in the Asian District only a couple of years ago. H Mart carries exotic fruits such as fragrant jackfruit and pink dragon fruit. Aisles are filled with Asian snacks like shrimp chips and chocolate biscuits, condiments, and sauces for Asian dishes, and marinated Korean BBQ meats you can take home to grill. H Mart also has a food court filled with fast-casual Asian restaurants as well as a BTS store where fans can pick up specialty items such as BTS-themed shoes, stationary, and stuffed animals.
Little Miss Dessert was founded by Harry Yu and his family when Harry experienced nostalgia for Hong Kong desserts in the U.S. and wanted to bring the flavors here. If you’re thirsty, try any one of their drinks, from the Brown Sugar Latte to the Strawberry Yogurt Shake to the Mega Fruit Tea; they are all delicious. Their desserts each have different bases, from vanilla snow or sago, and you can’t go wrong with a Mondo Mango or a Mango-A-Go-Go, refreshing desserts that marry the tangy taste of mango with sweet flavors perfect for a hot summer day.
Drive up Dobson Rd. and tucked inside the Asian grocery store you will find Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian-inspired bakery whose name means “every day” in French. They boast over 300 baked goods for you to snack and feast upon. If you’re looking to expand your tastebuds, they have a variety of items to enjoy, from Taro Buttercream Bread and Honey Cheese Mochi Pancakes to Green Tea cakes and Kimchi stuffed croquettes. Baked fresh every day, take your goodies to-go.
Before you go on your Asian Food Tour in the Asian District of Phoenix, AZ, book your stay at Best Western Inn of Chandler, in the East Valley. Located less than 10 minutes from the first stop of the Asian Food Tour, Phoenix Palace, it is the perfect place to kick-off your culinary adventure.
