May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and what better way to celebrate than exploring Mesa’s Asian District? With over 70 Asian-themed restaurants and small businesses on Dobson Road, I had the pleasure of immersing myself in Asian culture and cuisine by touring Mesa’s Asian District, hosted by Visit Mesa.

Dim Sum at Mekong Plaza

We started off the day at Mekong Plaza, a staple in the Asian District. You can get everything from picking up Asian candies, to getting your nails done, or getting a massage here, and it truly is the heart of the Asian District. Mekong Plaza has announced its expansion as of January of this year, so it's growing even bigger! It was only appropriate to get Dim Sum to kick-off our Asian District tour! Dim Sum is fun to dine with groups, as the Dim Sum staff comes around to your table with Asian goodies to select from carts. My favorite items to order for dim sum include Shrimp Shumai, Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, and Fried Shrimp Balls.

The Story of two Asian Grocery Stores | H Mart and Asiana

The Asian District wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for the Asian supermarkets supplying the vibrant Asian community. Nothing feels more like home than the smells of an Asian supermarket. Though there's a few Asian supermarkets to choose from, my two favorites are H Mart and Asiana.

H Mart is the largest Asian supermarket chain in America. First pioneered on the East Coast in 1982, the chain has now brought its delicious Asian delicacies here to Arizona in Mesa! I love exploring the aisles of H Mart, especially their bulgogi / wagyu selection. I've personally picked up their bulgogi and have done Korean bbq at home because H Mart already marinates the meat for you! H Mart also has a K-Sides section of the store, so you can pick up all your sides that you need to make the meal complete. Don't forget to peruse the alcohol aisle. H Mart has a ton of unique selections on beer and sake!

Asiana Market is another Korean grocery store that is not to be missed. Asiana has quality, fresh seafood. I come here to grab sashimi and seaweed for a quick lunch, or even the sushi if I'm feeling up for it that day. My favorite store section in Asiana is their kimchi shelf! We're big kimchi lovers in my family, and there's literally, big buckets of kimchi to choose from to complete all your needs. They also have a pretty good selection of yogurt based drinks. My favorite brand is Calpico, but there's so many options!

Lunch at Shaanxi Garden

If you're in the Asian District, you have tons of Asian cuisines to choose from: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, etc. But a restaurant that cannot be missed is the infamous Shaanxi Garden. Shaanxi Garden serves authentic Chinese food from the Shaanxi region of China. The restaurant has earned dozens of accolades and rave reviews from the press, so we wanted to know if they lived up to the hype...and you know what? They absolutely did! We ordered a hot pot that was bigger than my face! And with large handmade noodles that you could wear as a belt around your waist, the portions were big, and the flavors were even bigger.

Unique Desserts | Rolled Ice Cream at Roll Avenue & Cheese Boba at Boba Tree Lin Tea House

I’ve never had rolled ice cream before, but I finally tried it at Roll Avenue! The owner was super nice, and put on a show when he rolled our ice cream. He took a scoop of ice cream and mushed it with his tool, pressing it flatter and flatter, until he could scrape and roll the ice cream into rolls! Roll Avenue also offers bubble waffles in combination with the rolled ice cream, and it was divine!

I was skeptical to try the Cheese Boba. First of all, regular boba is amazing (tapioca balls) in tea, and I heard from friends that Cheese Boba was good, especially the ones served at Boba Tree Lin Tea House. But I kept thinking, “Cheese and boba?” The server at Boba Tree Lin Tea House explained that it’s cream cheese, and that changed my mind right away! I chose the Cheese Jasmine Boba and it changed my taste buds. The creaminess from the cheese mixed perfectly with the jasmine tea. Definitely pay them a visit!

Fun Times at Two Hands Corn Dogs and YZ’s Karaoke Cafe

We ended the day with a bang! The newcomers to the Asian District are Two Hands Corn Dogs, and they are quite popular! With lines out the door, I wondered how good these Korean, street food hot dogs must taste? Well, their corn dogs are just plain zany, and I love them! I ordered the Spicy Dog, which has the Two Hands Spicy Sauce and Hot Cheetos Powder, and chose my filling - half mozzarella and half sausage. I highly recommend getting this combination, because it really was a great way to make my tummy happy, thanks Two Hands Corn Dogs!

As the sun set, we rolled up to YZ’s Karaoke Cafe. This spot has several different themed rooms, from Marilyn Monroe to Vegas-style, and we chose the Geisha Room! With colored lights, pumping music, and at only $18/hour, you can sing your lungs out and karaoke until 2am! We sang everything from Greenday to Lady Gaga. What a perfect way to end the day exploring Mesa’s Asian District!