Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 14 and Version 13 of Pacific Plaza

Version 14 Version 13
== Line 2 == == Line 2 ==
The first tenants moved in just before the end of 2009, and by mid-February 2010 the opening had progressed far enough for the centre to host a Chinese New Year celebration. In addition to the businesses mentioned below, there are plans for a supermarket (already fitted out <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287525913/ photo]</small> and due to open in April 2010), a bookshop, a clothes shop, and a martial arts hall offering classes and demonstrations.
 The first tenants moved in just before the end of 2009, and the offical opening is slated for mid-February 2010. In addition to the businesses mentioned below, there are plans for a supermarket (fitted out and due to open early March 2010) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287525913/ photo]</small>), a herbal doctor, a bookshop, a clothes shop, and a martial arts hall offering classes and demonstrations.
== Line 4 == == Line 4 ==
As of mid-March 2010, there are six businesses trading on the ground floor:
* <b>8AM Healthcare Ltd</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4441440030/ photo]</small>, offering acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
 As of mid-January 2010, there are three businesses trading on the ground floor:
== Line 9 ==
* A <b>ceramics shop</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440669445/ photo]</small>.
* A <b>tat shop</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440665353/ photo]</small>.
== Line 12 == == Line 9 ==
Also as of mid-March 2010, eight of the thirteen units in the food court are open for business (four more are marked as coming soon, including a fresh juice bar, an Indian vegetarian stall, and a Vietnamese stall):
* <b>Sawadee Thai</b> &#8212; this will eventually have a Thai massage side, but only the food side is open so far <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/aris1234/4375335365/in/pool-1276344@N25 photo], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440648041/ menu p1], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4441426462/ menu p2], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4441425912/ menu p3]</small>.
* <b>Spicy Thai</b> &#8212; Thai food! <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440647089/ menu p1], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440647609/ menu p2], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440646459/ menu p3], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440645937/ menu p4]</small>.
* <b>NP Star Snack Bar</b> &#8212; Japanese and Malaysian, specialising in crepes, fried things, takoyaki, and fruit skewers with chocolate dip <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287550419/ photo]</small>.
* <b>China House</b> &#8212; Chinese food, roast meats, dim sum, rice, noodles, Sichuan food <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287544483/ dim sum menu]</small>, <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288289022/ roasted meats menu]</small>.
* <b>Hot Korean</b> &#8212; Korean food <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287554223/ photo], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440650233/ menu]</small>.
* <b>Shan</b> &#8212; Japanese, previously Zen at Oriental City <small>[http://www.theshanfood.com/ website], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288299374/ photo], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287495765/ menu p1], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288237794/ menu p2]</small>.
* <b>Nambu</b> &#8212; Japanese donburi (rice bowl) dishes <small>[http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198133&id=321791545585&ref=share Facebook photos]</small>.
* <b>Seleramu</b> &#8212; Malaysian hawker food <small>[http://www.seleramu.co.uk/ website], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4440649567/ menu]</small>.
 As of mid-February eight of the thirteen units in the food court are open for business (all but one of the others are rented but not yet fitted out):
* <b>Sawadee Thai</b> &#8212; this will eventually have a Thai massage side, but only the food side is open as of yet.
* <b>Spicy Thai</b> &#8212; Thai food!
* <b>NP Star Snack Bar</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287550419/ photo]</small> &#8212; Japanese and Malaysian, specialising in crepes, fried things, takoyaki, and fruit skewers with chocolate dip.
* <b>China House</b> &#8212; Chinese/roast meat/dim sum/rice/noodles/Sichuan place</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287544483/ dim sum menu photo]</small>, <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288289022/ roasted meats menu photo]</small>.
* <b>Hot Korean</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287554223/ photo]</small>.
* <b>Shan</b> <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288299374/ photo]</small>, <small>[http://www.theshanfood.com/ website]</small> &#8212; Japanese, previously Zen at Oriental City <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287495765/ menu photo 1]</small>, <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288237794/ menu photo 2]</small>.
* <b>Nambu</b> <small>[http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198133&id=321791545585&ref=share photos]</small> &#8212; Japanese donburi (rice bowl) dishes.
* <b>Seleramu</b> <small>[http://www.seleramu.co.uk/ website]</small>, <small>[http://www.seleramu.co.uk/menu/ menu]</small> &#8212; Malaysian hawker food.
== Line 22 == == Line 19 ==
[[Kake]] tried the dim sum at the China House stall in January 2010. King prawn cheung fun (&pound;3.80) was OK, though the wrappers were a little thick and the prawns a decent size but unremarkable in quality (and perhaps very slightly overcooked) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287536271/ photo]</small>. Pan-fried turnip cake (&pound;2.60) was good, with decent, not-dried-out chunks of roast meat, obvious shreds of turnip, and a decent amount of browning on the outside <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287532739/ photo]</small>. Siu mai (&pound;2.50) were pretty good too, with large chunks of prawn to complement the pork, and a well-judged fat-to-meat ratio <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288281428/ photo]</small>. Jasmine tea (80p) came in a 300ml polystyrene cup with the teabag still in.
 [[Kake]] tried the dim sum at the Chinese food court stall in January 2010. King prawn cheung fun (&pound;3.80) was OK, though the wrappers were a little thick and the prawns a decent size but unremarkable in quality (and perhaps very slightly overcooked) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287536271/ photo]</small>. Pan-fried turnip cake (&pound;2.60) was good, with decent, not-dried-out chunks of roast meat, obvious shreds of turnip, and a decent amount of browning on the outside <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4287532739/ photo]</small>. Siu mai (&pound;2.50) were pretty good too, with large chunks of prawn to complement the pork, and a well-judged fat-to-meat ratio <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4288281428/ photo]</small>. Jasmine tea (80p) came in a 300ml polystyrene cup with the teabag still in.
== Line 24 == == Line 21 ==
[[Kake]] visited again in March 2010, and tried the som tam (papaya salad; &pound;6.50) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/4441450414/ photo]</small> from Sawadee Thai. It was made fresh to order, and they asked me if I wanted it "authentic" or "Westernised" (apparently Westernised is sweeter), and also what level of spice I'd like. I went for authentic-style with medium spicing, which was about the right heat level for me ([[bob]] would probably have preferred it hot). The flavours were well-balanced, the peanuts nicely roasted, the dried prawns and anchovies gently fishy, and the vegetables fresh and crunchy; sadly, one of the three large fresh prawns that came with it tasted a bit muddy.
 Accessibility: Step-free to get in. There's a large car park just outside. There are steps up to the food court on the first floor, but there seems to also be a lift ([[Kake]] saw a sign for "customer lift" in January 2010 but didn't investigate further).
== Line 26 ==
Accessibility: Step-free to get in. There's a large car park just outside. There are steps up to the food court on the first floor, but there's also a lift (though the lift is quite well-hidden and it may be that you have to find a staff member to use it). Toilets are on the first floor too, including a dedicated accessible toilet.
== Line 40 == == Line 35 ==
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], March 2010.</div>
 <div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], 18 January 2010.</div>
== Line 42 == == Line 37 ==
category='Accessible Toilet,Bakeries,Chinese Food,Dim Sum,Ex-Oriental City,Homewares,Japanese Food,Korean Food,Step-Free Access'
 category='Bakeries,Chinese Food,Dim Sum,Ex-Oriental City,Homewares,Japanese Food,Korean Food'

Reasonably-sized East and South-East Asian shopping mall and food court in Wembley very near Wembley Stadium. It's very similar to (and is touted as the replacement for) the now-closed Oriental City, and the project is in fact the brainchild of a former Oriental City tenant.

The first tenants moved in just before the end of 2009, and the offical opening is slated for mid-February 2010. In addition to the businesses mentioned below, there are plans for a supermarket (fitted out and due to open early March 2010) photo), a herbal doctor, a bookshop, a clothes shop, and a martial arts hall offering classes and demonstrations.

As of mid-January 2010, there are three businesses trading on the ground floor:

  • Doki photo — this is the Japanese crockery shop that used to trade as Utsuwa-No-Yakata in Oriental City. It's open 10am-6:30pm Mon-Sun.
  • Tetote Factory photo — a Japanese bakery open 10am-7pm Mon and Wed-Sun. It also sells hot drinks, and although there's no seating in the shop, it's fine to take your purchases upstairs and eat them in the food court.
  • A beauty salon.

As of mid-February eight of the thirteen units in the food court are open for business (all but one of the others are rented but not yet fitted out):

  • Sawadee Thai — this will eventually have a Thai massage side, but only the food side is open as of yet.
  • Spicy Thai — Thai food!
  • NP Star Snack Bar photo — Japanese and Malaysian, specialising in crepes, fried things, takoyaki, and fruit skewers with chocolate dip.
  • China House — Chinese/roast meat/dim sum/rice/noodles/Sichuan place dim sum menu photo, roasted meats menu photo.
  • Hot Korean photo.
  • Shan photo, website — Japanese, previously Zen at Oriental City menu photo 1, menu photo 2.
  • Nambu photos — Japanese donburi (rice bowl) dishes.
  • Seleramu website, menu — Malaysian hawker food.

Kake tried the dim sum at the Chinese food court stall in January 2010. King prawn cheung fun (£3.80) was OK, though the wrappers were a little thick and the prawns a decent size but unremarkable in quality (and perhaps very slightly overcooked) photo. Pan-fried turnip cake (£2.60) was good, with decent, not-dried-out chunks of roast meat, obvious shreds of turnip, and a decent amount of browning on the outside photo. Siu mai (£2.50) were pretty good too, with large chunks of prawn to complement the pork, and a well-judged fat-to-meat ratio photo. Jasmine tea (80p) came in a 300ml polystyrene cup with the teabag still in.

Accessibility: Step-free to get in. There's a large car park just outside. There are steps up to the food court on the first floor, but there seems to also be a lift (Kake saw a sign for "customer lift" in January 2010 but didn't investigate further).

See also:

Getting here: It's about 5 minutes' walk from Wembley Park Station on the Jubilee Line. Come out of the exit signposted for Wembley Stadium, and at the bottom of the steps carry on through the underpass directly towards the stadium. Continue over one road and then turn left onto Engineer Way just under the ramps leading up to the stadium. Wembley Retail Park is a little way along on the left. Alternatively, buses 92 and P92 stop directly outside.
Last visited by Kake, 18 January 2010.

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