Pacific Mall is not in Toronto. It sits at 4300 Steeles Avenue East in Markham, directly north of the city line. It is still one of the most distinct shopping trips in the Toronto area.
Our verdict: go for Heritage Town food, hobby stores and the strange pleasure of browsing hundreds of tiny independent counters. Chigun Hobbies is the best first stop for anime and model fans. Jennie's is our first food stop. The Best Shop is the easy alternative when you want broad Asian household goods without searching every aisle.
Skip Pacific Mall if you expect a polished luxury mall or the bargain electronics maze of the early 2000s. Phone accessories, beauty shops, bubble tea and claw machines now take a lot of space. The mall is still interesting, but nostalgia makes people describe a version that no longer exists.
The quick plan
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is Pacific Mall? | 4300 Steeles Avenue East in Markham, beside Milliken GO Station |
| What are the posted hours? | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, 365 days a year |
| Best time to go | Weekday lunch or early afternoon |
| Best reason to visit | Heritage Town food plus independent hobby and gift stores |
| Best food first stop | Jennie's for Chinese crepes, then choose one savoury snack |
| Best anime and model stop | Chigun Hobbies |
| Best broad store | The Best Shop |
| Main disappointment | Too many repeating phone, beauty, drink and claw-machine concepts |
| How long to allow | Two to four hours, longer if you eat and compare shops carefully |
Do not start on the main floor
Go upstairs to Heritage Town first. It is designed like a traditional market and holds roughly 100 merchandise and prepared-food counters according to the mall. This is where Pacific Mall feels least like an ordinary suburban shopping centre.
Eat one savoury item and one sweet item before you begin the full browse. Food counters can sell out, and deciding after two hours of walking is harder.
Then use the mall directory by store number. The grid is confusing until you stop treating every aisle as a normal mall corridor.
How we scored the Pacific Mall stops
Each score measures how useful and distinctive the stop is on a Pacific Mall visit. It is not a copy of its Google rating. We weigh food or shopping quality, value, consistency, review depth and whether the stop gives you something better than a generic mall chain. Google review patterns and local discussion were checked on September 2, 2026. A low-review counter is scored cautiously even when the idea sounds good.
25 Pacific Mall stops worth checking
These businesses appeared in the official Pacific Mall directory when checked on September 1, 2026. Counters change faster than chain stores, so confirm the live directory before a long trip.
This map shows an approximate area. Open the full map.
1. Jennie's, N20 and N23
Our rating: 8.4/10
Pros: A specific Chinese crepe snack that suits Heritage Town grazing.
Cons: The counter has little independent review history, so consistency is harder to judge.
Jennie's sells Chinese-style crepes and is our best first food stop. A hot, crisp-edged jianbing-style snack gives Pacific Mall a stronger identity than another chain bubble tea.
Go early enough that you can eat without rushing. Choose this over a generic drink as your first purchase.
2. Dumpling House, M22
Our rating: 8.2/10
Pros: Filling, shareable and better value than building lunch from fried snacks.
Cons: There is little current review evidence for this exact counter.
Dumpling House is the sensible second stop when you want a filling savoury item. It is more useful than buying five separate fried snacks and calling that lunch.
Choose dumplings for value and comfort. Share if you plan to keep eating.
3. Shanghai Shaomai, E-217 and E-218
Our rating: 8.2/10
Pros: A focused regional snack instead of an unfocused everything menu.
Cons: It is a small stop with limited independent review evidence.
This Heritage Town counter focuses on Shanghai-style shaomai. It earns a place because it offers a specific food, not an everything menu.
Choose it when you want a smaller snack with real regional identity.
4. Brother Fried Skewers, M15 and M16
Our rating: 8.0/10
Pros: Fun, salty and easy for a group to share.
Cons: Greasy food adds up quickly, and the exact stall has little review history.
Fried skewers are fun, salty and easy to share. They are also the quickest way to feel tired before you have explored the mall.
Choose one or two. Do not order the whole display unless a group is sharing.
5. Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken, F1
Our rating: 6.2/10
Pros: Huge portions and a clear, familiar fried-chicken format.
Cons: The local review pattern is weak on consistency, and one order can end a food crawl.
The oversized fried chicken format is dramatic and filling. It is not the most distinctive Pacific Mall choice, but it delivers exactly what the name promises.
Choose it for a group or a serious appetite. Skip it if you want to sample four counters.
6. Prairie Lamb Kabob, P1
Our rating: 6.8/10
Pros: Strong seasoning and a compact savoury break from sweets.
Cons: Feedback is mixed, and some diners will find the lamb or spice inconsistent.
Lamb skewers add a different savoury option to the Heritage Town mix. Strong seasoning can cut through a day of sweet drinks and fried batter.
Choose it as a compact savoury snack. Ask about spice rather than assuming.
7. Fish Ball Place, N22 and N26
Our rating: 7.8/10
Pros: A classic Hong Kong-style snack with a clear reason to be here.
Cons: The bouncy texture is divisive and the review sample is modest.
Fish balls are a classic Hong Kong-style snack and make more sense here than a generic food-court burger.
Choose it if you like bouncy texture and savoury broth or sauce. Skip it if that texture bothers you.
8. Pancake Memo, E-219
Our rating: 6.6/10
Pros: Large Chinese-style crepes that can be filling for the price.
Cons: Current feedback is inconsistent, and Jennie's is the safer first crepe choice.
Pancake Memo is another Chinese-style crepe option. Its value is comparison, but do not buy the same dish at every counter unless that is the point of your trip.
Choose either this or Jennie's first, then spend the rest of your appetite elsewhere.
9. QQ Noodle King, E-220
Our rating: 8.2/10
Pros: Well-liked beef and dry noodles that turn grazing into a proper meal.
Cons: A full bowl leaves less room for the small snacks that make the mall fun.
Noodles are the better choice when snack grazing has stopped being a meal. A bowl also gives you a break from walking.
Choose it for a proper lunch. Save fried snacks for sharing.
10. Love Spicy Very Hot, E-237
Our rating: 7.5/10
Pros: Custom ingredients and serious heat for diners who understand malatang.
Cons: The format and spice can confuse a first-timer, and independent review evidence is thin.
The directory identifies this as a malatang-style spicy option. It suits people who want customizable ingredients and heat.
Choose it only if everyone in the group understands the ordering format and spice. This is not the safe meal for a picky child.
11. SEN Vietnamese Cuisine, P88
Our rating: 8.7/10
Pros: Strong pho feedback, a calmer table and a wider menu than the counters.
Cons: It takes longer and feels less like a quick Heritage Town crawl.
SEN gives the mall a sit-down Vietnamese option outside the smallest Heritage Town counters. It is useful when the group wants a calmer meal.
Choose it for a proper table and broader menu. It will take more time than a snack counter.
12. Go Curry, F2B
Our rating: 5.8/10
Pros: Simple Japanese curry is filling and easy to order.
Cons: The current review pattern is poor, so this is a backup rather than a recommendation.
Go Curry provides a Japanese curry option in the Heritage Town food area. It is filling and easy to understand for a first-time visitor.
Choose it when you want comfort food and no ordering puzzle.
13. Yummy Ramen, F6
Our rating: 6.3/10
Pros: Convenient hot noodles while you are already shopping.
Cons: The review sample is tiny and Toronto has far stronger ramen destinations.
Yummy Ramen is one of several Japanese food listings. Ramen can be satisfying, but Pacific Mall is not our first Toronto-area destination for a serious ramen crawl.
Choose it for convenience while shopping. Do not travel from downtown for this counter alone.
14. TYCOON TOFU, D-236
Our rating: 9.0/10
Pros: Excellent tofu pudding and pandan feedback, plus a lighter break from fried food.
Cons: The focused dessert menu will not replace lunch.
Tofu drinks and desserts give a lighter break from fried food. This is the kind of small counter that keeps Heritage Town interesting.
Choose it when another giant bubble tea feels excessive.
15. Tung Tung Dan Quen King, N6 and N8
Our rating: 5.2/10
Pros: Portable egg rolls can work as a take-home snack.
Cons: The current review pattern is very weak, especially for value and freshness.
Egg rolls are portable, crisp and easy to take home. They also make a better edible souvenir than a drink you must finish immediately.
Choose a packaged item for the ride home and check freshness and storage advice.
16. Uncle Tetsu, P328
Our rating: 8.1/10
Pros: Dependable Japanese cheesecake, easy gifting and a large review base.
Cons: It is a chain found elsewhere and not a discovery worth crossing the city for.
The Japanese cheesecake chain is consistent and giftable. It is no longer a secret and not unique to Pacific Mall.
Choose it when you need an easy crowd-pleaser. Skip it if your goal is food you cannot find downtown.
17. Ding Dong Exotic Sweets, F27 and F29
Our rating: 7.0/10
Pros: Fun imported candy selection and an easy stop with children.
Cons: Novelty pricing is high, and colourful packaging does not guarantee a good snack.
Imported and unusual sweets are fun to browse, especially with children or visitors. A colourful package is not proof the snack is good value.
Choose two unfamiliar items, not a bag full of expensive novelty packaging.
18. Chigun Hobbies, A2-203 and C1-205
Our rating: 7.0/10
Pros: Deep model and hobby browsing with stock that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Cons: Feedback is mixed, and expensive collectibles need price and authenticity checks.
This is our top non-food stop. The official directory places Chigun in Heritage Town and identifies the mall's hobby and gift category around models and collectibles.
Choose it for anime, model and collectible browsing. Compare prices on a costly figure before buying because counter rarity claims can be hard to judge.
19. Limit Break Collectibles, B01A
Our rating: 8.0/10
Pros: Friendly service and a clean comparison stop for collectibles.
Cons: The selection and review sample are both smaller than the big names.
Limit Break is another current collectible stop on the main floor. It is useful for comparing stock with Heritage Town rather than buying at the first display.
Choose it after Chigun. Comparison is part of the Pacific Mall experience.
20. BoxxDesu, C1-231
Our rating: 8.8/10
Pros: Excellent early feedback for cards, blind boxes and small gifts.
Cons: The perfect rating rests on a small sample, so do not treat it as settled.
BoxxDesu appears in the official gift-shop and Heritage Town listings. The name and category point toward Japanese-style gifts and collectible products.
Choose it for browsing small gifts. Verify authenticity and condition on high-priced pieces.
21. Auto & Blind Box, B15
Our rating: 7.5/10
Pros: A fun sealed-box stop when the surprise is the point.
Cons: Duplicates and chase purchases make this poor value fast.
Blind boxes are fun when you accept that you may not get the character you want. They are poor value when you keep buying duplicates to chase one figure.
Choose one sealed box for the surprise. Buy an opened verified figure when the exact character matters.
22. J's Curiosity Shop, A1-222
Our rating: 7.4/10
Pros: Unpredictable browsing and the kind of odd stock Heritage Town should have.
Cons: There is little reliable review evidence and no guaranteed bargain.
This Heritage Town shop is the right kind of place to browse without a shopping list. Its value is the unexpected object, not a guaranteed bargain.
Choose it for slow looking. Photograph the store number if you want to return later.
23. The Best Shop, F88A
Our rating: 7.3/10
Pros: Huge range of stationery, decor and small electronics.
Cons: Quality and prices vary, and the current review pattern is only average.
The Best Shop is our easiest broad retail choice for Asian household goods, snacks, small electronics and everyday discoveries. It reduces the need to compare 20 tiny counters for a basic item.
Choose it for range and clear browsing. Independent counters can still beat it on unusual products.
24. Ichiban Living, P36
Our rating: 8.2/10
Pros: Organized Japanese household goods and strong feedback for small practical finds.
Cons: Some items cost more than similar discount-store stock.
Ichiban Living is another general lifestyle and household stop. It fits a practical shopping trip better than a nostalgia tour.
Choose it for small home goods and daily-use products. Compare quality because low price can mean short life.
25. Life 4 Cuts, M6
Our rating: 8.0/10
Pros: A quick Korean-style photo souvenir that works well with friends.
Cons: The review sample is tiny, and the value drops if the booth is busy or rushed.
The Korean-style photo booth gives a group something to do that is not eating or buying another phone case. It also produces a better keepsake than a blurry mall selfie.
Choose it near the end when everyone is together. Check the booth format and payment before lining up.
What happened to the old Pacific Mall?
People remember imported CDs, DVDs, video games, anime goods and electronics counters that felt hard to find elsewhere. Streaming, online shopping and larger Asian retailers removed some of that scarcity.
The official directory now lists no DVD stores, one video-game store, more than 40 cell-phone accessory businesses and 20 cell-phone repair listings. Beauty, nails, bubble tea and gift categories are large.
That shift is real. It does not mean the mall is dead. It means the strongest reason to visit has moved from forbidden-feeling electronics to food, beauty, collectibles and small independent retail.
Is Pacific Mall still good for anime?
Yes, but do not expect every aisle to be Akihabara. Start with Chigun Hobbies, Limit Break Collectibles, BoxxDesu and the gift counters in Heritage Town.
Check figure boxes for seals, damage and manufacturer markings. Ask whether an item is new, used or a prize figure. Compare expensive items online before paying.
Our verdict: worth the trip for a fan who also wants food. Too weak as a four-hour trip for one common figure.
Is the food actually good?
The food is the best reason to go, but the mall is not one restaurant. Some counters are excellent at one thing. Others are ordinary.
Do not judge Pacific Mall through one stale snack or the safest chain order. Choose specific counters with short menus, visible turnover and a line that moves.
Our three-stop meal is Jennie's, one savoury choice such as Dumpling House or Fish Ball Place, then tofu dessert or an egg roll to take home.
Getting there without a car
Milliken GO Station sits beside the mall. Check the current Stouffville line schedule because off-peak gaps can be long.
TTC routes reach the Steeles area, but the exact trip depends on your starting point and current service. Use the TTC trip planner on the day. Crossing from Toronto into York Region can affect the transit agency and fare path.
The GO option is fastest when its schedule matches your day. The bus option is more flexible but slower.
Driving and parking
Pacific Mall has surface and underground parking. Weekend lots can become frustrating, especially around holidays and meal times.
Arrive before noon on a weekend or go on a weekday. Do not circle the closest row for 20 minutes. Park farther out and walk.
The mall advises people needing accessible, maternity or elderly assistance to use north or underground parking for access.
Cash, cards and receipts
Payment methods can differ at independent counters. Bring a card and a small amount of cash. Use an ATM only after checking fees.
Ask for a receipt on electronics, jewellery, repair work and expensive collectibles. Confirm return or exchange terms before paying. A verbal promise in a crowded aisle is weak protection.
Phone repair and accessories
Pacific Mall has real competition in this category, which can help price. It can also make shops look interchangeable.
For a repair, ask for the exact replacement part, warranty, data risk, total price and repair time in writing. Back up the phone first. Remove sensitive financial access when practical.
Choose a shop with clear terms and stable identity. Do not choose solely because someone calls out the lowest number as you walk by.
Accessibility and sensory load
Main routes and elevators make much of the mall reachable, but small counters can be tight. Weekend crowds, bright signs, music and food smells create heavy sensory load.
Go on a weekday near opening for more space. Use north or underground accessible parking as the mall suggests. Call ahead when a specific counter or washroom route matters.
A two-hour route
- Enter and go directly to Heritage Town.
- Order at Jennie's.
- Browse Chigun Hobbies and J's Curiosity Shop.
- Add one savoury snack or lunch bowl.
- Walk the main floor collectible and gift stores.
- Finish at The Best Shop.
- Pick up one dessert for home.
This route keeps the visit focused. Wandering every phone aisle first is how people leave saying Pacific Mall is boring.
Keep exploring Toronto
- Toronto stores for manga, anime goods and Japanese stationery
- Where to find bubble tea in Toronto
- The best walkable GO Train trips beyond Union
Official pages to check
Prices, rules, hours and project details can change. Check these primary pages before you spend money or make a special trip:
- Pacific Mall directory
- Pacific Mall store map
- Pacific Mall food and drink
- Pacific Mall Heritage Town
Frequently asked questions
Is Pacific Mall in Toronto?
No. It is at 4300 Steeles Avenue East in Markham, just north of Toronto. It remains easy to reach from parts of Scarborough and North York.
What are Pacific Mall's hours?
The mall posts 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and says it opens 365 days a year. Individual shops and restaurants may keep different hours.
What is the best food at Pacific Mall?
Start with Jennie's for a Chinese-style crepe. Add Dumpling House, Fish Ball Place or Shanghai Shaomai, then choose a tofu or egg-roll dessert.
Is Pacific Mall worth visiting for anime?
Yes if you combine hobby shops with food and general browsing. Chigun Hobbies is our first stop. It is not worth a cross-city trip for one common figure.
How do I reach Pacific Mall by transit?
Milliken GO Station is beside the mall. TTC buses also reach the Steeles area. Check current GO and TTC schedules because frequency and connections change.
Is Pacific Mall cheap?
Some food and small goods can be good value. Collectibles, electronics and imported products are not automatically cheap. Compare higher-priced items before buying.
What is Heritage Town?
It is the second-floor market-style area with about 100 merchandise and prepared-food counters. It is the part most first-time visitors should see first.
When is Pacific Mall least crowded?
A weekday near opening or lunch is usually easier than a weekend afternoon. Holiday periods can be much busier.