I hadn't realized that Big Joy was gone so it was nice that dessert in some shape or form would at least still be offered at the Convoy Plaza strip mall...
MNGO is not a typo. That's exactly how they spell it. This new dessert cafe offers many types of drinks such as coffee, tea and cold brew (including variations that are mixed or with Nitro). Unfortunately their espresso machine was not working that day so that nixed affogato or any additional coffee drinks I may have wanted to try (to get that crappy Better Buzz drink's taste off my tongue). Most notably, their menu included a dessert none of us have ever tried before, Kakigori, a Japanese shaved ice dessert.
This was our selection for us four ladies. Only two of us had drinks - D's Thai tea (regular) and my Thai tea on Nitro. We selected two kakigori bowls, one with green tea and red beans and the other with mango. Both were garnished with fresh made whipped cream and flowers. Both came with a side of condensed milk with the mango having an extra container of mango sauce. Those side sauces were greatly needed since the ice itself didn't have much flavor.
Here's the whole spread:
I chose the charcoal egg waffle with fresh fruit and cream. It came with a side of ice cream (the choices were vanilla, mango and coconut; I selected the last choice).
This dessert was very striking, using an egg waffle folded in half and filled with fresh fruits. The waffle did not taste like charcoal, thank goodness. It was not easy to cut either. The egg waffle shell was kind of on the harder side. Other than how interesting this looked, we weren't really impressed by this.
D chose the OMG (Oh My ManGo) - This dessert turned out to be the hands down favorite because it was like having four desserts in one. You have the namesake mango, with a mango half scored and made convex, mango pudding, coconut ice cream and purple sticky rice. Winner, this one was.
The kakigori desserts were very pretty but the ice texture was on the "drier" side. The ice was also much much finer than, let's say, the shaved ice you get at carnivals. It was like snow, but needed the sauces to soften them up and add flavor.
Fresh flowers and green tea powder decorated this dessert:
The ice texture is so very fine and delicate...
I liked the mango kakigori better since there were two sauces.
The layout of MNGO Cafe is so different from its predecessor. The space looks much bigger and open. As you walk in, there are small two top tables on the right commandeered by folks on their laptops. In the middle of the space is a big square block, currently with a Christmas tree on top of it, surrounded by bar height stools. It seems to me, a waste of empty space (you can see a photo of that via Kirbie's post linked at the end). The seating on the left is a mixture of banquettes with four top tables. Along the front window is more seating as well. It just seems so awkward to have a big block right in the middle.
Our verdict, we loved how pretty our desserts looked but liked the most simple one the best (the mango and sticky rice). Our drinks were okay. I only had a few sips of my Thai tea on Nitro and ended up leaving it by mistake in D's car. I'll meed to come back to try it again as well as their other unique drinks
Who else went to MNGO Dessert & Coffee Bar?
Hot off the press is Kirbie's recent visit during their soft opening.
MNGO Dessert & Coffee Bar
4176 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
www.mngocafe.com + reviews from you know where
A return visit is im order so we can try their other drinks and dessert on their menu, hopefully with TC and Bert.
Another fun day spent with my dear friends. This is a traditional we have been doing since the early 2000's.
Here's our day in order:
"Royale visits..."
"KD's Birthday Crawl: Stops 1, 3 & 4 - Cafe Virtuoso, Better Buzz + appetizers at Phuong Trang"
and this last post! See, I'm learning to consolidate!
KD's birthday 2017:
"Modern Times Cafe + a massive downour" - Where we had a cold brew flight and then some!
"Stops 2, 3, & 4 - Brunch @ Et Voila French Bistro, Coffee @ Hawthorn and dessert at Black Market Bakery" - Fun time with great gals at three businesses within walking distance
KD's birthday 2016:
"KD's birthday brunch @ Ocean Pacific Grille" (sadly, this restaurant helmed by a Filipino American Executive Chef closed as of late 2016)
"We'll take the whole menu please...drinks @ Mostra Coffee + desserts at Champagne French Bakery" - another Filipino American owned coffee place + a great bakery nearby - The new brick and mortar Mostra is scheduled to open on Saturday, January 20th.
"Return to the Cravory & Embargo Grill" - cookies & Cuban food!
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