Dinkytown to get first Minnesota location of Asian dessert chain

Nov 22, 2019, 6:04am CST

Google Mango Mango Desserts, a chain of Asian-style sweet shops founded in New York City's Chinatown, will open its first Minnesota location in Dinkytown. It's replacing Oishii Poke in the storefront that was for six decades home to Vescio's Italian Restaurant. A Dinkytown commercial space will be trading one Asian restaurant concept for another making its Minnesota debut. Mango Mango Desserts, a Hong Kong-style sweet soup franchise, is expected to replace Oishii Poke at 406 14th Ave. SE around Jan. 1. The poke restaurant operated for about a year in a storefront it shares with the Dinkytown location of Bonchon, the Korean fried chicken chain that entered the Minnesota market in 2018. Mango Mango Desserts did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company’s website notes the chain was founded in New York City's Chinatown in 2013. It specializes in Asian desserts, many of which feature mango prominently. Items on the menu feature fresh fruit, ice cream and jellies in various combinations. The chain also serves sweet soups in flavors that include black sesame, peanut and almond, as well as waffles, pancakes and pastries. The website lists 24 U.S. locations and one restaurant in Canada. The details of the deal were confirmed by Marshall Nguyen, vice president of Caspian Group, a real estate firm based in Edina. Nguyen said he served as an advisor to Sam Zheng, the local franchisee behind Mango Mango Desserts and Bonchon Dinkytown. The restaurants will share the 14th Avenue Southeast space that was home to Vescio's Italian Restaurant for roughly 60 years. That family- run business closed in 2018.