Two new cafes opened near campus this summer: Half a While and Mango Mango. Both specialize in Asian desserts, giving students new options for an after-school treat. They join a number of similar shops in the area, including Yi’s Boba, Mr. Wish, Maido, and Tous les Jours—a French-style bakery chain with Asian roots.
Half a While opened in late July, replacing the Kung Fu Tea by Suburban Square. It is owned by a local husband-and-wife team, Leo Wei and Haley He, and it has a cozy, modern feel. Like Tous les Jours, it serves Asian-inspired pastries and drinks, but it sets itself apart with a low-sugar approach. Its products have half the sugar of their usual versions, thus giving the cafe its name.
The pastries at Half a While are well made, but the bubble tea leaves much to be desired. It is not as good as the boba at nearby shops like Mr. Wish or Yi’s Boba. If you go, I would recommend ordering a different drink.
The Quality of Mango Mango is high, and it’s worth a visit
kent Foo ’28
Mango Mango, which also opened in late July at Ardmore Plaza on Greenfield Avenue, is extremely close to campus. As the name suggests, it focuses primarily on mango desserts, but the menu also includes tiramisu, crepe cakes, smoothies, and bubble tea. The store has a modern look and plenty of seating options for customers who wish to dine in.
So far, I have enjoyed everything I’ve tried, but my favorites are the mango coconut smoothie and the mango coconut sago. Sago is a dish made with chewy pearls similar to tapioca, only much smaller. Both have a sweet, refreshing mango flavor balanced out by the coconut. Overall, the quality at Mango Mango is high, and it’s worth a visit.
Together, the two shops give students a place to try Asian desserts beyond bubble tea. They also add to the growing number of Asian restaurants on the Main Line, which includes recent openings like Ogyu and Dim Sum Factory. With so much competition in the area, though, it’s hard to say how long every shop will last.
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