Several years ago Modesto buddies Larry Rivera and Andy Lopez were working in health care and construction, respectively, but looking to team up on a business. What started out as an ice cream shop in 2014 soon evolved into a fast-casual restaurant serving both sweet and savory treats.
Since then, their Mango Crazy concept has expanded from one location to a dozen, with the two most recent opening in Campbell and South San Jose. A number opened during the pandemic year. And two more, in Visalia and Turlock, are coming soon.
“It’s Mexican street food brought to mainstream America,” Rivera says. “We developed our menu with much customer feedback — we catered to their taste buds. For example, the mangonada has been around for quite some time, but our twist makes the difference. Our ceviche changed a few times until we felt it was perfect.”
The menu centers on fresh mango, which they source from California farmers or mango farms across South America. The bestselling Mangonada combines diced mango and mango nectar with their twist — mango sorbet made in-house with fresh mango — plus house-made hot sauce, swirls of apricot-chile chamoy sauce and a sprinkling of Tajin chile-lime seasoning.
There are also fruit cups, banana splits, milkshakes, smoothies and fruit-filled pineapple shells.
On the savory side the top seller is Shrimp Ceviche, made fresh daily in-house and served as a main or a side dish. Other savories on the menu include Churroslokos, a spicy concoction of churros, cucumber, jicama, pork rinds, peanuts, clamato, lime, hot sauce, chamoy, tajin; the Flat Chicharron, topped with pork rinds, cabbage, tomato, cucumber and cotija cheese; and Elote Corn served in a cup or with chips.
A number of the Mango Crazy eateries have opened in former Rita’s Ice locations. “The Rita’s franchises were available for purchase and it fits our concept,” Rivera says. “It was an easy decision for us to accumulate as many as possible while the deals were present.”
Next up for the duo is more NorCal locations and the possibility of an out-of-state expansion.
Details: Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at both South Bay locations, 475 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell, and 5892 Santa Teresa Blvd., San Jose. www.mangocrazy.com
