WWhen a restaurant is consistently recognized every year for its breakfast, brunch and business lunch, there is a solid formula at play. Tangö Contemporary Café has been perfecting this formula for 18 years and shows no signs of stopping. With Scandinavian classics like Swedish pancakes with berries and fresh cream, braised beef snot and hash tweaked for local palates, Tangö appeals to many with a central location. It appears on our Hale ‘Aina Awards list three times for 2025, so we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some of the best bites Tango has to offer.
Start with the Crab Hash Benedict, which doesn’t skimp on the blue crab claw meat. It’s a satisfying start to the day, but it won’t weigh you down. We love the buttery richness in every bite that makes this savory dish a must.
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
You’ll find a similar alternative to the Gravlax Hash, served in a cast iron skillet and topped with house-cured salmon gravlax, a mild Nordic delicacy with a hint of dill. Without any detectable fish, you can really enjoy the delicate flavor of salmon in this dish with crispy potatoes, peppers and onions with two sunny side up eggs.
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
We dig the Braised Beef Loco Moco for its comforting layers of warmth and umami. Delicious beef, juicy fried rice, crispy onions and even more local eggs make for a perfect bite.
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
To freshen things up, we check out the huge cobb salad, big enough to share at the table. It’s a classic, right down to the grilled chicken and blue cheese, but Tango does it right with a rainbow of ingredients that you mix to your heart’s content with blue cheese dressing.
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
For Tango regulars, it and mushroom risotto are synonymous. The texture is hard to nail down, but like its business formula, the kitchen has been perfecting it for years. We chose to add prawns, and they are also the ideal texture. If there’s one dish that keeps us coming back again and again, it’s this one.
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
And finally, because it wouldn’t be Tango without that subtle touch of Nordic roots, Plättar, miniature Swedish pancakes, are an automatic order when we’re here. Its mochi-like texture and manageable size won’t leave you too full to enjoy everything else on the table. Consider it yours swedish deal of the day
Photo: HONOLULU Magazine Partner Content Team
Tango doesn’t need to fix what isn’t broken, as it continues to satisfy regular customers with iconic, classic dishes that never fade. And we’ll keep coming back for the best bites they have to offer.
