7 Great Mango Treats to Celebrate Summer
It’s the best season of the year: mango season.
If a mango is hanging over the fence, it’s fair game. (If YOUR hand is over the fence, that's a fruit foul.) For those without a place to pick, we’ve scouted the best ways to enjoy mango season from Kaimukī to the North Shore; from salads to sashimi.
Hale‘iwa Sunset Sorbetto
IL GELATO
Photo: Taylor Ellis
The owners of Il Gelato encourage teams at their individual locations to experiment with signature concoctions that show their character. Apparently their northernmost outpost has taken inspiration from Hale‘iwa’s picturesque sunsets and combined mango and dragon fruit into the sweet/tangy Hale‘iwa Sunset Sorbetto ($5.25 with waffle cone, because treat yourself). It’s exclusive, and basically available when it’s available, so be on the lookout.
66-250 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, (808) 637-7100, ilgelato-hawaii.com
Mango Salad
Bangkok Chef
Photo: Taylor Ellis
Whatever your expectations are, they will be subverted by one of the most creative “salads” since the taco salad. Bangkok Chef takes the popular papaya salad recipe, swaps in explosively flavorful shredded mango and adds pickled red onions for a sweet and tangy salad ($10.95) that’ll prime you for the main course.
Multiple locations, bangkokchefexpress.com
Mangover Cup
BANÀN
Photo: Taylor Ellis
Get a head start on your daily recommended fruit intake with a who’s who of local tropical fruit in Banàn’s delectable smoothie cup ($7): coconut, Sugarland Farms bananas, pineapples from Maui Pineapple and, of course, fresh mango. It’s all topped with dairy-free nicecream, but is only at the University location for a limited time.
1810 University Ave. (808) 517-3072, bananbowls.com
Maui Wowie Sashimi
Banzai Sushi
Photo: Courtesy of Banzai Sushi
Sitting on the floor pillows of Banzai Sushi’s open porch deck, you can listen to the sounds of sleepy Hale‘iwa as you settle down for a round of Maui Wowie Sashimi ($26). The ingredients read like our fantasy grocery list: Hawaiian sashimi-grade ‘ahi, avocado, mango, shiso leaf and micro greens wrapped in yuba paper and served with a su shoyu vinegar, imported straight from Japan by head chef Hide Takahashi.
66-246 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, banzaisushibarhawaii.com/banzai-health
Li Hing Mango Kouign Amann
B. PATISSERIE AT KONA COFFEE PURVEYORS
PHOTO: TAYLOR ELLIS
San Francisco-based b. patisserie nails it again, with a perfectly made, flaky pastry that’s bursting with buttery and sugary goodness. Its caramelized layers on the outside form a crispy shell to the soft, fluffy and doughy insides, wherein sits just a dollop of jammy mango filling. While li hing’s sour-meets-sweet-meets-salty flavor doesn’t really come through on this guy, we’ve got no complaints: It’s still the perfect summertime morning coffee pairing.
International Market Place, (808) 450-2364, konacoffeepurveyors.com
Deep-Fried Brussels Sprouts Salad
12th Ave Grill
Looking for mango like you’ve never seen it before? Hit up 12th Ave Grill for a savory reprieve from all those refreshing ice creams and chilled mousses. The Kaimukī eatery combines dried mango with deep-fried Brussels sprouts in a salad packing house-made white cheddar and pancetta ($13.50). Then, it’s finished with toasted mac nuts and white balsamic vinaigrette. This ain’t your mama’s mango dish.
1120 12th Ave., (808) 732-9469, 12thavegrill.com
Tropical Fromage
La Palme D’or Patisserie
Photo: Taylor Ellis
It’s hard to tell where the liliko‘i flavor ends and mango begins, but the combination works perfectly. The light sweetness of the mango mousse sits atop the dense sourness of the coconut cheesecake/shortcake combo, demanding an inclusive cross-sectional sample with every bite of Tropical Fromage ($5).
Ala Moana Center, (808) 941-6161, lapalmedorhawaii.com
