The Best Brunchy Bites at Tangö Contemporary Café
Saucy Braised Beef Loco Mocos, Petite Swedish Pancakes and House-cured Gravlax Hash skillets are just a few of the Best Bites.
When a restaurant is recognized consistently each year for its breakfast, brunch and business lunch, there’s a solid formula at play. Tangö Contemporary Café has been perfecting that formula for 18 years and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. With Scandinavian classics like Swedish pancakes with berries and fresh cream to braised beef loco mocos and hashes tuned for local palates, Tangö appeals to many with a central location to boot. It appears on our Hale ‘Aina Awards list three times for 2025, so we thought it would be a good idea to check out a few of the Best Bites Tango has to offer.
Start with the Crab Hash Benedict, which does not skimp on the blue crab claw meat. It’s a filling 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.
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You’ll find a similar alternative in the Gravlax Hash, served sizzling in a cast iron skillet and topped with house cured salmon gravlax, a mild Nordic delicacy with a hint of dill. With no detectable fishiness, you can really enjoy the delicate salmon flavor in this dish with crispy potatoes, peppers and onions with two eggs sunny side up.
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We tuck into the Braised Beef Loco Moco for its comforting layers of warmth and umami. The luscious beef, fried rice soaked with jus, crispy onions and even more local eggs make for a perfect bite.
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To freshen things up, we look to the massive cobb salad, big enough for the table to share. It’s a classic, down to the grilled chicken and blue cheese, but Tango just does it right with a rainbow of ingredients you mix to your heart’s desire with blue cheese dressing.
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For Tango’s regulars, it and mushroom risotto are synonyms. The texture is difficult to nail, but like their business formula, the kitchen has been perfecting it for years. We chose to add shrimp, and they too are the ideal texture. If there’s one dish that brings us back time and time again, it’s this.
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And finally, because it wouldn’t be Tango without that subtle hint of Nordic roots, the Plättar, Swedish miniature pancakes, are an automatic order when we’re here. Their mochi-like texture and manageable size won’t leave you too full to enjoy everything else on the table. Consider it your Swede treat of the day.
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Tango does not need to fix what isn’t broken as they continue to satisfy regulars with iconic dishes and classics that never fade. And we’ll keep coming back for the Best Bites they have to offer.
