Tango’s $40 Three-Course Dinner Is an Early Bird’s Dream

Photo: Maddy Chow

Tango Contemporary Cafe’s early bird dinner is an unmatched three-course prix fixe at just $40. The January menu’s burrata starter, scallops and dessert combine a level of delicacy with delicious flavors. Each dish is plated with intricate attention to detail, making for a treat that doesn’t break the bank.

Given the special is from 4 to 6 p.m. (it’s $46 after 6), it’s easy to get a reservation. The menu changes every month, with slightly smaller portions than Tango’s regular size dishes, which would cost $62. When my editor told me about December’s smoked salmon, lamb chops and bread pudding—all of which she liked—I put Tango on my calendar to try when I came back from winter break.

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Photo: Maddy Chow

Dinner starts with scoops of burrata on top of Tango’s Asian pesto. A sweet soy drizzle, olive oil, cherry tomatoes and microgreens cap off the dish. The creamy burrata melts right when you put it in your mouth, and its mild taste goes well with the nutty pesto and tomatoes. The soy drizzle surprises me—its extra level of flavor creates a contrast that highlights the cheese. I scarf this dish in minutes, using the slice of toasted focaccia to scrape up every last drop.

Photo: Maddy Chow

My favorite of the three courses, the scallops are enormous. Tango plates them on melted parmesan that is rich, salty and wonderful with the charred potato and leeks. All of this is topped with a tobiko butter sauce and pieces of orange and grapefruit. The scallops are sweet and tender and unctuous with the parmesan and tobiko butter. I love the seared flavors of both the scallops and vegetables, and how notes of citrus cleanse the palate between bites.

Photo: Maddy Chow

Panna cotta, rich and creamy, is like a more solid version of pudding. The dessert has a colorful array of fresh berries and a tangy liliko‘i sauce that adds a tropical touch, so each bite carries balancing notes of tartness and fruity freshness. It’s a delightful, pretty symphony of textures and tastes.

I am pretty full after this indulgent dinner and my editor was after hers, but if you’re used to larger meals, you may not be. Parking is in the same building and free with validation. I parked across the street at South Shore Market so I could get some shopping done before sitting down to this treat.

Early bird prix fixe is available for $40 Monday to Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.; the restaurant is also open for breakfast, lunch, regular dinner and weekend brunch. 1288 Ala Moana Blvd. #120, (808) 593-7288, tangohawaii.com, @tangocafehonolulu