$40 Pau Hana for 2: Tango Contemporary Café

‘Ahi poke, crab cakes, double smashed burgers with fries: Who doesn’t love an affordable, upscale happy hour?

July 11, 2024

Lynne Tsutsuki,

It’s always a bonus when a restaurant offers good deals on ‘onolicious food. Frolic’s $40 Pau Hana for 2 series scopes out the best happy hour deals where two average eaters can indulge and leave comfortably full.

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

Why have I not visited this place sooner? My friend has been telling me that Tango Contemporary Café has the best happy hour menu, so I decided to check it out. The upscale café has been serving its famous salmon gravlax and other breakfast, brunch and dinner fare for 16 years, but I had never dined there. What did I find?

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

Tango has a modern, inviting atmosphere with a clean and stylish design. The setting offers a casual yet refined dining experience. At lunch and dinner, there are burgers, salads with toppings like crispy duck or roasted salmon and entrées including a kurobuta tonkatsu and a mushroom risotto with garlic shrimp under $30. At happy hour, every single dish at Tango Café is $16 or less, alcoholic drinks are under $8 and there’s a 20% discount on selected wine bottles. The quality of the food is impeccable.

Spicy ‘Ahi, market price

ahi Poke stacked on rice at tango cafe happy hour

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

This is my absolute favorite. As a poke lover, I always order any poke dish I see on the menu. The market price note makes me a little nervous, but when I learn this poke is only $12 on this day, ordering it becomes the fastest decision I’ve ever made. I love the combination of ‘ahi, avocado, white rice and crispy wontons. The sauce drizzled on top is sweet and tangy, and the wontons add a great crunch. I would order another one in a heartbeat.

Crab Cakes, $12

Crab Cakes on a white plate with pea tendrils

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

Made with blue crab and shrimp and topped with spicy tobiko mayo, the crab cakes are grilled perfectly and moist inside. The flavors of the crab and shrimp come through, as does a tongue-tingling spiciness. As someone with a low spice tolerance, I give some of mine to my friend, who loves it. This is perfect for those who like seafood-forward, spicy flavors.

Double Smashed Burger & BBQ Fries, $16

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

Still feeling hungry, we order the double smashed burger and fries instead of the single ($10). Two beef patties, caramelized onion, lettuce, cheddar cheese, house-made ketchup and brioche buns: You can’t go wrong with burgers and some thick-cut, seasoned fries. Pickled vegetables on the side deliver a tangy kick. The buns are buttery and lightly grilled for a crispy texture. And the main items? The burger is juicy and full of flavor, and the barbecue fries, in which my friend and I detect hints of mild paprika, complete the meal perfectly.

You can make a reservation online and ask to sit outdoors if you’d like, although seating is limited. There’s also a three-course prix fixe early bird dinner that changes every month. It’s $42 from 4 to 6 p.m. and $49 after 6 p.m., and this month features coconut ginger fried chicken, scallops and succotash and an affogato. I will definitely be visiting more often.

Happy hour Monday to Friday 4 to 5:30 p.m., open other days and times for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, 1288 Ala Moana Blvd. #120, (808) 593-7288, tangocafehawaii.com, @tangocafehonolulu