Eat your way around Oahu at some of the best places for shrimp

Many harvest moons ago, during my undergraduate studies, I spent a semester studying in Beijing. Ever since then, when I sip on jasmine tea – or even get a whiff of it – I’m taken back to those memorable days.

Some of my most powerful recollections are connected to the flavors and aromas of food, especially when it comes to travel memories. Slurping gazpacho transports me to Seville, the smell of roasting chestnuts takes me to a New York street corner and, when I savor some buttery garlic shrimp, it evokes my days exploring Oahu.

For visitors to Oahu, a trip to the North Shore is a must – not just to surf or explore the authentic Hawaiian village of Haleiwa – but to eat their way along what has become a shrimp truck trail. While some of the shrimp is now imported, the freshest crustaceans are locally-grown in aquaculture farms. A friend and I recently did some reconnaissance and found these 10 spots worth checking out.

Big Wave Shrimp

A tricked out truck with a cartoon surfing shrimp logo, Big Wave Shrimp is touted as one of the best shrimp trucks by The Food Network’s Guy Fieri for a reason. Located off the side of the main road out of Haleiwa, it was definitely our favorite, serving up some of the most lip-smacking shrimp dishes on the North Shore.

In addition to their garlic shrimp, the coconut shrimp and lemon pepper shrimp are particularly noteworthy. The fact that they come with a side of salad might make you feel better about trying them all.

Romy’s Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp

One of the biggest pulls to Romy’s is its farm-to-table operation. Grab a seat at their picnic area alongside the freshwater ponds where shrimp and prawns are cultivated before being harvested and served up with a couple of sides.

This guaranteed freshness clearly pulls in the crowds. In fact, many days, the wait for an order can be well over an hour due to call-in orders from large tour companies. In other words, arrive early.

Giovanni’s

Many people on the island will tell you that the shrimp phenomenon began with Giovanni’s – the first truck to gain notoriety in the mid '90s. Despite expansion and a change in ownership since then, they continue to draw a crowd and their classic garlic shrimp scampi does not disappoint. The lemon butter and hot & spicy are also worth a try.

Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp

If you're doing a shrimp crawl along Kamehameha Highway heading north toward Haleiwa, another hot spot is Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp, which also cultivates shrimp in its own freshwater ponds. Served with a side of steamed rice, kernel corn and pineapple, this spot is popular among tour companies – meaning it’s busy. Really, really busy.

Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck

Set among a collection of food trucks off Kamehameha Highway, prepare for oily fingers while peeling the shells off the buttery shrimp served from this classic, old truck where a rooster may be pacing at your feet. Personally, we preferred the hot shrimp over the garlic shrimp at this truck. On the upside, the lines and wait are much more manageable.

Honos Shrimp Truck

As the cars crawl along the main road in Haleiwa, you’ll spot a large parking lot where a variety of food trucks park and serve – including popular Hono’s. The shell-on shrimp is heavy on garlic and flavor. We liked that it was served with slaw – and that the lines were short.

Jenny’s Shrimp

This was one of the shrimp trucks recommended to us by Chef Michael Arnot from the Four Seasons Resort at Ko Olina who flagged it as not only good but a smaller operation, which we like to patronize. Located across the street from Big Wave and not far from Honos, Jenny’s butterflied garlic shrimp was also finger-licking good.

Bac Nam

For shrimp lovers seeking to avoid the lines at the trucks, Bac Nam is a Honolulu-based Vietnamese restaurant plating up piles of deep fried salt and pepper shrimp loaded with chili flakes, jalapeno and scallions. There are a number of other specialties also worth trying at this no-frills restaurant, from braised shrimp or prawns to shrimp summer rolls and crispy fried shrimp.

Halekulani Bakery and Restaurant

Grab a salad to go (and definitely try some of the stellar pastries too) at this bakery and café located inside the recently-opened Halepuna Hotel a few blocks from the beach in Waikiki. The Kauai shrimp salad with fresh greens and tomatoes is topped with whole shrimp (heads and eyeballs included), strips of tropical mango and mango vinaigrette. Call ahead as the pandemic has sporadically disrupted their hours.

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