Have you ever eaten out of the back of a shrimp truck in Hawaii? No! Wow, you have been missing out! Living on the North Shore of Oahu within a few miles of some shrimp aquaculture farms, the shrimp are big and plentiful.
There is an ongoing battle between the North Shore Shrimp Trucks. No kidding! Some of them are stationary, and some move from place to place. Why not? They are trucks! Locals like to go from truck to truck to find the best shrimp.
We live just about an hours drive away from the big city of Honolulu. In fact, we are out in the country. Plenty beach, plenty ocean, and plenty shrimp out our way. The shrimp are raised between the main road and the ocean.
The prawns are harvested daily from these ponds and cooked up fresh for the visitors and locals. Some of the shrimp trucks have been around for more than 15 years. They usually have graffiti on the outside generously contributed by many customers and fans. If you get a chance to peak inside, the insides are clean and well kept.
You can walk up to the window of the truck and make your order. Shrimp is usually served with two scoops of rice, optional macaroni salad, green salad, pineapple slices, or a lemon slice sometimes on a bed of shredded cabbage.
You can have your shrimp with garlic and butter, lemon butter, sweet and spicy, hot and spicy or with a soy-based sauce. The current price is around $12.00 a plate, and it is a large serving.
Some of the shrimp trucks have shelters nearby that you can sit under and picnic tables. You will want to grab plenty of napkins, because the shrimp can be a bit messy, especially if you have to peel the shrimp.
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is usually situated on Kamehameha Hwy and Burroughs Roads in Kahuku. There is no need for a reservation. Just show up, but you ought to be prepared to wait a bit if there is a long line and remember that it is worth the wait. Hono’s Shrimp Truck is Korean run also on the North Shore.
For those who are a bit worried about eating from the back of a graffiti covered truck, you can also find little shops near the shrimp ponds. They basically serve up the same menu you can get from the trucks.
If you are prone to gout or prefer other marine delicacies, there are a plethora of offerings at many of the shrimp trucks you find around the island. Make sure to leave your autograph, if you can find room on the side of the truck.
Leave a Reply