Photo: Katelyn Pabila
Growing up in town, driving to the North Shore to eat garlic shrimp has always been a must. When I was a kid, a shrimp truck was a stop on the way to the beach. Now, my mom and I make the drive from Kaimukī just to eat garlic shrimp. It’s that good—if you know where to go.
On a recent weekend, we headed out to try three of the North Shore’s most popular garlic shrimp vendors. Our mission? To taste and rank the iconic Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Tanaka Kahuku Shrimp and Jenny’s Shrimp Truck. Who makes the absolute best garlic shrimp?
Read on for the results of our plate-by-plate comparison.
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No. 3: Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Photo: Katelyn Pabila
For locals and visitors alike, Giovanni’s is THE destination for garlic shrimp. It’s so popular, the longtime truck has expanded to town. So why did we rank it third?
For $17.50, our Scampi Plate includes 12 barely butterflied shrimp, two scoops of rice and a lemon wedge. Although this plate comes with the most garlic, it tastes burnt. The rice is overcooked and mushy, and while there is plenty of sauce, it is oily. Sadly, we leave the plate unfinished.
Giovanni’s has a shaded seating area and access to a small parking lot for $2 cash. Be warned that sometimes the parking lot does fill up. The truck takes cash or card and there’s a bathroom in the next lot over.
What: Scampi plate, $17.50 for 12 shrimp
Where: 66-472 Kamehameha Hwy.
When: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Phone: (808) 293-1839
Website: giovannisshrimptruck.com
Social: @giovannisshrimptruck
No. 2: Tanaka Kahuku Shrimp
Photo: Katelyn Pabila
Tanaka’s $18 Butter Garlic Shrimp plate includes eight large, butterflied shrimp and two scoops of rice. Our shrimp has lots of soft chunks of garlic and bursts with buttery flavor. These are just cooked through and have a softer texture. The sauce is slightly richer and thicker. If our number one choice were closed, this would be my next go-to.
Although the most expensive of the three, Tanaka’s atmosphere makes up for it. The location is clean, lively with music and colorful with more than a dozen shaded picnic tables. Unlike the other vendors, Tanaka is not a truck, but a brick-and-mortar takeout spot with a huge lanai for dine-in. It’s on the tour bus circuit, so expect some crowds when buses arrive. But the operation is efficient, and there is a separate line for tour groups.
If the name Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp rings a bell, here’s an update: Fumi’s has closed, but Tanaka is its successor. After Fumi’s owners parted ways, one continued under the new name. We confirmed with a manager that Tanaka continues to use the same recipes, so if you were a fan of Fumi’s, Tanaka is your place.
Tanaka accepts cash and card and has a bathroom, and there’s a huge parking lot.
What: Butter Garlic plate, $18 for 8 shrimp
Where: 56-931 Kamehameha Hwy.
When: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
Phone: (808) 691-9777
Website: tanakakahukushrimp.com
Social: @tanakashrimp931
No. 1: Jenny’s Shrimp Truck
Photo: Katelyn Pabila
Why is Jenny’s our No. 1? First off, the plate is beautiful, with vibrant colors. For $16, it holds nine large, butterflied shrimp, two scoops of rice, a small salad and a sweet wedge of pineapple. Jenny’s is the only one on our list to include a salad. Compared to Tanaka’s, the shrimp is cooked more, making it plumper and firmer but still tender, if you get what I mean. The crispy bits of garlic are cooked to golden-brown perfection. And the butter garlic sauce has the perfect balance of flavors without being too salty. Even though Jenny’s is our third stop of the day, we clean our plates and leave craving more.
For those who remember, Macky’s Sweet Shrimp Truck was a popular place that closed in 2016. Jenny’s opened two years later, and it’s been rumored that it uses the same recipes as Macky’s. Well, guess no more: We called and confirmed that it is the same recipe.
Jenny’s accepts cash and card, offers a bathroom and provides shaded picnic tables. Parking is available in a small lot in front of the truck.
What: Butter Garlic plate, $16 for 9 shrimp
Where: 66-532 Kamehameha Hwy.
When: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
Phone: (808) 429-3522
Website: jennysshrimptruck.shop
Social: @jenny_s_shrimp
Needless to say, we leave the North Shore with our bellies full. Whether you prefer a crunchy, garlic-packed bite or a softer, more tender shrimp, Oahu’s North Shore has something for you. So what are your Top 3?
