Big Wave Shrimp Truck
A beloved food truck on Oahu's North Shore, famous for its abundant and delicious shrimp plate lunches.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Big Wave Shrimp Truck
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved food truck on Oahu's North Shore, famous for its abundant and delicious shrimp plate lunches.
"Big Wave Shrimp Truck is your go-to for generous portions of flavorful shrimp and a relaxed vibe."
Extra Garlic Request
Don't hesitate to ask for extra garlic if you love bold, garlicky flavors.
Share Plates
Consider sharing dishes to sample a wider variety of their tasty seafood offerings.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Hawaiian Seafood
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Generously portioned and packed with garlicky goodness, this is a must-try seafood delight.
Diverse Seafood Options
From lemon pepper to spicy, explore a variety of flavorful shrimp dishes and other seafood treats.
Casual Beachside Ambiance
Enjoy your meal at ample outdoor picnic tables with shade, perfect for a relaxed dining experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Extra Garlic Request
Don't hesitate to ask for extra garlic if you love bold, garlicky flavors.
Share Plates
Consider sharing dishes to sample a wider variety of their tasty seafood offerings.
Beat the Crowds
Visit during off-peak hours or weekdays to avoid long waits and enjoy quicker service.
Explore Sauces
Try different sauces or seasonings for a unique and personalized culinary experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Extra Garlic Request
Don't hesitate to ask for extra garlic if you love bold, garlicky flavors.
Share Plates
Consider sharing dishes to sample a wider variety of their tasty seafood offerings.
Beat the Crowds
Visit during off-peak hours or weekdays to avoid long waits and enjoy quicker service.
Explore Sauces
Try different sauces or seasonings for a unique and personalized culinary experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Big Wave Shrimp Truck is highly praised for its generous portions of fresh, flavorful shrimp, particularly the garlic butter and lemon pepper varieties. Diners appreciate the quick service, ample outdoor seating, and friendly staff, making it a popular North Shore stop. While some reviews mention a dip in garlic flavor consistency, most agree it's a delicious and worthwhile food truck experience.
"Calamari was bomb! Came out piping hot, so fresh, crunchy, and juicy, large portion! The garlic butter shrimp was also very well-portioned, the flavor of the butter and garlic really came through, and as you can see in the photo, piled on top! Comes with a bit of refreshing salad and a good amount of buttery rice. Very friendly and quick service, lots of seating out front, close to other little shops/stores, decent number of parking spaces. Would recommend to others and will come back again in the future! Thank you Big Wave Shrimp Truck!"
Victoria Chen
"Great shrimp, large portions, friendly staff & quick service! We usually share plates when we go out, but my family loves seafood so we each got our own plates. We tried the lemon pepper, garlic butter & spicy shrimp, my personal favorite was the lemon pepper. The picnic tables were perfect and there is a sink to wash your hands in before leaving. Would come back for sure!"
Amanda McGinnis
"One of the best shrimp trucks on the North Shore. There is plenty of outdoor seating and a separate parking lot as well. My wife got the lemon pepper shrimp and I got the garlic butter shrimp. Both dishes were great and the lemon pepper was my favorite. I like the wedge of pineapple. The portion sizes were huge as well for the price. Service at the truck was quick and efficient. I recommend this shrimp truck on the North Shore. Definitely worth a stop!"
Tuan Nguyen
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Garlic Butter Shrimp and Lemon Pepper Shrimp are highly recommended for their generous portions and flavorful taste.
Yes, Big Wave Shrimp Truck offers plenty of outdoor picnic tables with shade for a comfortable dining experience.
Absolutely! If you love bold garlic flavors, don't hesitate to ask for extra garlic in your dish.
Many consider Big Wave Shrimp Truck a top spot for authentic Hawaiian shrimp, with features on Food Network and mentions in travel guides.
Yes, they also offer options like fried chicken, calamari, fish and chips, and surf & turf.
To avoid crowds and enjoy quicker service, consider visiting during off-peak hours or on weekdays.
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Featured in these publications
Where to find the best shrimp on Oahu
Coconut and lemon pepper shrimp at Big Wave – Photo courtesy of Wendy O'Dea. 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.
Here are Our Favorite Shrimp Trucks on Oʻahu’s North Shore
If we thought Jenny’s Shrimp reigned supreme for the amount of garlic used, we were quickly proven wrong when we went across the street to Big Wave Shrimp. The truck’s shrimp were coated in a thick sauce with massive chunks of garlic, which spilled off our 12 pieces of shrimp and onto the bed of rice underneath. The shrimp here were firmer than at other trucks and also butterflied.
Your Top 5 & Our Top 5: Ranking the Best North Shore Garlic Shrimp
Location: Easy to find, parking lot with stallsWait time: On a Thursday at 10 a.m., there’s no line; we wait 5 minutesFirst impressions: Full plate—10 shrimp, two scoops of rice, salad, pineapple wedgesThe taste test:. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino. The bottom line: Large chunks of fresh garlic give the dish a strong visual appeal, though the shrimp could have been cooked slightly more.
Food Trucks in Hawaii: Manapua Man to Big Wave Shrimp
Of course, on the North Shore food trucks are part of the normal scenery; most notably your very own – Big Wave Shrimp!. With lots of tables, shade and calming music to add to the ambience, we are sure to make your dining experience one to remember. We are prepared to “wow” you with our Hawaiian style cooking along with your favorite local beverages and ono shave ice.
Eat Your Way Through the Best Shrimp Trucks on Oahu
Big Wave Shrimp is just south of Giovanni’s, but it’s found its own rabid following after a feature on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The menu here is more diverse than most of the Oahu shrimp trucks on the Kamehameha Highway. Order up your plate of garlic butter shrimp with chicken wings, spring rolls, or even fish and chips.
Dog Friendly Seafood Restaurants in Haleiwa, HI
Big Wave Shrimp is a Haleiwa staple that has been serving fresh shrimp since 2005. You'll find ample dog-friendly seating at their picnic tables where you and Fido can enjoy the flavors of Hawaii. You can pick from their shrimp plates which come in a variety of ways including garlic, crunchy, lemon peppered.
Eating At Giovanni's Shrimp Truck-North Shore-Oahu, Hawaii
Per pre-trip research, Big Wave and Jenny’s are the two trucks that often de-throne Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck as king. Having a “Shrimp Truck Challenge” is a common activity in Hawaii. People taste shrimp from three or more shrimp trucks, then rank them.
Favorite Haleiwa Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Best place to get garlic shrimp: Big Wave Shrimp (featured on Food Networks DDD) and Giovanni's Shrimp Truck are two of the most popular places to eat in Haleiwa, both known for their garlic butter shrimp plates.
What to Eat at KCC Farmers' Market (Oahu)
Big Wave Tomato has been at this market since the very start and it is still one of my favorites. They smear on lots of pesto, the top with local tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Then it gets grilled!.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit