8 Best Food Trucks on the North Shore of Oahu From a Local
Food trucks on the North Shore of Oahu have become a popular and exciting way to experience the Island’s diverse culinary scene.
While we’ve had our favorite spots for years, we love discovering new ones. Recently, our top pick has changed from the famous Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck to Kalena’s Hut, and we can’t wait to share more about this with you!
In this post, we will share our top food trucks on the North Shore of Oahu. From Kahuku to Haleiwa, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a first-timer or a return visitor, these food trucks are a must-try.
A Big Mahalo: Kudos to you for dining at food trucks. Your support helps keep these small businesses thriving and allows them to continue to serve delicious meals for everyone to enjoy. Remember to tip generously if possible, as these hardworking locals deserve it! And no, I do not own a food truck. I just love supporting local businesses!
Map of the Best North Shore Oahu Food Trucks
1. Kalena’s Hut
Location: 56535 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731
Hours: Unknown
We randomly saw this food truck on our most recent visit to the Kahuku food trucks. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the enticing aroma from the grill drew us in, and we were so glad we chose to eat here. The food was delicious and some of the best we have had in Hawaii.
If you’re a fan of BBQ chicken, this is the spot for you. We highly recommend the Hungry Man’s Plate, a popular menu item that includes BBQ teriyaki chicken, rice, and pani popo (a delicious dessert).
They also offer a burger, kalua pork, New Zealand sausage, and banana bread, but the Hungry Man’s Plate is a must-try. Just thinking about it makes me want to drive back there right now!
Also, the owners are so friendly and welcoming. They make sure that every customer is greeted, and they happily answer any questions. The service is excellent, and the food comes out quickly, so you won’t have to wait long to satisfy your cravings.
2. Haleiwa Bowls
Location: 66-030 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Hours: 7:30 am – 7:00 pm daily
After hearing countless recommendations from my TikTok followers, I finally decided to try Haleiwa Bowls, and I’m so glad I did. This place has the best acai bowls we’ve ever had.
Although they serve both acai bowls and smoothies, we always go for the acai.
My favorite is the Local Bowl, which includes a base of frozen acai puree topped with granola, poi, local bananas, papaya, strawberries, Maui bee pollen, raw honey, and coconut flakes. The combination of flavors and textures is just amazing.
Another popular option is the Blue Magic Bowl, which has a blended base of pineapple, banana, and blue majik spirulina, topped with granola, fresh strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, Maui bee pollen, and raw honey.
Both bowls are packed with fresh local ingredients, and you can’t go wrong with either one.
This is always a reward for us after spending the morning at the beach, and we love how it’s located right in the heart of Haleiwa Town.
3. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Location 1: 56-505 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731
Hours: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm daily (Kahuku)
Location 2: 66-4772 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa HI 96712
Hours: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm daily (Haleiwa)
We can’t talk about food trucks on the North Shore without mentioning the famous Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.
This was always our go-to food truck on the North Shore, but since trying Kalena’s Hut and Haleiwa Bowls, it has been dethroned as our top pick. However, we still highly recommend checking out this iconic food truck if you’re in Haleiwa or Kahuku.
Their menu is simple, offering three different shrimp options: scampi, lemon butter, and spicy. They also have a jumbo garlic hot dog, but we always come here for the shrimp and have yet to try it.
Each shrimp plate comes with a side of rice and lots of garlic butter sauce for your shrimp. The flavors are rich and delicious, perfect for satisfying those savory cravings.
Despite the long lines, don’t let that discourage you from trying Giovanni’s. The lines actually move fast, and it’s worth the wait!
But be prepared to get messy while eating these, especially if you get the spicy one. They all come with shells on, so be ready to get your hands dirty. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Pro Tip: If you are scared to try the hot and spicy, get the shrimp scamp with a side of hot sauce. That way, you can control the level of spiciness to your liking. We learned about this trick recently when they were out of the spicy option, and they offered us hot sauce on the side. It’s the best of both worlds!
Note: If you don’t like garlic, this may not be the food truck for you, as everything is drenched in it. Trust me, when I say drenched, I really mean it! But if you’re a garlic lover like us, then look no further!
4. Surf N Salsa
Location: 66521 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Hours: Monday- Saturday 10:30 am- 8:30 pm
Surf N Salsa is a fantastic new food truck (to us) we discovered recently, and it quickly became a favorite.
While we love our garlic shrimp, sometimes we crave something different. Surf N Salsa is the perfect spot for authentic Mexican food on the North Shore if you want something different.
They offer a wide range of options, from tacos and burritos to full plates. But our go-to order is always the tacos. We love the fish and carne asada tacos, but you can’t go wrong with the other options. The portions are also generous and the flavors are spot on.
Burritos and the taco salad are also popular choices among regulars. But don’t miss out on their homemade salsa and guacamole—both are fresh and flavorful!
5. Da Bald Guy
Location: 56-565 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731
Hours: Monday- Saturday, 6:00 am-2:00 pm
For the best Hawaiian-inspired dishes, Da Bald Guy is the food truck to visit on the North Shore. They’re well-known for their plate lunches, which include hearty portions of protein, rice, and macaroni salad.
My personal favorite is the kalbi beef, featuring boneless short ribs marinated in a flavorful Korean-style sauce. Their chopped rib eye steak is also a must-try. They also offer poke, but since we’re not big on poke, we haven’t tried it yet.
If you’re an early riser, they serve a breakfast menu from 6:00-10:00 am.
Note: Food trucks in Hawaii are open until they are sold out. The more popular the food truck, the more likely they will sell out of food. Always have an open mind because I have heard so many stories about people being disappointed that this food truck ran out of food. This is common for food trucks!
6. Pupukea Grill
Location: 59-680 Kamehameha Hwy Haleiwa, HI 96712
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (Closed Monday)
Located right across from the Banzai Pipeline (Ehukai Beach), Pupukea Grill is a favorite among locals. This spot is known for having the best poke on the North Shore.
In addition to poke, they offer a variety of delicious options, including Mexican dishes, chicken plates, flatbreads, sushi, smoothies, acai bowls, and desserts.
After snorkeling at Sharks Cove, Pupukea Grill is our go-to spot for a satisfying meal. Its convenient location and diverse menu make it the perfect place to refuel after a day of adventure.
7. Sugah Daddeh’s
Location: 56-565 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731
Hours: 11:00 am -6:00 pm daily
Sugah Daddeh’s has been a top favorite of mine for a few years now, and I make sure to stop by every time I go to the North Shore.
If you want the best fresh raw juice on the island, this is the place to get it. They’re known for their fresh juices and sugarcane juices, but they also offer acai bowls, gelato bowls, pineapple bowls, sorbet, iced tea, and natural lemonade.
Our go-to is the fresh cane juice with pineapple or guava. We’ve also tried the raw sugarcane juice, but it was too sweet for our liking—it’s basically raw sugar, after all. Next time, I want to try the ginger and turmeric juice because it sounds healthy and delicious.
Pro Tip: If you’re like me and grew up eating sugarcane or feeling adventurous, you can ask to purchase just the sugarcane. They will cut it up for you and put it in a cup. I do this every time I visit the North Shore because it reminds me of my childhood.
8. The Sunrise Shack
Location 1: 59-158 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 (Sunset Beach)
Location 2: 59-712 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 (Shark’s Cove)
Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Sunrise Shack was our go-to place for acai on Oahu for a long time, but everything changed when we found Haleiwa Bowls.
While we still enjoy it, we think Instagram overhyped this spot. They’ve also grown a lot over the years, so maybe that’s why it doesn’t feel as special and hidden gem-like anymore.
That said, if you love acai and fresh smoothies, Sunrise Shack is still one of our favorites on the North Shore.
I love the acai bowl with bananas, blueberries, coconut oil, honey, salt toppings, gluten-free granola, coconut flakes, and pitaya sauce. You really can’t go wrong with all of their options.
If you need a little pick-me-up, they also have a coffee menu to choose from.
I just recently found out that they also have avocado toast on their menu, so I’m definitely going to try that next time.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide has given you insight into the delicious food truck options on the North Shore of Oahu. If we missed any of your favorite spots, let us know in the comments, and we will be happy to check them out on our next North Shore road trip!
