I really enjoyed visiting Big Wave Shrimp, and it's one of my go-to shrimp trucks whenever I visit Haleiwa on Oahu. After learning about this truck from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, I knew I had to check it out -- and it was absolutely worth it! The shrimp is incredibly fresh, and all the flavors are delicious. The scampi is so easy to eat and practically melts in your mouth. The butter and garlic are the perfect match for this dish. I also tried the short ribs -- and wow -- they were so flavorful and tender. I highly recommend visiting this truck. The staff is friendly, the food comes out quickly and fresh, and it's truly a must-visit spot when you're in Haleiwa on Oahu. read more

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The shrimp trucks on the North Shore are a must. We wound up at Big Wave Shrimp. Apparently, they were on the Food Network. My daughter and I shared the coconut shrimp plate, which came with rice, salad and a large piece of pineapple. The big beautiful fried shrimp were hot and crunchy. A delicious plate. Find them and enjoy. 24 read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Coconut shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Absolutely the worst shrimp I have had in Hawaii. Avoid it at all cost. I hope I don't get sick from it. They just add garlic or sauce on top of it. Shrimp don't have any taste Even the service was not great Lot of flies and ants, they should keep the area clean read more

My wife raved about this place vs going to Giovanni's down the street which is always backed and now the charge for parking. The shrimp was pretty amazing not gonna lie. We ordered butter shrimp and the shell was crispy enough to eat. Service was great - aunties. Ambiance was exactly what you would expect from north shore food trucks. Tourists flock and you'll be lucky if you see a wild chicken or two. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Got the spicy and regular Butter garlic shrimp. They were delicious, and felt like a healthier options around all the food trucks nearby. Service was very fast, and surprisingly easy to find a place to sit, despite the large crowd. The ambiance was a typical Hawaiian food truck scene. As a tourist visiting Hawaii for the first time, I did wish that there were systems to prevent bugs, chickens, and birds from attacking during the meal, but I think that's unavoidable at a food truck. Anyways, overall, I would recommend for a casual meal option if you are nearby. I will say the parking situation is pretty hectic, so be prepared with a bit of a wait time when trying to park. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Spicy Butter garlic shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Got the garlic shrimp plate while I was in n Haleiwa and it was delicious. Lots of big juicy shrimp and plenty of garlic on two scoops of rice, some green salad and a wedge of fresh pineapple. There must've been at least a dozen shrimp. I could only finish half of my plate since I was trying to save room for shave ice! Big Wave is directly across the street from another popular shrimp truck but they got my business because of the larger parking area. I had never tried either one, so it was a toss up. Regardless, service was great and the garlic shrimp was delicious. They also gave me a side container of the spicy sauce they use for their spicy shrimp and it definitely had a kick to it. Great food, great stop for lunch!! read more

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I chose Big Wave Shrimp Truck this time instead of Giovanni's since I had Giovanni's on my last trip, and I'm so glad I did. This place did not disappoint at all. The flavor was amazing, the shrimp tasted incredibly fresh, and the rice was warm and soft, which really completed the dish. The service was quick and friendly, and the woman helping us order was so sweet and helpful, especially for first-timers. One thing I really appreciated was that they had a table and bench right in front of the truck, which made it easy for me and my friends to all sit together and enjoy our food. Great food, great service, and a relaxed North Shore vibe. I would definitely come back and recommend this spot to anyone looking for solid shrimp in Hawaii. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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BEST GARLIC SHRIMP ON THE ISLAND!! Went a total of 3 times during our 5 night trip. Would fly back just for the shrimp. Phenomenal. read more

Loved how much flavor they had. Wish had more on my plate. My croutons on my salad were stale so that was a bummer. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Kalb ribs - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

So I had to grab some garlic shrimp during my visit back to Hawaii. It was a part of my weekend routine while I lived there and I need the throwback memory. The shrimp was amazing and the perfect serving size. You also can't go wrong with some Mac salad and pineapple to offer the unique flavors of Hawaii. Highly recommend this spot, but I can get busy to pick your time wisely. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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One of the many trucks in the area. I tried the butter shrimp and the short ribs. Both excellent choices. There are some benches nearby. The hot sauce is a Tabasco sriracha kind of mix. I had some on the side and it was quite hot so keep that in mind if you're not sure about getting spicy. You could also get some on the side. read more

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After landing in Hawaii, I went to the North Shore to try the food trucks. We ordered the garlic shrimp. It was delicious. The shrimp was very crunchy and flavorful. I loved the flavor. It was pretty fast service, and we got the food super fast. There's plenty of seating outside after ordering food. Definitely a must try place! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Garlic Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

I got a tip that this was a really good garlic shrimp spot and I'm so glad I checked it out. Big Wave Shrimp isn't in the main touristy area, but I think that's what makes it even better. The area is quieter and feels more comfortable. We got a plate of butter garlic shrimp to share and it was so tasty! Portion was great but it was so yummy that I could've eaten more regardless :D Last time we were there, if you eat at Big Wave Shrimp, you get a discount at Kaimana Shave Ice which is next door (which was also very good). Highly recommend Big Wave Shrimp if you're looking for a nice, casual and satisfying place for garlic shrimp. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Swung by Big Wave Shrimp on our way up to North Shore -- one of the legendary garlic shrimp spots in Haleʻiwa! This no-frills food truck serves up classic island comfort with a side of aloha. Quick service of our food and chill surprisingly not too busy ambience. garlic shrimp plate - a one-dish wonder: shell-on shrimp fried to crispy perfection, coated in garlicky chunks that melt into a buttery sauce, served with rice, side salad, and a slice of pineapple The setup is classic roadside Hawaii -- plenty of shady seating & an outdoor sink for post-peel clean-up. Everything hit the spot after the drive from Waikiki and some sun. Definitely a must-try if you're heading up to the North Shore! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Garlic Shrimp Plate - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Our first time here it's a Sunday and Giovanni's is closed. But, it was a great 1st time!! Friendly staff. We ordered the spicy shrimp and it was DELICIOUS! 9/10 it would have been a 10/10 if they offered lemons with it and they only have rice no macaroni salad. We also ordered the kalbi beef but it wasn't nearly as good as the shrimp. Kalbi beef 7/10 because it was a little tough and greasy. We will definitely be back to try the lemon shrimp. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Spicy shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Very tasty! Fast casual food truck. There's ample outdoor seating. Located in a little food truck area so there's plenty of other options if you and your family are looking for diverse selections. Ample free parking as well, but it does get full, however, there is a parking attendant to help guide the parking, so that's super helpful. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Please come here if you want to check "garlic shrimp" off the bucket list! It's definitely a better take on garlic shrimp than the other touristy places in North Shore. I don't know what they're doing to the shrimp but it probably includes frying really fresh shrimp and tossing it in delicious butter and roasted garlic. It's not super greasy and makes for a better taste and bite overall. Every plate comes with rice and salad (health) and is filling. The lemon pepper is also an optimal choice. Calamari is also crispy! I like the comfortable outdoor seating area that's shaded from the sun. Protect your food from the stray chickens though... read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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This food truck was definitely better than the other ones there. The shrimp was crispy and flavorful, so was the pineapple chunk. read more

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We couldn't get to Giovann's because the parking lot was full but this was a very pleasant detour. They have a parking lot and someone directing traffic. Not too crazy. You don't have to pay for parking here. We tried the garlic butter shrimp and it was amazing. Comes with rice, salad and shrimp. The flavor was so good. I liked that the shrimp had a crunchy layer to it. You do have to wait for the food but it wasn't too long. They have tables where you can dine there. Outdoor seating. Staff is nice. read more

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Writing this review on behalf of my fiancé because I don't usually eat seafood--but he ordered the garlic shrimp plate with rice and mac salad and said it was the best shrimp he's ever had. Super flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly. He absolutely loved it! I don't typically eat seafood, but I tried one little bite and I have to admit--it was really good. The garlic flavor was spot on, and the shrimp was super tender. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area and craving shrimp. According to my fiancé, it doesn't get better than this! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Shrimp plate - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Remember when a certain shrimp truck that starts a "G" actually tried and wasn't coasting purely on their name? Yeah, that's what Big Wave Shrimp is like, when G still cared about making a good product. I don't visit shrimp trucks normally, only when out of town friends and family come to visit and it's never a complete Oahu trip without a shrimp truck visit. That said, I have had enough shrimp over the past few years of built up COVID pandemic travel to fill a shrimp pond and some of these trucks are seriously doing nothing but riding on their history. So it's a delight when I actually try a shrimp truck that reminds me of the yesteryears of when shrimp mongers cared. We got two plates, the garlic butter and the lemon pepper and both were delicious. The shrimp were decent size (unlike a place that starts with an "R"), number, firm, and tasty. The seasoning wasn't overpowering, aka swimming in butter, and complimented the shrimp flavor nicely. The rice wasn't mushy (you know which shrimp truck I'm talking about) and we even got slices of pineapple with salad. Salad dressing was defaulted to ranch, so you may want to ask if there are other options as not everyone is a fan of that. We did order a little before 11:00 am, so the polite staff were able to fill our order very quickly and going during peak lunch hours will likely result in slower service. There are about eight tables under umbrellas for patrons to enjoy their shrimp on site. Parking is shared with a number of other food trucks, the nearby smoke shop, and the always worth going to except on Sundays when it is closed, Kaimana shave ice shop. Prices are in line with their competition, but they just have better tasting, better quality, and larger shrimp. So why bother with the other shrimp trucks when you can ride the big wave to Flavortown just like Guy Fieri? read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Lemon Pepper Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Must get a garlic shrimp plate if you drive to the north shore. This food truck is the first one you see as you enter Haleiwa town into this spot. Saves us gas than to drive all the way to kahuku. You don't need to pay for parking here vs the one across the street down the road read more

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Randomly stumbled upon Big Wave Shrimp while getting to Jenny's Shrimp Truck (across the street). Opted to try a couple dishes here since they had the spicy version of the garlic shrimp which sounded very appealing. Spicy Shrimp (~$15.99): Two scoops of rice, simple side salad, small slice of pineapple, and about a dozen shrimps topped with garlic and spicy sauce. I do wish the sauce and garlic was pre-mixed into the shrimps instead of just topped as it wasn't evenly distributed for every bite and hard to mix on your own little plate. The spicy sauce tasted somewhat similar to sriracha though a bit watered down. Nothing special. Rib Plate (~$21): Two scoops of rice, simple side salad, small slice of pineapple and a decent portion of ribs. Rib was unevenly flavored as there were some pieces which were great in flavor and some which was almost nonexistent. Flavor is somewhat similar to a Korean bbq sauce. Texture of the meat was decent - not overly chewy, but not tender either. Small sink available to wash hands after eating in front of the truck! Parking lot available amongst the 6 or so shared food trucks in the space. When we went, there was someone sitting at the parking lot monitoring. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Spicy shrimp & ribs plate - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Awesome spot for a delicious plate lunch! I got the lemon pepper shrimp and my husband got the garlic shrimp plate lunch. Both were so good and so filling! The ambiance was nice too with plenty of seating. Service was quick and friendly. Loved supporting this family owned business! We hope to visit again next time we are in Hawaii. read more

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Monday, 7/28/2025 - can't come all the way to Hawaii and not eat at Big Wave Shrimp. Love their garlic shrimp plate. We devoured it. Lol So i didn't get a picture of our food plate. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Monday, 7/28/2025 - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Super yumm and HUGE portion sizes! I tried their coconut shrimp and butter garlic shrimp and the butter garlic was my favorite. The staff who were working here were very friendly and personable and even gave recommendations on spots to check out. I came when they first opened and there were not that many others, food came out really fast! They also have a few parking spots out in front if you're lucky enough to snag one. There's also plenty of street parking nearby read more

We tried both Jenny's and Big Wave and Big Wave was the winner. The shrimps were tender and had a softer shell that was soft enough to eat. We ordered the spicy garlic shrimp and received our order really quick. I'm not the biggest garlic fan especially if it's chunky so I was pretty overwhelmed by all the garlic covering the top of the rice but to my surprise, it wasn't that bad and the garlic flavor wasn't super overpowering either. There were plenty of shaded seating. There were also chickens roaming freely so if you drop food, you'll be a target! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Spicy garlic shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Just two tourists trying to get out of the tourist trap in Honolulu/waikiki. Driving along and decided to stop at some food trucks. Let me tell you, Big Wave did not disappoint. The portions were massive (we could have shared) and the garlic shrimp was GARLICKY. Divine. Simple. Big bang for your buck. Come get it. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Garlic shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

I wanted to end our North Shore visit with a tasting of the garlic shrimp. It was nearing 5:30. Giovanni's appeared to be closing and the kids at that food truck park wanted to charge $2 for parking, so we headed to the other park a few blocks away where Big Wave Shrimp is. I ordered the #1 garlic shrimp and #2 spicy garlic shrimp on the menu. Both were quite a bit better than my only other garlic shrimp experience from Geste Shrimp Truck on Maui (although that one was also excellent). Big Wave must have dumped a whole garlic on each plate. There was sooooo much garlic. Unlike Geste, I didn't have to de-shell the shrimps here as they were fried to a nice enough crispy level to be eaten whole including the tails. If I had to choose, I would pick the regular #1 regular garlic over the spicy one as I found the hot sauce to be a bit overpowering and had overshadowed the garlic flavor. This has been me and my folks' top eat on this Oahu trip! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Garlic shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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I got the garlic steak plate. My boyfriend got the surf & turf. This was the tastiest steak I've ever had. The garlic was so ono. The portion size was good for the price. Highly recommend! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Steak Plate - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Our first shrimp truck experience so I have nothing to compare it with. We were planning to do a lot of eating while in the North Shore so we shared a plate of their butter garlic shrimp and it didn't disappoint. Service was quick and you get a decent portion size of about 10-12 shrimp and while it looks like a lot of chopped garlic on top it is not overpowering. The plate comes with two small scoops of rice, a side salad and a small wedge of pineapple. Very delicious plate ! Shrimp was juicy and decent sized and cooked perfectly. There is a nice picnic table seating area with umbrellas so it is perfect to sit and enjoy your food. There is a good amount of parking behind the food truck too. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Big wave food truck - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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With the number of shrimp trucks on the North Shore it's a tough choice. Over the years we've tried several. I relied on social media on this most recent trip. This one sounded good as they offer peeled butter garlic shrimp. Not for me but for my daughter who prefers it served this way. We ordered: * two orders of the butter garlic shrimp with shell * one order of peeled butter and garlic shrimp. We were there around 11:20am. Got our orders within a few minutes and sat at one of the canopied picnic tables. Our shrimp was delicious. Shell was crunchy and seasoned. I ate one with shell; then shelled the rest. Each order had a dozen. As we were eating plenty of folks arrived. Parking can be difficult as the shrimp truck shares the area with other food trucks. I'd come here again. Clean and no dust. I'm not sure if there's a place where you wash your hands once you're done. Bring hand wipes just in case. read more

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Shrimp plate packs with a bunch of shrimp and great flavor! Garlic is the best. Move over, Giovannys... This place takes the cake. It's even just a few blocks away! Safe to say we will be back and this will be our go to place for a shrimp plate! Ambiance : casual, picnic Parking; lot in the front for free. There are a few spots available so be mindful of the day that you're going. Weekends are busy. We came on a Sunday ( which side note come on a different day if you want to go to the shave ice place next door that is closed on Sundays.) Baby friendly. I say this because of the open seating and we'll, it's a nice open space for kids. It's not necessarily somewhere they should run around because the main road is literally a few feet away but it's nice to be outdoors. Bring a carrier. Seating: outdoors. Picnic style. Clean tables with umbrellas. Seat yourself. There is even an outside sink for your hands. How mindful! Bathroom also available. Food: get the shrimp plate. Hands down the best I've had on the island. I love that they give you a piece of pineapple too. Such a sweet touch to my meal plate. Pro tip: get your north shoee goodies in this area. There is a Store for souvenirs and Bird's nest coffee shop across the street with a Nut butter shop across the way! read more

I too read about this place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Drives. Honestly, it just didn't live up to the hipe. For one, the truck itself: Wow has it seen its better days. I don't know how it's still standing on its wheels. It just did not look sanitary. The shrimp are smaller. Garlic, yes, but not a home run for me. Much more prefer Tanaka Kahuku Shrimp, that IS the place for garlic, butter, sauce, shrimp! read more

Wow! If you're a garlic girly, you won't be disappointed with the garlic butter shrimp. The shrimp were hella seasoned, not overcooked and absolutely delicious on rice. Thank God my partner ordered the kalbi ribs and we split because we got to have the best of both worlds. The meat was super flavorful, juicy and cooked well. The service was friendly and welcoming. The food came out pretty quick and was fresh. The portions were perfect, we thought we'd have leftovers but we ate it all! We came around 10:45 so it wasn't too busy. There is plenty of seating and the tables were clean. We are so glad we tried this place and would recommend it. read more

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This is the third food truck on Oahu where we tried the Garlic Shrimps. This one is the best out of three.We had about 12 Shrimp, the most from the three we tried. They were spiced and cooked to perfection. Absolutely delicious. This is the best on North Shore. read more

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Saw the crazy flood damage taken by most of the food trucks on the north shore and figured I'd stop by to show my support again. Big wave shrimp didn't disappoint! Friendly staff and great garlic shrimp (my kids love the coconut shrimp). Nice seating area under the big tree. I hope the north shore businesses hang in there after these floods, I'm glad to see Big Wave Shrimp is open and serving great food again. read more

FLAVOR (4/5): Enjoyed the original more than the spicy garlic! Get it with the shell on because it comes right off anyways and has extra flavor. The rice isn't mushy here compared to Gio's and the salad was a nice pairing to the dish. INSTAGRAM WORTHY (3/5): It's food truck style so don't expect too much for the side of the road! They have shared picnic benches out in front and the food truck is parked in a shared lot with other vendors. SERVICE (4/5): The food came out pretty quickly after ordering! You pick up yourself at the window and clean up after yourself. Didn't have to wait in line to order food either. TAKEAWAYS: They have a sink area to wash your hands after. Preferred this over Gio's and there was no wait! read more

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The food can be better. Featured on D,D and D and I question why. Service plenty of Aoha. Cozy local shrimp truck. Feel good. Sitting outside in Hawaii perfect. Garlic shrimp has diced garlic that included root side so made it slight bitter. Hawaiian shrimp needs to be cooked slowly so garlic breaks and makes like sauce to go into rice. For tourist it good. Lot of selection. They got the ingredients but not the right technique. For ohana that know the flavor of the OG Giovanni's not the same. read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Shrimp plate comes with small salad - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Took a drive to Haleiwa because I was hungry for some garlic shrimp. I remember seeing Big Wave Shrimp in Haleiwa on Triple D so I had to stop by to see if it was any good. Lots of parking and there's a shop next door so you can check it out while you wait for your order. The girl who took my order was very nice so no forget to leave a tip. Must be hot working in that truck. They have umbrella covered picnic tables for you to enjoy your food. I chose the Garlic Shrimp. No disappointment here! First shot I ate the salad that it came with, no wilted leaves in this baby. Next came the shrimp. I'm a veteran on garlic shrimp so if it's not good, you will hear it from me. The amount of butter and garlic was perfect!! I couldn't believe how perfectly cooked the shrimp was. Not rubbery and the rice was complementing every bite. Some of the shrimp I even ate the shell and tail. This shrimp plate was money!! You gotta try it for yourself! read more

Big Wave Shrimp - Shrimp truck - Seafood Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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