Hawaiian garlic shrimp is a iconic local dish, not technically traditional Hawaiian food, featuring…read moreshell-on shrimp tossed in a pungent garlic-butter sauce, heavily popularized by North Shore, Oahu food trucks since the mid-1970s. With the recent flood happening at the end of March, and our trip being in early April, going to North Shore wasn't advised. While we have some great Hawaiian garlic shrimp spots in Arizona, we had to at least try to get some garlic shrimp while on Oahu. We gave this place a try just because we were already in the building. It wasn't a choice we made prior because honestly, I would have suggested trying a more well-known spot like two miles away, haha! We shared a $14 Shrimp with Original Garlic sauce on it and made it a combo with rice, a scoop of potato mac salad, and regular salad, $14 + $6. Sam's Kitchen was okay. I would have loved to have the shell-on but this place does not offer shell-on shrimp. Still, they make a decent garlic shrimp.

Was average nothing really stood out but still fine…read more I think I ordered the wrong type of garlic shrimp so maybe my fault. I was expecting it to be more fried and flavorful. Still decent but definitely very pricey for the size.

Great hotdogs, and it's a great place/views to have one by the lagoon. This is one of the…read morebetter/best food options unless you are willing to walk a long ways. The guy that runs this is very nice, and fun to talk to.

I've lived here for seven years and walked past this hot dog stand countless times. Every time I…read morewalk by the owner Jon smile and say hello, every time. And on one of my last walk in Waikiki, I got on of his hotdogs. John and his staff were incredibly welcoming. He's originally from Philly, and as someone from the East Coast, I immediately felt that warm hospitality. John is so sweet, he even offered me the hot dog on the house... completely unexpected, but a true reflection of John's demeanor. I went with the chicken hot dog "John style" (well that is everything but the sauerkraut). I wasn't hesitate about the mustard because I'm usually not a fan but the staff insisted it was more like Dijon mustard anyways. The hotdog was loaded, flavorful, and way better than I expected for someone who usually keeps it simple with the toppings. The bun broke down a bit from all the toppings, but that was to be expected with all the toppings loaded on there. You can't beat the location, it's right outside the Ilikai by the lagoon though the service alone makes this an easy five stars. I'm really happy this ended up being one of my last food experiences living in Hawaii. I'd be eager to see John and his staff again if I return.

Amazing customer service and even better food! If you're in Waikiki this is definitely a place that…read moreyou need to try! I was staying in Ko Olina and it was still worth the drive to get it.

Visiting this food truck was one of the highlights of our trip. The food was amazing and the owner…read morewas so welcoming that he made us feel special. We were hungry in the morning, so we arrived just after they opened. There was lots of parking. We ordered and while the Poi rolls were cooking we had a chance to chat with the owner Dennis. He described the extra effort that they put into every ingredient. Later after we finished eating, Dennis would bring bowls of freshly cut cantaloupe from a close-by market. It was perfectly ripe and one of the best that I have tasted. That is an example of the Aloha you will feel while visiting. I have been to Hawaii a dozen times and was never a fan of Poi because I never tasted a dish that was prepared properly. We went to a picnic the previous day that had a donut like pasty made with Poi and fresh Poi made at a local restaurant. They were both delicious and this totally changed my opinion. Based on that positive experience I wanted to try the signature Poi dog. We opted for the spicy version. It was so tasty with the matching condiments. If you are a foodie that wants to try something unique, be sure to give it a try. Dennis has a sister location in Waikiki that is managed by his partner Hong Banh-Mi sandwiches are one of my weekly lunch options when at home, so we were excited to plan a visit to Aloha Hot Dog and Banh-Mi for dinner!

The porridge was piping hot and the pork was very finely shredded, which I prefer over tough/chewy…read moreand sometimes fatty slices of meat, as is common at most places. The rice was smooth and thick. I wish there were more century egg bits. The broth flavor could have been a bit stronger, so I asked for shoyu. One order is good for two people. I also ordered shrimp dumplings. They were plump pieces of shrimp and a good size. The skin wasn't thick either. They weren't hot like the porridge was but it was fine coz then I could eat them right away. The hubs got some pork mochi. They were quite generously filled as well. The mochi was crispy and chewy. Everything was decently priced. It's a little stall in the Maunakea Marketplace food court, so mostly self-service over the counter. The uncle was kind and pleasant. Auntie was busy cooking/prepping in the back. We were there around lunchtime on a Sunday so they were probably getting ready to pack up as well. I'd try the fried donut and other dim sum items next time!

Went to Mei Mei Chinese BBQ for a quick pick up & a couple stalls away heading…read more mauka ( mountain side) saw these good looking round sesame seed doughnuts in their display area. Jin Dui in Chinese ! Had to try some . They comes in three's .Got 2 coconut& one red bean filled. $ 5.00 for 3 They were soft once you bite into them& the fillings were the highlight.They are a dim sum shop so you can get all your goodies there. In the Maunakea Food court. Lot of stalls to pickup all kinds of different cultural foods! Service was fast & you can dine in the court or take out! Cash only!

*This comment is noted for the general seating area and unrelated to the business: The public…read moreseating area for all of the food trucks has roaches around the area. There are the tiniest baby roaches in the crevices of the picnic table due to the buildup of gunk and I saw them crawling around the table and larger ones on the ground which made me gag. Just be cautious if you choose to sit there.* Food 5/5 This is actually the best spicy garlic shrimp I've ever had. We had the "highly rated" North Shore shrimp three years ago and the way they serve it to you isn't very appetizing. However, this shack, chef's kiss. The presentation and the flavor was all there. My partner's platter was half short rib and half garlic shrimp. (Fries/drinks from a different location.) Service 5/5 The staff are friendly and very hardworking. They were very quick to get me a plastic bag when I asked. 100000% coming back.

I'm hoping tonight was just an off night. I've had this garlic shrimp now 3x. I was so excited to…read morehave garlic shrimp again today but this was not the same spicy garlic shrimp I had the past couple times. This was more chipotle ish with maybe some sort of minced onion than the spicy garlic shrimp I had the past two times. I didn't eat here when it was Angry shrimp because they mixed onion and mushrooms with shrimp or something and I was looking for Garlic shrimp. I have the picture from last weeks garlic shrimp. Last week it tasted like it had fish sauce in it with spices and garlic, etc...tonight it literally tastes like bbq seasoning mixed with chipotle seasoning and chili onion. I'm not writing this review to bash this shrimp truck because I think they are very nice but more so as constructive criticism...to hopefully keep their recipe consistent. People want the flavor of Garlic shrimp without having to go to the north shore. These other seasonings just didn't cut it for me:(

Im a local that doesn't go to this area of Waikīkī due to the lack of parking but I was in this…read morelunch truck area and stopped by for a quick lunch break. The array of lunch trucks are found near the intersection of Ala Moana and Kalākaua Ave. It was my first time to this lunch truck area in Waikiki and I was craving some garlic shrimp. I got the shrimp plate for $19.99, they charged a little more when I used my credit card. At first I was getting impatient since I waited about 20 minutes for my shrimp but it was so worth it! They make the shrimp to order so it's fresh and hot when you get it. The shrimps were a good generous size and fresh and the garlic sauce with the rice was so good! The shrimp plate comes with a green salad. I would say this shrimp shack was one of the best i've tried on island because the shrimps are huge and the garlic butter was so ono! There are seats to sit down in the lunch truck area but many seats are in the hot sun w no shade. If you're lucky you can grab a picnic table with shade. It's worth it so go try it!

A few weeks late on this review…read more.. Food (3 stars) ~ Poke bowl with salmon and ahi was basic and a bit heavy on soy sauce. Portion was generous, but it didn't stand out. Perhaps a creamy version would've suited us more. ~ Cajun-style shrimp was fresh and large, but spice-wise, we were hoping for something more garlic-butter based. Just a preference! Service/Ambiance (3 stars) ~ You order, get a buzzer, and pick up your food. Straightforward. Shared outdoor seating and when I say shared I really mean you might be sharing the bench with another group. It's truly a casual food truck setting. We might give them another try, but next time we'll definitely go for a more recommended combo!

Best place to eat in Waikiki! The tajin shrimp is full of flavor and absolutely delicious! Service…read moreis incredible, especially Rory who is attentive and so friendly! Keeps us coming back during our stay. Definitely recommend!!!

Standard crinkle cut fries and Thai teas were affordable at $4.75 each…read more Beware of the outdoor general seating area that's for all the food trucks. The tables have baby roaches roaming around the crevices of the picnic tables. *Edit: Owner kindly reached out saying they treat the area since it is an issue but understandable given the nature of Hawai'i being humid. He said they eventually plan to change out the tables to avoid this issue.

From mochi to meatballs, takoyaki and dim sum; balls are ALWAYS a good idea. If it's anything I've…read morelearned in my entire existence of being, it's that round foods are good! And Onomono's balls are NO exception to that rule. Think popular local dishes reinvented for an age where tapas and portable foods are the new 'it girl' in food land. Hubby and I spotted their tent at the Annual Ukulele Picnic. My initial reaction like many others as well, "what's an onomono ball?" That day it was a mixture of brown rice, furikake, spam, onion, garlic, and mushroom - lightly fried to 'melt in your mouth perfection' and served on a colorful bed of crunchy red/green cabbage. The accompanying sauces (cilantro lime cream and yuzu mayo) were just the kicks the balls needed to make my taste buds go wow. They change the flavors up and are continuously experimenting with different combinations. Their onogiri is also an added bonus, with 6 different flavors. Great for taking on the go or devouring on the spot. Follow their IG @onomono.hi to see what local event they'll be at next!

The sauce is the secret to the yumminess of their balls; they have an intense, rich flavor. I'm not…read moreinto fried pupus normally, but these were pretty good.