Food trucks are a great way to experience fresh and delicious food in a casual outdoor setting. In Oahu, it means eating good food while admiring the stunning scenery. Here are some of the best food trucks in Oahu:
1. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
The shrimp truck chain started out as a simple business in a garage. Now it’s a major player in the food industry. There are three locations, in Kahuku, Haleiwa, and Honolulu. The Kahuku and Haleiwa locations are both on the Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore. The Honolulu location is on Keawe St, just a couple blocks away from Waikiki. Their specialty is a generous portion of garlic shrimp served with two scoops of rice. The shrimp is also served hot and spicy. Stop at Giovanni’s if you want a delicious and satisfying meal.
Directions to Giovanni’s Kahuku
Directions to Giovanni’s Haleiwa
Directions to Giovanni’s Honolulu
2. Simply Ono
A local favorite, Simply Ono serves delicious Hawaiian cuisine. Their rack of lamb gets great reviews. Lobster rolls and shoyu pork are also very popular. The owner is friendly and the menu offers many tasty options. Most dishes come with macaroni, lettuce, or garlic rice. Regulars love their generous portions.
Follow Simply Ono on Twitter to see their latest location
3. Mike’s Huli-Huli Chicken
Mike’s Huli-Huli Chicken is a popular food truck serving delicious Hawaiian-style barbecue. The famous chicken is broiled and served with a tasty sauce which gives it an extra kick. The storied yellow food truck’s location is ideal for those who want to eat outdoors while enjoying the sunshine from the comfort of a shaded patio.
Directions to Mike’s Huli-Huli Chicken
4. Aji Limo Food Truck
This food truck serves a variety of dishes including sushi, sashimi, teriyaki chicken, kare-kare (Philippine meat stew), and churrasco (Peruvian beef steak). With a focus on fresh seafood, the menu includes poke bowls, fish tacos, shrimp tempura, grilled salmon, ceviche, and more. The perfect place for a bite after snorkeling at Shark’s Cove, there is plenty of space to stretch out and dine in the shade. Try their chirashi salad or salmon ceviche!
Directions to Aji Limo Food Truck
5. Gilligan’s Beach Shack
This food truck serves some of the best seafood dishes in town. Their Surf & Turf is a plateful of jumbo garlic shrimp and teriyaki steak bites that are cooked perfectly and served with a healthy portion of shoestring fries. Located in the parking lot next to Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort, this food truck is close to Waikiki and offers great views of Diamond Head.
Directions to Gilligan’s Beach Shack
6. Banan
Craving a healthy and light dessert? Banan serves vegan banana ice cream garnished with fresh fruits of the island. Banan started as a food truck, but has expanded to three locations. Now a dessert shop in both Wakiki and the windward town of Kailua, Banan has become well-known around Oahu in the last few years. The banana ice cream is made from bananas grown on the island. There are acai and other flavors as well.
Directions to Banan Waikiki Beach Shack Location
Directions to Banan Waikiki Shore Location
Directions to Banan Kailua Location
7. Holey Grail Donuts
The Holey Grail is a new type of donut that uses superfood taro as its base instead of the usual donut batter. The donuts are fried in coconut oil and sprinkled with various toppings including calamansi, cacaosugar, tangelo, and maple syrup. The creator’s motto is “to create the world’s greatest donut experience.” The food truck is on Seaside Avenue in Wakiki, with an additional store location in the Ala Moana Center. They also have locations in Kauai and Los Angeles. Even if you are not a donut person, give this local specialty a try!
Directions to Holey Grail Honolulu Flagship
Directions to Holey Grail Waikiki Food Truck
8. Blue Ocean Seafood & Steak
Blue Ocean Seafood & Steak food truck has an extensive menu that appeals to different tastes. The most popular item is the mahi-mahi, followed by the garlic shrimp. Other items include sweet chili chicken, beef kebab, and steak and shrimp kebabs. The menu also has pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and poke bowls. Go to Blue Ocean for large portions, good services, and great prices.
Directions to Blue Ocean Seafood & Steak
9. Leonard’s Bakery
In the early 1950s, Leonard’s Bakery introduced the malasada, a Portuguese doughnut made with sugar and cinnamon. These sweet treats were first sold as souvenirs at the World Fair in New York City and soon became popular across America. Today, you can find malasadas sold by Leonard’s Bakery in many grocery stores and malls around Hawaii. You can also take advantage of the malasada mobile food trucks parked at various shopping centers throughout the state. The truck also has coffee and lemonade alongside the cookies, cakes, and pies.
Directions to Leonard’s Bakery
10. Five Star Poke
Five Star Poke is a great place for Hawaiian-style poke. The menu offers many options including spicy ahi tuna, miso mayo tako, jalapeno salmon, and avocado bowls. There are also several other items such as salads, burgers, sandwiches, and more. The fish is super fresh and the bowls are filling. Many customers report that Five Star Poke is the best they’ve ever had. They are open everyday in Waikiki, so there is no excuse not to eat there!
11. North Shore Tacos
North Shore Tacos operates two locations. The food truck is located in Haleiwa, and the restaurant is in Hau’ula. It serves some of the best taco dishes in Hawaii — Baja Mexican style. Their fresh fish tacos are an absolute must! If you are here, don’t forget to order one of their amazing pineapple tiki drinks. They also offer burritos, bowls, plates, salads, and nachos. Great options for kids (“keiki”) as well.
Directions to North Shore Tacos Restaurant
Directions to North Shore Tacos Food Truck
12. Surf N Salsa
Surf N Salsa is a family-owned food truck in the North Shore town of Haleiwa. This folksy mainstay offers delicious Mexican and Latin dishes including fish/shrimp tacos, carne asada fries, chile verde burritos, and more. Their menu features an array of appetizers, entrees, and desserts all with great flavor. Ordering is easy and quick, and the staff is friendly and helpful. This place is great for families or groups looking to relax and enjoy a meal together.
13. Leilani’s Island Tacos
Leilani’s Island Tacos food truck is located in the windward town of Kailua serving delicious Mexican dishes. The food is fresh and bursting with flavor, plus the portions are generous. Their taco menu includes spicy flavors that make them stand out among other food trucks. They serve local ingredients and prepare everything fresh. You can’t go wrong with their special tacos or sides.
Directions to Leilani’s Island Tacos
14. Haleiwa Bowls
If you are health conscious or love a good acai bowl or smoothie, you will be amazed by this little smoothie shack in Haleiwa, North Shore. While not technically a food truck, it deserves to make the list for its organic, locally-sourced ingredients. The bowls are colorful, gorgeous, and generous. The acai bowls are the most popular items, and the friendly staff is super helpful if you’re having trouble deciding.
15. bEASTside Kitchen
This local pop-up deserves to make the list for its mouth-watering fried chicken and shrimp plates. This food stand is just up the road from Waimanalo Beach on the windward side of Oahu. The friendly owners take orders in person or over the phone. The simple menu offers garlic shrimp, fried chicken, or a combo; all plates come with rice and macaroni salad or pickled onions. The chicken in particular will amaze your tastebuds with their perfect crunch and umami. There is no seating, but Sherwood Beach is very close with picnic tables and restrooms.