4. Restaurants

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

56-505 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI, 96731
  • (808) 293-1839
  • Store is closed

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Kahuku for healthy meals suggestion.

Kahuku Grill ( Kahuku Sugar Mill,56-565 Kamehameha Hwy )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Julie H.

    This was my first shrimp truck so I don't have a comparison. I had the #1 Shrimp Scampi. The plate was quite full with delicious shrimp that were well cleaned and seasoned. It's served with two scoops of rice that were all pleasing. My husband is not a shrimp lover so he had the hot dog served on a bun. He liked it and wished he had ordered two. It seemed to be the place to be. The covered seating area was full most of the time. It was fun to add our names in Sharpie to those all over the food truck. Great experience!

    (4)

  • Tracy B.

    Giovanni's is my favorite "North Shore Shrimp Truck" out of all the shrimp trucks on the north shore. Giovanni's never fails to disappoint me. There are two trucks. This one is in Kahuku; a couple blocks away from Kahuku high school. I love Giovanni's because of the very Saucy, Wet Garlic flavor versus Romi's dry, charred garlic flavor. So if you're more into the creamy saucy type of scampi, Giovanni's is for you. I always order the shrimp scampi and it never disappoints. The spicy is really spicy, but I'm a baby when it comes to spice. The spicy flavor is more of a Tabasco spicy flavor. I could only dip a couple of my shrimps into the sauce VERY lightly. I THINK if you check in on yelp, you get a free soda. So check in, show it to them and ask. Doesn't hurt to ask. The plus about this location is that there are bathrooms. Not the most glorious, but if you gotta go, you gotta go. Also, there is a hand washing sink - another plus. Overall, Giovanni's is the best shrimp truck, ever.

    (5)

  • John S.

    Note: I only give out 5 stars to surprisingly EXCEPTIONAL, best-in-class establishments. This is a tourist must-stop location if you're staying or visiting the immediate area, O'ahu's North Shore. Be prepared for potentially longer lines during busy hours & especially during the summer. There aren't many tables if you're planning to eat in, so if you arrive with a group it's best to have someone get a table while the others wait in line. The menu is simple; you have 4 choices: 1. shrimp scampi 2. hot & spicy shrimp 3. lemon butter shrimp 4. garlic hot dog That's it. You can also order extra rice, homemade Hawaiian-style mac salad & a limited selection of canned soft drinks or juice. Don't be one of "those" tourists that the locals tease and other tourists hate. Decide while waiting, place your order & pay (cash, no credit cards). The end--so simple! Hawaiian Island X-treme smoothie & shave ice truck is next to this Giovanni's truck, so you can order a cool drink there if you don't want one of Giovanni's canned drink selections.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Growing up on the North Shore, things are certainly changing. But Giovanni's hasn't. The area around it has -- so many local vendors and markets now popping up. I don't know if I like that, but I do like having the same garlicky shrimp and rice that is just so frickin' finger lickin' delicious. It's funny because when I was younger, Giovanni's wasn't around -- the only place people would go was the shrimp stand next to the Kahuku Shrimp Fields (now Romy's) But they started in the 90s and you could SMELL the garlicky-ness in Hale'iwa and Kahuku. Don't go crazy -- get the Garlic Shrimp Scampi ($13 now... prices keep going up!) and you won't regret it. Just make sure you like garlic... A lot of people may not realize that the Kahuku shrimp farms around the corner in Kahuku are world renown for their character. I have had to dock a star because Giovanni's does not source local shrimp, which is understandable but unfortunate. The company has grown almost too big for their britches.

    (4)

  • izumi n.

    I ordered the popular shrimp scampi. It was good but a bit oily for me. I did get a free soda with my check -in.

    (4)

  • Karen T.

    It had been awhile since we went to the shrimp trucks and decided to revisit Giovanni's. Minimal wait when we arrived on a weekday afternoon around lunch time but it was raining so that might have slowed things down because it got pretty busy by the time we were finished. We got the shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp and a side of the hot sauce. Each plate is $13 for a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice and half of that for a half order. The shrimp scampi is the most flavorful and definitely the best of the three. The lemon butter is very plain and really not worth it. The spicy sauce was pretty hot and I wouldn't be able to handle a whole dish of shrimp like that. It is nice that they offer it on the side. We didn't have a chance to revisit any of the other shrimp trucks but several of our friends went to Macky's and they all said they preferred Macky's over Giovanni's. Our experience with Giovanni's was decent but nothing that leaves us wanting to come back. We'd probably try a different shrimp truck next time. If you visit Giovanni's, stick with the scampi.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    Whenever I go to the north shore, giovannis is a must. If I don't get to go to giovannis, it's not worth the drive. I can't even explain the happiness when I get my plate. I get the shrimp scampi. It's pretty much like heaven on earth. But recently, it's been getting more popular, which means that parking is getting worst. The lines are getting worst. Their wait is getting worst. But is it worth it? Yes. They don't have many tables, so you need to be on the look out for someone to leave so you can take their table. Their garlic hotdog isn't all that. It tastes like a basic hotdog. When we got ours, the bread was so hard. I ended up feeding it to their many chickens running around. But if you ever have time to stop by, GET THE SHRIMP SCAMPI

    (4)

  • Rowi E.

    Giovanni's is what people do who visit HNL and drive to the North Shore. Come on a weekday; it's crowded but not as much traffic and people as on the weekend. This is our 2nd trip here in 2 years, both times in the afternoon. The return was more of a pilgrimage for my husband, who opted out of the food truck in Waikiki over the drive to the authentic North Shore. We received a helpful tip from an employee as we were leaving who said that we can always call in our order when we can estimate how far out we are so that after you pay, your food should be ready/close to ready, rather than waiting. We didn't mind, though because that's part of the experience of eating at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. There are 3 choices: scampi which is most popular, hot & spicy and lemon butter. We opted for the scampi which smells amazing and you must love garlic because they drip the butter garlic sauce over your shrimp and rice.

    (3)

  • G R.

    5 stars for 12 shrimps? I say YAHOO! Garlic and tons of it. Good stuff check it out.

    (5)

  • Joshua K.

    I first tried Fumi's and it was amazing. I was told to try Giovanni's, which I just did and it was not even close to Fumi's. You get 12 shrimp at Giovanni's for the same price, but the taste of Fumi's is much better. So quality go to Fumi's for quantity go to Giovanni's.

    (3)

  • jack d.

    While in North Shore, don't miss this little gem of a shrimp truck on the side of Hwy 83 in Kahuku. I have heard the hype so I wanted to try this out firsthand and should have known it was good by the looks of the crowded parking lot and the line to order. Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is one of several other food trucks in a parking lot. Other trucks offer Mexican and Korean BBQ. There is a tourist shop for T-shirts and trinkets and a Hawaiian hand carved shop. I would recommend the shrimp scampi ($13.00) very butter garlicky flavored prawns with a couple scoops of white rice with garlic. We tried the butter lemon shrimp ($13.00) also but lacking the robust garlic flavor. The other choice is the spicy shrimp ($13,00) which I would not dare try and the sign there says no refunds. So my guess is very hot and spicy. Cash only so don't think about debit or credit cards here, it's a food truck! There is a truck adjacent to Giovanni's that sells ice cold coconut juice in the coconut shell, smoothies and other assorted beverages. Lots of places to sit and eat and a sink to wash up afterwards. Not a bad spot if you enjoy eating delicious prawns outdoors near the beach.

    (4)

  • Nicole O.

    Not sure why this place is popular now. It used to be better than this. So disappointed! Not going back anymore.

    (1)

  • Nic J.

    I'm a huge fan of shrimp trucks and I just was not feeling this place. I went with the spicy shrimp plate two scoops of rice with garlic on top and a side of mac salad. My shrimp was beyond dry and it tasted more sour than spicy. I tried my gf's shrimp scampi and it tasted way fresher. Anyway, Geste shrimp truck on Maui is way better. Maybe an off day, who knows. I think there are better food truck options in the area.

    (2)

  • JO G.

    Always stop by this shrimp truck when passing through Kahuku. I absolutely love their Shrimp Scampi . . . all smothered in garlic and butter. YUMMY! The food is a little pricey for the amount given, plus you have to peel your own shrimp. Food truck is always busy though, lots of people. Their reputation is solid! Overall, I will continue to stop by here en route around the Island . . ..

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    We arrived for lunch and ordered the Shrimp Scampi. It appeared that the general consensus was to get the Shrimp scampi, which was also fan favorite. I wasn't impressed at all. The shrimp was lukewarm and nothing that i wasn't unfamiliar with. I think it's worth a visit if you in the north shore/kahuku area for couple of hours. I wouldn't choose Giovanni's as my "go to" when i return to the north shore.

    (3)

  • Gspot H.

    just drove past this truck the other. Remember many good times showing friends around the islands and this was not to uncommon of a visit. Wish they served some corn though...

    (4)

  • Jane A.

    So everyone has hyped about this food truck so I had really high expectations. I guess it was hyped so much that my expectations was way high. The shrimp was good but not worth 13 a plate. I had the popular shrimp scampi which was like I said was good but not what I expected. I also tried the spicy Shrimp which I was warned was really spivey. I do not recommend this not because it was spicey which I would rate it at a spice level 4 but that it was covered in tobacco sauce and cold. It was rubbery be tasted like it was over cookedh and had it sat for awhile. The line was long and the public restroom rn by the food truck was broken n closed. It was worth the trying but most likely not going back again,

    (3)

  • Sam A.

    Fast, quick, delicious, and fairly priced! Highly recommend this truck.

    (5)

  • Debra L.

    Amazing atmosphere and food. The shrimp scampi is one of everyone's favorite dish including mine. The butter, garlic and shrimp is seasoned and cooked to perfection. This dish is finger licking good literally speaking. Need to dig in eat with your fingers and slurp up the amazing sauce.

    (5)

  • Joanne T.

    We we're hungry on the way back from North Shore. I heard about this food truck so we stopped on by. Of course there was a line. The line to order moved pretty quickly. Its the wait for the food that took a bit (2 orders was about a 20 minute wait). I couldn't help myself and had to get a grilled corn nearby to feed the hunger pains. Don't forget to check-in on yelp to get your free soda. Let's get down to business. I love garlic shrimp but not doused with so much oil. After a long wait i expected the rice to at least be cooked right. It was too soggy. They used to much water. The flavor or the shrimp was satisfying but after a certain point i had to wipe off the extra oil all around. The spicy version was very spicy. Note they do not accept returns if you can't handle it.

    (3)

  • Bryan W.

    Must stop on the North Shore of Oahu! The Scampi and Lemon Shrimp were amazing - the lines are long at Giovanni's trucks (there are a few) but it is WELL worth the wait. I'd suggest the Scampi as the best of the bunch - there's also a super spicy selection that I wasn't brave enough to try.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Came here on my travels around the island to see what the hype was about. Cool spot to stop to grub before the drive back to the city. Ordered the Garlic shrimp spicy. Very tasty, but very greasy. It was good, but after eating shrimp 3x that week, I was pretty shrimp'd out by the time I got there. Have to try the BBQ corn from the other stand about 50 yards away. Good!

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    I really really really love the shrimp scampi! If you like big chunks of garlic, you will definitely love this. I never tried any other shrimp truck on the North Shore because i don't want to be disappointed, maybe one day. I tried the hot and spicy once a long time ago, but it just tastes like Tabasco, which some people like. They use to only have the dirt floors and sticky picnic tables with the tarp tents. Now it's fancy with a structured covering, concrete slab floor, tables are still usually sticky but it makes it more enjoyable to eat without the worry of dirt in your food. I like it so much, the hour or so drive out there is easily forgotten once I'm eating my shrimp.

    (5)

  • Eva I.

    Shrimp scampi. So GARLICKY* & sooo good. Between the two of us, we got one full order of shrimp scampi, one half order of lemon butter shrimp, and sides of hot sauce. (&green tea thanks to yelp check in) Splitting the orders and having 9 shrimps each was a good way to go! The full order comes with 2 scoops of rice and half order comes with 1. The shrimp tasted very fresh and the garlic sauce/seasoning on the shrimp scampi was delicious! The extra garlickyness on the rice was perfect for the garlic lovers. The shrimp was cut for easy peeling and a few of them actually fell out of the shells. The lemon/butter shrimp comes with plain shrimp and a side of lemon butter sauce. I am not too fond of the lemon butter flavor and ended up dipping those plain shrimp into the scampi sauce. I really enjoyed Giovannis minus the long ~1hr wait time. Plenty of shaded seating area and an outdoor sink for hand washing.

    (5)

  • Josie G.

    the best shrimp truck around.

    (5)

  • Crystal N.

    That greasy a$s rice and garlic together is Grain Lord and Garlic Goddess approved. Our arteries, not so much. Our resort was minutes away from Giovanni's (lucky us!) so we were able to eat here not once, but twice! The seating area was so clean despite being outdoors and what feels like, in the parking lot in the middle of no where. The truck owners or whoever maintains the area makes a huge effort to keep the place very sanitary and comfortable for patrons. They even built a little portable sink area for you to wash your hands after you drench your fingers with shrimp guts and butter! *insert very amused smiley face* DO order the Shrimp Scampi. My friends who could handle spicy thoroughly ENJOYED the Hot & Spicy. You really need a high tolerance for that one. My tongue was barely able to handle a tiny lick of it. If I were to describe it, the spiciness almost tasted like a 100x spicier concoction of tabasco sauce mixed with a gallon of vinegar + another gallon of chili oil. Yeah, exactly!

    (5)

  • Kathleen Ann S.

    I got the Lemon Butter Shrimp and the Macaroni. It was delicious. They peel it a little for you to easily take out the meat of the shrimp. The taste was delicious and fulfilling. It's definitely a tourist destination with a local feel. There is a canopy with tables for seating. My friend got the scampi and I would recommend that before the lemon one. Check yelp beforehand because we got a free Soda offer and you must get the Hawaiian Sun drinks to compliment the tastes. Great fast service and delicious taste!

    (5)

  • TRACY R.

    It seems like all my friends and everyone who's ever been to Hawaii has been to Giovanni's Food truck. So of course it was on my list of foods to try. I didn't want to feel left out of the foodie frenzie. There were only 3 Shrimp plates on the menu: the famous Shrimp Scampi, Hot & Spicy, and Lemon Butter. ($13) I ordered the Scampi and was not disappointed. This review was not from hunger, mind you. I just ate at Boots and Kimos before making our way here. The shrimp were large, succulent, and deveined, the sauce was galricy, and I totally get why people come to see Giovanni and his truck. It was freaking delicious! 2 scoops of rice with more sauce drizzled on top. Wish I didn't share with the fiancé! I checked in with my Yelp app and got a free drink! So don't forget to check in! My only qualm: Food truck food should NOT be $13!!

    (4)

  • Phil C.

    Went over to the north shore to check this place out along with the beaches up there. I am from the OC we have a place called the boiling crab, I rather have their shrimp compared to this place. It was a good experience but I would just come here again to eat this. Thanks for the soda!

    (4)

  • Polrit D.

    So worth the drive to North Shore! Simple offerings of Scampi, Lemon Butter or Spicy and we opted for the first option. The garlic butter was so good on the rice that it leaves you wanting more! The shrimps were perfectly cooked and the service was simple but awesome. Truly one of the best meal on this trip.

    (5)

  • Ellen P.

    We moped from Waikiki just to get this! -Shrimp scampi: marinated in olive oil, lemon butter, & lots and lotsss of garlic! This was definitely the best option! -Lemon butter: as the name sounds and served with some more lemon butter sauce on the side to dip your shrimp in. -Hot & spicy: has a no refund description because it is veryy spicy! But also had a super tangy taste to it. Wasn't a fan -Garlic hot dog: garlicky & good but needed some more oomph! Ask for extra rice with extra garlic on top ! Fresh aromatic sauteed garlic mmmMMMs ! Each shrimp plate is $13 with the option of half-plates too, and the hot dog was $3.50.

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    A must for any trip to the north shore. The shrimp is awesome, maybe a little on the pricey but I think well worth it. Don't be discouraged by long lines, Giovanni's has the lines down to a science. Order on the right side and pick up on the left.

    (4)

  • Jack S.

    Food was a five, bathroom was a one. Felt like I was trapped inside an egg yolk that kirstie Allie just layed

    (4)

  • Robert K.

    I don't know why so many people go here. After trying multiple shrimp trucks all around the north shore this is for sure my least favorite. The shrimps are small and taste like ones you would buy frozen at the supermarket. The spicy sauce tastes like Tabasco and pepper flakes mixed together, not very spicy just disappointing and vinegary. The rice was way over cooked too. Don't be tricked into stopping here just because you see a lot of cars parked out front!!

    (2)

  • Doriee D.

    I was debating between 3 and 4 stars actually but ended up giving Giovanni's a 4 star rating. Yes, this shrimp truck is probably over hyped beyond belief. Yes, there's nothing extra super duper spectacularistic about this truck. Yes, the prices are insane for just a dozen of shrimp. Yes, drinks are a separate cost. Yes, this truck is suparb far away from the city. Then why the high-ish rating? Well... I'm a tourist! HAHA! All of my Hawaiian friends that live on Oahu recommended this truck. They say that it's the BEST. When the locals say that, you just HAVE to go check it out. Honestly, it's probably the novelty of saying, "I ate at Giovanni's" more so than anything. The shrimp was good. They weren't bad or foul tasting. They were pretty big in size. And I LOVEEEEE their hot sauce. The FIRST time my friend and I came here, we ordered the spicy shrimp and boy did that kill us. It was just so spicy but so good .. but so hard to stomach down. So the second time we visited, we were smart. We followed our friend's advice and got the shrimp scampi with hot sauce on the side. That way, you get BOTH!!! Both!!! What's better than one?! TWO! Anywho, there's also a rooster that lives there I think. I saw it both times I went. It's kind of interesting. Not that interesting if you've already visited Kauai though. There are also other little shops in the area that the truck is in. So while you wait for your shrimp (depending on the crowd, it could be a very long wait) ... you can look around. There was also a stand that sold grilled corn. We tried that and it was pretty good. Not too shabby. There was another stand that sold fruit. Some of the fruit that she was selling are stuff you don't typically see in the mainland so it was nice. My friend bought something from there to try as well. Oh and also, if you're visiting, the location of the truck shouldn't bother you. Because if you're in Oahu, you definitely have to visit North Shore because it's such a beautiful area. There are beaches along the road that you can stop and play around in. Somewhere along the line, you'll bump into this shrimp truck ;P Overall, it's worth a try and a visit. You're on vacation anyways so what the heck! Right?! :)

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is a good place to stop by when you're chillaxing in the state of Hawaii. The two flavors I tried were "spicy and lemony" and "garlicky." I have to say they were both tasty. You should realize that you're going to get the shrimp sauce all your hands (and in some cases your body). No need to worry - just wash off near the back where they have a sink for you. Or you can just go in the ocean and wash off there. Maybe the sauce will lure a friendly shark and you guys can go play together. Or maybe not since that's absurd. Anyway, this was my first time coming to Giovanni's but I enjoyed the entire experience. Grab a plate of some ono grinds. Ono.

    (5)

  • Danielle C.

    Giovanni's has the best garlic shrimp I've ever had! When you get to the truck it looks pretty rough, but it doesn't even matter because the food made in that weathered van is just so insanely good. It's worth the long haul to North Shore! I tried the shrimp scampi and garlic hot dog. Both of these are simple and no nonsense. There's great quality and quantity control. The menu tells you that each shrimp plate comes with 12 jumbo shrimp and two scoops of rice with their delicious garlic sauce (?) on top and a little lemon wedge. The shrimp and rice are served on a paper plate and they give you an extra plate for the shells. It gets messy so it'd be smart to bring some wet wipes for when you're done. As for your breath, it'll smell like garlic all day so you can either embrace it so you can remember how amazing the food was or use some mouthwash and chew gum to help tame the garlicky smell. The outdoor eating area is limited especially during prime eating hours and the fly situation can get pretty intense, but it's probably easier to eat outside instead of eating in your car.

    (4)

  • Christine W.

    Food was delicious but there were just too many flies in the area which really made me question the cleaniness of the food.

    (4)

  • Carla A.

    Escaped the touristy atmosphere of Waikiki and made it to North Shore and checked out this truck. I got the shrimp scampi and a can of passionfruit juice and paid a little more that I expected. The shrimp was pretty good (garlic galore) and the rice helped as well, but overall, it wasn't as life-changing as I thought it would be after hearing everyone rave about it. Also: cash only. So be ready for that. And a lot of tourists tend to feed the birds (like birds, hens, roosters) and cats, so be ready to be surrounded by animals while you eat, too.

    (3)

  • Lak T.

    Got the garlic shrimp plate with side of hot sauce. Gave it a 3/5 stars just for the fact that their shrimp were pretty big. The sauce was ok. I think I didn't enjoy it as much because the garlic taste burnt to me. Rice was more on the soggy side for my taste. Glad I gave it a try but I prefer the taste of Fumi's Kahuku shrimp truck.

    (3)

  • Jayden E.

    Wait time wasn't long. Only a couple options available. I got the shrimp scampi, which wasn't too bad. It was better than Fumis, but Teds Bakery had a lot better garlic shrimp. Not bad.

    (4)

  • Chad H.

    By the time we arrived here at 6:00pm, the line was 22 people long. As most reviews have already stated, the most popular shrimp scampi is garlicky, buttery, and really fresh. On the other hand, the no refunds Hot and Spicy was all HEAT. Almost inedible. Surprisingly, the garlic rubbed hot dog had a crunchy casing and was very flavorful.

    (4)

  • Adler F.

    Would rather swim with hungry sharks out here.Not sure what the fuss is about this dive??? Maybe it's the atmosphere. Shrimp in garlic with two scoops of rice, how exciting!Had the classic scampi. Wasn't bad and it wasn't amazing either. Too much hype. Only stop if hungry otherwise there are different options in this side road mall.

    (3)

  • Nani T.

    Always as awesome as I can remember! Its like a reward to be able to come here lol. I love love love it here ! Awesome service ! And all the flavors are on point

    (5)

  • Ivy Y.

    Overpriced, overcooked boiled shrimp. Shrimp had no shrimp taste and was not even cooked with the hot and spicy sauce, or ANY sauce for that matter. Tita's Grill 2 minutes away was WAY better!

    (1)

  • Darren M.

    Got there when they opened at 10:30 on a Tuesday, no line, short wait. I had the #1 Scampi, and it was the best garlic shrimp I've ever tasted. And I don't even like garlic. I tried the #3 lemon butter too, and it was just as good. They give you a small cup of extra lemon butter sauce, but you won't need it. The shrimp are sautéd in lemon butter, and the hint of lemon is amazing. Don't be surprised by the setting (it has all the charm of an outdoor school cafeteria). Besides, you won't notice the decor once you take the first bite of shrimp. Bring your money clip, Giovanni's doesn't accept credit or debit cards, cash only.

    (5)

  • Tullie H.

    Gionvanni's Shrimp Truck - no refunds if you order the Spicy and it's too hot. And that's exactly what I ordered. Yum!

    (4)

  • Vanessa S.

    Found this place while driving along the long stretch of road, and gave it a shot... there are so many cats wondering around this place asking you to give a piece a shrimp! The shrimp and rice seem very average and for 10 bucks kinda expected some better than something I could cook at home.

    (3)

  • Ken M.

    These guys are the Best on the North Coast, both locations. Shrimp is Amazing, Service fast, and they're super friendly. I noted in my other review that another reviewer complained about flies in their shaded, outdoor eating area. I'll say it again. Get a clue dude, outdoor means exactly that! If you can't deal with a few insects then go to some indoor restaurant with AC and all the cookie cutter amenities. Giovanni's won't miss your business.

    (5)

  • Sharma R.

    Okay... Okay... Maybe coming here on SuperBowl Sunday was not the best idea.. But the shrimp was cold on the inside as if they dunked it in hot water to illusion it being freshly made... I ordered the lemon and butter... Which was a big chuck of semi melted butter with melon juice rested on the bottom.. I literally ate 4 pieces of shrimp and didn't touch the rice at all.. It was Mushy!! My one year old daughter immediately spit the rice out... I am. ROMY'S fan! I think Giovanni's overrated!!.. Ooh..and the cat hanging out and walking around the tables.. Not ..very unsanitary...

    (1)

  • Kathy N.

    Two words: Worth it. On Oahu for a local boy's wedding and he recommended Giovanni's. He said get the spicy. We said, OK. The bride said said get the scampi. We said, OK. Spicy and scampi ordered up and we were in shrimp heaven. Messy, buttery, shrimpy fingers were washed and as we were getting ready to head out, we encountered a gentleman who said he was visiting the island and went to Giovanni's the day before. So good that he drove back the second day for more. I get it.

    (5)

  • Austin B.

    I'm not particularly fond of eating overpriced shrimp, but it's something you do when you go North Shore. I only go here if someone wants to go here because I'd rather go to another spot that at least serves fresh shrimp instead of the frozen one. Likes: Shrimp scampi is the only thing I get here if we do come here. Garlic makes a lot of things taste good. Dislikes: Cash only and expensive for what you get. The other items on the menu are not good either. It's one of those touristy places that you go to, and after eating there, you either love it, or wonder what all the hype is about. If you do choose to go here, make sure you have the Yelp app and check in, because sometimes they have a free drink as a check-in offer.

    (2)

  • Mark W.

    An absolute must for anyone who considers themselves "culistiphate" (culinarily sophisticated) no culinary resume is complete without a trip to "Giovanni's...... This is going "full spectrum" in the food world experience! People love to diss Ohau but baby that place has come full circle!! The North Shore is IT!! Surfers have known it for years but I been to all the other Islands, the North Shore is sitting right under your nose for god's sake. Is there a Beach prettier than Waimea Bay?? Is there a better rock to jump off of than the one at Waimea?? A resort more secluded and laid back than Turtle Bay ?? A shaved ice better than Matsumoto's?? Throw in a trip to Giovanni's for Garlic and Butter shrimp and your done! This needs to be on your list of 100 things and or places you need to do before you die!!

    (4)

  • Tiare K.

    Although they were fast with service... No flavor And over cooked shrimp. 2 of the things that I am writing this rating on. From the last time I came a year ago, had more flavor and more moist. Can tell it was frozen. Employees are eating on the job and that's a really bad look carrier they are the ones who are coming and serving our food. If you'd be able not to do that in front of customers. Everyone is watching don't forget that. I ordered the scampi, which lacked garlic flavor as well. Don't know if it's a regular thing but thanks for the free soda I had because this is the first check in I had on yelp. Aloha

    (1)

  • Shey P.

    Oh my Jolly!! This place is good! Nothing compares the shrimps we have in the Bay Area. Hands down to the taste and how the people were fast to serve our food. The garlic rice and scampi was the bomb, my two kids doesn't eat shrimp so I get them both Garlic hotdog and the rice, I gave them one of each of shrimp and oh my goodness they wanted more! My husband enjoyed His scampi thats for sure he didnt even share. If your in Hawaii don't forget to try it.

    (5)

  • Bri K.

    When I first got the the shrimp truck, it was SUPER crowded! Parking is a bit of a struggle. Definitely the tourists have found this local favorite. However, the line went by pretty quickly. I got the shrimp scampi (most popular dish), and it was AMAZING! A dozen of pipping hot, fresh shrimp was definitely worth the wait! I even got a yelp discount of 1 free soda for checking in! If you have the time, check out the other small shops surrounding it. There's BBQ corn, fresh fruits, and more!

    (5)

  • Diana I.

    After hearing all the hype about Giovanni's, I had very high expectations. It was our first stop for lunch during our day trip to North Shore. The truck was very easy to spot with all the writing/graffiti all over it. Parking was easy in the lot. There's also a lot of seating in the outdoor pavilion. My husband and I both got the Shrimp Scampi which is supposed to be the best thing on the menu. The food came out super fast! At first, I was a little annoyed we had to peel the shrimp but it was actually fairly easy, and the shells came right off. But the TASTE... ehhh it was okayyy. It was very garlicky and I looove garlic. But something about the flavor was a little off. I did like the taste more than what I've had at Boiling Crab in SoCal, but I didn't find it to be particularly delicious. I also didn't like how the rice was cooked with too much water -- it came out too watery/sticky. Overall, I thought it was overhyped... maybe we came on an off day? Or maybe the quality has gone down over the years? Note: Don't forget to check in on Yelp and get your free sodas!

    (3)

  • Michael W.

    Finally tried Giovanni's and totally get the hype. Had the garlic shrimp and though it was oily as heck, it didn't matter. Good portions and the flavor had a lot of depth. Generous portion of shrimp. Hot sauce was indeed hot so glad they warn you. Ask for it on the side so you can dip it instead. I'm just mad that I couldn't have it more on my trip because we drove out to North Shore a second time just for the shrimp, but it was closed by the time we got there. I felt bad for all the other food trucks next to them though - everyone was at this one. P.S. Don't bother with the imposters. Had Mackys and I had Pacific Grilled Shrimp in Waikiki and they don't even come close...

    (5)

  • Caesar P.

    Scampi was good. Quite a bit of butter but that's part of what makes it taste so good. Lemon and butter good but not as good as the scampi. Didn't try the hot and spicy today. Would be nice if the owners would have someone going through the eating area to wipe down the tables and sweep up to create a better eating experience... Hire one of the local kids and make it a multiple win situation for Giovanni's.

    (3)

  • David P.

    Consensus among family members: best shrimp scampi ever. Reasonable value, good service, prepared in small batches. Original scampi is best bet. Hot and spicy recipe wasn't especially impressive. Only downside is its remote location. If you happen to be in the area headed to major North Shore destinations, great. Otherwise, other shrimp trucks can hit the spot.

    (4)

  • Grace L.

    Mostly a tourist trap. The food is decent but honestly not worth the drive if you're coming out here just for that. Shrimp Scampi: Garlic shrimp with two scoops of rice topped with garlic sauce. The shrimp shells are left on but they cut it in a way that makes it easy to peel. You get 12 pieces of shrimp for $13 but they're not jumbo shrimp so you can probably eat each shrimp in one bite. The portions definitely aren't small but for a big eater, it probably won't be super filling either. Hot and Spicy: Ugh yargh. I'm Korean, I LOVE spicy food but this was just no. 0/5 stars. Tasted like tabasco sauce mixed with some chili pepper sauce? It was not lacking in spicy but definitely in flavor. All I could taste was the spicy kick and not much of anything else. Maybe if they mixed the garlic with the spicy it would be better? Rice: I like my rice at the perfect consistency. Too hard and it blows off your plate. Too soft and it tastes like baby good. I thought the rice was alright BUT both of my parents said the rice was way too mushy for their taste. If you don't like soft mushy rice and you're picky about it, you probably won't be too pleased. It's worth it to try at least once, maybe even twice if you're headed out to the north shore to go to the beach. I would stop by again if I was headed out that way BUT I definitely wouldn't drive all the way out here to satisfy my shrimp craving. It was decent but not that good.

    (3)

  • Michelle T.

    SO FREAKING DELICIOUS! The shrimp scampi...MMMM. It's cooked with lots of butter and garlic. Match made in heaven. There were so much garlic and butter you can have some with your rice too. The shrimp comes with the shell on, and I ate it with the shell on because taking it off will take off all the butter and garlic as well. The shrimp was cooked perfectly - nice crisp in every bite. You do not want to get anything else besides the shrimp scampi. The lemon and butter might sound tempting but don't do it. My boyfriend's brother got that one and it was 10x not as good as the shrimp scampi. The shrimp was boiled and it came with lemon and melted butter - that's something you can make at home so don't waste a trip here for that. Cash only.

    (5)

  • Priscilla C.

    Everyone told me to go to Giovanni's once in Oahu, so for the very first meal after landing we went here on the way to Turtle Bay. Thankfully I suggested we get the half order for the both of us, bc I would have felt more regretful than I did. Pinky chose the shrimp scampi while I got the hot& spicy shrimp. Our order came out quickly and finding a seat was no problem. First bite told me everything I needed to know about how my meal/snack would be. Overcooked that it was bordering mushiness and the hot&spicy, although spicy was lacking in flavor other than sour. Pinky's shrimp scampi was a little less overcooked than mine, but overcooked nonetheless. While just boring in flavor. Wtheck has everyone who's recommended me this place been smoking??? I honestly, think this place is not appetizing at all. Check out Mackys Sweet Shrimp instead, they know how to not overcook shrimp!

    (1)

  • Vikéndios N.

    We did a last minute drive around the island and ended up here along the way. ATMOSPHERE: Look for the white food truck with the Giovanni's name. Driving from the east side of the island, you're gonna see a lot of shrimp trucks, but this one is the best! There's a permanent open-air covered pavilion with tables & seats. MENU: 3 styles of shrimp, and even a hot dog plate! FOOD: Shrimp Scampi - Total awesomeness. Finger licking good butter & garlic. It comes with 2 scoops of rice topped with chopped garlic, though I'm not a fan of rice with shrimp (maybe do a mac salad?) I could NOT duplicate it at home no matter how much I tried. Lemon Butter - Good but not as 'lish as the scampi version. SERVICE: The staff were friendly and food service was quick. OVERALL: It's all in the fun of driving there, mingling with locals & tourists, all on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    We kept hearing from the locals that we needed to drive to the North Shore and go check out Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. We're glad we did! When pulling up to the truck, we had a raised eyebrow because the truck looks broken down with a ton of graffiti all over it. Turns out that the graffiti is from all of their customers giving love to this truck. The menu is as simple as you can get. You can order shrimp in 3 ways. 1) Hot & Spicy 2) Scampi 3) Lemon & Butter. We had the hot and spicy and scampi. All of these dishes are $13 each and come with 2 scoops of white rice. Our dishes were overall very tasty. Lots of flavor and the shrimp were fresh! I will admit that it wasn't the best shrimp truck I've had, but it's up there. The only real con to this place is that there are a ton of people, so get ready to wait for your food. Go get yo shrimp on! Cheers!

    (4)

  • Harry C.

    Classic. The original shrimp truck. This is a must stop everytime I visit the island. It is quite a distance from Honolulu but always worth it. Looks like they upgraded their truck as well.

    (5)

  • Rosalynn E.

    Fresh Kahuku shrimp perfectly done scampi style, my choice or hot and spicy or lemon butter. So good you'll end up sucking the juices off of your fingers. The plates are $13 or a half playe for $6.50. There are other trucks but none better than the Original Giovanni's.

    (5)

  • Riana S.

    Haha so I'm reading my last review on them and because I've been having to come here a lot more because majority rules and I'm always the minority in the group that wants to go to another particular shrimp shack :3 and I still feel the same haha. I will give it to them that they have an efficient execution system going on, I usually never have to wait too long for my plate which is nice and the shrimp scampi style with rice and not pasta is slowly starting to grow on me. They do smother that butter garlic sauce on everything, including the rice which I'm still getting used to! For now here's another star...haha maybe I'll try a different shrimp plate of theirs!

    (3)

  • Julia K.

    What a nice surprise after a day of driving around o'ahu. We got the shrimp scampi and spicy shrimp with a side of macaroni salad. Taste of shrimp scampi was a 4.5/5. I didn't think there could be too much garlic on a dish but there was. Also the garlic tasted like it came from a jar. We also have to peel our own shrimp which means your fingers get dirty. It's fun but if you don't like getting your hands dirty then it might not be your cup of soup. Spicy shrimp was 3.5/5. Tasted like Tabasco sauce. Every dish ($13 each) comes with two scoops of rice which was a 4/5. Rice was somewhat over cooked and therefore mashed together a bit. Macaroni salad was delicious (4/5) and would recommend it. It had the right amount of pepper and sauce. I'll definitely be back if I'm around the area.

    (4)

  • Marina D.

    What happened to their shrimp? I've been here several times while living in Hawaii. Now we drove for hours only to be disappointed. Garlic shrimp was undercooked or old, or something. Spicy shrimp was the worst! !!!!!!! It had too much spice mixed with vinegar. Disgusting. I don't remember their food being this bad, ever! The truck with smoothies and juices sold us old precut coconuts, they were starting to smell fermented. Several miles back towards Honolulu you can buy fresher coconuts sold by the road for 1/2 price. If you want really tasty shrimp, go check out a joint in Honolulu. It's called Shrimp and BBQ on Keeaumoku Str. Across from Walmart. Best shrimp ever. Better than giovannis or equivalent to what they used to be. I know this because I had shrimp and bbq in evening, then giovannis next day. So tastes are still fresh in my mind, and my comparison is accurate.

    (1)

  • Donna S.

    Have to say spicy shrimp was totally awesome, but don't worry about tipping extra because it won't do any good! We went with friends ordered $78 worth & my husband tipped over $20 and went back to get a cold drink and they said no we are closed!!! Pretty pathetic and we will definitely never go back, definitely taught my husband a lesson he likes to make people's day by tipping good but obviously it was a joke to them! Three stars for shrimp minus two for service!

    (3)

  • Jonathan V.

    Environment: 4/5 Employees: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Cost: 4/5 Accessibility: 5/5 Parking: 5/5 Total: 28/30 Synopsis: Talk about tourist trap. All I do is Giovanni's when I come to the north shore. Whether it is the shrimp truck by Halaeiwa or the "MAIN" spot. You can definitely find yourself waiting for some time to get your garlic shrimp, but it is definitely well worth it. They had the scampi, spicy, and the lemon butter. If you want a little more salty, maybe a little too salty, go with the scampi. However, if you want something to balance the salt, choose spicy. The environment is open space, so you can breathe in the clean air of Hawai'i, but definitely crowded and doesn't have that restaurant clean feel potential. Environment: Definitely only come here if it is not raining because the space is open. Furthermore, expect it to be very crowded with a not a very "clean" look to it. However, when the weather is sunny with limited wind, it is the perfect setting to consume food here. Employees: All the workers here are nice and with a smile. Food: Scampi Shrimp: YUM! Salty goodness that leaves your mouth all garlicky for the rest of the day. If you love garlic and you love olive oil and you definitely love shrimp this is the route for you. 5/5 Spicy Shrimp: This is bar far my most favorite because it balances out the saltiness that you can experience from the Scampi Shrimp. If you are looking for the same garlicky taste, but with a little kick, look no further. 5/5 Cost: Definitely for a plate lunch where they don't have to pay electricity, you find yourself wondering why on the price-point. $13? Wow. But, then again it is shrimp and you are in a touristy area, so you can expect it. Regardless, definitely worth having on your trip to Hawai'i whether you are visiting or coming back home. Accessibility: I cannot recall if the bus stop is near by, but I can imagine it is. I think I saw one. Parking: There seems to be an endless amount of parking as there are no "designated' area since there is road then open space. So regardless of the business-ness, you will find a place to park.

    (5)

  • Elysse P.

    All my SoCal people who are obsessed with Boiling Crab, Kickin Crab, etc. GIOVANNI'S IS THE TRUTH!!! Located in a totally unassuming location that legit reminded me of the Philippines. Stray cats, chickens, hens, chicks... mini swap meet, cafeteria style tables. Shrimp & rice for $13! And they do half portions too!! Choose the flavor of your shrimp. + scampi + hot & spicy + lemon butter I ordered half scampi and half hot & spicy. SCAMPI!!!! So garlicky and delicious... I was addicted. If you LOVE garlic as much as me, do yourself a favor and ask them for EXTRA garlic on top of the rice. Your breath might regret it, but you won't. It's SO GOOD. I also had to order the hot & spicy because of the "non-refundable" warning. I was like... WHOA is it really that spicy that people tried to return it? It WAS spicy! The kick was strong, but a little overpowering. I would stick with ALL SCAMPI next time.

    (5)

  • Kahiki S.

    #1 shrimp scampi and the hotdog with scampi sauce was on point. Don't forget to mention yelp for free soda.

    (5)

  • Vy N.

    Iconic shrimp truck with super long waiting line! Is it good? Try it yourself! Location (4/5): It conveniently locates on highway 83. There were other food trucks there as well such as Kalbi on Fire and OneYo. The toughest part is to find parking! If you call yourself a nice driver, gotta step up your game! Otherwise you will have to spend HOURS waiting to park AND waiting for your food. Services (3/5): So yes, the wait is VERY LONG! I was glad that I was not starving while ordering food. It took me a few minutes to order and one hour to eat. We used that time to wander around to other food trucks for temporary snacks. If you are still bored, ask the cashier for a permanent pen to sign on their truck! They are very nice about it!!! Food (4/5): We ordered lemon butter, garlic, hot and spicy shrimps. They were pretty delicious with rice! We ate so fast that my group didn't bother to let me take a decent photo of the food... As you can tell, we were bordering starving! Some said that their hot and spicy shrimps taste like Boiling Crab in California. I think their hot and spicy shrimps are pretty d*** HOT! My personal favorite is the garlic shrimps. So much garlic!!!! We came to this specific shrimp truck because we read about it. If you only want to experience the eating shrimp part and skipping the waiting part, drive a few minutes away/ further. There are plenty of shrimp trucks such as the Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck that has even higher rating.

    (4)

  • Greg T.

    I am allergic to dairy, so shrimp bathed in butter isn't my idea of a party. Thus I wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck since I had previously perused the menu and couldn't find anything noticeably "safe." But, after talking to the workers, we learned that the Hot & Spicy Shrimp was dairy-free. (If anyone of you have been complaining about the lack of butter in this dish, then here's your answer: there is none.) Given that the Hot & Spicy came with the warning that there were NO REFUNDS, I wasn't sure whether I would be able to handle the dish. But, I didn't think the food warranted that disclaimer, as the sauce wasn't the spiciest thing in the world. (Uh, if you really want spicy food, go to Asia.) If you're just eating spoonfuls of sauce, I could imagine that you could have problems with this dish, but when mixed with the shrimp and paired with the sticky rice, it wasn't THAT intense. Sure, you'll need a drink to wash down the spicy, which is sadly the primary taste of the shrimp, but your eyes probably won't be watering and your mouth won't be on fire. My friend and I shared a half order ($6.50 for 6 shrimp), but probably would have been better off with the full plate. Definitely remember to check-in to Yelp for a free soda; I forgot to until after we had paid. The truck itself is covered with handwritten notes and signatures, which gives the truck a unique appearance. The location is pretty accessible: there's plenty of parking in the area, there's a covered seating area for those wet, rainy days, there's other food options, and there's even a hand-washing station to keep your hands sauce-free. Just make sure you close your convertible roof before getting in line, eating, and ignoring the impending rainstorm; several customers found that out the hard way and had to scramble to their cars to shut the roofs. Maybe the other (read: buttery) options are better, but I wasn't really impressed with Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. Overhyped? Probably. Overpriced? Maybe.

    (3)

  • Trish D.

    Been coming back here for a few years now whenever my family & I visit O'ahu. Its always one of our stops when we drive around the island. Their shrimp scampi is swimming in a pool of garlic & butter, what more can i say?! We indulge since we only get to have this once a year, we are on vacation after all!! Some people complain about the shrimp not being peeled already, but i think thats what makes the best sea-food experience, when you get your hands dirty & get in there to get all the meat out, besides...after peeling the shrimp, i usually dip it back to the buttery garlic goodness on my plate before actually devouring it. They cut the shrimp on its back side so its easier to peel & for the flavor to actually seep in it. The shrimp pieces itself are big. They taste fresh as they should be & also juicy. Rub your fingers/hands with the lemon peel before washing your hands in the sink, it provides extra help to take off that garlic shrimp smell youre left with. There are plenty of outside vendors around as well. Good place to kill some time while you wait for your order. Remember to check in via yelp to get yourself a free drink!

    (5)

  • Kahea K.

    A MUST stop for lunch....great flavor, great price, nice size portion. I prefer Giovanni's over Romy's or Fumi's. Their only downfall is they don't have enough seating for the amount of customers they have.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    I've been to Giovanni's plenty of times and it seems like each time I go, the quality just gets worst and worst. Today I went around noon time. There was no line, AWESOME! I paid and then my food was already ready. WHAT?!? Sat down and started to eat... hmmmm... there's not that much butter... there's not that much garlic... the shrimp is a little tough... the shrimp actually has no flavor... there's really no butter to get more flavor from... even the rice have no real flavor... eckkkk, what is going on? So, it seems like instead of making orders, to order, they are bulk cooking the shrimp to prevent long lines. SIGH, the shrimp was not good! Sadness! My friend's Hot and Spicy shrimp was worst, she said they were dry and her shrimp looked a lot smaller than mine! A few of my shrimp were also not cleaned out so I had the poopies on the top and it was not appetizing. We all agreed that we should have gone to Romy's and waited for their shrimp. Lesson learned!

    (2)

  • Marlo M.

    We set out to try as many white shrimp food trucks as our bellies could hold in search of the best. And after much discussion and digestion, Giovanni pulls out a unanimous win over the others for food, energy of location and truck concept. The service was all smiles and we even got to sign our names on the newly rolled Giovanni's 2nd addition truck. When you visit, be prepare to have the Dracula inside of you destroyed because that shrimp scampi dish is packed filled of garlic goodness. If you love the flavor of garlic, then I'm certain you will love the shrimp scampi dish served Hawaiian style with your choice of sticky rice (topped with garlic) or macaroni salad. My recommendation go with the rice, your tummy will thank you later. Ono!! While your there, don't forget to the sign the truck. But you must ask the staff for a market! Mahalo Giovanni for 40+ years of service and not becoming overly commercial.

    (5)

  • Christina T.

    YUMMY... We came here because of all the reviews on yelp and because we were looking for something quick to get for lunch. It's located in this little section with a couple other food trucks. The truck might look a little misleading because it looks a little jenky.. but food was amazing!!! We ordered two shrimp plates and the garlic hot dog and devoured it so fast. We ordered the shrimp scampi which was their best seller. It has a lot of garlic, so if you don't like garlic then you might want to get something else. We also ordered the spicy shrimp. Heat level on a scale on 1-5 was like a 3 for me. It wasn't too hot, but I do like spicy foods. You can also ask for more of their hot sauce! Both dishes came with two scoops of rice covered by the delicious scampi sauce. All the shrimps were unpeeled so be prepared to get messy! The hot dog is also cooked in the sauce, which does wonders. Think of a costco hot dog, but 10 times better. Definitely get the shrimp, and if you still have room in your stomach, then order the hot dog. **There's a sink near the back of the truck so you can wash your hands after your done!

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    In addition to lounging away at one of the beautiful North Shore beaches, grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many shrimp trucks is a must! This became a mini-tradition on my two trips to the North Shore on this most recent vacation on Oahu. The shrimp at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is sooooo good! I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and was pleased with my order. The shrimp was cooked just right and full of butter and garlic. I loved the fact that they provide enough sauce to put over the white rice! The mac salad was also a great pairing with the shrimp. Do not forget to bring enough cash! They do not accept any cards here. Prices were reasonable. The employees were fast and friendly enough. They do have an outdoor sink with soap to the side of the seating area. That was a plus, as not many trucks on the north shore provided that. Bring your sharpie and leave your personal stamp on the truck. Graffiti is allowed. Can't wait to come back in the near future!!

    (5)

  • Varun B.

    We went for a long drive along the north shore for this food truck, but well worth it. The line is always present, but just stand and wait and smell the food as people take their plates to find a seat. With my yelp check-in, I got a free soda, so that was nice while I was waiting. Ok, so about the shrimp themselves...you get a lot for $13, that's for sure. If you're just going for a snack, get the half plate, and you'll be ok, because the full plate is about 2-3 times what you would get at any given restaurant. I got the Hot and spicy and my wife got the scampi. So warning here, do not take that hot and spicy warning lightly. It definitely has very ongoing, slow burn. The taste of the hot sauce is quite delicious, so my best recommendation would be to get the scampi and ask for a bunch of the hot sauce on the side so you can add it as you please.

    (4)

  • George M.

    fresh fresh fresh shrimp.. A must try seafood and we got the shrimp scampi recommended be the employee that that's there're best seller.. And did not disappoint.. a must try..

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    I would definitely recommend anyone who is in the area to stop by! I had the truck specialty, the shrimp scampi with butter and garlic. The shrimp is served with two scoops of rice which is also dressed with butter and fresh garlic. The flavors are great - and even more enhanced with a squeeze of lemon. Portion of shrimp is also good - 12 medium shrimp per plate. The truck is surrounded by several other trucks and there is general parking and picnic table seating under a tent and also under open air - like a little food court. It was really busy when we got there - but they are efficient about getting the dishes out. When we got our ticket (#51) they were serving order #20 - we had to wait ~ 40 minutes for our food. Not bad (and the food was worth it).

    (5)

  • Red L.

    We've been coming here since 1997, both locations equally perfect. Kahuku location has a wash area and rest rooms which is a plus. Really sucks when your hands smell of shrimps and garlic when you're driving - purel doesn't mask the smell. A reviewer was commenting about the long wait....it's so worth it.

    (5)

  • Lyn R.

    food was alright! Ordered hot&spicy Shrimp it was cold & over cooked too spicy like super spicy! Lemon&butter too oily just plain butter and lemon nothing that great Shrimp scampi taste like lemon, butter &garlic nothing else Can cook better at home per plate is $13 you could buy a big bag of jumbo shrimp for $23 and could feed at least 5-6people. I don't find it delicious maybe when I'm really hungry and it's the last food truck in the world! Lol. I'd rather order a lb of shrimp at boiling crab for $9.99

    (2)

  • Felicia L.

    I really enjoyed the shrimp scampi here! Garlicky, spicy, and yummy. The rice topped with the garlic was good too! We also enjoyed mac salad and Hawaiian sun drinks. Overall prices were pretty good for the amount, quality, and overall yumminess of the food we ate. Yes, this is served out of a food truck. Don't be put off by the long lines! It goes by very fast. The truck is also situated adjacent to a covered picnic area, where there are plenty of tables, as well as an outdoor sink... very useful after eating the saucy shrimp!!! Also this place is among a bunch of other vendors... which we didn't really check out but it seems cool for next time. Overall, the shrimp here is pretty good! I would come here again!

    (4)

  • Christine T.

    I was here in March, so this is an overdue review. But is it really necessary? Any person who has been here, know the only disappointment is the long wait for their delicious plate of garlic shrimp over rice. What are you waiting for?! Get yourself on this island and put this on your itinerary!!

    (5)

  • A C.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Giovanni's Shrimp truck! The shrimp scampi plate is filled with garlicky buttery goodness. I've replicated this at home and though good, it's just not the same so I have to make a stop here each time we return to Oahu. -1 for lines & craziness. When did this place get so big & crowded? It took over 30 minutes to get our food. There are 2 lines: order on the right, pickup on the left. There are no signs so many people were confused and stood in the wrong line to order. There are many picnic tables and you may have to wait a bit, but there's quick turnover so it's not super difficult to find seating. Just be prepared to share a table with others. Checkin on Yelp to get a free soda!

    (4)

  • B L.

    Outings to this renowned shrimp truck are a must when friends are in town. Such a great deal for the amount of juicy, garlicky, shrimp each plate comes with. I usually am not that person that has to have rice with every meal, but when I come here I eat every scoop. The garlic butter sauce makes it irresistible. Be warned, you will permeate garlic from every pore for the next few days, but it is well worth it. The entire experience eating here is what brings locals and tourists coming back again and again - ordering from a window of a truck that has character to say the least, the comfy outdoor patio seating, the salty air, the fresh breeze, the makeshift sinks to wash your hands after ravenously digging into each shrimp. Food and atmosphere can't be beat! You will feel like you are on vacation every time with not a worry in sight.

    (5)

  • Dwayne Y.

    So we drove out to Kahuku to try this shrimp. After deciding not to eat at Hukilau Cafe (worst service in America); we arrived here. The last time I ate here was probably 10 years ago. The service was fast and the lady who took our orders was friendly. The order was quick and came out within 5 minutes. First of all the shrimp were very small. It looked like they used 20-24/pound shrimp. The flavor was ok. It had a lot of garlic. But it did not wow me and this is something I definitely can make better in my kitchen. Plus it was like $12-$15 for the plate. Anyway if you are traveling to the North Shore and want to eat shrimp, then nothing wrong to eat here. But I wouldn't make a special trip here if your sole reason is to eat shrimp.

    (3)

  • Samantha C.

    A-okay! Got the lemon butter and shrimp scampi. Shrimps in the lemon butter were overcooked and didn't have much flavor. Shrimp scampi was way better, but it does leave a greasy garlicky feel afterwards. The side of rice was mushy and soggy. We stopped by since we were zip lining in the area, but I don't think I'll be going out of my way next time.

    (3)

  • Jaimie L.

    We set out to North Shore to try the famous Giovanni's as well as seek some sea turtles. I have to say this truck is a bit overrated. We got the garlic scampi and the lemon/butter. The lemon/butter was lacking in flavor and the rice came completely plain and dry. The garlic scampi was good, but nothing exceptional to write home about. I've had other garlic shrimp places that were just as good and maybe even better. I'de suggest not to head to North Shore from afar if you are going just to try to Giovannis'.... just stop by if you're in the area already or if it's on the way to something else you planned.

    (3)

  • Kelli S.

    I've only been visited Giovanni's Shrimp Truck once, and we got there before the truck arrived for lunch ... so I was freaking out a bit because I thought the truck wasn't going to come! It's worth coming early, though, cause you'll be at the front of the line (and hopefully beat the crowds). There was a small group of people already waiting for the highly anticipated shrimp meal when we pulled up on a Friday in April for lunch. Though I had heard about the larger, buttery shrimp entrees for a long time, this was my first visit to the famous North Shore shrimp truck. It was quite a drive to go out there, but since my friend and I were also playing tourist and visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, we decided to stop by the truck for lunch first. My friend and I decided to get different plates so we could share. After we stood in the short line and placed our orders, it was only a short wait before we got our fresh, hot plates of jumbo shrimp. There are several picnic tables where you can immediately enjoy your meals, and in no time, the finger-licking, messy, shrimp-ingesting goodness ensued. If you have some business on the North side to take care of, make sure you stop by Giovanni's ... any long line will be worth it once you start stuffing yourself with shrimp! Here's what we got: "Lemon Butter Shrimp": I ordered this entrée, which featured jumbo shrimp sautéed in butter and lemon sauce. The shrimps are sautéed with the shells on to lock in the flavors from the creamy sauce. The shrimps are accompanied with two scoops of white rice and a lemon wedge. At first, I didn't think that much rice was necessary for one entrée, but once I started to dig in, I realized why each plate comes with two scoops of rice -- you need that starch to soak in the creamy sauce and it pairs perfectly with the savory shrimp. There are almost no words to describe the buttery goodness that flavor that each shrimp morsel entailed. And yes, the shrimps here are larger than the meager morsels that you often receive in restaurant dishes. Though I don't like to get my hands dirty when eating, I definitely used them to make sure I got every ounce of shrimp possible from my entrée! That lemon butter sauce is light, yet creamy and so full of flavor. I got this entrée because I didn't want to completely smell like garlic later on ... but I definitely enjoyed a few bites of my friend's "Scampi" and will order that plate myself next time. "Shrimp Scampi": This savory concoction features a dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic and lemon butter. It's served with two scoops of rice and topped off with a drizzle of garlic lemon butter and caramelized chunks of tasty garlic. This entrée is sure to keep the vampires away, due to the amount of garlic included, but I like the smell of garlic and would order this entrée for myself next time in a heartbeat. My friend ordered this dish, but I'm glad I got a taste. I loved the pieces of succulent shrimp that were covered with finely chopped chunks of garlic -- because the bits were small, they weren't overpowering, but the garlic flavor was definitely present. I felt that this entrée was a bit oilier than mine because the sauce was different (more garlic and less lemon butter?), but it was equally delicious and savory. I'd recommend either of these shrimp dishes if you're visiting the truck for the first time ... and if you go with a friend, make sure you guys order something different so you can sample each other's entrees. "Jumbo Garlic Hot Dog": What could be better than an oversized hot dog drenched in garlic and served with two scoops of rice? I'd love to try this entrée on a future visit to Giovanni's, as it features a plump and juicy hot dog smothered in the company's famous scampi sauce. If I decide to deviate from the shrimp, I sure wouldn't mind trying this plate one day.

    (5)

  • Wyatt G.

    There's a huge collection of food trucks and other vendors around a wooden pavilion (great outdoor seating at picnic tables), so you won't be able to miss Giovanni's. They even have a large black and white sign beside the road to make it completely obvious. I ordered the shrimp scampi ($13). It's not cheap, but the portions are a good size (12-15 shrimp, two scoops of rice, and a lemon slice). My friend saw them carrying in fresh shrimp, so you know the product is good. She said most of the other shrimp places on the North Shore use Costco shrimp. The flavors were great. I'd recommend the scampi. I shared with some friends and the lemon/butter was pretty boring and the spicy was overpowering. If you like crying while you eat, it may be for you though! If you check in on Yelp, you get a free drink, so take advantage!

    (4)

  • Yen N.

    A friend told use we need to try shrimp trucks when we're in North Shore. He said they only sell daily catch and close down when they are sold out but he couldn't remember the name so we decided to try the 4 most popular shrimp trucks. Locals told us Giovanni is for tourists, they prefer Famous Shrimp. First place we stopped by was famous, it was okay, pretty good. Since Giovanni was down the street, we tried that next. We ordered the spicy and garlic. The shrimps were old with flaky texture. The spicy shrimp tasted like it was stewed in Tabasco sauce, very vinegary. Rice was very soggy. No macaroni salad with our order like Famous shrimp. Let's just say, they ruined it for us and there was no need to try the other 2 places. The end.

    (1)

  • Janet L.

    Pass me that seafood!! I came here with my family and as we were nearing, there were several other shrimp trucks on the side of the road but we knew from afar that it couldn't have been Giovanni's because there wasn't a crowd surrounding the truck. When you first spotted the truck, you knew you were in the right place because there was so many other people too. My family of 5 shared 4 orders of the shrimp scampi and it was the perfect amount. The shrimp was reallyyy oily in my opinion, but what can you expect from shrimp scampi? Nonetheless, the shrimp was reallyyy good, especially with the rice it came with. Besides not worrying about the calories and accepting it would be a cheat day with this meal, it was divineee. The Yelp check-in came in handy as you get a free canned drink upon check in. #score Solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Jonathan H.

    I'm not understanding all these good reviews.. the shrimp was frozen and it can only be frozen because there is no shrimp farm around. The meat was mushy and that should pretty much say everything. There are fresh kahuku prawn shops on the same road. I would go to those. Even the hot and spicy plate doesn't even taste close to the original.

    (2)

  • Raiza C.

    We drove out to North Shore to try the famous Giovanni's shrimp truck and boy was I disappointed! Maybe it was way too overhyped for me but I was expecting big things from this place. We ordered: lemon butter shrimp 2/5: lacked any flavor as it's literally just butter and lemon. It had potential but the shrimp were dry & overcooked Shrimp Scampi 1/5: absolutely NO flavor. I had to get a side of their hot & spicy sauce and even then, it was also very dry and overcooked. Garlic Butter Shrimp 3/5: best of the three thanks to the garlic. It was greasy and garlicky, overcooked but at least had flavor. Overall: 3 plates $45 and cash only. It's a tourist trap! I'm glad we made the trek out there because we got a chance to see North Shore. Would I come back for that again? No, and I certainly don't recommend it. Maybe you can try the other local spots instead.

    (2)

  • Robyn R.

    We visit this Shrimp truck everytime we are in Hawaii multiple times! The shrimp is fresh and delicious! A must to stop if you love shrimp!

    (5)

  • Alison L.

    WTF? Overhyped and overpriced. A dollar a shrimp for plain, boiled shrimp and some buttery dipping sauce? What kind of racket do these people think they're running? Kapu!

    (2)

  • Michael A.

    It's good. No wait now that there is so much competition. $13 for a plate and you can decide between the most typical shrimp scampi, hot, and lemon butter. Drinks are $2 so bring your own since they weren't really that cold. The rice is great, moist, and garlic butter loaded. I asked for extra garlic on my rice but they didn't give it to me... If they did I would give it 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Esther K.

    With over 1500 reviews, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is the one to visit! The other trucks in the area looked so sad because they had nobody (at max one visitor) while Giovanni's constantly had a line. You definitely can't miss the shrimp trucks when you drive by... just keep your nose open for the smell of butter! And then you'll know you're near ;) There was plenty of parking available when we got there and the line moved really quickly. They have four entrée options and of course I got their #1: SHRIMP SCAMPI! It's their most popular dish and, like all their plates, comes with a dozen jumbo shrimp and two scoops of rice. For this particular dish, the shrimp is marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, lemon and butter and then sautéed in a pan. Yum! If you are worried that you cannot finish a plate on your own (I shared mine with my mum), then you can get a Half Plate (6 shrimp/1 scoop of rice) for half the price ($13 for a full plate, $6.50 for a half plate). They also have a couple of sides available for order and five choices of sodas for $1/each. BUT you get a free soda with Yelp check-in so make sure you do that! Apart from the fact I had to peel my shrimp, which I always hate doing, I liked my shrimp scampi. I absolutely LOVE garlic and butter so sautéing the shrimp in garlic and butter made is so delicious. What I wasn't a fan of was the rice. It was too... sticky? I think they used too much water when they made it :/ So that brought the enjoyment of my meal down a couple of notches... and my review down one star. Giovanni's provides a nice covered seating/eating area and they also have restrooms in the back building. There are two unisex rooms with single stalls. And anyone can write on their truck! So of course I wrote my name on it before I left ;)

    (4)

  • Carena N.

    It's alright... it's a long ways away from the super touristy area and not really worth the drive. I asked to have half of my order as shrimp scampi and the other as hot & spicy and if I had to choose between the two, I'd just go for the shrimp scampi. The shrimp was kinda mushy and didn't taste as fresh... probably overcooked. Flavor wise ... the shrimp scampi is definitely garlicy... buttery, not bad, but not wooooowwzaaa status! The hot & spicy tasted as if it was just seasoned with that Asian Rooster Chili Garlic sauce... kinda overwhelmingly soury/vinegary tasting if anything. Thank goodness for the rice to help balance out some of the flavors. Overhyped and overpriced if you ask me. :/

    (3)

  • Amit B.

    Shrimp scampi was as good, if not better than advertised. The hot and spicy shrimp was too sour for my taste but others in our group liked it. The garlic rice was an amazing. Hope to go back when we visit next

    (4)

  • Bethany R.

    I had the garlic and butter shrimp. After reading all the rave reviews, I thought this place would be phenomenal. To me...it was garlic and butter shrimp. Nothing more. Nothing less. I guess I get to say I've had Giovanni's shrimp. But that's about it.

    (3)

  • Joel C.

    Great food and not a long wait. I had the hot and let me just say it was HOT! If you like hot like I do go for it, but get two bottles of water you will need it!

    (5)

  • Cat B.

    There's nothing I can say that 1500+ yelpers haven't already said so I won't review how deliciously finger licking good these shrimps were. So my review is limited to tips that I wish I'd known but figured out along the way. 1. DON'T USE YOUR IPHONE MAP. Siri did us wrong and got us lost down some scary dirt road. The truck is located right off Kame Hwy (right past a gas station) with a bunch of other trucks and a parking lot. You won't miss it. 2. DON'T BE DETERED BY THE LONG LINE, IT GOEST BY FAST: The line can be ridiculously long! I'm talking 50+ ppl and it ends all the way at the back of the large covered picnic areay. Blessed by the Hawaiian Gods, the line went by fairly quick since the menu is limited and I soon realized that people line up in groups or pairs but only one is actually placing an order. So I probably only waited 30 minutes to place my order. You'll notice that no one waits for more than a couple of minutes to get their food after ordering. That's a good sign of an efficient business. Oh Gio, you smart devil you. 3. TAKE IT TO GO! If you happen to get in line behind a tour bus of folks, you're going to be SOL finding a place to eat. We ordered ours to go since we were staying at Turtle Bay Resort about 5 minutes down the Hwy. Our order stayed piping hot back to the resort, during check in, and until we got into our room. So glad we got to eat in the comforts of our air conditioned rooms without the flies! 4. CHECK IN THROUGH YELP FOR A FREE SODA. Gio's lived up to his reputation. $13 for a dozen shrimps with two scoops of rice. That's a deal! They're deveined, deheaded, and easy to peel. I like licking the garlicky goodness off the shells and just wished they'd leave the shrimp heads on. I didn't try the spicy version because I heard it was really hot and there's a no refund policy. Instead, I asked for a side of hot sauce and ordered mine scampi style.

    (5)

  • Dawn T.

    I was trying to decide between three or four stars but then I asked myself if I would ever crave this again....and I decided no, thus resulting in the three star rating. Positives: - Truck is in an area with a few other trucks and picnic benches - The truck itself is pretty freaking awesome. Unfortunately we didn't have a sharpie with us =( - Shrimp scampi was very flavorful! Lots of garlic. Negatives: - The hundred or so flies that are swarming the picnic benches make it an incredibly unappealing eating environment - The shrimp and rice are swimming in a ton of oil and butter. Blech. The shell-on shrimp reminded me of "tom rang muoi" (Vietnamese salt and pepper shrimp), just not as good. Cool to stop by for the novelty of it. Luckily we went late in the afternoon so there was no wait. If I had to wait 30+ minutes in line for this, I probably would've knocked off another star.

    (3)

  • Chanel J.

    I don't eat seafood, but my spouse said that the shrimp was way too fishy...

    (3)

  • Jenny S.

    Great food, local spirit. Long wait but may have been because of labor day. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Clint B.

    One of the original food trucks to make it famous, Giovanni's Shrimp truck on the North Shore looks like it's a stationary outpost these days. I first stopped here seven years ago and came back recently to see if my initials were still on the back of the truck. They weren't. It looks like they paint over the truck every so often to give customers a spot to scribble. The wife and I each got a half plate of the shrimp scampi -- 6 shrimp and one scoop of rice. Heavy on the butter and garlic, the flavors were good, just make sure you grab plenty of napkins. The best items, however, were the flavored corn, with the Baja slightly superior to the original. Due to its popularity expect long lines and long wait times. There are restrooms nearby along with a covered patio with plenty of tables and seats.

    (4)

  • Stefanie C.

    This is unfortunately the biggest disappointment out of my entire trip to Hawaii because all my friends had been bragging about the shrimp from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck and I did not like anything about it. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi ($13) which was recommended by many fellow Yelpers. They are giant shrimps smothered with garlic and butter. Easy to peel and overall very filling. However they were only bearable to eat because I dipped them in hot sauce, which by the way was not very spicy. They warn you that no refunds will be given if you order the plate of shrimp marinated in their hot sauce. The rice is incredibly mushy, so much that I literally could not eat it. Everything just tasted horrible. I would definitely not recommended this to any of my friends visiting Oahu but I guess if you're into this... I will say that it's among other food trucks en route to North Shore and close to the Polynesian Cultural Center. UGH GROSS!!

    (2)

  • Sam B.

    So simple, yet so delicious and filling. We got there around 11:45am and there were only two people in front of us. After we ordered, the line grew exponentially to 15-20 people. I got the shrimp scampi -very garlicky and so flavorful. Would have been a total fatty and gotten seconds if the line wasn't so long.

    (5)

  • Mandy H.

    Boy oh boy, do I wish I lived in Hawaii so I could have this more often! My friends and I tried the shrimp here on our visit to Hawaii. I'm so glad we picked this shrimp truck over the others! I tried the shrimp scampi and damn, it was absolutely delicious! Word of advice, try to eat the shrimp before all the oil/butter(?) starts to mix in with your rice. I also ordered a side of macaroni salad. Can't ever go wrong with that. Also, if you check in on Yelp, you get a free drink! Woohoo!

    (4)

  • Justin C.

    I was rather disappointed to find most of the food in Hawaii to be quite bland and repetitive, with one of the few exceptions being the famous North Shore shrimp trucks. This was probably the most touristy of all the food places we ate at during our stay, but it was definitely a highlight of the trip for me. The line may seem long and intimidating, and you might be tempted to just get food elsewhere rather than wait, but it actually moves quite fast (it's just shrimp and rice, not that complicated), so considering you've already made it this far up the coast you might as well just stick it out. There are a couple varieties available: scampi, hot & spicy, and lemon butter. For us this was a no brainer, as garlic is virtually an entire food group for Suzy, and I was desperately seeking anything with a hint of spice on our trip. I think both flavors delivered exactly what we were craving, and a plate for each of us was plenty of food when combined with the rice that gets drenched in whatever sauce you pick. I love that they don't offer refunds on the spicy shrimp. It was intense, I'm not gonna lie. I rarely feel an impact from "spicy" foods, but these had an undeniable kick to them that had my mouth tingling throughout the duration of the meal. If you're slightly in doubt about whether you can handle these then you probably won't enjoy them as much as I did, stick to the other two great options. Huge bonus points for the large basin sinks to wash your hands and face off after eating, otherwise I would have had a rather savory beard the rest of the day. There's also a van parked just next to them which offers fresh coconuts with a straw, a nice coolant after such a spicy meal. It's not technically Giovanni's, but it might as well be considered an extension since they likely wouldn't be in business without the shrimp truck here.

    (5)

  • Amy V.

    came here because I heard that this place was a must go if you're in Hawaii - lemon & butter - this one was okayyyy. it didn't have much flavor. tastes exactly as the name says. plain shrimp and you dip it in this lemon butter sauce - hot & spicy - this tasted like tobacco and some hot seasoning. this was spicy for those who like it. I'm not a fan of tobacco so I didn't like this one either - scampi - my favorite of the 3. it tastes kind of Cajun. like what you would use to season crawfish. it had oil, garlic, and was salty. very flavorful. - macaroni salad - this was my favorite thing on the menu. I like this better than the shrimp. this place is good but not bomb. we drove almost 2 hours to try this place which wasn't worth it, but we saw a lot of Hawaii so that was good.

    (4)

  • Law Man L.

    Cheap eats... done so right! Roll in still covered in sand & kelp from the beach, and enjoy a delicious paper plate of shrimp (warning spicy is HOT but good) with a plastic fork. You sit at a wooden picnic bench... and just enjoy the food for the food. Mmmm! And as the name indicates... it's just a food-truck on the side of the road on the north shore... but it is such a staple here now it has a permanent location. And the location also has a shave ice truck, a corn-stand, and "washrooms" (so to speak).

    (5)

  • YJ L.

    Sometimes I get bored and go back and start reading some of my old reviews.. haha is that narcissistic of me? Anyway came across Giovanni's and realized I was a little too harsh. I mean at the end of the day, I still ate it and thought it was pretty good, I realized I was harsh because of all the hype my friends had given me about this place. If anything I should be giving my friends the 2 stars for misleading me and hyping this place up to more than it is! BUT thats not Gio's fault SO upgrade to 3 stars, you were A-OK, still not out of this world but I didnt hate it. I still feel like I could make this at home, but Im also a good cook. HAHAH ok jk now THAT is being full of myself. Anyway, if you are in the area, I say check this place out, BUT dont get duped by your friends, rent a car, drive half way across the island just to eat it..not like we did that or anything...

    (3)

  • Ness S.

    Everybody and their mother recommended we stop here on our drive around Oahu to North Shore. As we pulled in I wasn't sure if we were in the right place. They had just opened and the truck was parked in what looks like a yard. After we parked I was waiting for someone to come out and tell us to get off their property. Luckily that didn't happen. We were 2nd in line and knowing we were headed to other food trucks along our drive we decided to just share the shrimp scampi dish. I think it was about $14 for rice and 12 pieces of shrimp covered in olive oil and smothered in garlic. Two people could easily share it. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. It was hard to resist going up and getting a 2nd plate. Also near here were other food trucks that we didn't get to try such as shaved ice trucks with drinks served in pineapple and coconuts, and another one selling corn on the cob. There were stands here that sold the typical hawaiian souvenirs as well. They were much cheaper than what I had seen in Waikiki. Again this is another must stop on a drive around the island.

    (5)

  • Leiah L.

    Delicious and wonderful! The spot where it's located even has other trucks there for people who don't want shrimp. Great experience! Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sean C.

    North Shore of Oahu is the place of the original "Giovanni's" shrimp truck, and it's as easy to devour as its touted. Shrimp Scampi, Spicy Red Shrimp and Lemon & Garlic Shrimp are your three options, and I recommend the first two options. If you're visiting Hawaii, I know it sounds crazy to visit a truckkk(!), but you gotta do it. If I like this original truck a little less than the other "Giovanni's" truck, it's because this one has the long line and messy arrangement. Shrimp is 5-stars. Tell them you checked into Yelp and get a free soda can. #mahalo!

    (4)

  • Alison S.

    2 words.......SHRIMP SCAMPI. that is all you need to know and need to order!!! so freaking good. the spicy one is very spicy. i made the mistake of getting that 2 years ago when we went and i was miserable. lol. this time i got the scampi, and was not and never will be disappointed :)

    (5)

  • Shriya P.

    Having read a million blog posts before our trip to Hawaii, I knew we had to stop at one of the shrimp trucks while driving around the North shores in Oahu. We were lucky to not have to wait in line for too long. We ordered the shrimp scampi (a dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, lemon butter served with two scoops of rice all drizzled with garlic lemon butter and caramelized chunks of garlic) and a side of their home made macaroni salad. The shrimps were cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. We made quite a mess and our hands were covered in the sauce but looking around, we noticed that everyone else was just as messy :). Do stop by if you are driving by the area, you will not regret it.

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    So happy we got a chance to eat here! My hubby and I have visited Oahu many times, but never had a chance to grab a bite to eat here. Came here with my family on 5/22/14, we were a party of 7, and we all ordered their shrimp scampi that they serve drowning in garlic. Though the line to order was not that long, the wait for your food was a good 30-35 minutes..and mind you we came around 2:30 in the afternoon. I didn't mind waiting though because I knew it would be worth the wait. When we finally got our food, man oh man was it magical! The shrimps were delicious! If you love garlic, then you are sure in for a treat. Even the rice was smothered in garlic. Every bite was delicious! If I had more time on Oahu, I would have stopped here again for sure to have another helping of their shrimp scampi. So damn good! They have other items to choose from besides shrimp scampi, such as: lemon butter shrimp, hotdogs and mac salad. But I think the scampi was amazing and should not be missed. Oh yeah and I also tried their mac salad, it was mmmmm mmmm good! Last, be sure to check in on Yelp! You get a free soda if you do! ;)

    (4)

  • Kelsey T.

    This place is my second favorite to Romys. The wait is a lot more reasonable, I'd say you wait about 10 minutes. My boyfriend and I usually order a garlic shrimp plate each & a hotdog to share. Something about the garlic on the shrimp that makes your mouth instantly water. The seating is limited & most of the time really dirty/sticky so ask for lots of napkins! Customer service on point, never once had a problem here.

    (4)

  • Josephine G.

    The shrimp was big, plump, and super delicious. Their hot sauce is pretty good with it too! I can't leave Hawaii without having this at least once throughout my trip! It's definitely worth the visit to North Shore.

    (4)

  • Jas M.

    I've seen so many people post about this place, and since we live in the area, we'd thought we'd try it out. Honestly, I've tasted better shrimp, and I don't like how much oil they use. They douse the rice in it and it just tastes like buttery, lemon rice. The shrimp is alright but if you want the best tasting shrimp, it's not Giovanni's.

    (2)

  • Gutz C.

    Went here because my friend highly recommended it. It was a very long ride since we weren't coming from the North Shore, but it's Oahu and the ride their was beautiful. Line is very long and took about 20 minutes to finally get our order in. Also seats are hard to find since there are a lot of tourists or just locales who love to eat here. I applaud their efficiency since it only took 4 minutes to actually get our food! Since it was my first time there I got their Scampi which was an even $13. I also ordered a side of their famously hot sauce. The food overall was very pleasing to my palate! The garlic wasn't overpowering and you can taste a hint of the olive oil they used to sauté the shrimp in! Rice was a little sticky and was not used to that. Caution: They are not kidding about the hot sauce being very hot. I made the mistake of underestimating the intensity by dipping an entire piece of shrimp in it and almost burning my tongue off! (Had to get shave ice from the food truck next to it)Only reason I haven't given this place the 5 star it deserves is because the food was immensely oily. By the time I was finished with my food there was a pool of oil on my plate. Other than that this place was incredible! I didn't mind driving the 26 miles to get here and would definitely come again!

    (4)

  • Andrew N.

    Just do it. Seriously, wait in line here, it's not that long. Perhaps I'm being stubborn to give this a complete 5 star rating without trying any other Shrimp trucks in the area... but it is definitely the best prepared shrimp that I've had, not to mention very fresh. I really enjoyed the Shrimp Scampi. REALLY REALLY enjoyed it couldn't stop. This is a must try. The Lemon Butter Shrimp was a bit disappointing. While fresh and a bit more simple... it's a bit "boring" compared to the Scampi. So this is if you're just craving some straight up shrimp. The line here is almost always long. From when you place your order, it'll take about 15 minutes average to actually get your plate. But, like I said, WELL worth it. BYOB as well. I didn't see anything or anybody against this... but a beer with the Scampi is probably one of the best decisions you'll make in Hawaii. haha

    (5)

  • Andy W.

    I'm biased, and I'll be honest about it. I really like this truck. The last time I was here it was May and the wait was 90 minutes. Here in January and there is no line. Basically it's $13 for a plate which is on the higher end of reasonable. Check-in on Yelp and you get a free soda. Hey, every little bit counts right? Anyway I just hiked Crouching Lion at Kahana and I'm starving so this is a great place to go post-hike. Go ahead and copy my route and you'll thank me.

    (5)

  • Jen R B.

    This place was OK for me. It was so popular and highly recommended. The wait was really long and the plates were decent but I don't know that I would rate it highly exceptional or something like that. It was a good stop to do once in my opinion if you're on that side of the island.

    (3)

  • Briana B.

    Best shrimp at the North Shore!! FYI don't forget to check-in on Yelp, you get a free soda or Hawaiian Sun with purchase. You can buy a full size plate with 2 scoops of rice and a dozen shrimp for $13.00, or a half size plate with one scoop of rice and 6 shrimp for $6.50. We got the spicy shrimp and shrimp scampi- both we're amazing!! One of the best deals at this truck, though, is not the shrimp, but the hot dog for $3.50 served with the scampi sauce on top. Delicious! If you want to sign the truck, just ask one of the workers for the marker. Kinda cool to say that your name is on the truck somewhere.

    (5)

  • Ema S.

    Oh Giovanni's....its the place that everyone tells you "You have to go to this place!" and of course I did, waited in line for about 30 minutes got my spicy shrimp and yes, it was very delicious. kinda bummed I got the small, should have ordered the large plate but ah well...maybe next time I'm there because I will return!

    (4)

  • Ryan H.

    It's good but not worth the lines or the $$ you pay. While many claim this to be the King of the Shrimp Trucks, I think there are other options. They have great shrimp scampi but you cannot get it peeled or cleaned. I know that is a personal preference and many claim the shrimp is better cooked with the tail on. Maybe, but for me by the time I've gotten to the meat, I've scraped off all the garlic and butter :(. I prefer to have my shrimp peeled and cleaned so that I can go to town on the dish and soak up the butter and garlic. The portions are fair and the taste is consistent. They've been attracting shrimp lovers for decades and they have a solid system. Located in Kahuku, there is lots if parking and lots of food vendors in the area. The shrimp is good but the lines are very long.

    (3)

  • Robert K.

    This place was recommended to me by a friend that use to live on the island.You find many locals from all over the island so that is the 1st sign that it's good. I tried the scampi and asked for a side of hot sauce. For $13 you get a full order with 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice 1/2 order $6.50 6 shrimp and 1 scoop of rice Highly recommend and worth the drive if your visiting and staying in other parts of the island

    (5)

  • Marshall B.

    There's a fake ass one out here in Las Vegas calling themselves North Shore Garlic Shrimp. No one can beat the OGs!!! You da best!!!

    (5)

  • Shauna F.

    Ordered the garlic scampi. $13 (cash only) for a plate full of rice and shrimp. They do not shell the shrimp so it takes some work. I loved how they used a lot of garlic and topped the rice with it. I had to suck all the buttery garlic from the shell of the shrimp before I shelled it. Messy meal, but so yummy. There is a sink with running water and soap next to the outdoor dining area. The reggae music playing outside was a nice touch too

    (4)

  • Vince B.

    OK I'm going to try to be the 1600th review of Giovanni's Kahuku Shrimp Truck. People seem to love this place and can find no fault with it. Tourists love it. Locals love it! Me? Hmmm... Shrimp Eating Etiquette: I grew up eating fried, previously frozen, breaded shrimp that was de-shelled but with tail on. When I got married I had to learn how to eat "head on fully shelled shrimp" prepared Filipino Style. It so irritated my wife that she had carelessly married a man who could not even eat a shrimp properly unless it was American style. I was an embarrassment to her, her family and the entire proud Filipino Culture. I eventually passed the test but it took a while of intense practice. Point is, I know my way around a plate of shrimp. Giovanni's Shrimp: No heads at all. That simplifies it. Shell is on though. Sauce and garlic are on the outside of the shell. Now some claim that you can just eat the entire shrimp this way shell and all. This only works if the shell is deep fried and crispy. These shells are too tough to just eat. Then, some people claim that they can eat the shrimp with the shell on and somehow separate the shell from the shrimp and the sauce inside their mouth, with the tongue or something, while eating!! Then you spit out the shell when no one is looking. Good luck with that one folks! LOL That leaves us with removing the shell with your knife and fork. This approach requires patience and skill. Dilemma is this. Do you suck the garlic and sauce off first? Or What? You figure it out: What I've noticed most American Tourists doing is this. They remove the peel with their fingers. Eat the shrimp. Suck on their fingers to get at the garlic and the sauce. Then they announce to the entire table that this was the best shrimp they had ever eaten in their entire life !! Then they get up and look around for some way to remove all the residual shrimp sauce and smell off their hands. Sink: Well there is a sink provided for this purpose. Water only. No soap, No paper towels. Good luck with this too. Yup, I'm not a huge fan. But it is in fact A-OK. Enough for a 3 star rating. Others really love it. Hopefully you'll be traveling with some well prepared females who brought along some moist towelettes. I don't want to discourage you at all. Just want you to know what you are getting yourself into. I'm just wondering what they do with all the shrimp heads.

    (3)

  • Ronald N.

    First time on the island, was recommended by the locals to look for the shrimp trucks up on north shore. While the adventure was fun finding the truck lot, and perhaps my expectations of the ultimate shrimp experience was set a little higher than I should of ... the end results was still a fun and enjoyable experience. We ordered the famous garlic butter shrimp plate for $13 bucks... While it wasn't horrible, the overall quality was a decent affair... was it worth the $13 bucks we spent on the plate... I wouldn't say it was at least not for the price... I felt the overall adventure of finding the food trucks was definitely worth the drive and the moment we found them was indeed awesome. If you're on the big island and accessible to a car and looking for a day of random drive and scout than this is something you ought to try if nothing else than to capture the lovely local scenery. Besides it's always fun to hunt for hidden local food trucks on an island on the pacific ;)

    (3)

  • Val T.

    After visiting HI how many times I finally had the chance to take a ride around the island with a couple family members and make a stop and visit this place. It was late in the afternoon and it wasn't as crowded as I was told it can be. Thankful for that because it really gave us all a chance to enjoy the ambiance of easy island life with the cool breeze and hot sun out underneath the shade of a tree was idyllic. The outdoor sitting area was clean and the sink provided to wash off the garlicky goodness that was the garlic shrimp and rice we just consumed was convenient. The shrimp was onolicious and just the right amount of flavors and seasoning. Will definitely make it a point to cruise and visit there anytime I go back!! Highly recommend! :)

    (4)

  • Ervin H.

    I am glad I know my Filipino roots of how to eat shrimp properly: 1. Pick up shrimp. 2. Suck the head ensuring all the juices and flavor are all gone. 3. Peel the shrimp from its side then the tail. 4. Suck the leftover juices from the tail. 5. Dip hopefully dry shrimp in hot sauce. 6. Place shrimp in mouth while also putting a spoonful of rice! 7. Enjoy! The advice leads to 5 stars while enjoying some excellent food!

    (5)

  • Janine B.

    Disappointing all around. Flavor was okay -- just very, very oily. Staff wasn't pleasant. I understand it's a little busy, but maybe they should smile more and be a little more personable. Wait time was kind of long (20 minutes) considering the small amount of people before us. Not a great experience. Typical tourist spot and severely overrated.

    (2)

  • Leslye S.

    I had to check out if the hype around Giovanni's shrimp truck. I now understand what everyone is raving about. Totally casual atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious eats. We ordered one of each shrimp flavor, scampi which is the most popular, lemon butter, and the spicy shrimp. All three where absolutely delicious but the scampi was my favorite by far. The lemon butter is for those who have a more basic palate and the spicy was delicious with a spicy aftertaste. I would definitely hit this spot up again. *** Tip: don't forget to check in to get a free soda and ask for the sharpie to make your mark on the iconic van.

    (5)

  • Latifa S.

    Original white truck! If you live on the island, you've been here at least a few dozen too many times. ANd if you are a tourist, you will be told to go here at all cost ....yea. Giovanni Scampi~ garlic shrimp with tons of oil and garlic. My dad love this dish as well as most of my friends and people I know. For me: its always a gamble. Depends on the day and tourist crowd~ Sometimes its under cooked, sometimes its a bit too oily to eat. And of course, garlic! Holy garlic! Flavors~ Shrimp Scamp- garlic! Spicy shrimp Lemon and butter shrimp- steamed shrimps with lemon and a cup of butter. Side of corn or rice (never consistent) if you order one plate, its just a waste of time because you will be waiting for a while while. Again, I don't mind it. I like the taste. Still don't like their spicy shrimp. Way too lemon-y for my taste. Not spicy, just sour. Overall, their scampi is good. I'll probably wait to have a bite of it. It's like a tradition. Family loves it. Friends love it. And if I'm on my own, I'd head over to Haleiwa for shorter lines and more consistent flavors.

    (3)

  • Anita M.

    This place is so good. It's no wonder the lines are out of control, because the food is tasty and the service is fast. Vacationed on oahu twice and both times I was very satisfied with my shrimp scampi plate. The shrimp is very flavorful, hot and fresh and it seems like a local favorite. I also ordered a hot dog for the hubby and a side of macaroni salad. The hot dog was good and tasty, I loved it, the hubbs, not so much... he's very traditional. The mac salad was a tad over smothered in mayo but it was still good. I will return here on every vacation to the island, it's that good and all the shrimps (12) are consistent in size which is great. The butter garlic sauce is amazing! Outdoor seating only, lots of people on weekends and mostly all the time but worth the wait, the service is fast enough. Cashiers can be a tad rude but that's how they keep the line moving. Miss it already! ! :)

    (5)

  • Diane A.

    We were visiting my Dad's roots one year (he lived there in his teenage/early 20's after joining the navy) and driving around north shore we got hungry...we saw Giovanni's shrimp truck, not knowing it's famous. It was packed or a long line that day bec it was in the middle of the week and rainy. It was drizzling rain (December of course) but ate under the covered areas beside the truck. We ordered shrimp scampi, Mac salad, & a whole bunch of other things. Finger licking good!!! I can still taste the yumminess in my mouth! I can't wait to head back and get more goods!! Omg!

    (5)

  • RJ R.

    The food was good...a bit over cooked but good for the price and they do give a lot. Our food came out super quick so they probably have shrimp ready to go. It was good but i'm gonna try something else next time. Check in for a free soda!

    (3)

  • Rolando T.

    Cheap Eats... Done Right! Been here before and always return for more when on the North Shore.... Garlic Shrimp Scampi is to Die For! My only complaint is having to pull off the tail and peel the shrimp. Gets messy. Take Extra Napkins or Bring Disposable Wet Naps to clean yourself after. 2 scoops of rice added with the meal. We also ordered Mac Salad extra with it.

    (5)

  • Mel A.

    I've always loved this place for shrimp scampi. I remember coming here a lot when I was still in high school and before I left the island in general. This was also a go-to place during summer visits as well to reminisce with friends. Today, I came back and the prices were higher than it used to be but the shrimp scampi are still as delicious as I remembered them. They do have a shaded area now complete with picnic tables and chairs where people may enjoy their meals so that was lovely! I would highly recommend this place. It has been and still is a favorite of mine. I always get the normal shrimp scampi since I've always been afraid the spicy type might turn out unbearable but I overheard a couple sitting right across us say that it was something they could handle though it did leave a lingering spicy taste in your mouth. I am not as brave to try it out! My plate came with a dozen shrimp and 2 scoops of rice. I also added in a side of Mac salad which was delicious!

    (5)

  • Les C.

    Nice place to stop going around the island. Great tasting fresh shrimp. Awesome garlic shrimp!!

    (4)

  • Cryetti C.

    YUM! We had to try it because of all the hype and it was delicious. As others have said, YES, it's oily and YES, its garlicky, but it's finger-licking, lip-smacklingly delicious. (Though I still prefer Geste's shrimp in Maui). But I digress. Giovanni's is a must do if you haven't been before, like shrimp and are in North Shore. It's a great time. Oh and the hot shrimp is HOT. I love hot and I could barely finish my half plate. It's a different kind of hot though... it's like an unpleasant hot. LOL. But, they do warn you. I was reading the reviews about the shrimp being frozen. Interestingly enough, we ate there twice. The first time we ate there, the shrimp was definitely fresh. The second time, however, it didn't taste quite as fresh. Either way, still very delicious.

    (4)

  • CHAR C.

    A staple in the north shore. Everyone told us to come here and try out the food. The line was long, 20 people at least. You line up to order, and then you line up together your food. They were making it fresh with each order so it took a while. From the menu, def order the Shrimp scampi. Garlicky and yum. Don't get me wrong, it was good and worth trying. Def better than Gesete shrimp truck on Maui, but does it have grounds to be world famous?...I don't think so. The hot and spicy was too vinegar-y. Too much Tabasco for my tastes. The menu says no refund if it's too spicy- don't let this intimidate you, it has just the slightest amount of heat. I took off a star for this dish as I wasn't very impressed with it. The dining pavilion is just open on all fours w picnic tables. We had about 10 wild chicken/rooster things and a few pigeons roaming around on the ground and flying in and out, they got really close to patrons. Also, it may have been mentioned in other reviews about the flies. As I'm not a fan of dodging dirty wild birds or swatting flies while I eat, I took off another star.

    (3)

  • Ben K.

    Garbage. They advertise a "hot and spicy" shrimp. I love hot and I love spicy. This was essentially shrimp marinated in Tabasco sauce and lemon. They have a notice on the menu stating that there are no refunds on the spicy shrimp, and it's because these shrimp are terrible. Absolutely no flavor, only salt and spice. Their scampi is okay, but the hot and spicy is just abhorable. It's an insult to people who enjoy spicy foods. Fumi's shrimp truck down the road does an amazing spicy garlic shrimp. Giovanni's is an insult to proper shrimp preparation.

    (1)

  • Angel D.

    It was a hop from LA and a skip from Waikiki. Lol. Of course, like others, we were recommended to come here. I had my bf order the Hot and Spicy (NO REFUNDS btw) and I had the Garlicky Shrimp. I really didn't have time to count the pieces of shrimp him and I had on our plates but considering we had not one thing to eat before, we ended up pretty darn full. The hot and spicy was definitely what it is! I expected more fire in our mouths but the heat was tolerable. We ate ours by first sucking the juice around the shrimp and proceeded on peeling off the shell. It both came with 2 scoops of garlic rice and a wedge of lemon. There's nothing else to say but how it was definitely a burp to remember! Haha I know that's disgusting but it was just that good! Worth the trip and worth withdrawing cash from an atm that charged almost $4 for.

    (5)

  • Rizzle N.

    The garlic scampi shrimp is out of this world. We waited a looooong time for our food on a Sunday afternoon as it was very busy. Cash only.

    (4)

  • Dominika H.

    We came here at least 3 times while on vacation. I love the food

    (4)

  • Beckie W.

    Get there early to avoid the line ups! This truck is a must when you're up on the North Shore. I stop by every time I'm there. Scampi is always the crowd favorite and with good reason. Good helping of shrimp, lots of rice, and plenty of garlic!! Just good old Hawaiian food and hospitality. I love this place, always have, always will.

    (4)

  • Christine L.

    Totally worth the drive to the North Shore!!! I got half scampi and half spicy. I preferred the scampi, but to be honest the shrimp was the star - each shrimp was fairly large and perfectly cooked and juicy. The only drawback was the rice, which was mushy and kinda gross, but who cares, since you're really just there for the shrimp!

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    We absolutely LOVE Giovanni's, and we do it at least once (I lie, at least twice) every trip. #1 is to die for - if you like it hot and spicy, ask for this with hot sauce on the side (don't be tempted to go #2 - I did on a previous trip and was not a happy bear...) #3 is unknown territory for us...and I think the garlic hotdog was done way back on our first trip, and hasn't been repeated (hotdog done in the shrimps garlic sauce) Timing is everything -arriving around 12 seems to beat the mega rush, but even when busy wait times aren't really an issue - but seating can be. Don't be afraid to squeeze in on the end of tables, people are really good about sharing the space. Check out the local corn vendor - my 2 year old smashes up their corn, and myself and my wife both swear by it. Apparently other shrimp trucks are as good (maybe even better), but I'm not one to mess with a winning formula. Do yourself a favour and visit Giovanni's - you will be glad you did.

    (5)

  • Gail P.

    Just like the hype that surrounds other places that get lots of trendy foodie yakking, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck had the potential to leave this hungry traveler disappointed. But this was not the case. On the way to check out the uproarious North Shore surf this past weekend, i pulled off the road on a rainy morning and got in line with my pals. We patiently stood in line with the luxurious smell of garlicky butter permeating the damp tropical air! Sure enough, when handed your plate lunch, the half order is 6 jumbo tiger shrimp (the full order is twelve shrimp) on a bed of white rice with a garlic butter sauce and a slice of lemon-- HEAVEN--as if Hawaii isn't heavenly enough already. A companion ordered the garlic dog which was a long hot dog generously grazed with minced garlic and placed lovingly in a soft and doughy bun. Oh so good! Nearby there are shacks that sell fresh coconuts that get hacked open so you can sip the liquid or fresh pineapples that can be sliced to order. From what I was told, the Shrimp Truck lines in the summer are monstrous so you must practice patience here, people. Ditch that uptight city attitude that is always in a hurry. This is the islands and just take a seat and chill on the benches under the covered seating area. Or better yet, grab a sharpie from an accommodating Japanese visitor and leave a message on the Shrimp Truck. Sometimes the hype is right and in this case--a 5 STAR YELP YES!

    (5)

  • Roger g.

    Great food !!! Ate here on a day we were at the north shore and got caught in the rain. Stopped by on the recommendation of Dane the valet guy at the Hyatt and it was awesome, we all had the rice and shrimp and drinks, sat outside under the patio and watched the rain. One of the best memorIes of our trip to Oahu !!!!!!

    (5)

  • David S.

    I've died and gone to garlic shrimp heaven! The shrimp here is divine! They have 4 options: scampi, spicy, lemon butter, and a hot dog. The scampi is the signature dish and worth every bite. At $13 a plate, it's pricy for 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice, but your taste buds won't care. Check in for a free drink, too! Expert tip: the wait times for the rest room are ridiculous. Plan accordingly. Also, save room for other goodies such as roasted corn, fried bananas, and shaved ice!

    (5)

  • Carlota C.

    Garlic shrimp scampi at its finest!

    (4)

  • Erik G.

    Yeah, i know...it's a "tourist" spot and a standard tourist visit.....but it's kinda a "must do" when it's this good. But I'm pretty sure I see local every time I visit as well. So this place is THAT GOOD!. Love the standard Shrimp Scampi (to me it's a little more flavorful than the lemon butter version). The shrimp are not shrimpy (small) but don't expect huge either. They give a dozen medium/large shrimp per order and it is very filling particularly from the richness of the buttered sauce and rice. If you're too squeamish to eat and peel with your hands, then this place might be a bit much for you, but for most, the flavor of the shrimp can override that. Anyways, there is faucet/sink/soap for washing your hands after your meal. Lines are long every times I've come here on each visit to North Shore, but it seems to move rather fast. I want to say it was cash only, so be sure to hit the atm before coming. Remember to order a side of Mac salad as it does not come with it as standard fare. Over the visits, and on this particular recent visit, they seem to improve the infrastructure each time. This time, the large gazebo (shade!) was a welcome addition, but the table availability always seems a challenge. Big deal ehh? You're on the North Shore of Oahu! Paradise.

    (4)

  • Lucy L.

    Yummy shrimp .there is a long wait for the food but totally worth it if you drive up to the North Shore !

    (4)

  • Randy D.

    Long lines, but a good place to eat. The experience seems to be more of the attraction. The garlic shrimp will stay with you for several hours, so bring plenty of breath mints!

    (4)

  • Tiffany O.

    I love Giovannis!!! Whether this location or the one in Haleiwa, both are awesome. Whenever I take a trip to the North Shore, I always make time for some shrimp. Giovanni's Shrimp Scampi ($13) is my favorite. Who does not like garlic with their shrimp?? The shrimp plates come with a dozen yummy shrimpys, two scoops of rice (with yummy garlic on top), and some lemon to squeeze. There is the Spicy Shrimp, but I just get the garlic and ask for hot sauce. Also, why get the Lemon and Butter, when the Scampi already has that ?? Unless you are allergic to garlic.... If that's the case, and you cannot eat 12 shrimps by yourself, you can split it with a friend and get half Scampi and half something else. The plate is definitely fulfilling. The wait for the shrimp is usually less than 10 minutes. I went two days in a row because my friends and I were staying at Turtle Bay nearby. There are a lot of seats in a shaded area with a place to wash your hands after. This location is definitely better for sitting down and eating. There are also a few stray cats lying around on the tables minding their own business. Roosters are also roaming around. Oh yeah! If you check in with Yelp, you get a free canned drink!

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    Their shrimp scampi ($13) is amazing!!! I heard people raving about it and I looked through pictures and wasn't convinced but ended up here because my friend wanted to stop by. Boy am I glad we did because it was the most memorable meal for me in Oahu. The shrimp are huge and coated in finger licking good garlic butter sauce. It's pretty messy but completely worth it. Thankfully they have a sink in the back to clean yourself up afterwards. The garlic rice the shrimp comes with is also super delicious. Don't forget to check in for a free soda too~

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    It's true it's true! This place is seriously ridiculously delicious!!! Perfect shrimp scampi!!! Cannot come to Oahu and not come here! Totally cool vibe!

    (5)

  • Rafael Z.

    It's my first time coming to Giovanni's and it was delicious. I'm pretty sure all the other shrimp places taste good as well but I had to drop by the most popular spot. I had shrimp on a previous vacation at another truck so I could kind of compare. But the shrimp here at Giovanni's was soo good. I ordered the lemon butter shrimp and it was delicious but I regret not getting the scampi. I'm not the biggest fan of garlic but i had a few of my girlfriends shrimp scampi and it was delicious. Next time time I go i will only get the scampi. The line was long and the wait was also long but well worth it.

    (5)

  • Gozde G.

    It is very overrated place. If you eat already a shrimp scampi in your life, It is worthless place to wait an hour. Rice is very mushy and not tasty. You can try different trucks if you want to try shrimp. There are bunch of places when you are going to North Shore.

    (2)

  • Magdalena C.

    Just had a butter lemon shrimp and scampi shrimp. Both excellent; very simple, flavorful, and fresh. The only problem I have with this place is value - the full plate was 18 bucks. That is a bit pricey for a food truck food in the parking lot, hence 4 stars. I would like to also add a word on the service - quick and very friendly. I loved it and definitely will go back. Thanks

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    Garlic shrimp (scampi) = 3.6 Solid dish. It probably would have been even better if we had not just tried the heavenly garlic butter shrimp at Famous Kuhuku Shrimp Truck (one block north). The garlic sauce there is to die for and really doesn't compare to any other garlic shrimp I've had anywhere in the world. It almost becomes a completely different dish and is way more about the butter than the shrimp. If you are going to do multiple trucks, go here first and then go to Famous Kuhuku afterwards. I'm willing to bet if we had done it that way we would have enjoyed Giovanni's a lot more. Still, it was solid.

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    Not worth the hype or the price!! Stopped here on the way to Turtle Bay and got the shrimp scampi - just average and didn't blow us away like expected.....too bad! You have to give it a try for yourself if you're in the area...And we will give them another chance if we get to go back as well! Maybe it was an off day??

    (3)

  • Nayr N.

    Ya I'm not sure what all the hype is about but it was just ok. I think all the buzz has surpassed what this truck really is. You will get a plate of shrimp and plain rice and will dig in bare hands plus all the flies that hang out here. If you are into writing your name on the truck then maybe that will sway you into eating here but for me it wasn't anything close to good. I'm not sure what to compare it to but if you look at typical New Orleans cuisine, it was very bland and over hyped.

    (2)

  • Ray H.

    OVERRATED AND OVERPRICED !! we ordered the hot/spicy and lime something shrimp. $13 each plate. their sauce was not bad (that's why it's 2 stars) but shrimps here arent fresh. they tasted and textured like they've been dead and frozen from before Jesus Christ was born. and they werent fully cooked as the center is still warm. would I come back? sorry, no. funny when i saw people say "Orgasm in my mouth!!!" in their review. I think she/he gets orgasm twice a day everyday with toothbrush too...

    (2)

  • Yujin C.

    Definitely visit whenever we're up over in the North Shore area. We got the shrimp scampi, hot & spicy, and lemon & butter. The shrimp scampi is mild and the garlic flavor is suttle but you definitely know there's garlic in it. The hot & spicy, just like the name it is hot and spicy. It was so hot I has to shove rice in my mouth and then try to put out the fire in my mouth with a drink. If you like pure spicy food - then this is the dish for you. The lemon & butter is probably my favorite. The dish doesn't have that greasy flavor you'd expect with all the butter. Instead the flavoring is light and the lemon adds a light tang as well as decrease the fishy smell. Would definitely recommend people to try!

    (4)

  • Walt G.

    We were disappointed. It just wasn't that good. We later heard some of the other Shrimp food trucks in the area are better. I'm suggest looking around and trying another place. But, if you're in that area, go get the BBQ Corn from the vendor across from GST. It was amazing! Treat yourself to the Baja style.

    (2)

  • Ashley D.

    the shrimp is so delicious. I melted when I took my first shrimp. I also had the opportunity to write on the truck and get a shirt from there. the dipping sauces for the shrimp were nice and tangy which made a perfect blend of flavored when you ate the shrimp

    (3)

  • L. T.

    I would have given them five stars but we all ordered the spicy shrimp and that stuff was not just spicy it was too hot to eat. I don't know if it is just that day or all the time, it was just HOT we could eat it and enjoy the taste of it. We went to three that day and by far this was the spicy hottest one. For me it was not a good thing but you may like it. I like spicy but not hot spicy when it ruins the taste. Definitely I would get the butter garlic one next time. The place was pretty organized with the bathrooms in the back and the outdoor sinks to was your hands. Can you imagine my sons gf ordered a hot dog if someone on your group is allergic.

    (3)

  • Sam M.

    3.5 stars, if i could. Giovanni's INFAMOUS shrimp truck. I grew up in Hawaii but i've never taken the time to try this garlic-ious shrimp - until today. And to be honest, I'm not impressed. It was saucy! The shrimps were plumpy! The hot sauce was firey! Yet, i'm not clamoring in my car to return. The oily butter sauce on the rice made me feel happy (and guilty). The garlic salivated my mouth all the way home. Point being, I don't think i'll go here again unless i'm having a garlic shrimp emergency. I had the shrimp scampi (#1) with side of hot sauce.

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    Honestly...this was probably my most favorite meal while I was in Hawaii! It's very unfortunate I couldn't get to go more as I would've liked. I don't care what the locals may say about how it was much better before...blah blah blah...Giovanni's shrimp is simply the BEST! How can you possibly go wrong with garlic+butter?? I'm salivating as I'm writing this right now...just slurped. I was pretty bummed they were out of their mac salad. Hopefully next time they'll make enough til closing time. Food comes out fairly quickly but just seemed like forever when everyone around you is munching on garlicky goodness!! Ahh....wanna go baaack!!

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    Here for vacation. A friend who happens to be a local here brought us to this truck for lunch after the beach. Called in our order to avoid the long line. Food was amazing! Got the garlic shrimp with mak salad. Definitely want to do this every time I come to Hawaii

    (5)

  • Alvin C.

    Best shrimp truck in Honolulu. The shrimps are bigs but not too big that you lose the sweetness. We buy the regular Shrimp Scampi and ask for a side of their hot sauce. The Hot & Spicy is too spicy that you can't enjoy it. But, I'm sure there are others who likes it that way. It's nice there are other vendors on the premises that you can enjoy some dessert afterwards. Parking and seatings is always available. At least, when we do visit. Restrooms...You have to walk to the back. For those, who are used to very clean/nice restrooms, prepare yourself. But, make a stop at this location. The shrimp plates is a must.

    (4)

  • Sandra D.

    By far the best shrimp. I ordered the scampi and it was amazing. My husband got the spicy one and they were not joking. It was a little hotter than we thought but awesome. Just beware. Theirs really nothing else to say. Best shrimp ever!

    (5)

  • Irving W.

    I can only vouch for the shrimp scampi since that is all I had but WOW. Btw, you've gotta like garlic. The dish comes with two balls of sticky rice that are drizzled with the garlic. The shrimp are covered in the same garlic sauce. This garlic is so delicious! It is what makes it all so good. Just hoping that I don't reek of garlic the next day!!

    (5)

  • Roxanne C.

    FOOD: Def gets a 5. Scampi sauce has just the right amount of garlic and the shrimps are huge. If you check in on yelp, you get a free soda! -1 star for the location. I know all shrimp trucks are pretty much like this, but the flies everywhere just gets annoying. Maybe they can set up those candles on the tables that gets rid of flies? I dont know. Also, very hard to find a table as it gets very crowded.

    (4)

  • Alice H.

    It's like... a more authentic version of Boiling Crab. Yes, it was good, but it didn't blow me away. The workers are slightly irritated (which is understandable, as they probably get 1000000 customers a day), and there are flies everywhere (which is understandable because flies probably love garlic too). The consistency of the rice was weird in my opinion. The hotdog tasted like a regular hotdog. The cats are cute.

    (4)

  • Danny S.

    This is a must stop of your visiting Oahu. When we would visit Oahu once a year we always had to eat here! Now that we live here in Oahu we still visit about once a month. Today we noticed they got a new truck so bring a huge sharpie and leave your mark on it! The shrimp plate is amazing. Best on the island.

    (5)

  • Don N.

    This place is awesome. Get the scampi and skip the rest. We got them all but felt the other ones were nowhere near as good. The spicy one was way too spicy and I can't even remember what the other option was... That is how not memorable it was in comparison to the scampi. Ask for a sharpie and tag your name!

    (5)

  • Kayla U.

    This place is a MUST whether you live here or you're just visiting. I try to make a trip out to the north shore once a month just so I can have a plate of these juicy garlic-y shrimps! The wait can be a little long so be sure to grab some poke or a teds bakery pie before getting here if your really hungry. And of course check in here for a FREE drink!! WARNING: After consuming a plate of the Shrimp Scampi you WILL smell like garlic for at least 24 hours. DO NOT come here before a date or if you love vampires ;) Quick tip: If you like spicy get a side of the hot sauce! Its so flavorful!

    (4)

  • Kelvin C.

    Giovanni's is no longer the same. Their popularity has given them a license to cut back on shrimp quality as well as the preparation...meaning less flavor. I mean, the dishes (Garlic Shrimp + Hot spicy Shrimp) were still solid, just don't expect to be blown away. Do yourself a favor and go to the Kahuku Shrimp truck instead. I'm glad I did. If you come here though, check-in on yelp and receive a free drink.

    (3)

  • Michael P.

    THE best shrimp truck on Oahu. Well worth the drive to the north side of de island. I guess they have other flavors but I've never looked below the #1 plate-Garlic Shrimp. Be prepared to wait because it has become a tour bus stop with a small market of tshirts, wooden masks, etc and shaved ice surrounded by food trucks and loads of tourists...

    (5)

  • Helen F.

    This was one of the "must try" places when visiting Oahu! Just returned from my HI trip and I must say I missed plenty food joints on the island, and Giovanni's def one of them. We were there late afternoon Monday and ordered the scampi, it was soooo DELISIOSO!!! The shrimps were so tasty, big enough IMO and best way to eat them is to suck the garlic buttery sauce OFF of the shrimp, remove the shell, and dunk the shrimp back in the buttery goodness on the plate.... The rice wasn't hot enough, but we didn't care, all we care about was the shrimp. It might look greasy to someone...but they are soooo tasty and well worth even though that u know u'd def gain weight! BTW, the joint has a sink in the back if u need to wash your greasy shrimp smelly fingers, but we licked and sucked all the shrimp goodness off of our fingers.... loved it and will def return if I visit the north shore next time!! 5 stars all the way!!!

    (5)

  • Peter C.

    By the time I peel the shrimp I peel the flavor off too. $20 spent?! Surely with these prices you can peel and clean the poop outta my shrimp Giovanni There are better places to go than this North Shore staple. I never understood what the hype is all about.

    (2)

  • Samantha R.

    So disappointing. Don't know what all the hype about the place is. Worst shrimp on Oahu! I got their most popular scampi garlic shrimp and was completely flavorless and tasted like rubber. Do yourself a favor and go to Famous Kahuku Shrimp!

    (1)

  • Love-Mai P.

    Tasty garlic shrimps! Great foodie spot. Lines are long at times...but worth the experience.

    (4)

  • Sergio L.

    I love this place me and my wife were on vacation and we saw a lot of people standing on this truck so we decided to stop and see what was going on and we tried the food and it was amazing we had the hot and spicy shrimp and the garlic it was Bombay I'm from Cali and I loved it.

    (5)

  • Petra S.

    This place was quite a drive out to the other side of the island but my husband and I had a rental so we figure upon the recommendation of his supervisor who frequently stays on there island, we would stop by and eat as the locals do (or at least those smart enough to discover this gem) Now I'm not a huge shrimp fan but who can resist garlic on anything, right? So after waiting in line for about 5min, we each decided to get a half order which comes with 6 huge shrimp, rice and a drink (if you use your check in offer) and added a macaroni salad. The shrimp tasted really garlicky, I only wish they had removed the shells and de-vained them for the price you pay. If you wanted the flavor you really had to suck on the shell or it would get removed once you took it off. It's definitely, worth the drive to this part of the island as you get beautiful views while driving of mountains and oceans the entire way there. There are also several other food vendors there so we were able to try a few by sticking to half or smaller portions.

    (4)

  • D d.

    This location (Kahuku) is much more pleasant than the Haleiwa location. They have a fairly large covered eating area with someone who wipes tables down every now and then; picnic tables surrounding the area. Parking is more plentiful (but not guaranteed especially during peak hours). Hand washing station and restroom available. Scenery is nice. Cash only. There are two lines: one for ordering and one for pickup. First time here, I stood in a long line of people waiting to pick up their order. Don't be fooled by the huge mass of people that look like they're in line. Ask the person in front of you if they're in line to order or pick up. Food is good, not mind-blowing. If you're one of those people that blots the oil off their french fries, do not come here--you are better off eating the grass that is growing on the side of the road. Oil is a major component of the shrimp. Not a fan of garlic? Skip this completely because the lemon butter flavor is boring. Tips for the Haoles such as myself: -Have one person order the food and have the rest of your group find a seat. -Finding a seat in the covered seating area might be difficult because it is seating for ALL the other food vendors in the same lot, not just Giovanni's. -Buy a ice cold can of Hawaiian Sun juice from the corn on the cob shack/stand about 20 feet from the eating area, they're only $1 and the ladies there are friendly. You'll most likely also end up buying the delicious corn on the cob. -Get dessert from the fresh fruit stand located right next to the corn on the cob shack. You'll see an exotic array of tropical fruits and the $1 fresh banana lumpia is a great way to indulge. -You may suffer from garlic indigestion after this. -Best time to come is during the early afternoon (before lunch) and mid-afternoon (after lunch around 4pm).

    (5)

  • Kathy D.

    Overly hyped up garlic shrimp. I've had better garlic shrimp elsewhere in Hawaii. Don't get me wrong, it's good but not amazing enough to go try if you're vacationing in Oahu and would have to drive here. I guess I had high expectations for this place up in North Shore.

    (3)

  • Tim C.

    Ok , not great. Cheaper than a sit down restaurant but if you like the outdoor weather, then you are in luck. Just remember that flies will be eating with you. Shrimp was spicy good, but a bit more oily than I would prefer. The Korean run place next door is the same price, but a lot better in terms of spice. Been there, pro nobly won't go back unless I with guests who just have to eat shrimp on the North Shore.

    (3)

  • Lish H.

    Orgasm in my mouth!!! And I don't usually eat rice, I finished my two scoops of rice! Always busy, but it's pretty fast. They have people to clean the table as well. Hands down for shrimp truck!

    (5)

  • Kimberly H.

    Just plain amazing. So good. Even the after burps taste good. Write on the truck in sharpie. Make strangers uncomfortable by sharing their table (because this place is packed). Eat the shrimp shell and all. Add a side of hot sauce for dipping. Just EAT HERE!!! Bless you Giovanni - you master of garlicky shrimp goodness...bless you magicians of scampi.

    (5)

  • Jameson B.

    Not a fan. Have had better in many places. We got 1 of everything and it was all ready quickly despite how busy they were. That's mostly where the positivity ends. Let's start with the hotdog. I wouldn't ever order a hotdog from a shrimp truck except I figured, "wow that must be something special if it is still on the menu next to all this (apparently) delicious shrimp". I was wrong. Worst hotdog I have ever had by a long shot. It was cold, flavorless, and disgusting. Took a couple bites and threw the rest away. The shrimp was only marginally better. The three types came out at three different temperatures. Scampi was scalding hot (which sucked because you have to peel the shrimp to eat it) so you had to wait. Lemon butter shrimp were pretty much cold, and the spicy shrimp were somewhere in the middle. How does that even happen? Many of the shrimp were not deveined properly and had substantial amounts of shrimp gunk in them still. Gross!!! Nope nope nope. That ended it for me. I was really hoping this place would be good because it is in such a cool spot and would have been such a great experience. But no. My experience was a huge letdown.

    (2)

  • jamie f.

    A little piece of north shore heaven. You HAVE to stop here, like I'm sure it'll be a crime if you don't. I think my stay on the north shore we went....3-4x?

    (5)

  • Tracie F.

    Let's start by saying...I do not eat shrimp but I make one helluva date here because I absolutely love peeling them. That aside I do enjoy their mac salad and their shrimp is huge and smell delicious. We take all of our visitors. The new truck is really nice and the way they have the line set up and the tables is pretty darn smart. I also love that they have a sink. Get on down to Giovanni's and sign that truck (and eat some shrimp for me!)

    (4)

  • Fefe J.

    Shrimp scampi is the most popular here. It's buttery goodness. But be aware. It's almost always busy from open to close. I say best time to come is before it closes on the weekdays.

    (4)

  • Nancy T.

    For years, I've seen pictures of Giovanni's famous shrimp plate all over social media. And at last, I finally got to try it! Sorry to say, but it's definitely overhyped. The shrimp itself is good and extra garlicky, but it's not exactly unique - I've had very similar tasting shrimp from Asian restaurants before, so I'm not sure if there's anything that really makes Giovanni's stand out above the rest. However, it's definitely worth checking out just once if you really love shrimp - and they also offer half plates at half the price, so you don't have to commit too much stomach room, considering there's so many other good eats in Hawaii! Look out for the graffiti covered truck and don't forget to check in on Yelp for a free drink! Oh.... and beware of the seating area. There's SO many stray cats, random chickens, and scary birds. If you're anything like me, the outdoor seating can be quite uncomfortable and intimidating with all the wild animals running loose! Eek!

    (3)

  • Terra W.

    This place was everything my friends said and more! Amazing food, good atmosphere! I loved looking at all the names in the truck and locations people have come from. My husband got the #2 Hot and Spicy Shrimp (very hot, no refunds), lol. He did not want a refund, but it was HOT!!! I got the #1, Shrimp Scampi, very garlicky, lots of flavor. A bit oily though, but I understand that the garlic and shrimp are in olive oil. Must try it yourself!!!

    (5)

  • Lawrence T.

    If your ever in the area ...stop by anf grab yourself a plate from giovannis shrimp truck everytime were in hawaii we make it a point to stop by for good grinds after a good day of swimming or catching waves...there are 3 or 4 ways to get the shrimp, we usually pick the 1st one ...my son picked the hot shrimp and from the first bite it was over he couldn't eat anymore of that one so BEWARE when it say HOT take it as that, you dobt want to ruin your experience there...also take your own beverage its cheaper and beer is allowed there so take that if you want..alrighty my flight is boarding now ...hope you enjoy.

    (4)

  • Shannon H.

    The atmosphere is good... But for sure not my favorite Shrimp Scampi:( a little disappointed.

    (3)

  • Meena N.

    As always...love love love. My husband and I got 2 garlic scampi AND 1 spicy shrimp. Yes, 3 plates for 2 people. The spicy one is VERY spicy so make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. This is a must-go if you're ever in the Northshore area.

    (5)

  • Gabriel G.

    If I had to pick one place to go and eat on Oahu, it would probably be Giovanni's. The garlic shrimp is THAT good! Be sure to try the hotdog too! Yes, the lines are long and seating can be scarce. But, if you are patient you will be able to find a seat and eat soon. I love the food truck ambiance. We always go to Giovanni's when we are doing our "around the island drive." Definitely a MUST-GO when you are on Oahu. Plus, it's on the way out to north shore... So it's a great stopping point.

    (5)

  • Laura F.

    Best Shrimp Truck on the North Shore, but get there early because the line gets long. Being from the West Coast of the mainland, getting up and getting to Giovanni's by 10:30 am when they first open was no trouble and it definitely was worth the trip over. We favor the Garlic Shrimp but have heard if you have the stomach for some heat try the No Refunds Shrimp. We aren't that brave! Enjoy--

    (5)

  • Claudia G.

    I live in TX but my gf is from here. We always go to Romy's because that's what she likes. Today we tried Giovanni's so I can know who really makes the best shrimp. I have to say Romy's wins by a landslide. Our plate at Giovanni's had a hair. The Hot and Doicy had way too much Italian dressing and not enough Habanero peppers (they claim its spicy). The shrimp was tough, over cooked and dry. Waste of money. I didn't even want to write my name on the truck.

    (1)

  • Mark O.

    Based on Yelp reviews and local recommendations we found Giovanni's and expected some decent or better food truck shrimp. Bummer. Garlic but no other flavors at all. The rice was ok but bland. Maybe the regular cook was out. The people were really nice and the truck is cool with all the signatures and graffiti. There are other food trucks and flea market in the area. Wouldn't likely go back.

    (2)

  • Ariana M.

    Each time my friends like to do an around the island trip, Kahuku shrimp is always a must!! Now I'm not a picky person, honestly any Kahuku shrimp truck will do it for me. However this may differ for other people. Only way to know for yourself is to try them all! THE GRUB: [[ SCAMPI SHRIMP $13 ]] The classic shrimp truck scampi comes with a dozen jumbo shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh garlic, lemon, butter, and two scoops of white rice. OISHIIIIIIIII :3 As I mentioned before in a different shrimp truck review, I feel that these plate lunches are expensive. I mean they don't even come with a drink! DAFAQ? But it is an island must do for tourist so that's honestly the only reason why they can get away with this.

    (3)

  • Sarah N.

    Fantastic shrimp! Succulent and juicy and fresh. Worth the drive out, the best is their Shrimp Scampi if you like garlic ;D I love garlic so it works out super well!

    (5)

  • Elle Y.

    Everyone's been raving and saying go here for the best shrimp truck, so of course I have to check it out. Ordered the scampi and spicy plates, was super excited to finally try this spot. However, I was super disappointed how bad it was! The rice was mushy and dense, both shrimp dishes were over cooked, the spicy shrimp was too vinegary/tangy, waaaay spicy. The food came out literally right after you pay, which means they were pre-cooked. Shrimp only takes a few minutes anyway so not sure why they aren't made to order. I mean, how do you F up on both items? Especially rice in a rice cooker?? Maybe they had an off day? Whatever the reason, it was such a waste of a meal!

    (2)

  • Chay S.

    If you're traveling to the North Shore Giovanni's should definitely be on your list of places to check out. I haven't been to many shrimp trucks but this is obviously a popular spot for a reason. A little bonus at the Kahuku location involves a small yellow stand that sells corn, go get your taste buds tantalized by enjoying their baja flavor.

    (4)

  • Deyh B.

    Giovanni's has changed lot from just the shrimp truck to now. But I like coming here whenever I have a chance to go the north shore. As usual, this has become a touristy place but who can't resist their shrimp?!? Pros: gotta love their shrimp scampi. It's so succulent that you just wanna buy at least two plates. Now that there's all these business around Giovanni's, there's a lot of thing s too look at Cons: everyone knows the long line can be a nightmare especially during the weekends when it's gets really busy and then waiting. I think just the waiting is kind of bad in general Overall, they try to make things go as fast as possible with minimal mistakes. I'd still go here for the scampi just hoping that it's not busy even when it rains.

    (4)

  • Samantha T.

    From the first time I've eaten at Giovanni's and every time after you can always count of the flavor being exactly the same! The food is amazing the people are friendly. If your down of this side of the island it is a must!! And go the Giovanni's in Kahuku!!!

    (5)

  • N L.

    Along the north shore, shrimp trucks are plentiful. This one is packed which usually indicates great food. We waited maybe 15 minutes for our food. On Sunday, this is one of the few trucks open in this immediate area. Parking wasn't an issue. Picnic tables were packed. We ended up wandering to the picnic table area of a food truck that wasn't open so we could sit. Food was delicious. I love garlic and butter and the scampi plate definitely had a lot of that. The macaroni salad was an extra $1.50. It wasn't anything unique, but it was still good. Love the fact that they have an outdoor sink to wash your hands at. Great place for lunch!

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    Man, I'm so glad my manager recommended me this place. This place was definitely my favorite. I had the shrimp scampi and oh my god, the taste is like an explosion in your mouth. I love it so much I wanted to order another plate but was so full. Great tasting shrimp and the size of it is medium size. Do not get scared of the random roosters roaming around the area, its probably their territory lol. the drive is most definitely worth it, about 40 mins away from DT Honolulu, you're in Hawaii why not drive around the island to view the scenery. Vacation was well spent here! Check out Giovanni's you wont be disappointed at all!

    (5)

  • Hann A.

    Dont believe the hype. its not all that.... its mediocre . Shrimp scampi is way too greasy & hot n spicy is more tangy than spicy. My friend and i mixed those two to balance out the flavors. Dont get their Mac salad, it was dry and had no flavor,

    (2)

  • Anthony N.

    If you're going to be in the North Shore, you better stop by this place! I think it lives up to it's hype. The shrimps are huge and covered in a butter garlic sauce. WARNING: the hot n spicy is REALLY hot n spicy lol. I can handle heat pretty well and this got me sweatin. Good thing when you check in on Yelp, you get a free drink :p

    (5)

  • Andy V.

    One of the best things I've eaten on my vacation. At first I thought it was a rip off. 12 shrimps for around 10 bucks? But I didn't realize how freakin' filling it was. And the taste was great. Buttery without feeling like a heart clogger, cooked and juicy. Garlic was just right. All on top of some rice. Really good. We grabbed it to-go and headed to turtle bay, and it was a great day.

    (5)

  • Irene K.

    I feel bad giving this place such a low rating, but I was extremely unimpressed by the food here. We all ordered the shrimp scampi which comes with garlic and rice. The sauce was super oily and the rice itself was kind of mushy. The shrimp was okay, but nothing we felt like we couldn't have made ourselves. On the positive side, the seating area was comfortable, the people were really nice, and we didn't have to wait any longer than 15 minutes. If your travel plans include going to Maui, I'd definitely recommend checking out Geste instead.

    (2)

  • Elif O.

    Look, this is not the best shrimp. You can do better at home. But driving after being extremely tired, this is a good meal. Perhaps the best you can get in that part of town. Enjoy... Oh...the hot and spicy "special sauce" is just lots of Tabasco if you can handle it. Go w the garlic one if you're gonna cry. The wait time is approx 15min on avg.

    (4)

  • Helen T.

    There was a time when I came to this truck and thought I'd be healthy and get the butter on the side... never again. The garlic shrimp scampi is the way to go! Make sure those shrimps have been swimming in that sauce!

    (5)

  • Won C.

    Scampi was tasty as expected. Since we like garlic - it had plenty of garlic - it was good. Also, shrimp was larger than the other truck we tried next door.

    (4)

  • Zha L.

    Super popular. Super long line. And super garlicky shrimps. You will drive pass lots of shrimp trucks on the way to Giovanni's, but if it's your first time you might as well get the most well known one! Checked in and got a free soda! During lunch time it was pretty crowded with a long line. And there was quite a wait after placing the order. Getting a table was a little tricky too. The shrimp scampi was tasty though! It was fresh and flavorful. Really heavy on the garlic side, but a little way too oily for me. It was a little disappointing that a macaroni salad didn't come with the plate. But $13 still isn't bad for the size of shrimp they serve.

    (4)

  • Kim N.

    How could I not do this right? I've wanted to surf the North Shore for quite a while now but having not been able to pick the winter swells, I only got to observe the low fall sets. However I did get to eat some good shrimp. We went on the late side so it wasnt totally crowded but there were still a lot of folks. Got both the original scampi and the lemon butter. Enjoy your shrimp in the awning tables and people watch while you OD on the shellfish. Cash only kinda sucks but they do so much business I dont think it matters to them, it's not like they're losing out!

    (4)

  • Nancy N.

    This white truck is parked in a small park area along with a few other food truck vendors. The shrimp scampi was the best!! Very flavorful with bursting garlic flavor. The lemon butter one was bland... no seasoning to begin with except for the lemon butter dip. It really was hard to eat and enjoy your food because there are a TON of flies!!!! They are everywhere and I find myself rushing my food and waving my hands to shoo away the flies every few seconds. It's not the place for you if you can't stand flies getting in your way. If you can see past that part, you're in for a treat. Just get the scampi!!

    (4)

  • Jessie-Brian M.

    Absolutely Fabulous the shrimp scampi was so good! With a side of their hot sauce, the girls on the truck were friendly fast service.

    (5)

  • Amanda C.

    Bring cash!! The Shrimp Scampi was stellar! It was ALMOST worth the drive and the price. Although, I do think it 12 dollars and some change is a little steep especially because an hour later I was hungry.

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    Outstanding food!!!!! Just be careful with the spicy plate it's HOT . Line was quite long, but worth the wait. Planning on going there at least a few more times before our vacation ends!!

    (5)

  • Jan B.

    We drove to the opposite side of the island just to eat at this truck and it was worth it!! It is no frills but they know how to make and deliver delicious shrimp. We did not have any sides as we just wanted to focus on the shrimp. I will def come back here next time we are on the island and recommend this place also. There were some flies but you just can't get away from that outside. The trash is quite a ways from where you order and eat so that helps. They close down at 6:30 every day. There is another shrimp truck down a little further and it's name is "famous" but they are not the real deal so don't be fooled. So glad we got to try it this year!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    All my shrimp dreams came true here. There was a line but it went fast and obviously it was worth the short wait. 2 scoops of rice and a dozen shrimp with each plate. We had the shrimp scampi and each bite was so good that I didn't even bother to peel the shrimp. I just ate the whole thing. Wash it down with some fresh coconut from the trucks/tents next door. Seating is pretty plentiful but the birds and chickens running around were not very pleasant.

    (5)

  • Ankit K.

    Authentic Mexican food truck! I tried the spicy shrimp plate and it was finger licking delicious! Definitely worth the drive up to north shore. PS: Cash only place!

    (5)

  • Luis B.

    I was told by many people to visit Shrimp Truck. Well I did Giovanni's Truck was a total disappointment- The #1 plate is 12 shrimps smothered in garlic and butter. If you really don't have taste sure it is fine, but let me tell you not impress. Eat elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Ernest L.

    I'm mildly allergic to shrimp. But I still ate through it because I love shrimp and their shrimp scampi was off the hook. No allergy or breakout for me! Must be a Godsend! Giovanni's has a good business model, have a simple line up of food and do it well. I can eat their scampi FOR DAYS. It's always worth the wait, and your fingers taste so good glazed with garlic butter. I've never had shrimp taste so fresh and redeeming to my taste buds. This is definitely a pit stop whenever I'm in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Kari O.

    I've heard great things about this spot. I wasn't impressed although, i hear the other location is way better. We were crunched for time so we had to come to this one. It was whatever. The workers were really nice though. Cleaned our table before we sat down and they were talking to us about the kittens there.

    (3)

  • Ian K.

    Everyone get the Shrimp Scampi!! - The butter sauce is amazing! - The rice with the butter sauce makes it even better! - Run 10 miles the next day and you'll feel better If you are thinking of getting the Spicy Plate, you may want to get the hot sauce on the side! There has been way too many times that I've been here and I've seen people start sweating and tearing up while eating! Also, there is no refund! The price is pretty steep, but if you are craving or never had North Shore Shrimp, this is the best place to go in my opinion. There are benches to sit, but you will be attacked by flies...Its inevitable and part of the experience.

    (4)

  • Brenda L.

    Shrimp scampi all the way! We were staying at Turtle Bay and Giovanni's is literally a 10 minute drive from there. There are many shrimp trucks in the area, literally parked a few minutes from each other, but of course I have to try the best! This place gets busy! It was packed on a random Monday, with waits around 20 minutes + (including ordering time). Giovanni's was delicious! We had the shrimp scampi & the lemon butter shrimp. The shrimp scampi was well seasoned and very flavourful! While the shells had all the seasoning & garlic, the shrimp itself absorbed a lot of the flavour as well. Olive oil, lemon butter & loads of garlic, so simple yet so tasteful :) The lemon butter shrimp on the other hand was clearly plain, but we still ordered it to taste the freshness of the plump shrimp. Get ready to get your hands dirty! :) Also, try the grilled corn stand. You will not be disappointed! Ask nicely to have 2 flavours on your corn!

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    We arrived around 2pm and the line was through their entire seating area and into the grass section! There seemed to be a lot of locals there that day - probably because it was Memorial Day weekend. They have full portions and half portions of all their shrimp dishes. I always go for the full portion - 6 pieces of shrimp just isn't enough! They use a lot of garlic in their shrimp scampi so it's super tasty but also very bad if you're going to eat in your car. Our car ended up smelling like garlic shrimp for the entire rest of the week! I haven't tried Romy's yet but I have had Fumi's and I have to say Giovanni's is better by far. The shrimps are the perfect size and each bite is an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Don't bother with the other trucks - come straight to Giovanni's!

    (4)

  • Mary Ann F.

    Try the shrimp scampi, it is definitely the better of the. 3. If you are on the way to The PCC, a quick stop here is only 2 mins or so away.

    (4)

  • Arnel D.

    The wait is worth it! Don't forget to check in on Yelp to get a free drink of choice... Once you've ordered, use the available Sharpie Marker and leave a note on the truck. I suggest somewhere really high so that nobody can write over your note or name. Their shrimp plates are very delicious and reasonable priced. Be sure to get here before noon as all the tourist buses arrive then you'll never be able to order or get your food. If this happens to you, just try the other food vendors that are just to your left. Parking is a bit hectic, so park on the dirt but be sure to not block anyone or you may get towed. There are plenty of tables and chairs to finish your food and its covered... so you don't have to worry about getting sunburned or wet if it rains. I can't wait to get back to North Shore to enjoy some plump and delicious shirmp!!!

    (5)

  • Kristine L.

    Why is this place so popular & highly rated? I don't get it. I always go to Romys shrimp truck but decided to try Giovanni's this last time in Hawaii because of the hype. I got the garlic scampi, their top selling plate, and i wanted to stop eating it after the first bite even though I was starving. The shrimp was drenched in a soggy puddle of butter and topped off with garlic (which sounds like it would be at least flavorful) but no..there was no flavor at all and it felt like I was eating straight up oil. Even the garlic had no flavor. Their shrimp is previously frozen so the texture was just not fresh and was not pleasant in the slightest. Felt exactly like eating red lobster scampi. I would have preferred frozen boxed dinner shrimps. I couldn't even get myself to eat the white rice on the plate because it was so soggy and greasy from the flavorless butter. I honestly do not get the hype but people do really seem to love this place. The wait was around 30-40 minutes..average for a shrimp truck. The 2 stars is me being generous. GO TO ROMY'S!! It is a close-by shrimp truck that is infinitely better!! Flavorful, and fresh and just sooooo delicious!

    (2)

  • Kimmie L.

    The men recommended we drop by a shrimp truck from all the hype. Not disappointed by the shrimp. Large shrimp , incredibly flavorful. The hot and spicy was literally spicy but it was so good. The wait is VERY LONG though. Think we waited about 20-30 min for it. I can see why people order 4 plates .

    (4)

  • Roxy W.

    Location/Parking: The white graffiti van will be on you left if your coming from Haleiwa Town in the beginning of Kahuku. There is parking next to the white van. It is the second white van you'll see. Make sure the sign of the white van says Giovanni. Bathroom: They have two decent bathroom stalls fully stocked with toilet paper and paper towel. Food/Drinks: They have three types of shrimp plates; shrimp scampi, spicy and lemon butter. Hands down the shrimp scampi is the best! The spicy shrimp is too spicy for me and the lemon butter is plain with just a side of melted butter. A regular shrimp plate has two scoops of rice and 12 pieces of shrimp. A half plate is one scoop of rice and 6 pieces of shrimp. The shrimps are huge and they do NOT have the heads attached. I prefer it that way. They also sell garlic hot dog, macaroni salad, water, soda and canned Hawaiian drinks. Price: The shrimp plates are $13 and half plates are $6.50. Bring cash because it is CASH ONLY! Overall, it is a "must" to visit Giovanni for the shrimp scampi plate when your in North Shore. It is buttery garlicky good!

    (4)

  • Josh L.

    They take call in orders, there is a decent amount of parking, and if you check-in on yelp, you get a free soda. Not all the shrimp trucks taste the same, personally for my taste buds this one is my favorite. Good amount of rice and shrimp. Get the hot dog with rice for dessert. I can't wait to fart garlic in my sleep on the red eye back to the east coast.

    (5)

  • Katherine L.

    Why. Just, why. I can't begin to comprehend the hype behind this place, considering you're paying for substandard frozen shrimp soaked in grease. This place is a popular shrimp truck among both locals and tourists but I was not the least bit impressed. I tried only the shrimp scampi, which is their most popular, and couldn't bring myself to finish my entire plate, much less try any other flavor they had to offer. The shrimp was rubbery, the rice was pasty, due to the amount of grease it was sitting in (literally a puddle), and the garlic, although abundant, wasn't browned enough to impart any good flavor. In addition, having to wait approximately 20 min. or more makes it doubly distasteful. Hawaii has some bomb, FRESH seafood. If that's what you're looking for, definitely do NOT come here.

    (1)

  • Sheena P.

    Sigh. Why must I always deviate from the norm. I'm down for hyped up stuff because I love the hype! I live for the hype! With that being said, this place did NOT meet my expectations. The shrimp scampi dish ($13) with 2 scoops of rice and wedge of lemon was WHATEVS. The shrimp had flavor, yes. But it's all on the shell. You either eat the shell and get all the flavor, or peel it off and get boiled shrimp. I personally hate the shell because it gets caught in my throat but had to eat it anyway because I didn't want flavorless shrimp. Rice was soooo mushy. The entire plate was sooo oily!!! Giovanni's shrimp reminded me of crawfish Cajun places that I have back in California which are so much better. Beware: FLIES EVERYWHERE!!!!! So disgusting!

    (2)

  • Amy G.

    They hype is real y'all! Shrimp scampi is bomb dot com. It's so garlicky and tasty. Food comes out fairly quickly but parking can be a struggle.

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    PROS: - shrimp is just as good as everyone raves it to be (scampi & lemon and butter were good) - lots of outdoor seating with friendly chickens walking around - really close to Turtle Bay CONS: - long wait

    (4)

  • Toyo K.

    Ate here last Friday around noon and the place was pretty packed. You should be able to see the tagged white food truck from the highway. Parking can be tight, but there was an open area coming in from the highway to the left of the truck. I would say we waited for about 45 minutes from the time we got there until the food came out. While waiting in line, you can have others go and buy smoothies or go next door to Kahuku Suprette and buy yourself some delicious poke. There are little shops around the area too selling souvenirs, clothes, and fried bananas so others can kill time. Another tip: once you get there, have someone save a table for you. Space is limited and the tables were packed. My group and I loitered around families finishing up their meals and were able to reserve them once they left. As for the food...delicious. I had the garlic shrimp. It came with 12 pieces loaded with garlic and what looked to be olive oil. The shell and tails are still on (but headless) so you'll need to peel those off. It also comes with 2 scoops of rice. Be sure to ask for extra napkins as it can get quite messy and becareful when shelling the shrimp or everything can splatter all over. The smoothies were delicious too. One more tip: This place is cash only (but the souvenir stands nearby accept credit card with min. $15 spend). If you're in the area, stop by and eat this food!!!

    (5)

  • Katy Q.

    There's too many shrimp trucks in Hawaii, and there's no way to try them all unless you are a local. So... if you only get one meal, its better to go for what everyone says is "the best one". Six fifty got me a scoop of plain white rice, and 6 shrimp mixed in scampi sauce. It tasted like lemon garlic to me, but a more mild version? The flavor didn't seem to have much... dimension. If that makes sense. Good meal though. We got there right when it opened, so only a minimal wait. Cute grey cat kept us company and a free soda is always nice.

    (4)

  • Sarah P.

    It's good shrimp but I always felt it was overrated for what it is. But don't get me wrong, I prefer Giovanni's over all the other shrimp trucks, but it just became a "go-to" place in Hawaii, so I recommend to try it a least once though. For 13 dollars you get two scoops of rice, and 12 prices of shrimp. A plate you can finish off in minutes. I really love the shrimp scampi, which is plate number one. Didn't really care for the other two choices which was the spicy and the last one is a butter something shrimp which tasted like tomatoes lol. So if you do decide to come here I would just recommend the scampi plate. Cons- sometimes they may miscount your shrimp and short you. But it's understandable I guess since there putting out hundreds of shrimps lol. The lines are really long, and you never know what's the best time to go to where there are no lines lol. But you can wait and decide if it's worth it, or call in your orders lol. Try it at least once.

    (4)

  • Darlene M.

    Must try spot if you're a tourist. This place is actually pretty good coming from a truck. We stayed in Honolulu, so this place was on the other side of the island. Good thing we rented a car! When we arrived, the line wasn't so bad. We ordered and got our food. We found a seat right away. My husband for the garlic shrimp and rice. It was so good and flavorful. I got the garlic hotdog! I don't know what they do to that hot dog, but it was mighty delicious! I will definitely come back here, but next time we'll order two orders of garlic shrimp and rice and two garlic hot dogs! Man that was amazing! I'll reek of garlic the next day, but it'll be so worth it!!

    (5)

  • Bevi K.

    Saw the truck on a drive around the north shore. I've heard the hype, so as a foodie it was my duty to try it. The garlic shrimp was good, delicious. The rice was stickier than I would have liked, it was almost a paste. The lemon shrimp was slightly bland, mostly just boiled. Always stick to the garlic. would I go back? Sure, but I wouldn't wait a hour for it.

    (3)

  • Stella J.

    Came back here after not having Giovanni's since my last visit in 2009 and it definitely wasn't as good as I remember it to be. Shrimp scampi: 5/5: was still delicious, cooked to perfection with a tasty garlic butter sauce. It was as good as I remember. You won't regret getting the shrimp scampi. Hot and spicy: 3/5: was not as good as I remember it to be. It was definitely hot and spicy but it was all heat and flavor. It was kind of a sour spicy sauce which I don't remember it being. Kind of strange and I wasn't too fond of it. The 4 star rating is mainly for the shrimp scampi because it's still good but not worth the 1 hr drive from hononlulu to north shore unless I'm there to stop by other places along the way. Total for 2: $25

    (4)

  • Alisa F.

    Best shrimp truck on the island. Order the spicy and the garlic. Soo good! I recommend you grab some of the corn that's in the same parking lot. Yum!

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    I'm gonna keep it simple.... THE BEST SHRIMP SCAMPI OF ALL TIME!!! The one place I tell people they HAVE TO GO TO when visiting Hawaii. The wait will be long, but it's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it!

    (5)

  • Michele K.

    Honestly, I would never drive from town to Kahaku to only eat at Giovanni's, but if I'm in the area you can count on me to pick up a shrimp scampi plate. I had only been to the location in Haleiwa and was really surprised at how nice the Kahuku location was. The food is still sold from a shrimp truck, but theres a large eating area with lots of picnic benches/tables and a sink to wash your garlicky/greasy hands after eating. Their popular menu item is the shrimp scampi plate. You can get a half plate (6 shrimps, 1 rice scoop) or a full plate (12 shrimp, 2 rice scoops). The price of the full plate is exactly twice the price of the half plate so you won't feel like you're being cheated if you just get the small plate. The wait isn't too bad considering how many people line up for this place and there are always people coming and going from the tables so it shouldn't be too difficult finding a place to eat unless you have a large group. The food comes piping hot so be careful when peeling the shrimp! It's kind of a pain to have to peel the shrimp when you just want to eat it all up but there's already a cut in the shell to make it easier to peel. I definitely think it's easier to peel than places like boiling crab where it takes me like 1 minute to peel one shrimp -_____-. The scampi sauce is so damn good and I know that it's terrible for you but that sauce with some lemon juice is one of the best things I've ever eaten.

    (4)

  • Rose T.

    An hour wait after already waiting in line to order!!! Nooooooo! Don't forget to check in for a free soda.

    (4)

  • Jennie H.

    After hearing the wait time at Romy's we came to Giovanni's and I'm SO GLAD we did. We ordered a garlic scampi plate, a hot and spicy plate, and a garlic hot dog. I didn't try the hot dog but my husband LOVED it. They put the scored dog into the scampi sauce so it's covered in garlicky goodness. You can get it with a bun or rice--my husband opted for the bun since we had shrimp plates with rice. The scampi plate was incredible and the hot and spicy was delicious--so hot we were sweating and we love spicy food (justifying the "this is hot--no refunds" warning poster!). Next time we go back to Oahu, we'll definitely be stopping by again.

    (5)

  • Tiffany C.

    The first time I came to try the famed shrimp truck, they were closed. So the next time I travelled this way for vacation, I made sure it was one of the first foodie destinations on my list! I wasn't going in with any expectation after being let down the first time, my fault, and reading some of the reviews that the shrimp didn't live up to the hype. Well that's exactly why I got into writing reviews in the first place, some people don't know jack! The garlic butter shrimp plate is AMAZING! And the shrimp are huge and they give you such a big serving I couldn't even finish it all. I also ordered a side of mac, which was yum! A million bajillion thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Bruno S.

    Along with the beautiful rich views and amazing surf, the North Shore has plenty of taste bud explosion food to offer! At the top of the list is the popular Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. The food stop includes several other truck foods, and plenty of seating with shade (and rest rooms). Giovanni's shrimp scampi is as good as other shrimp trucks, loaded with garlic and butter over sticky white rice! Check in with yelp and get a free soda or local canned juice. They do not offer a peeled shrimp option (like Big Wave does) but nonetheless it's very good shrimp. BW remains the King of shrimp trucks IMO but Giovanni's is a good runner up. FYI all of these food shops have flies... you can't escape it no matter which food truck you go to.

    (4)

  • Ruyi Y.

    I guess I'm one of the only people who left this place not that impressed. Maybe it's cuz I've been eating seafood all my life, and my momma cooks a fine shrimp. Basically: 1) Really pricy for what you get. 2) Rice is not cooked very well. Although, that might be because they chose the wrong type of rice. Something ain't right, imo. 3) Spicy flavor: too spicy. Trust me when I say that. In my life, I've only ever had trouble eating legit spicy food IN Thailand. This shrimp is borderline inedible. It's not that I couldn't consume it physically. There just isn't anything to counteract or complement the spicy, and the sour actually makes it worse. There's a borderline disgustingly bitter aftertaste. Shrimp is way over cooked and pretty much like compact powder stuffed into a shrimp shell. Maybe we got a bad batch that had been sitting there for a week. 4) Scampi: delicious! But - sorry - very ordinary. It's just garlic, salt, butter - which works! But then I wonder why it was so damn expensive. I enjoyed eating it! It was cooked very well. Tasted good. Just wasn't that special. And not worth it. I'm still not sure whether I liked the fact that the rice was drenched in oil. Sauce I would understand because it gives flavor, but no, it was just oil. 5) THANK YOU for having a hand washing station. Mad brownie points for that. Overall... Fun experience but as a tourist, I'd rather eat musubis :) Ps. There's a cute cat here! Was I not supposed to feed it?

    (2)

  • Wendy F.

    Okay shrimp scampi with WAY TOO MUCH BUTTER/GREASE. I think I OVERPAID. CASH ONLY! FOOD: I got their famous shrimp scampi in half ($6.50). It came in a small paper tray with 6 shrimps, a slice of lemon, and a small scope of rice. The shrimp was okay - it did not taste too special. On the other hand, I think I enjoyed the rice a little more, because it was more chewy than the regular white rice. BUT! There was SO MUCH GREASE/BUTTER at the bottom of the tray, that I felt like I was just drinking grease...Did NOT like or expect that. The portion size was very small - just 6 averaged sized shrimps with a TINY scope of rice. Hello!? People who visit here definitely would have done some water sports/cardio activities. And what do hungry people need? Carbs!!! I would be happier if you just gave me a little more rice and a little less of the grease. You can also the spicy sauce on the side. Be careful. It is VERY SPICY. PRICE: Like I said, I think its on the expensive side for the amount and quality of food I paid for. I didn't think it was a good investment. SETTING: The food truck on the north side of the island Oahu. There are a bunch of other food trucks around and there is a public bathroom, which was surprisingly clean. We came in the afternoon on a very windy day, and it was SO COLD. So we got the food and ate in the car. The bad weather also did not help with the so-so tasty food. SERVICE: CASH ONLY! You order like how you would order at any other food trucks. OVERALL IMPRESSION: Too greasy. Not enough rice. Too windy and cold. I don't know why people like this place so much. Definitely overhyped.

    (2)

  • Kaying T.

    This place was delicious! We dropped by this place when we decided to tour the North Shore. If you follow Google GPS, make sure to stay on the highway and not turn into any streets like Google says. The food vendors are located right off the highway. It took about 15-20 minutes for us to order our food and receive it because the line was a bit long. You can ask for pepper on the side of your dish to kick it up a notch. We ordered the Shrimp Scampi and it was good! You get 12 pieces of shrimp, two scoops of rice, and a lemon wedge. This dish totally changed my view on garlic. How can they make garlic so delicious? Would I come here again? Maybe, if I really wanted shrimp on the north shore, but other than that, I'd probably not drive 40 minutes from honolulu to here. FYI this was a VERY greasy, oily dish. Due to the high amount of grease, this dish WILL do crazy things to your digestive system.......beware the deliciousness!

    (5)

  • Tamika H.

    Believe in all the hype! I will admit it was a bit of headache trying to locate the shrimp truck because our GPS took us to a different location. It wasn't until we had almost given up hope and decided to settle on another shrimp restaurant as we're walking did we notice the iconic graffiti-marked truck down the street. PRAISE THE SHRIMP GODS! Be prepared to wait in line but we didn't care because we were so glad we found it. We had the garlic shrimp, hot & spicy shrimp and the hot dog plate. All excellent! The hot & spicy had my lips on fire but oh was it worth it! There were a cluster of other good eats in the area. Save room for a BBQ corn on a stick from Uncle Woody's. It was ONO DELICIOUS!!!!!

    (5)

  • Danny N.

    I would say 3.5 stars, it is good, don't get me wrong. But it just didn't wow me. The lines are long and food takes awhile to come out. I just like the water sink outside too!

    (3)

  • Carol L.

    Was it worth the drive from Waikiki? My expectations were admittedly high but I thought why the hell not give it a try. It didn't start off well. The line moved quickly but, after I ordered and paid for my SCAMPI, I watched other people who came after me receive their food first. I waiting patiently trying not to be a belligerent mainlander, but finally checked in with the young woman handing out the orders. She hesitated but wasn't rude at all. She checked in with her team and came back to tell me that my order came to her as a blank ticket. The cashier evidently failed to write down my order after I paid. She remembered discarding it and apologized for the extra wait. My order was the next one she handed out. There's open-air picnic table style seating in case you've never been here. I found a spot and cursed the windy conditions. It's hard to eat with your hands when your hair is flying all over your face! Anyhow, onto the most important part. Yeah I thought it was worth it. The shrimp were plump and I couldn't ask for them to be cooked any better. Lots of garlicky lemony butter and the rice was nice to cut it all. I'm kind of salivating now just thinking about these shrimp. No where else but in Hawaii would so many people flock to a truck that looks so dumpy on the outside, flat tires and all.

    (4)

  • Bogdan K.

    Shrimp is great get scampi w garlic hot n spicy way to hot and spicy but expect to wait like a tourist ain't no way around that ;). Happy Sunday !

    (4)

  • Sebastian F.

    Tourist hype? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Remarkable food? Sadly, yes. Paying $12 for a plate full of garlic shrimp - everywhere else on this planet people would look at me in disbelief. In Hawaii - it's completely normal. Tasting this deliciousness of a dozen king shrimp, marinated in butter and garlic, makes you forget about your worthy bucks though. Good job, Giovanni's.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 6:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

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