Giovanni's Shrimp Truck

I had to visit here as I heard all the rave reviews about this shrimp truck. I had a good experience. The service is top notch. The staff are patient, friendly and hard working. The menu is simple and the prices are typically high. The garlic hot dog was from Costco and definitely not worth it. The shrimp was well prepared and tasty but the rice had too much water. The macaroni salad was not to my liking and the rest of my family didn't enjoy it as well. Wait times are always long as there are so many people visiting constantly.

The food at this shrimp truck was delicious, with fresh and flavorful shrimp cooked to perfection. However, the dining experience was impacted by an issue with flies. It was hard to fully enjoy the meal with so many flies around. If they could address this, it would be a fantastic spot for a casual meal. The food is worth it, but I recommend taking it to-go for a better experience.

So worth it! We ordered the Shrimp Scampi, and it was spectacular. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, tender, and coated in a buttery garlic sauce that was so flavorful. We also got a side of their hot sauce, which added the perfect kick without overpowering it. It complemented the scampi beautifully and brought a whole new level of flavor to the meal. The casual, open-air setting made the experience feel authentically Hawaiian - a laid-back vibe with bold, unforgettable flavors. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is a must for anyone visiting the North Shore.

Good spot for some famous Giovanni's shrimp. Tried the garlic shrimp scampi and liked it. Sprinkling some lemon juice on top really brings out the flavour. Good portion size. It's a decent food truck spot with some seating but perhaps not the most sanitary. Be ready for lots of flies.

Giovanni’s Shrimp is definitely more of a novelty spot than a go-to for amazing food. While the hype and reputation draw you in, the shrimp itself is pretty mid-level in quality—nothing that really stands out or feels worth the long lines. It’s fun to experience once, especially for the atmosphere and the iconic food truck vibe, but it feels more like a “check it off the list” kind of place than somewhere you’d rush back to. If you’re in the area and curious, it’s worth trying, but temper your expectations. Three stars for the experience, but the food doesn’t quite live up to the buzz. Maybe next time I will order something other than the Shrimp Scampi to give that a fair shot.

Get here early or the line may wrap around and be a very long wait. The garlic shrimp scampi is good, the hot and spicy is actually quite spicy and vinegary. Food is good, but not worth the extremely long wait if you come at peak times

Giovanni’s has become a novelty check it off the list place. The food is no longer good. They cook the shrimp in big batches to reduce wait time but it definitely affects the quality. The food is no longer hot and fresh. Definitely do not recommend. I’d avoid at all cost. Parking used to be free and now they charge $2 per vehicle.

(Last visited December 6, 2022.) Vacationing in Hawaii for a while and a friend of mine told me about the legendary shrimp trucks on the island of Oahu! So while touring the island on our own we made our way to one of 3 Giovanni's Shrimp Truck locations here in Haleiwa! Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: I mmmeeeaaannn... it's a food truck in a parking lot with other food trucks. Lol. There isn't much to it, but what IS cool is that the food truck is RIDDLED with graffiti. It kinda adds a unique touch to it and I liked that. Service: Again, it's a food truck so it's not a lot of service here, but we did meet Mel, who isn't the owner of the Giovanni's empire, but does run this specific truck. She was fun, personable, inviting and just a good time. Food: So we were able to try a few things here, but it's a shrimp truck so everything is going to be shrimp related... except for the random garlic hot dog on the menu. Lol. First up was the shrimp scampi + rice plate. You get 2 scoops of rice with each plate. The rice is steamed and sticky. It's pretty flavorless if you get the rice that's underneath all the stuff that's poured on top. Make sure you stir your rice so you get all the sEEEEEasonin'! The shrimp is DELICIOUS. It's cooked well, tender and not terribly salty, which I was surprised by. The garlic was strong, but I really liked it. However, it's time for the hot sauce. When you go to buy there's a sign that says "no refunds". Lol. Who's trying to get refunds from hot sauce?! Weak folks. Ha. Anyway, this is an award winning sauce that was very good, not too viscous and not terribly spicy at all, but a good complement to the shrimp. One thing that bothered me is that the shrimp are served with the shells/tails still on. However, you're supposed to use the suck, peel & eat method where you suck all the seasoning/sauce off, peel the shrimp then re-dip it in the juices left at the bottom of the tray. Lol. Then eat. Fine... gotta put in some work, but still good regardless. But I believe I'm favorite of the day was the lemon butter shrimp. The flavors were so simple, yet so powerful. The citrus flavor works so well with the creamy, salty butter flavor. My goodness. Value: At the time, a plate of shrimp and rice would run you $16.00. I have no idea what they cost now, but for that price, it's easily a super affordable lunch that'll fill you up. In conclusion, it's worth making the drive up here to check this place out. They have literally 5-figures worth of positive reviews between all of their locations and rightfully so!

I had to visit here as I heard all the rave reviews about this shrimp truck. I had a good experience. The service is top notch. The staff are patient, friendly and hard working. The menu is simple and the prices are typically high. The garlic hot dog was from Costco and definitely not worth it. The shrimp was well prepared and tasty but the rice had too much water. The macaroni salad was not to my liking and the rest of my family didn't enjoy it as well. Wait times are always long as there are so many people visiting constantly.

The food at this shrimp truck was delicious, with fresh and flavorful shrimp cooked to perfection. However, the dining experience was impacted by an issue with flies. It was hard to fully enjoy the meal with so many flies around. If they could address this, it would be a fantastic spot for a casual meal. The food is worth it, but I recommend taking it to-go for a better experience.

So worth it! We ordered the Shrimp Scampi, and it was spectacular. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, tender, and coated in a buttery garlic sauce that was so flavorful. We also got a side of their hot sauce, which added the perfect kick without overpowering it. It complemented the scampi beautifully and brought a whole new level of flavor to the meal. The casual, open-air setting made the experience feel authentically Hawaiian - a laid-back vibe with bold, unforgettable flavors. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is a must for anyone visiting the North Shore.

Good spot for some famous Giovanni's shrimp. Tried the garlic shrimp scampi and liked it. Sprinkling some lemon juice on top really brings out the flavour. Good portion size. It's a decent food truck spot with some seating but perhaps not the most sanitary. Be ready for lots of flies.

Giovanni’s Shrimp is definitely more of a novelty spot than a go-to for amazing food. While the hype and reputation draw you in, the shrimp itself is pretty mid-level in quality—nothing that really stands out or feels worth the long lines. It’s fun to experience once, especially for the atmosphere and the iconic food truck vibe, but it feels more like a “check it off the list” kind of place than somewhere you’d rush back to. If you’re in the area and curious, it’s worth trying, but temper your expectations. Three stars for the experience, but the food doesn’t quite live up to the buzz. Maybe next time I will order something other than the Shrimp Scampi to give that a fair shot.

Get here early or the line may wrap around and be a very long wait. The garlic shrimp scampi is good, the hot and spicy is actually quite spicy and vinegary. Food is good, but not worth the extremely long wait if you come at peak times

Giovanni’s has become a novelty check it off the list place. The food is no longer good. They cook the shrimp in big batches to reduce wait time but it definitely affects the quality. The food is no longer hot and fresh. Definitely do not recommend. I’d avoid at all cost. Parking used to be free and now they charge $2 per vehicle.

(Last visited December 6, 2022.) Vacationing in Hawaii for a while and a friend of mine told me about the legendary shrimp trucks on the island of Oahu! So while touring the island on our own we made our way to one of 3 Giovanni's Shrimp Truck locations here in Haleiwa! Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: I mmmeeeaaannn... it's a food truck in a parking lot with other food trucks. Lol. There isn't much to it, but what IS cool is that the food truck is RIDDLED with graffiti. It kinda adds a unique touch to it and I liked that. Service: Again, it's a food truck so it's not a lot of service here, but we did meet Mel, who isn't the owner of the Giovanni's empire, but does run this specific truck. She was fun, personable, inviting and just a good time. Food: So we were able to try a few things here, but it's a shrimp truck so everything is going to be shrimp related... except for the random garlic hot dog on the menu. Lol. First up was the shrimp scampi + rice plate. You get 2 scoops of rice with each plate. The rice is steamed and sticky. It's pretty flavorless if you get the rice that's underneath all the stuff that's poured on top. Make sure you stir your rice so you get all the sEEEEEasonin'! The shrimp is DELICIOUS. It's cooked well, tender and not terribly salty, which I was surprised by. The garlic was strong, but I really liked it. However, it's time for the hot sauce. When you go to buy there's a sign that says "no refunds". Lol. Who's trying to get refunds from hot sauce?! Weak folks. Ha. Anyway, this is an award winning sauce that was very good, not too viscous and not terribly spicy at all, but a good complement to the shrimp. One thing that bothered me is that the shrimp are served with the shells/tails still on. However, you're supposed to use the suck, peel & eat method where you suck all the seasoning/sauce off, peel the shrimp then re-dip it in the juices left at the bottom of the tray. Lol. Then eat. Fine... gotta put in some work, but still good regardless. But I believe I'm favorite of the day was the lemon butter shrimp. The flavors were so simple, yet so powerful. The citrus flavor works so well with the creamy, salty butter flavor. My goodness. Value: At the time, a plate of shrimp and rice would run you $16.00. I have no idea what they cost now, but for that price, it's easily a super affordable lunch that'll fill you up. In conclusion, it's worth making the drive up here to check this place out. They have literally 5-figures worth of positive reviews between all of their locations and rightfully so!

Really enjoyed my meal here! Giovanni's is a super popular place, especially for tourists. Did it live up to the hype? I'd actually say just about. It definitely didn't exceed expectations. But at the end of the day, it's shrimp in garlic butter and that tastes good. Unlike other reviews, the day I came, both the shrimp and rice were cooked to perfection. I ended up splitting a full plate scampi and a half plate hot & spicy with a friend. The scampi sauce was sooo delicious! A shrimp with a load of scampi sauce plus a squeeze of lemon and some rice...HEAVEN. I LOVE spicy food so I also wanted to try the hot and spicy flavor. Unfortunately, the hot and spicy sauce was not my favorite. It was really vinegary. If you like tabasco and tapatio, you will probaby really enjoy this sauce! It did however pack some good heat, so I really enjoyed the spicy level. The line wasn't the longest and it appeared to move quick. Once you order, you wait about a minute or two, and the food is pretty much ready! SIDE NOTE: The lot to park is $2 cash only. Overall, I am glad I tried Giovanni's!

We were looking for a place to eat at lunch and decided to stop by here since it looked busy. It's a paid lot and they sometimes do close off entrance to the parking lot if it is full. I was craving some garlic shrimp so I was happy to see Giovanni's as one of the food trucks in this lot. There are picnic tables in front of the truck, but it was full when I was there. Also watch out for flies when eating outside there. I got the Shrimp Scampi plate and it fulfilled my cravings. The garlicky shrimp goes so well with the rice.

I'm just gonna bunch them all together cause they were all very similar Lemon butter had the sauce, scampi only had lemons and looked most original, hot and spicy is more red and more sauce but it wasnt that spicy. Im not a big fan of peeling your own shrimps, I prefer the act of peeling to happen in the kitchen. Also the flavor doesnt get soaked as much when theres still a shell. Was there flavor then? Sure but not really noticable. Rice was also slightly soggy but still alright, it was barable. Im a huge rice dish fan. Dont have much good to say but the meal was nourishing (cant beat rice and meat) Extra Expensive Picnic tables right across the truck Other food trucks around the area Flies are everywhere Hands get dirty from peeling shrimp and nowhere to wash hands besides wiping with napkins Wanted to give 4/5 but honestly this really was a 3/5 meal 3/5

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Haleiwa was a little gem. This food truck with all it's graffiti served up amazing shrimp in a fun outdoor setting. Hope you left you mark on it. The award winning Scampi was amazing. Don't think twice about going. 10

Super long line and must try Giovanni's food truck shrimp We ordered the sweet and sour and garlic shrimp I recommend the garlic shrimp Pricey for the quantity and the rice was a bit mushy

Parking is $2 flat rate, pretty sure it was cash only. I ordered the Scampi, and every plate comes with 12 shrimps and 2 scoops of rice for $17.50. I also ordered a side of their homemade mac salad for $2. The total was $20.42 after taxes. Get the SCAMPI. Super buttery and garlicky in the best way. My friend got the hot and spicy shrimp, it just tasted like they cooked the shrimp in tabasco, it had a strong vinegar flavor. I like vinegar but the best thing on the menu is definitely the scampi shrimp. For every plate the shrimp is cooked to perfection. Not overcooked and not undercooked, all shrimps are also de-veined and the shell comes off super easily. Every order is made fresh! As for the mac salad, it was so plain and flavorless. I think it needed some salt and pepper, I would pass on this as well. There's always a line so be prepared to wait, but once you finish ordering you usually get your food in 5-10 minutes.

Giovanni's was a popular food truck kind of situation that we had heard a lot about. It came with a lot of fanfare so we were excited to check it out. First of all, I will say the food is good. A lot of butter but the shrimp was delicious. The portions are generous and the price was right. The team was so nice and hard working. I almost hate to say anything else because it's all going to be negative from here. The food truck is going for iconic status or similar by having everyone sign their names with a sharpie. Honestly, it looks gross and makes it feel dirty to me. I thought this was going to be the biggest turn off until I got my food and sat down to eat. There were flies everywhere. Yuck. It was like I was being swarmed. Must be they like shrimp as well. It was overwhelming and I couldn't wait to get out of there. The parking lot and eating area are kind of the perfect environment for flies so I'm not sure what they could have done to fix this, but maybe the solve is to grab and go. The food was good, the service was great, but based on my negatives, I would not return.

OMG!!!! I was honestly so shocked by just how good this meal was. The shrimp was so buttery smooth and DELICIOUS!! Photos cannot do it justice. We are from Texas and we came to Hawaii on our Honeymoon. Best choice ever to grab this for lunch before heading up the road a little more to sharks cove. The service was fast and the portion is big. Cute little food truck park and had some tables for customers to sit at. Share your table with people, everyone is hungry and looking for a place to eat. I think parking was like $2-3, well worth it!

It's all hype. Rude service & underwhelming food. The employees seem like they hate their lives. My number was called so I approached & she gave me attitude saying mine isn't ready yet. The shrimp was tiny and not much flavor. The only thing I liked was the rice. I don't recommend and would try the other trucks instead.

Good Shrimp! We came to Giovanni's to eat some shrimp. There is a small parking lot that costs $2. We were able to easily find parking. There was also a line for the shrimp but it moved quickly. Seating is also very limited but people are courteous and don't stay too long. The customer service was okay. The lady who took our orders was a little rude with the customers in front of us who had a few questions about the dishes. She was also rushing me when I had questions. Our order was ready in 10 minutes. The shrimp itself is good. Our shrimp was a little over cooked but still had a lot of flavor. We liked it. It's served with some white rice. We scooped the sauce and garlic from the shrimp and poured it on top of the rice. It makes a difference. We also ordered the macaroni salad (not included). It was delicious! Loved their macaroni salad. It's a smaller portion but it is good. I recommend this. All in all it was a good meal and cute place to stop and enjoy some good food. The chickens on site will keep you entertained. The roosters prop themselves on the edge of the trash cans while the hens are on stand by waiting for someone to drop their shrimp. We liked the food and experience and will definitely eat at Giovanni's again.

This is not worth the hype. Got the scampi plate and it tasted like frozen dinner from the grocery store. The whole plate was drenched in butter. You can see a layer of it floating at the bottom of the plate. It was way too much. The shrimp and rice were both soggy. There was very little flavor and seasoning. The rice was extremely overcooked and kinda tasted like porridge.

It is $2 parking but it was free that day. Located in an outdoor food truck area. Bathroom and outdoor hand wash by the store. Came here on a Friday at 4pm. Parked and ordered right away. Service was quick efficient and fast. Flavor good but Tabasco based and shrimp slightly overcooked. Overall good tho.

When I think of a famous shrimp truck I was thinking it was going to be good! Real good. But to be honest it was just mid. The line moved quickly and the girl at the window suggested that we not do the spicy but instead the popular scampi. We decided to do both, the spicy was hot a very Tabasco buffalo blend of hot no garlic though. The garlic which they are known for was not bad but I've had better during our trip here in Hawaii. Plus no one talks about the flies!! They are relentless and overwhelming. We had to eat our food in the car. Overall we wouldn't come back.

Since arriving to the island everyone has recommended Giovanni's to me. I finally had time to go check them out. My family and I drove out there. Which took at 30-40 minutes to get there. The parking was non existent. There was parking right in front but it was blocked off. We ended up parking by the beach and walking down. The line was super long and the flies out there are vicious! There is no restroom being that it's food trucks. However a McDonald is across the street that you can use. There is no slew of food trucks just this one and two others. Several small mom and pops are off the strip. The shrimp still had shells on. So you have to peel them off yourself. Which takes half the flavor off the shrimp and entirely too long when starving. I ordered the spicy, butter garlic and my friend ordered the third on with the teriyaki looking sauce. It tasted okay, definitely overhyped. I would not go back. The drive, parking, walking, long wait time and vicious flies not worth it!

Some of the best spicy shrimp on Oahu. It's all been said before and it's all true. A must stop when you're on the island.

Not a big fan of Giovanni's as I once was years ago. Parking lot was full when we arrived, so we parked down the road about a block. It was free to park, we didn't have to pay $2 which was nice. But that food truck! It gets dingier and dingier every time I come. Rather than looking nostalgic, it's beginning to look a bit trashy - it's almost amusing! Per usually, we got the Scampi Shrimp. The savory flavor just wasn't there for me - I wasn't loving it. In fact, mine was a little undercooked compared to the others in my party. And sadly, I ended up with a stomach ache that evening. Otherwise, service was good. They were a lot faster than usual.

A must visit during a North Shore visit. Yes, we were still hungry after our Dole Plantation visit, so we swung by Giovanni's yet again. One spicy plate and one scampi plate. The flavor is undeniable and we were lucky not to have a long wait this go around. I wish they'd use a tad less oil and butter- it gets heavy after half of that plate. The servers were kinda and positive as always. It's been a while since I've been here so it's convenient that they take credit card now. One rough patch was that my wife really needed to use the bathroom- and there are none nearby that we know of. Other than that, the area has a nice local vibe to it.

This spot is always our go to when we are in the area. Is it still good? Yes, of course. Have the portions shrunk? Ummm, sadly yes. The line was long but it moved quickly we tried the scampi, spicy shrimp (not spicy at all) and the Mac salad. Mahalo

After being stuck on a long traffic jam near Waimea, we finally arrived at Giovanni's shrimp truck which many have raved about. Luckily, we arrived five minutes before closing and they were still serving customers. Unfortunately the spicy shrimp was sold out so we ordered the garlic shrimp with Mac salad on the side. While waiting I noticed there were so many flies around. There are many wooden picnic tables for seating which is shared with the rest of the food trucks in the area. The garlic shrimp is served on a paper plate, but since this was for takeout I asked for some aluminum foil and another plate to cover the top. The garlic shrimp was very flavourful but on the greasier side for me. The rice was also mushy unfortunately. The Mac salad was okay. As a tourist I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this spot given it is located on the north shore of the island, I found there were similar tasting garlic shrimp in Waikīkī.

Saw a lot of people raving about this place so decided to hop on the train. Parking can be a bit of a pain during lunch hour with a lot of other food trucks and vendors nearby, but we were able to find a spot. The service is quick, I tried the lemon & butter shrimp. I thought it was pretty good but maybe expected a little more. Definitely a lot of excess butter, but the shrimp was tasty. It could probably use a little more rice to balance it out, but overall it was enjoyable.

Made the mistake of going during the lunch rush but the line moved quickly. The parking was $3? and is limited but we were able to find a spot still. Service was friendly and quick. There isn't any public restrooms. Looks like the porta potties are for the food truck operators. We ordered a couple the scampi shrimp plates and a garlic dog plate with a half plate shrimp. It was more than enough. Unfortunately, the shrimp was smaller than before and was overcooked. The garlic flavor was still great with the rice, but the hard overcooked shrimp was not good. Maybe an off day or new supplier. But might be awhile before we visit again.

Hot & Spicy - Sour/Tangy/Tabasco tasting Lemon Butter - More sour but plan not much butter taste They do provide extra butter for dipping. Not what I was expecting in flavor. Have tasted better. Service was good, glad I went for the experience. Would choose a different shrimp truck next time.

A must try when in Hawaii. *Be prepared with 2.00 parking *best to arrive early *some places only do cash... * busy place customer service is great and fast (unless you order the most popular plate) Casual spot outside sitting they gave a variety of roach coaches with plenty to choose from, but this place is a must The spicy Shrimp is the bomb good portion for the price, there was a oarry if 4 in our group we all tried something different to share. We even came back the next day for more!

Ordered the garlic shrimp with the Mac salad on the side. Good flavor on the shrimp but not as much garlic on the rice. Was expecting this to be better considering the hype. Mac salad was a bit plain and lacked salt/flavor. 3/5 for the food. I will bump this up one star as they had the option to call ahead and order. This was a good experience as we were able to get the food ahead of the line that formed in person at the food truck. The parking fee was $2 to enter the food truck area.

You can't expect 5 stars service at the food truck :) Compare to many other food trucks we've tried, this one was actually pretty good. It's a must place to visit for tourist so be ready to wait in long line but that's ok! It's Hawaii and you are on a vacation. Their Garlic shrimp is to die for so go get them!!

I wanted to see what the hype was about Giovanni's shrimp truck and made it a part of my vacation's itinerary. I think it's one of the rites of passage during your trip. I thought the food was overhyped and salty. However it's a decent spot to snack as you continue your drive through north shore. Shrimp Scampi 3/5. Shrimp is juicy, tender and cooked perfectly. I think the kicker might be the sauce. I found it to be buttery and garlicky, but too salty. I went back and forth to eat the shell and peeling. The shells are fine to eat.

The first time I had Giovanni's, it was disappointing. The hype is not real. However, we came back to try it one more time, one more chance. Major fail. First off, the lady was super rude at the counter. It's okay, bad day. The food came pretty quickly. Just by looking at it, it did not look good. 2 half scoop of rice that's a cup of water away from being porridge. The shrimp was the most disappointing of all. The skin didn't come off easily, which tells me the shrimp isn't fresh. Once I bit into it, it was tough and hard to chew. I'm convinced the shrimp is old or has been sitting for quite some time. We had 3 shrimp and ended up tossing everything away. We hate wasting food but I'm sorry, it was not edible. Seeing so many people eat here is shocking. What once was, is no more. Save your money for better on the island. Walk 10 feet down to Honos, much much better. Never coming here again.

Sorry but this place is not that great. Nothing special besides being a food truck. $2 parking with limited spot. That was the most mushy rice I've seen. Overall flavor is okay. Need to peel shrimp. Line is quick. They do accept card. Not worth driving to. Can prob find better food truck or spot after the beach

Hoo boy, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck - the one food blemish in my Hawaii vacation. Honestly, I was first made aware of this shrimp truck from Terrace House: Aloha State, and I was super curious from how they were describing the very popular delicious shrimp. The graffiti truck is also a fun sight, although it's almost impossible to get a clean picture of it since there's always people around it or ordering in front of it. Well, I made the trek here and my total wait was about 50 minutes from the time I got in line to the time I received my order, on a Tuesday at 2pm. They make the shrimp in batches, so people don't get their orders steadily - it's more like, if you're in a batch, you will probably wait for a while and get your order at the same time as a bunch of other people, even if someone ordered like half an hour after you already did. I think my order took longer because I got a half plate of their "NO REFUNDS" hot & spicy; they cooked in flavor batches because I was order 18 and still waiting for my food, but they were calling out numerous completed orders for people up to 32, who had all gotten just scampi. Cooking in careless batches (or being ignorant of how to cook shrimp properly) made all the shrimp overcooked and sad. It just tasted like dried out frozen small Costco shrimp. I'm so happy that I went to another shrimp truck while I was waiting for my Giovanni's order so that I actually got to eat good shrimp, because this wasn't it at all. Yeah, their sauce was very garlicky, lemony, and buttery, but it was on bad shrimp. Their rice sucked too, as it was just overcooked and mushy; the dollops of cooked garlic on top helped it none, and I just simply didn't eat more than one bite. The hot & spicy sauce was a subtle sweet and spicy sauce that gave some tongue burn. Everyone who enjoys their experience here must not understand what good shrimp tastes like, because this is possibly the worst shrimp experience I've ever had, and I eat a lot of shrimp - even shrimp from cheap buffets. I got a few mosquito bites while standing in line, so bring bug spray if you're here. The main reason this is not a one star experience is that the food was still edible, the sauce is good on a technicality, and I did not get sick from it. Please learn how to not overcook food. and source better shrimp.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, nestled in the historic Haleiwa, is a place you cannot miss. Let's dive right into the show's star: the Garlic Shrimp. The plump, succulent shrimp bathed in a velvety garlic butter sauce that strikes the perfect balance between richness and zest. Each bite is so incredible!!! It combines aromatic jasmine rice and a crisp, refreshing macaroni salad. However, a word to the wise: Giovanni's operates on a cash-only basis, so be prepared for the parking fees - a small price! We always enjoy visiting Giovanni's Shrimp Truck! FYI - NO CARDS ACCEPTED! CASH ONLY!!

IT'S A FOOD TRUCK PEOPLE | Not sure why there are such terrible reviews. It's a food truck, I'm not expecting Michelin star service and food! That being said, it was CRAZY busy, with a crowded parking lot (be prepared with $2 cash to park!!) and long lines. So of course, that's definitely not optimal, but with all the hype, I was ready for lines. I grew up in Florida, waiting in lines at Disney is harder than this. Food seems pretty basic (I mean it's just shrimp and rice) but also delicious. We ordered the famous shrimp scampi and the no refunds hot and spicy shrimp. While I loved the shrimp scampi, no refunds just takes it to another level. My one complaint was the rice was a little squishy - overcooked? Maybe I'm just being picky because I'm Asian but I was definitely disappointed in the "sticky rice" I was mopping up the garlicky shrimp sauce in. Would definitely be back, or at least to another location - hoping that "off" rice was a one off experience!

Got here at 12:15 on a sunday and there was one person in line! Lots of people eating. We ordered and it was a good minute wait. By the time we left there was a line of 15 people. The plates are good portions. They have Mac salad sides to make this a truly good Hawaiian plate lunch. They take credit card and cash but credit card adds a 3% fee on top. The area has really exploded with other businesses. If you aren't into shrimp try some of the other food establishments in the same area! Lots of parking and public restrooms.

Yes it's worth the stop here! Best garlic shrimp and it's gluten free!!! The parking lot is super small but don't get discouraged if it's closed. We drove down the street and back and it opened up. People don't stay too long. And get the scampi dish, the best! Service is great, quick, and friendly. Line is long but goes fast.

: the spicy shrimp was sooo good. I have never had better spicy shrimp. I can't wait to eat it again when I visit. My parents had the garlic shrimp and they also loved their dishes. ‍: The service was nice and quick. Nothing negative to say about it. Food also came out quick for how busy it was. : Ambiance is outdoors and there are chickens walking around everywhere so you really get the island feel. If you want a more indoor environment then you should go to the restaurant version downtown which is also great.

It's good, but I do think it's a little overhyped. I have had way better. It's not bad though! The garlic is the way to go. It was our second time trying it. I guess regardless you should try for yourself and form your own opinion!

I've always been told that Giovanni's is a must stop but now I feel like it's all hype. I was unimpressed by the lack of flavor on the shrimp, especially the hot and spicy shrimp; it just tasted like tobacco sauce. They also served us mushy, overcooked rice. The only good thing about our experience was how fast the food came out on a Thursday and the line was a bit shorter...I wish I had gone to Jenny's Shrimp Truck down the street.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck was a recommended food stop on many Hawaii lists. My party and I tried it and we all agreed it was not worth it. I went to Jenny's which was 1 min over to compare and the garlic and spicy shrimps there were good, plus they offered peeled shrimps. Giovanni's truck was in a small parking lot with 3-4 other food trucks. It was $2 to park there. The line was long with a 45 min-1 hour wait. You can check in for a free drink. Shrimps were $17.50 a plate. * Scampi 3.5/5 - This was the famous garlic shrimp dish. Honestly, it was underwhelming. I've had better. Very oily and not a lot of garlic. The shrimps also were not that flavorful. They had a good garlic sauce but they diluted it with oil and drenched the shrimps with that instead. The shell was hard so you have to peel them to eat. The shells were butterflied though, making the process a little easier. * Lemon Butter 0/5 - These were so plain. Just boiled shrimps drenched in lemon that you can dip in a cup of butter. I honestly was disappointed that they actually thought it was okay to sell this. They could have made it good by cooking the shrimps with salt, pepper, butter, and squeeze a lemon on top.

Not sure why this plate is so popular.. We came 15 mins before they opened and they already ran out of hot and spicy and garlic butter. So we tried the scampi which was oily and not that flavorful. After trying another truck nearby we definitely recommend not coming here. Shrimps here are also smaller than Jenny's.

The iconic shrimp truck has gone downhill. It's now over hyped and now just a tourist trap shell of it's former self. It looks the same as I remember many years ago. There are more seating tables than before which is nice. However there are still long lines. The service was not friendly. The original shrimp scampi is still the best option, however it doesn't hold up against the competition. The rice is mushy like it's not washed at all and/or not cooked properly. It worth going once to see what the hype is about and take some pictures. There's a small parking lot that fills up quickly. Reasonably kid friendly if they are going to eat shrimp. No other options, but that's expected.

Honestly wouldn't recommend. There's so many garlic shrimp food trucks and my sense is people stop here for the hype. However if you're looking for great delicious food, look elsewhere. The portions were small, the environment wasn't as warm and inviting, and the food was just OK. Wouldn't come back.

Giovanni's shrimp truck is always on the list of places to check out while in Honolulu. Located in Hale'iwa, this road is narrow and only has 1 lane for each direction. There is a parking lot that costs $2 and can fill up quickly. There is limited seating in front of the truck. I was disappointed with the food and definitely overhyped place. Shrimp was overcooked and a bit salty. Scampi sauce was oily, good garlic flavor. We also got a mac salad and it was very bland. Nice place to check out and see what the hype is all about. For me, it was a flop.

Waited on a long line to see what is so good about this Giovanni shrimp truck. Ordered shrimp with garlic butter, (shrimp scampi), the shrimp look like it was precooked and just drown in garlic and butter sauce, not cooked to ordered. Not worth the long line and wait. Other food truck in area are much better down the road.

They have multiple locations! Actually didn't plan to stop here but we had to reroute due to flooding. I've heard this place is good! we were so hungry. There was a HUGE line outside this food truck but we eventually got to try all the shrimp flavors. They're good but not worth a long wait time. Garlic shrimp (the first one) is the best. Even if there was no line, I would still rate it 4 stars. You have to pay in cash to park. There is a store nearby that allows you use their restrooms.

Big hot dogs can be had with a Garlic sauce. If you enjoy veggies as a topping, you'll be greatly dissappointed. Shrimp scampi was a plus for my husband but not for me. The rice was mushy and the shrimp way too garlicky and oily for my taste..... Sadly not a fan.....

Great shrimp, but rice was very mushy. The garlic scampi sauce on top is always a hit. I do prefer Jenny's Shrimp Truck, which is also less crowded. But this was still good!

I did a shrimp and prawn tour and Gio's was my absolute least favorite. I always heard good things about it but maybe I was there at an off day. The rice was way overcooked and was more like congee. The garlic sauce tasted very bitter to me, and I'm a garlic lover. My shrimp was very mushy. I felt the wait time and the quality of food did not match. In my opinion the hype should go to Fumi's or Jenny's instead.

Giovanni's is probably one of the most well known bites on the entire island. This particular location is in a lot with a few other shrimp trucks as well as other food options. I highly recommend this location for parties that have people who don't like seafood because there's a variety of food options available. Giovanni's in particular is good but I don't think they're the best Hawaiian shrimp on the island. The Hawaiian style garlic shrimp at Giovanni's is delicious but the shrimp are pretty small for what they are. I don't recommend any other sauces besides the classic Hawaiian garlic shrimp. The service is hit or miss in terms of if they give you attitude or not but the food usually comes out quick. In my opinion this is a one and done type of place but everyone has a different favorite shrimp truck on the island this one just isn't mine.

We have always loved Giovanni's shrimp in Kahuku so we were excited to eat here when we found ourselves in Haleiwa. The truck is in a lot with other food trucks and it was PACKED even around 2pm on a Monday afternoon. So packed that I drove by twice without being able to even enter the lot (they blocked it off because it was full) so I had to drop my wife off while I found parking. I drove by 2 other times with no luck on getting into the lot (once I just missed it being open before they shut it again) so I had to find parking elsewhere (difficult!) and walked to meet my wife. They've got some tables where all the trucks are but we ended up taking our shrimp and eating it by our car. We got 2 plates of the garlic shrimp and 1 plate of the lemon shrimp. Lemon shrimp was so-so in my opinion. At least the shrimp were fresh and crunchy. Of the garlic, one plate had a very burnt garlic taste, I was definitely disappointed from the times I've had it before. The second plate was great. I wish there was more consistency in the garlic shrimp- maybe one plate was the last of the batch? At any rate, overall a mediocre experience with the variation of quality in the shrimp and the hassle to find the parking.

We came here looking for the best shrimp trucks in Hawaii. We heard about Giovanni's, so we had to make a trip here. Was a bit disappoint. The rice was so mushy, it reminded me of pudding. It was cooked for way too long. The shrimp was also over cooked. It was SO hard to peel off the shell. It was stuck, very frustrating eating it. Flavour was good, loved the garlic. However the rice and the peeling of the shell was not a good experience. I'd definitely say Jenny's shrimp is SO much better!!