Romy's Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp

56-781 Kamehameha Hwy
Kahuku, HI 96731
(808) 232-2202
website

Vitals:
Open everyday from 10:00 am - 6 pm
Outdoor seating
outhouse facilities
can be kid-friendly (for older kids)
cash only
****
$$

Based on recommendations from locals, we went to Romy's. The highway in the North Shore is dotted with a lot of shrimp trucks. Romy's, I believe, has their own shrimp farm and they harvest their prawns and shrimp daily. You can tell that the prawns are really fresh. We ordered the butter and garlic sauteed prawns with white rice ($12.75, but you can order brown rice for $1 extra). It's not cheap, but the portions are reasonable, and there is a sign at the stand that says "it's not fast food, it's good food", and they are right.

You have to like garlic to order this dish, it was covered with sauteed garlic. We're not the shell eating type, and so we got a bit messy trying to peel the shells (thank goodness there is an outdoor sink with soap), but the prawns with the garlic sauce is outstanding. The prawns were meaty, succulent and fresh. I didn't even need the side soy sauce that came with our plates. We also ordered a Kahuku sweet corn ($3/ear), and we could have skipped it. The corn was dry, small and it wasn't sweet at all. A coke washed it all down and we were happy.

We actually stopped by Ted's bakery to get some of their famous chocolate haupia cream pie on the way to this shrimp truck and it was a nice ending to a good meal (a bit decadent after the meal we just had, but when you're on vacation......) We've been burning through cash on this trip (it seems like most places are cash only), but it was worth the trip.