For the longest time, the South Shore food truck scene didn’t come close to the North Shore. Sure, the quality and variety of plates being sold from the windows of the mobile eateries were on par and in some cases better than those found on the North Shore, but the “setting” had been lacking. It’s hard to stack up to the Kahuku roadside food court or the Shark’s Cove collective when it comes to views of the ocean (Shark’s Cove) and countryside (Kahuku) and aura of authenticity. You can easily chill for a few hours in either.
While the distinction between the two sides of the island remains, the South Shore finally has a communal food truck gathering on the waterfront. It’s located at Kewalo Basin Harbor across and adjacent to the double-sided Kakaako Farmers Market at Ward Village that runs every Saturday. But unlike the weekly market, at least one (often more) vendors at the Kewalo Basin food trucks are open daily.
Food Trucks at Kewalo Basin:
- Crispy Grindz (made famous on the North Shore)
- The Elephant Shack Thai Food
- Tacos de Cacheton
- Bento Box
- Banana Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas
*Subject to change. Please note that the hours vary between vendors.
While there aren’t a large number of food trucks at Kewalo Basin Harbor, the dining scene is impeccable. There are picnic tables, benches, and smaller tables, all of which look out over the harbor and its delightful ensemble of catamarans and sailboats. The food is darn good, and the setting is even better.