The Geste Shrimp Truck is one of those places that you don’t expect to be as good as it is given that it’s, well, a food truck for one and for two, in an odd industrial location on the side of Haleakala Highway. Yet here is a classic place where looks are deceiving and if you are in the mind for shrimp, this food truck is gonna serve up just what you want to fill that want.
Geste Shrimp Truck has become something of a staple in North Maui, having been opened for well over a decade now. Unless a really big festival draws it the chefs away, you will almost always find this food truck located in East Kahului on Haleakala Highway between Costco and Kahului Airport. You’ll often find a scattering of other food trucks and vendors here, but Geste Shrimp Truck is almost always going to be the one with the longest line. It’s also easy to spot as the one with the giant shrimp emblazoned on the side!
The menu at Geste Shrimp Truck is pretty simple:
It’s a lot of shrimp. The simply named Shrimp Plate is the most popular entree and consists of a dozen shrimp served with two scoops of rice and a side of homemade crab macaroni salad.
When choosing this popular menu item, you will be asked which of the five flavors you want the shrimp cooked as: Hawaiian Scampi, Hot and Spicy, Pineapple, Spicy Pineapple, or Lemon Pepper.
The Hot & Spicy tends to be the most popular flavor pick among patrons, but you can’t go wrong with any… so long as you enjoy a good bucket of shrimp.
Other popular menu items at Geste Shrimp food truck include:
Combo Plate
Priced the same as the Shrimp Plate, the Combo Plate features a jumbo hot dog served alongside eight shrimp and the standard sides of two scoops of rice and crab mac salad. You can also opt to skip out on the shrimp for half the price.
Shrimp Bowl
Skip the crab mac and enjoy eight shrimp served over a bowl cabbage bowl.
There are a few things to note before you make your way to the Geste Shrimp truck. First, this is a cash-only establishment, so make sure to stop by the ATM or otherwise find a way to get cashback before heading to the food truck line. Secondly, there can be a bit of a wait. Twenty minutes even when they aren’t busy isn’t unheard of. The upside of this is that you can be assured your dish is being served fresh to order.
Finally, being a food truck, supplies can and have run out on the busiest afternoons. When it’s the crab mac salad that they run out of, the chefs at Geste Shrimp will typically offer more shrimp in exchange, which can be a bonus for some (you can also add more shrimp and other sides for a small upcharge at any time). But otherwise, if you’re eager to get the full shrimp plate, it’s a good idea to visit earlier in the day, closer to noon than to their closing time of 6/6:30.
Insider Tips:
-Geste Shrimp does not currently sell drinks. But you can plan on purchasing drinks from another food truck or simply come to the food truck lot with your own beverages in hand.
-There are benches for patrons to sit at and a handwashing station to clean up after what is often a messy meal, but not everyone wants to consume their food in such an environment. The good news is there are plenty of parks and beach areas around the corner to enjoy your meal in a more picturesque location. We recommend a beachfront dining spot at Kanaha Beach Park just a mile or so northeast of the parking lot. Just make sure to grab extra napkins before you leave the lot!