Garlic Shrimp: An Authentic Recipe Hawaii Style

Recreate the best Garlic Shrimp from Hawaii! Quick, authentic, and packed with flavor. Use this easy recipe now!

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garlic shrimp

What is Garlic Shrimp?

When I think of garlic shrimp, I’m taken right back to my college days. I remember going to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck with my friends, finally giving in after hearing everyone on campus rave about it. Passing by those trucks daily, it felt like a rite of passage to stop and splurge on a plate lunch.

When I finally tried it, I practically licked my plate clean — every grain of rice was soaked in that silky, buttery, garlicky sauce. The shrimp were juicy, the sauce was rich, and eating it with rice just made it even better, soaking up all the buttery flavors and balancing out the saltiness. That lunch plate was pure local comfort food, and honestly, still one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

garlic shrimp

Where can you find Garlic Shrimp?

If you’ve ever been to Oahu’s North Shore, you know the smell of buttery garlic shrimp is impossible to miss. Famous shrimp trucks like Giovanni’s, Fumi’s, and Romy’s line the roadside, each serving up their own version of garlic-drenched, shell-on shrimp plates.

Garlic shrimp is a classic plate lunch that locals and visitors alike can’t get enough of — juicy shrimp, buttery sauce, and piles of rice to soak up every last drop. Even if you’re not near a shrimp truck, you can find versions of these shrimp at local Hawaiian-style restaurants or make it yourself at home (which honestly, tastes just as good if you get the sauce right).

garlic shrimp

What are the ingredients?

The magic of is in its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll usually need:

  • Large shrimp (shell-on is best!)
  • Fresh garlic — lots of it!
  • Butter
  • Olive oil
  • Flour (just a little for coating)
  • Paprika (for a subtle smoky kick)
  • Lemon wedges
  • Salt and pepper
  • Rice (because soaking up the sauce is non-negotiable)

It’s all about simple, good ingredients cooked right. Fresh shrimp and real butter make all the difference!

garlic shrimp ingredients

Suggested ingredients

If you want to make it just like the shrimp trucks, here are a few kitchen favorites I recommend (and use myself):

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How do you make Garlic Shrimp?

Making this at home is way easier than you might think. Here’s the simple breakdown:

  1. Prep the Shrimp:
    If needed, clean and devein your shrimp but leave the shells on.
  2. Coat Lightly:
    Toss the shrimp with a light dusting of flour, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. Sauté the Garlic:
    Melt butter and olive oil together in a pan. Add a mountain of minced garlic and cook until fragrant, but not browned.
  4. Cook the Shrimp:
    Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until pink and just cooked through.
  5. Sauce it Up:
    Spoon that buttery garlic sauce all over the shrimp. Serve immediately with rice and lemon wedges.

Pro tip: Drizzle extra sauce over your rice… you’ll thank me later.

garlic shrimp

Are there similar recipes?

If you love garlic shrimp, you might also love these other local-style favorites on the blog:

Furikake Chicken Featured

Garlic Furikake Chicken

Same buttery garlic vibes, but with crispy chicken goodness.

Butter Mochi

Because you always need something sweet after all that buttery shrimp.

Loco Moco Feature

Loco Moco

If you’re craving another classic Hawaii plate lunch after this one.

Tips & FAQs

garlic shrimp

What does garlic shrimp taste like?

It’s buttery, garlicky, and a little crispy on the outside — pure flavor heaven, especially when the sauce soaks into the rice.

Why is Hawaiian garlic shrimp shell-on?

The shell locks in moisture and flavor while the buttery garlic sauce clings to every bite.

Is garlic shrimp healthy?

Shrimp is a lean protein, but the buttery sauce makes this more of a treat meal. Totally worth it!

How do you eat Hawaiian garlic shrimp?

Use your fingers! Peel the shrimp (or not), scoop up lots of garlic sauce and rice, and enjoy every buttery bite.

Can you use frozen shrimp for garlic shrimp?

Yes! Just thaw it completely and pat dry before cooking for the best texture.

Is garlic shrimp spicy?

Not usually, but you can add a pinch of cayenne if you want a little kick.

Where did Hawaiian garlic shrimp come from?

It became iconic on Oahu’s North Shore, thanks to food trucks like Giovanni’s serving up garlicky, buttery shrimp plates to surfers and locals.

Recipe Video:

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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Inspired by Hawaii’s iconic North Shore shrimp trucks, this buttery garlic shrimp is everything a plate lunch should be — rich, savory, and packed with flavor. Each bite soaks into the rice, delivering the perfect balance of buttery, garlicky goodness you'll crave again and again.
Print Recipe
garlic shrimp
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:8 minutes
Total Time:18 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. large shrimp (shell-on)
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon Hawaiian salt (or regular sea salt)
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic (fresh is best)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon flour (optional, to thicken sauce)

Instructions

Prep the Shrimp:

  • If needed, clean and devein the shrimp, leaving the shells on for maximum flavor.

Season:

  • In a bowl, toss the shrimp with Hawaiian salt, black pepper, paprika, and flour (if using) until lightly coated.

Sauté the Garlic:

  • In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to brown the garlic.

Cook the Shrimp:

  • Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until the shrimp are pink and slightly crispy around the edges.

Sauce it Up:

  • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp and toss gently to coat everything in that buttery garlic goodness.

Serve Hot:

  • Spoon the garlic butter sauce over the shrimp and serve immediately with hot white rice and lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Fresh shrimp gives the best flavor and texture.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan — cook in batches if needed to get that perfect sear.
  • Rice is non-negotiable — it soaks up the buttery garlic sauce like a dream.
  • If you like your garlic butter sauce thinner, you can skip the flour!
Servings: 3

2 Comments

  1. In your video, it showed you doing the butter, olive oil and sneezing and flour in the sauce pan before you add the shrimp but in the instructions, it says to toss the shrimp with the seasoning and flour so not sure which one to go by the video or your instructions

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