WE'RE CRAVING: SHRIMP TRUCK GRINDS

MACKY'S

Macky's shrimp is firm, fresh and plump. The butter-garlic sauce — the staple of most shrimp trucks — is just the right blend of salt, butter and garlic. It's basic, but so 'ono.

Macky's, 66-632 Kamehameha Highway, 780-1071

GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP TRUCK

Giovanni's scampi comes sauteed in raw garlic. That sweet toasty flavor? The cooks say it comes from the secret sauce.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, 83 Kamehameha Highway, 293-1839

HAWAII ONO SHRIMP (HONO'S)

The stand-out dish here is the pineapple shrimp. Sounds like a tourist trap, but it's one of our favorite reasons for visiting the North Shore.

Hawaii Ono Shrimp, 83 Kamehameha Highway (next to Giovanni's)

FAMOUS KAHUKU SHRIMP

Famous' best dish is also its most popular: the garlic shrimp. Though garlic shrimp is about as rare on the North Shore as tanned beach bodies, this version is addictive. It's lightly breaded, sauteed with lots of garlic and it goes great with rice. Famous also makes a popular spicy version that goes great with steak.

Famous Kahuku Shrimp, 56-580 Kamehameha Highway, 389-1173

FUMI'S

Fumi's is the only truck that makes ginger shrimp, and it's a delicious twist on the usual garlic and butter treatment.

Fumi's, 56-781 Kamehameha Highway, 232-8881

BLUE WATER SHRIMP & SEAFOOD CO.

Blue Water has 11 locations on O'ahu, so you don't have to make a trip north to get its popular shrimp plates.

Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood Co., 2145 Kuhio Ave., 926-3532

— Melissa Chang

JOE IN THE CITY

Charles Nelson, owner and head barista of Downtown Coffee, takes his coffee seriously. Smooth and mellow, Nelson's coffee is everything most coffee isn't. With all the robustness of coffee, this joe also boasts a distinct lack of bitterness, acidity and bite that can only come courtesy of a combination of great beans and a pair of skilled hands working the espresso machine. Plus, he knows how to make a wet cappuccino.

Bonus: Every other Friday, Stewart Cunningham plays live jazz outside the cafe. Talk about smooth.

Downtown Coffee
900 Fort Street Mall 599-5353
www.dtcoffee.com
Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; closed weekends

The Sheraton Waikiki celebrated the grand opening of its newest restaurant, Kai Market, last Friday. Occupying the former home of the Ocean Terrace restaurant, Kai Market is a breakfast and dinner buffet that promotes "farm-to-table dining" — many of the dishes use locally grown and produced ingredients. Call 921-4600 for more information or to make reservations.

The owners of restaurants Formaggio Wine Bar and Formaggio Grill are holding a YouTube video contest to promote their restaurants. Create and upload a 60-second video on the topic "What you love about wine." Videos should be humorous, creative, clever or passionate, and should, at some point, cleverly mention Formaggio Wine Bar or Formaggio Grill. The winner will receive $5,000. Visit www.formaggiowineminute.com for contest details.

A new Mexican lunch wagon with a focus on being green and sustainable opened last week in Hale'iwa. Aunti's DaKine Mexi Grindz (690-2642) supports Plastic Free Hale'iwa by using 100 percent biodegradable material made from corn starch and recycled material. It's a 100 percent plastic-free eatery. Aunti's is in Hale'iwa's lunch bus lot near McDonald's.

SMALL BITES

SHOKUDO + LATE-NIGHT = CHEAP EATS

Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar launches a new late-night menu on Tuesday, adding a thrifty twist to its Japanese-meets-international-cosmopolitan cuisine. Everything on the special menu will be $3, including 'ahi chazuke and deep-fried potato croquettes (pictured above). The menu will be offered from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, Sundays through Wednesdays.