I know far less about Hawaii than I should. I live in Seattle after all, and the islands are just a hop, skip and a jump from the Pacific Northwest. But in truth, I’ve only been twice – once (about 20 years ago) when I was a backpacker on the tail end of a year-long journey around the Pacific Rim countries and the second time in September. Yup, just a couple of months ago.

I was the guest of the Oahu Visitors Bureau and jumped at the opportunity to spend a bit of time on Oahu, but I didn’t want the usual “tourist” experience. In my brief time there, I wanted to at least scratch a bit beneath the surface of the island and get away from Waikiki. One of the recommendations from the OVB was to have a meal at Romy’s Prawns and Shrimp near Kahuku on the North Shore of the island.

What sets Romy’s apart is that they raise their own shrimp, unlike the other shacks along the highway. And, not only is the menu filled with seafood, but Romy’s offers Pani Popo, a sweet bread smothered in coconut milk. The bun itself is nice and soft and the coconut milk is not too sweet – meaning it was actually just perfect as a starter to our meal.

Romy’s is a small “shack” on the side of the road, but it isn’t hard to miss. Get there between noon and 3 and you’ll encounter long lines and picnic tables filled with locals and tourists. We arrived around 11:30 and were able to order quickly and enjoy a quiet lunch with just a few other diners.

I’d take lunch at a local spot any day over a fancy meal with an ocean view.

How to find Romy’s:
Driving from Waikiki toward the North Shore, the shack is located at 56-281 Kamehameha Highway near Kahuku. Keep your eyes open for the red building on the east side of the road.

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