The Shrimp Station

If you're in Waimea, The Shrimp Station is a must-visit! The food here is absolutely amazing—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I tried the garlic shrimp plate, and the shrimp were perfectly seasoned and juicy. The portions are generous, and the sides, especially the rice, complement the shrimp beautifully. The casual atmosphere makes it perfect for a laid-back meal, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. I also loved the variety of sauces they offer, so there’s something for every taste. Highly recommend it if you're craving delicious seafood! Will definitely be back.

Had to update my review. We tried the garlic shrimp too and it was overcooked and rubbery. So messy to try to eat. You have to remove the head and take the shell off…which is fine…but it means that it looks like you get a lot…but not a ton. The garlic butter sauce was okay flavor…but for being a shrimp place…you gotta get that meat cooked right. Price is too high if it’s going to be sub par. Coconut Shrimp: Breading cooked nicely, but the shrimp was overcooked…but definitely in need of salt. And I try to go light on salt. Same with the fries. The dipping sauce for the shrimp was interesting, more like a spread, not a sauce. Not bad, but couldn’t decide if ketchup or the dip was better. Their garlic shrimp did look really delicious. The shrimp were good sized too.

The Shrimp Station is your typical Hawaiian roadside food shack. Very friendly staff with quick tasty food. The Wife and I had the coconut shrimp. Best we've ever had anywhere? No. But for the price ($16), it was very very good, no complaints. It was exactly what I hoped it would be and for that, it gets 5 stars. Ginger tartar sauce was an unexpected bonus.

If you‘re hungry after visiting Waimea canyon this should be your go to spot. Good shrimps, very good garlic sauce. Service was ok. No Toilet you can use, but you can wash yor hands.

It's probably the best coconut shrimp I've ever had. Nothing but positive comments from everyone eating there. The staff is great too. A must go to place on Kauai!!!!

Loved the food! So yummy! My favorite was the coconut shrimp because I hate peeling shrimp, but my family and I tried all the varieties and the garlic plate was a very close 2nd. If I ever go back I'll ask if they can put the garlic sauce on the french fries! 😋 I only gave 4 stars for atmosphere because there were a bunch of flies while we ate at the picnic benches (outdoor seating only) but that wasn't the owners fault. Just a pain to deal with when your hands are covered in sauce and shrimp. 😉

It was awful experience! We ordered garlic shrimps with rice and coconut shrimps with fries. They gave us everything with rice. We asked to change but they told us we ordered wrong and she said only to buy. And everything was expensive and didn’t worth it!

We were told the shrimp is farmed right offshore and thus very fresh. Perhaps so, but it didn't really taste any more fresh to me. In fact, I'd say mine was just a bit overcooked. Order at the counter and then they call your name. If someone does not like shrimp or can't eat shellfish, there are no other options on the menu, so keep that in mind. This place was absolutely packed at lunch time but they were doing their best to keep up. I had the sweet chile garlic shrimp. The shrimp were very large and it was a fairly big serving size. So value wise, I would say it is comparable to other places. Because the shrimp are served whole with heads on, it was incredibly messy to try to take the shells off with all of the sauce. The sauce was tasty, but it was really just quite a mess to try to eat it that way. I guess I would try the fried shrimp next time.

If you try nothing else in this historic town. Make your way to the Shrimp Station. I was admittedly hesitant. Restaurant pricing for a plate lunch. This is hands down one of the most flavorful shrimp plates I have ever tasted. Portions are sizable and they do not skimp on the shrimp or the sauce. These are not salad size shrimps these are extra large shelled filled with flavor. Better than any crab boil or shrimp truck I've encountered. Absolutely delicious and well worth the trip. We ordered the got garlic with steamed rice and cajun shrimp with potatoes. The cajon is mild with enhanced flavor. Ample open seating and private free parking. If you're on the fence. The Shrimp Station will not disappoint!

We have been driving over to Waimea to Shrimp Station for years. Today will be the last time we ordered coconut shrimp and shrimp tacos. Both were cold and nearly inedible. Server taking orders could hardly be bothered because she was busy coloring. My wife did not eat her shrimp and asked for a to go container which they wanted to charge .50 cents for. The food was so bad she elected to throw it in the trash rather than pay for a container. In addition to that there is a restroom on site but we were told there were no public restrooms. This has NEVER been the case in the past! This after spending around 60 dollars on disgusting food. I have recommended this place to a lot of people and am very disappointed in how this place has declined. Never again! Stay clear of this place!

Highly recommend. I'd give 5 stars for the shrimp tacos I had but the hubby wasn't a fan of having to remove the shrimp head, shell etc on the shrimp plate. Very messy. The shrimp tacos are ground shrimp and marinated in their salsa. Fabulous. Chips and salsa included with the taco plate

I didn't find too many shrimp options around the area that looked this saucy so knew I had to make the drive over to try this place. It doesn't look like much but the sauces here were sooo good. There were also a lot of flies and chickens outside by the dining tables so we ended up eating in the parking lot instead, using our trunk as a table haha. But it was still good. Got Garlic and the Cajun shrimp were very delicious and had a very nice garlicky flavor. It came with two scoops of rice. For $20 a plate, and 10 shrimps, that's not terrible. The shrimp itself was kind of mushy though, so didn't taste too fresh. The Thai one was a little too spicy for me so it wasn't my favorite.

I'm not sure why this place is rated so high. I was hoping this place is similar to Romy's or Giovanni's on Oahu but I failed to look at Yelp photos. Shame on me! Good service but garlic shrimp for $19 and it looked sketchy. Luckily, our family only bought one plate as we weren't too hungry. When we open the plate, we were pretty disappointed. We couldn't even find a piece of garlic. Maybe they were grind so fine and disappeared. I read the menu again and saw that garlic shrimp is scampi style. Maybe I didn't order their specialty. This is a take out place but they do have nice picnic tables right in front of the store.

So many people... they really need to open more restaurants in Kauai, but I digress... Anyways, we went here for some fresh shrimp, apparently just like everyone else. We had the garlic and beer battered versions, with the slight edge going to the garlic. But not by much... Could barely find a table here, but the shrimp was quite good so it's all good...

It was awful experience! We ordered garlic shrimps with rice and coconut shrimps with fries. They gave us everything with rice. We asked to change but they told us we ordered wrong and she said only to buy. And everything was expensive and didn't worth it!

Been coming here for many many years so imagine our disappointment today when we drove from poipu beach and ordered from a young girl who was too busy doodling to be bothered. After ordering over $60 worth of food I asked to use the restroom and was told no try somewhere else so I went next door and 2 other places and nobody would let me use their restroom. One place even told me to leave their store even after I bought a water so I could use the bathroom. I finally got back to shrimp station to cold nasty shrimp and ended up throwing it away. My family said theirs was cold and nasty even when they just got it. Very disappointed by the food and the very poor way the local businesses treated me. Being a tourist here, from Las Vegas, I understand the value of the tourism industry. The businesses in Waimea should be ashamed. Makes me sad this happened

Stopped here on the way back from Waimea Canyon and man what a find! Unassuming and laid back, the roadside stop is a perfect way to slow down and soak in the locale. The service was warm, friendly, and super quick. The food itself was . I got a shrimp burger and a mountain of fresh fries for $10 (a STEAL) and my partner got the fresh boiled Cajun shrimp and red potatoes. Both were fresh and both were heaping portions for a great price. I will be going back as soon as I can get back to the island. Mahalo Shrimp Station, I'll remember you fondly.

The Shrimp Station serves the freshest shrimp on Kaua'i. On the south side, at the base of Waimea Canyon Road, this roadside stand gets their shrimp from Kaua'i Shrimp, just minutes away. They do one thing and they do it well: SHRIMP. Their set up is basic: right along the main road, gravel parking lot, building is the kitchen/cashier. Seating is open at various sized tables. Smaller groups may share a larger table. Order your shrimp, sit at a picnic table and get messy, because you are going to have to get your hands dirty to remove the heads and shells from your shrimp. the shells are so tender a plastic fork slid right under and opened up the shrimp. (For those who get uncomfortable removing heads, order the coconut shrimp; the heads are already removed). The shrimp is prepared to order and served piping hot. We had to wait a monent for it to cool before we could touch the shrimp. Served with scoops of rice, you can scoop up all the sauce/butter your shrimp was cooked in. (Don't tell your cardiologist) If you desire something to drink beyond canned drinks, there is a juice stand next door. As a convenience, a sink is just to the right of the stand to wash your hands. I don't know who doesn't need it.

Amazing! So yummy cracking apart the shrimp and the sauce went great with the white rice!

Heard great reviews on this place and it was indeed good. Opted for the coconut shrimp which was perfectly battered and crispy. Lines were long but moved quickly.

Location location location, this place is right off the 520 to the canyon. If it is fresh as so many claim I sure can't tell after it was fried and came with terrible fries. At least there are fruit stands around get a smoothie to quench your thirst with these forgettable shrimp

It looked like a nice, cute place to grab a quick bite. It's hard to miss after driving down from Waimea. Ordered the sweet chili garlic shrimp. Unfortunately it tasted bland and was pretty messy. Disappointed for what sounded delicious.

It was good but not amazing. The most annoying thing were all the flies buzzing around. It was a convenient place to stop for lunch after visiting Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast lookouts. $20 for a handful of like ten shrimp is a lot. I got the Cajun flavor which actually had more garlic in it than the garlic shrimp plate which was kind of plain and surprising didn't have much garlic. Flavor was good. Service was fine, you order and then ten minutes later they called you up for food. It's very messy though and they should include an extra plate for your shells, I had to go back up to ask for an extra plate because it was so messy and hard to do. Again, the flies buzzing around really ruined the experience, it's pretty messy and then to have to deal with flies all over my face and food, it's annoying.

WOW...Amazing shrimp. Big portions..cooked to perfection. The staff was friendly and smiling. I had the garlic shrimp..peel and eat ...messy but WORTH IT. My wife had the beer battered and they were excellent and NO MESS. She loved it and couldn't finish the huge portion so I helped...Aloha

My kids had the coconut shrimp while waiting for tacos from the Island tacos place. They loved them. This helped them tide over the wait at Island tacos. Their service is fast and quick. Food is fresh ( this is true for all food on the Island). They even got my wife to try try eating Shrimp. She liked them and will probably slowly start eating them on her own.

Tasty little local place for a fast meal. Garlic shrimp was excellent!!! Coconut shrimp too was tasty accompanied with some crunchy fries. Easy access from street. A good stop for a quick lunch. Outside handwashing sinks were appreciated.

Amazing flavor. We had the sweet Chile garlic and the got garlic shrimp. Both were very good and very plentiful. Served with rice or potato the side was plentiful also. Only thing I didn't like was that the shrimp is served with head and all. Given the wet sauce this makes very sloppy eating. The service was courteous but very slow to take order and then to get served. All seating is outside.

Great shrimp! Could use a bit more seasoning and kinda messy but great lunch after boat trip.

Food was excellent. Worth the drive for the amazing Spicy Thai and the Sweet Chili garlic peel and eat shrimp. Both shrimp dishes were over the top. Go for the rice side--perfect complement to the shrimp. Bring wet wipes. The food is messy goodness meant to be eaten with your hands. The napkins are eco-friendly and a waste. Unfortunately there is no bathroom, but there is an outdoor trough sink to wash your hands before you go home. Lots of covered outsude seating, so a great spot even on rainy days. Lits of chickens to keep you entertained. They are plentiful and have no boundaries. Lol. Had to bounce a chick off my lap. The counter person shared that the parking lot becomes a lake whenever it rains, so grab one of the street parking spots. Enjoy. We'll be back ti try two new items soon.

Ehhhh. Just OK. Not great. Had the coconut shrimp. Wouldn't come back unfortunately. For a place that only serves shrimp I'd of thought these would be better for $20

My friends and I stopped at the Shrimp Station on our way back from Waimea Canyon. There were a few cute restaurants on the street and we decided to give this one a try. All of the sautéed shrimp dishes were delicious! Be warned, it takes some effort to peel the shrimp, so if that's not your type, go for the fried shrimp. I wasn't expecting the oil-based sauces to have such a creamy consistency, so next time I might have gone for one that's a bit lighter. If you're looking for something upscale, this isn't the spot. However, I really enjoyed that the restaurant had a casual vibe, with counter service and picnic benches. It was easy to walk between nearby shops and check out the surrounding area. They didn't have a bathroom onsite, but there was on at the pier down the street. Worth checking out if you're in the area!

Best coconut shrimp in Hawaii. We live on Oahu and love coconut shrimp. We first had coconut shrimp here 13 years ago and it's just as good today. They use local Kauai shrimp, cooked to perfection and the batter is light and crispy, never doughy, with a hint of sweetness and tons of long strips of coconut. It's served with fries and papaya sauce. I am not as in love with the garlic shrimp. They've changed the recipe on this one. It used to just be butter and piles of toasty garlic but now it's more of a cream sauce. It's good, but I liked the old one better, and likely won't do the garlic shrimp here again. Still have them the 5 stars because the coconut shrimp alone earns them one.

This is the first restaurant you see when turning left into Waimea, after hiking Waimea Canyon. Got here at 1:30pm on a Tuesday, after hiking the Waimea Canyon Waipo'o Falls trail, and hitting the restroom at Pu'u Hinahina lookout 15 miles from here. 7 outdoor tables, including two 8 person picnic table benches. Noon time this place can be packed. 10 deveined but unpeeled shrimp with tail on in various sauces for $12.95, straight off the shrimp farms of Hawaii. Comes with rice or potatoes. Price comparable with $14.95 Savage Shrimp in Kukuikua Shopping Center Poipu, but SS has coleslaw added to their 10 shrimp, and has a much higher rent, compared to this place in the sticks. Wife got the Thai style spicy shrimp, and I got the Cajun style shrimp. Both came with rice. Sauce was decent and not too watery and went well with the white rice. Messy peeling the shrimp, as the peeled shrimp has sauce all over it. And got to yank off the tail -they keep the tail on and the shell on to give the impression that the shrimp are bigger than the edible portion. Hope your hands are clean after using the bathrooms at Waimea Canyon, where they post "do not drink the water" signs. Same place that slammed the doors in our faces when arriving at 4:55pm last April from an all day Waimea Canyon hike. That time, went to L&L Hawaiian BBQ two blocks down where the five slabs of Hawaiian BBQ chicken satisfied my hunger, something 10 shrimp here could not do. L&L catches the local chickens running around and cooks them.

Stopped here on the way from Waimea Canyon. The coconut shrimp was crispy and delicious. It came with fries and papaya tarter sauce. You have to peel the tails off the shrimp which is annoying. Very casual place with outside seating.

This spot was definitely the highlight meal of my trip to Kauai! I'm a huge fan of shrimp and their sautéed shrimp was just spot on for me. They have 4 different sauce options for the sautéed shrimp and I went with the "Got Garlic" which is heavy on the garlic and sautéed in olive oil and white wine. Each order is served with steamed white rice or boiled red potato. The garlic flavor wasn't overwhelming and the sauce was not as oily as I expected. I would undoubtedly go back for another plate of the Got Garlic and also try the Cajun sauce next time! If you don't want to get your hands messy from the peeling, then you can opt for their fried shrimp & chips, shrimp tacos, or shrimp burgers.

Extremely fast service for the coconut shrimp. Exactly what we needed after exploring Waimea Canyon. Outdoor seating only

Hmmm not bad!! We got the Got Garlic shrimp which was like a cream sauce. Good amount of garlicky, not overwhelming. I didn't really like how the rice was on the wet side because there was already sauce from the shrimp. Overall though, the taste was good and the shrimp was easy to peel :) Parking was decent, we found parking on the street on a Friday before/around lunch time. Service was fine. There's outdoor seating which is covered which was great since it was sprinkling a bit at the time.

This local place is located in the small town of Waimea on the main road. The restaurant has lots of outdoor patio seating and a private parking lot. The shrimp plate dishes are all very good. We tried the garlic, sweet chili and Cajun shrimp plates. All was great but scoops of rice were small. The shrimp taco had Mexican rice in it but it was very tasty. We actually loved it. We liked the fresh sweet shrimp. Great little local place here.

Delicious combination of flavors in the Cajun shrimp plate. Loved how charmingly low key it this spot was. The staff working here were super happy and friendly, really nice to see smiles all around. Would definitely go back again.

Decent priced for being island food. Nice portions of whole big shrimp. Highly recommend the battered shrimp.

Great shrimp. Got the coconut shrimp on the way back from the western part of Kauai. Ate it with some tacos from across the street.

This spot is a must try! Best shrimp spot in the whole island, at least to me! My husband got the coconut fried shrimp, my daughter got the beer batter shrimp and I got the sweet chili shrimp with rice; they were all delicious and food was freshly cooked! The portions were just right, they aren't stingy with the shrimp. All seating is outdoors, you go up to a window and order your food, they will call your name once your food is ready. You have the option to eat there or to go, if the place is busy be patient, this place is the go to place for some delicious shrimp! I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures!

I was disappointed with the change in the shrimp. They were too much work. I always stop at the Shrimp Station when I visit the island but think this will be my last time.

Not sure what the hype was here on these shrimps. My order of shrimp was overcooked - it didn't have the bounce texture as you bite down to each one. Kinda disappointing. The shrimp shell was stuck onto every shrimp as it's not easily peeling off. We had the Cajun garlic shrimp - you don't taste much Cajun spice and it was not spicy at all. There is a hint of garlic and not full on bold garlic flavors.

Okay 3rd time is the charm! I was sad we drove by on our way to Waimea Canyon on Wed to see it was closed, but didn't walk up to the counter to see why. Just assumed it was because they sold out. Then the next day, we missed the timing for garlic shrimp at another food truck in Hanalei Bay. So I came back here Sunday right when it opened and it was worth the hype and the wait!! - Got Garlic was so yummy and full of flavor. I drenched each shrimp in the garlic and olive oil. As a garlic lover, I wouldn't mind more garlic in this haha. Comparable to Giovanni's in Honolulu, but garlic isn't as strong. Rice was on the wet side (like others have said) as it soaked up the garlic sauce, but I didn't mind the mixture since I was dunking everything in the sauce anyway. - Coconut shrimp: I've come to realize that almost everything we have had with coconut flakes on the island have tasted soo amazing! Plus that papaya ginger dipping sauce was the perfect complement. Fries were a bit soggy, but might be because we brought it to the beach (it stayed in the shade) and didn't eat it till an hour later? Bothered my husband, but didn't bother me because we were at the beach! The rest of my party also got the Thai shrimp and the Sweet Chile Garlic shrimp. Thai was spicy and jam packed full of flavor! Sweet chile garlic tasted like the got garlic plus some sweetness added in. I'll have to try the Cajun one next time! Although we were there right when it opened, we weren't the first and they had taken phone orders too so we waited probably 30+mins for our order to be made. There was ample seating (picnic tables) in the shade out front and the side of the station. Go next door to the Coconut corner and get a smoothie while you wait. They were delicious too!

Cajun shrimp plate is a must! Buttery and Cajun spices gives like a 5/10 spice. Head and shell on, soft enough you can eat it all! Red potatoes was the call as the starch. Recommend 10/10! Shrimp tacos were good too. Soft. Salsa was mild. 7/10 recommend.

Like others have mentioned, The Shrimp Station is on the way to and from the Waimea Canyon. We always enjoy garlic shrimp in Hawaii and gave The Shrimp Station a try. The Shrimp Station is a stand-style walk restaurant with a small parking area next door, and we were lucky to get a space. There are a few tables to sit down and eat. If you need to a bathroom, you have to walk to and from a nearby park to use the public bathrooms; about a ten minute trek roundtrip. Regarding the garlic shrimp, it was average. The shrimp was mild in flavor and the buttery sauce seemed watered down. I was expecting the garlic-butter sauce to be more robust. Regarding the service, it was great.

Best shrimp on the island! We came by on a Thursday around lunch and enjoyed the got garlic and cajun shrimp right as our last meal before heading back home. There was no line when we visited; although, two days prior when we happened to drive by, it was pretty busy. Delicious and flavorful! I wish we had discovered this place earlier so we could have enjoyed it more than once during the trip!

I aim to come back next year. This was so delicious! Top 5 meals on the island for sure. The coconut shrimp was not for me - I always want to like it but I'm not a fan of dried coconut. The dipping sauce was amazing. The Cajun shrimp was delicious! 100% would recommend. My only gripe is I wish they had a bathroom.

When you're headed up to see the beauty of Waimea Canyon you gotta stop and fuel up with this delicious Hawaiian shrimp stand. They are known for their delicious buttery garlic shrimp. they also have tacos .. but I'll stick to the garlic shrimp. The stand is right there literally on the left side of the road that leads up to the canyon. Its a perfect stop to get delicious Hawaiian food while just being awe struck by the beauty of Kauai.

Coconut shrimp and shrimp taco dishes. We really enjoyed the coconut shrimp with its "secret batter" and coconut outside. Super delicious papaya ginger dipping sauce. A definite must eat. The shrimp came with fries The shrimp tacos were okay. We like that the shrimp was minced. It came with lettuce, cheese, and medium spicy salsa. Overall, the salsa overpowered the other flavors. The tortilla chips that came with the tacos were really salty. Friendly staff! If i had just purchased the coconut shrimp, i would have given the place a 4.75

I was excited to try this place out after our hike in Waimea Canyon. There's a private parking lot available that's pretty big. Everything on their menu had shrimp in it except for the hot dog and chips & salsa. The line was a bit long when we came, but pretty much died down around 3pm. I ordered the beer battered shrimp and chips and cajun shrimp. The food took about 10 minutes as it made fresh to order. You get a good amount of shrimp on both plates. The beer battered shrimp was just ok. It wasn't all that crispy and actually soggy on most of them. The shoestring fries was just ok. The tartar sauce was also just ok. The cajun shrimp was also just ok. I still like Giovani's in Oahu as a comparison. Although, I think Shrimp Station gives you more and they seem bigger. It's not that I didn't like the sauce, I thought it needed some more seasoning. It didn't really taste like cajun and more like garlic butter. Just make sure to really sop up all that sauce when eating your shrimp. The shrimp was a bit overcooked as it was a little bit rubbery and the shell was sticking to the shrimp when peeling. They are closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The shrimp definitely fills a craving, but I don't think I would drive out this way just to eat here. And also, they don't take Apple Pay. Who doesn't do that by now. Even the Coconut Corner next door takes Apple Pay. Something for management to think about.

Cozy little places and shrimp are fresh and clean, easy to eat! I got the garlic one sauce that tasted great but it's more buttery cream than garlic...àdd a bit more garlic then it would live to its name. Would love to try the rest next time.

Shrimp was awesome! Friendly service. Must try! On my must eat every time we are in Kauai.

Holy Hell this place is my new Death Row meal. Theeeeeee BEST Coconut Shrimp on planet earth and planet Claire. Just perfection. I do prefer the Thai chili sauce over the papaya tarter.

Tried this place on our way back from Waimea because we were starving! Not impressed at all, the shrimp were a little mushy and varied in sizes. They put too much of the Cajun sauce so the rice was drowning in it and it could use a little more flavor. I'm only giving it a 3 because the cashier was very nice! Other than that, nothing to get excited about. Does not compare to any of the shrimp trucks from the other islands.

SERIOUS ONO GRINDZ from such an unassuming shop. Was coming back down off Waimea Canyon when I spotted the shrimp sign from the road. Had to pull in and SO glad I did. The butter sauce was CRACK. No clue what was in it, but I could drink a gallon of that stuff. Super hearty plate as well, they don't skimp out on the shrimp! Was also impressed by the customer service. These ladies work hard and have a smile on their face doing it. Very small bizz, good vibes that you should love to support. Make this your post-Waimea stop, you won't regret it!