There’s nothing like a trip up north — the North Shore, that is — during the summer to check out the food truck scene. Want something different from the typical garlic shrimp plates? Check these out the next time you’re headed to the Kahuku Sugar Mill.

Making Waves

The first 100% plant-based vegan café to open in Kahuku, Raised by the Waves (56-565 Kamehameha Hwy.) is known for its spicy poke bowl (made with beets) and Sunrise Waffle topped with fresh berries. This café’s beverages include everything from whipped coffee lattes and cold brew cinnamon to a rainbow tea and the Hapa milkshake, which is the café’s vegan version of a McFlurry.

Penny for your thoughts

Currently located in Hauula Kai Shopping Center (54-316 Kamehameha Hwy.), Penny’s Malasadas is a truck you won’t want to miss. These light, fluffy bites of heaven come with sugar or cinnamon sugar, or with fillings like coconut cream, custard and chocolate. Keep an eye out for any seasonal fruit filling like Penny’s Pineapple Whip, made with locally grown pineapple. Heads up: Penny’s is opening a second location in Aiea sometime in August, so you ‘doughn’t want to miss that. Find the biz on Facebook.

Tsunami warning

I first heard about Ry’s Poke Shack (56-565 Kamehameha Hwy.) from a friend, and its signature Tsunami Poke Nachos ($15.95) broke da mouth. Tortilla chips are loaded with fresh shoyu poke, sweet onions, sesame, avocado sauce, chile mayo, unagi sauce, furikake and green onions. For $3 more, you can make this a “super tsunami” with the addition of crab salad, pickled cucumbers and tobiko. Ry’s Poke Shack is home to many original poke flavors, including the ultra-spicy Laos style with Thai chile peppers, secret spicy shoyu, wasabi, kabayaki shoyu and more. If you’re lucky, the off-menu spicy gari — made with pickled ginger and special infused spicy ginger sauce — will be available during your visit. Keep up with the truck on Instagram (@ryspokeshack).

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta’s column features a variety of tips and insider knowledge about Oahu’s dining scene. Follow Kelli on Instagram (@kellishiromabraiotta).