The story has ended. Now is the time to ask: What did it all mean? I had gathered with Kayla Hendrix, Elijah Trujillo and Kazuya Makishima, the three co-owning operators of the Shokkako food truck, to ask that basic question. It was a solemn and tender task.
They were a team, forged in cook fire, tempered in all-weather food service. Each an industry all-arounder, able to rotate spots in a rush. Each had their specialization.Trujillo was “the brain” and “the train conductor,” mostly responsible for set up, chefing and menus. Makishima was “the muscle” and the man on the chicken fryer. Hendrix was “the yapper” and “the glue,” “holding the Icarus ropes” to keep their ambitions from flying (frying) too high.
With such a loyal following, why was their ride now ending? Cite rising costs, burnout and life changes.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: What would you like to say with this modest public platform?
Trujillo: Just, thank you.
Hendrix: To everyone that came and supported us—the customers; we had support of other vendors and our families. This has been a village more than a three of us type of thing.
Could you each tell us your favorite menu item?
Hendrix: The Kamikaze fries with fried Spam and spicy poppy kimchi, fermented pepper paste, sweet chili mayo, Bachan’s original bbq sauce and scallions.
Makishima: Messy fries. My favorite dish—one that I invented. The Sisig pork don.
Trujillo: I’m going to have to go with The Mother Clucker—it’s my baby. I spent a lot of time figuring out that Bang Bang sauce.
Could you each give a piece of advice for someone entering the food truck business?
Trujillo: Be comfortable with pivoting.
Hendrix: Have patience—with others, but mostly with yourself.
Makishima: Look at it like a 10-year plan. It’s a long-term investment. It will be hard. Sometimes it will be really fun. It’s like you’re going to war together with your brothers and sisters. What you can look forward to is suffering together. It’s not pretty—but it’s beautiful.
What are some of the highlights from your two years?
Makishima: We have a lot of accolades that we would love to share. One in my mind was the Old Caz “Clash of the Cuisines” competition that we did. We put our heart and soul into that, and we took first place.
Hendrix: We were congratulating the other vendors, when one of the judges started talking about a bento box that we did, and we started looking at each other and started screaming.
Trujillo: Those moments, in the middle of a crazy rush going a million miles a minute, and a random customer would bang on the window to take a few seconds to tell you how much they enjoyed the food.
Hendrix: Or how far they had driven to try it.
Trujillo: It’s very proud and very humbling.
As I was preparing to leave, Hendrix asked me whether I knew what “Shokkako” meant. I had not thought to ask, but it answered the interview’s one basic question. It means “a small but certain piece of happiness on a rough day.” That is what they were. That is what they are.
Learn more: There will be just one more chance to taste Kamikaze fries before they pass into legend. Shokakko and co. will have their final night, as part of SPICEWORLD—a Spice Girls cosplay and karaoke dance floor, from 7 to 11pm, April 24, at The Arlene Francis Center for Spirit, Art and Politics, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa. Tickets and info at bit.ly/spiceworld2026.
