Eating shrimp the "Forrest Gump" way

Bubba Gump Shrimp is a seafood restaurant chain specializing in shrimp dishes, with over 40 locations worldwide. The first restaurant opened in the US in 1996, inspired by the movie "Forest Gump." From the decor and staff to the menu, everything reflects the film. Every corner of the restaurant is filled with memorabilia from the movie, prompting diners to take photos or carefully examine each item to try and decipher the scene from the film.

From "Forrest Gump" - a timeless film...

The film, inspired by the book of the same name, tells the story of Forrest Gump, a somewhat "mentally challenged" boy with an IQ of 75 and a limp, who is constantly teased and bullied by his peers. His only friend is his neighbor, Jenny. When Jenny sees Forrest being chased by the bullies, she shouts "Run, Forest, Run!" and suddenly, from being unsteady on his feet, Forrest runs away. Jenny's line has become a classic line in American cinema.

Later, when Forrest enlisted and fought in Vietnam, he served under Lieutenant Dan and befriended Bubba, a Black soldier. Forrest and Bubba shared a dream of owning a shrimp boat and making a living from it. Not long after, Bubba was killed in action, and Lieutenant Dan lost both his legs. Upon returning to the United States, Forrest bought a shrimp boat to fulfill his promise to Bubba and named it Jenny. Forrest became the captain, and Lieutenant Dan volunteered as first mate. After several unsuccessful fishing trips that yielded only a few shrimp and scrap metal, and losing all their capital, the area where Jenny operated was devastated by Hurricane Carmen in 1974. Newspapers reported that during the storm, all the boats in the area were destroyed except for Jenny. Ironically, during the fierce storm, Lieutenant Dan, in a fit of rage, challenged fate, "Come and destroy me if you dare!" But when they reached shore, the battered boat brought in a bountiful catch of shrimp, filling all the holds. From then on, their fishing trips became extremely profitable, and the Bubba Gump Shrimps Co. was established, comprising 12 large vessels.

The film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards in 1994 and won 6. Nearly 30 years have passed, but the film is still analyzed, commented on, and the image of Forrest Gump is still used as a comparative example in many aspects of life. The Bubba Gump restaurant, which specializes in shrimp dishes inspired by the film, has also attracted a considerable number of fans as a result.

...to the Bubba Gump shrimp restaurant

Before entering Bubba Gump, I thought it was a typical American restaurant. But no, the restaurant was packed with diners of all nationalities, including British, Italian, and Spanish... most of them fans of the movie. In front of the restaurant was a souvenir shop selling items related to the film, such as t-shirts, hats, cups, and mugs. Inside, the restaurant and further inside was a bar, decorated like a miniature museum, storing everything related to the movie, from the tables and chairs, the pictures on the walls, the quotes, to the staff uniforms.

Each table has a small aluminum bucket containing napkins and condiments, along with a few small plates and a blue sign that reads "Run, Forest, Run" (Jenny's line in the movie). When flipped up, the sign reveals "Stop, Forest, Stop" in red, allowing diners to signal the waiter if they need service, instead of ringing a bell or waving like in other restaurants. Simply flipping up the "Stop, Forest, Stop" sign will immediately bring a waiter over.

The drinks at Bubba Gump are quite varied, but the cocktails are sweet and not very intoxicating. Beer pairs better with seafood.

Bubba Gump's strength lies in its shrimp dishes, but other seafood options are also very fresh and delicious, mostly fried and grilled. They also offer rice, noodles, sandwiches, hamburgers, and more. Notably, the menu includes calorie counts below each dish (given interesting names like "Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp" or "Mama's Southern Fried Chicken") for those on a diet. And don't forget that dishes marked in red and with a star are the restaurant's "specialties"—pay attention to these markings if you're still unsure what to choose!

If you're a fan of Forrest Gump, then this shrimp restaurant is definitely a must-visit. Even if you don't like Forrest Gump, you should still stop by once to understand why Bubba Gump, starting as a small shrimp restaurant, has become world-famous in just over 20 years.

Huong Thao