Max's Restaurant San Diego, Cuisine of the Philippines
Filipino restaurant · San Diego ·
Filipino chain known for crispy fried chicken and banana ketchup
Filipino chain known for crispy fried chicken and banana ketchup
"Fried chicken headlines the menu at this Filipino chain, but it’s unlike the fried bird you may be familiar with. Max’s fried chicken is not breaded so you get flavorful crispy skin hiding succulent meat underneath. Don’t skip out the banana ketchup dipping sauce, either. Recommended sides include garlic fried rice plus sinigang, a hearty tamarind soup served with your choice of pork or shrimp." - Darlene Horn, Paolo Bicchieri
"The Filipino chain with more than 200 locations around the world has locations in Chula Vista as well as Mira Mesa. Known as “The House That Fried Chicken Built,” Max’s menu centers around its signature marinated and fried — not breaded — chicken, plus other traditional Filipino dishes ranging from chicken adobo to crispy pata and fried lumpia." - darlene-horn
"I was told by Cathy Ferrer, Max’s Group’s operations manager for North America, that the Mira Mesa outpost in Mesa Centers’ Mira Mesa Mall is now in the construction phase and they hope to open at the end of September. Made famous as “The House That Fried Chicken Built” and founded in 1945, Max’s Restaurant is the flagship brand of Max’s Group with over 100 locations in the Philippines and more than 200 worldwide; the group also owns Krispy Kreme and Jamba Juice. The full-service, family-friendly casual restaurant is best known for its fried chicken but features a broad menu of Filipino favorites—pancit, lumpia, rice bowls with chicken sisig and pork adobo—and offers group meals with whole chickens and shareable dishes like lechon kawaii and kare-kare. It will join Menya Ultra Ramen and 85C Bakery in the mall, replacing the Fuddrucker’s that shuttered in February, and, as Brett Feuerstein of Mesa Centers noted, should be a great local option for large family occasions and parties." - Candice Woo
"Local Filipino-American chef Tress Balch has just opened Sarap Filipino Kitchen, a 150-seat restaurant and event space in the Miramar area. Until recently, Balch ran Mira Mesa eatery and catering outfit Happy Sushi but has long been searching for a spot to serve traditional Filipino food, what he calls “grandma recipes”, in a large group-friendly venue that will soon offer live entertainment, from bands to comedians and karaoke. His partners include Scott Chiv, who previously ran a South African restaurant and a diner in the Miramar location, as well as Blessie Trott, with consulting help from chef Marlaw Seraspi; formerly executive chef at Open House in Encinitas, Seraspi ran a popular Filipino-influenced Sunday brunch that he may resurrect in Miramar and Balch and Seraspi were among the cadre of local chefs behind the legendary Ulam dinner this past spring. Sarap Filipino Kitchen’s initial menu includes classic pancit noodles, hand-rolled lumpia that will be available in party trays, crispy lechon kawaii, and afritada, a tomato-based chicken stew. The full menu, rolling out soon, will include more of the comforting dishes that are Balch’s speciality, ranging from bicol express, made with pork and creamy coconut milk, to kare kare, and Filipino sweets including halo-halo and leche flan. The restaurant will also offer late night eats on weekends as well as occasional kamayan feasts, multi-dish communal dinners that are eaten with your hands. The restaurant also offers draft beer and wine." - Candice Woo
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