After 71 Years And Counting, Still Sarap to the Bones at Max's Restaurant.

It's a love affair that just keeps getting stronger with the passing of every year...

And seventy-one years later, Max's Restaurant is still the place for the iconic "Sarap to the Bones" Fried Chicken, an institution in the local culinary scene that continues a proud tradition now managed by the family's second and third generations. From its very first restaurant at 21 Scout Tuason in Quezon City, Max's Restaurant has expanded to over 127 locations with a growing network of branches in Metro Manila, Luzon, and Cebu, as well as an international presence with restaurants in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. The House That Fried Chicken Built is the core of the Max's Group, which now includes other dining concepts an international franchises such as Krispy Kreme, Jamba Juice, Pancake House, Dencio's, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin' Pepper Steak, Le Coeur de France, Yellow Cab, and Maple. And a new hotel, Meranti Hotel (more on an awesome weekend staycation at Meranti Hotel on my next post), located near the original location of the very first Max's Restaurant. And it all started with a recipe for fried chicken...

The inspiring story of Max's Restaurant began in 1945 when Maximo Gimenez and his niece Ruby created a special chicken recipe that became a favorite among American GIs stationed in Manila after the war, and the rest, as they say, is history. And there's nothing like a classic feast at the original location of the very first restaurant. 

Any meal at Max's Restaurant has to include the classics, like the Pinakbet (P 196.90, L), a local vegetable dish with ampalaya, sitaw, okra, eggplant, squash, and kangkong with pork and shrimps sauteed in shrimp paste; and the Kare-Kare (P 394.90, R), with tender beef chuck, ox-tail, and tripe in a thick peanut-based stew.   

The popular Crispy Pata (P 768.90-Family/P 702.90-Large/P 548.90-Regular) adds that celebratory vibe to any feast at Max's Restaurant, with premium pork knuckles cooked in the very same way as their signature "Sarap to the Bones" Fried Chicken, with tender and juicy pork capped by a thin layer of crisp crackling, served with a soy-vinegar dip. Pure pork love.

Pair your meal with Max's Restaurant's flavorful rice dishes...

...like the Adobo Rice (P 218.90), with soft and fluffy rice draped in the comforting sweet and salty notes of adobo topped with meat, black pepper, garlic bits, slices of boiled eggs, and spring onions...

...the tasty Danggit Rice (P 214.50) topped with crispy chopped danggit, diced tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and salted duck egg...

...and the Tinola Rice (P 192.50), with the familiar tinola flavors from garlic and ginger and tossed with sayote, spring onions, and malunggay leaves. The expanding menu, with innovative new dishes, is a testament to the enduring legacy left behind by the founders.

Complete the festive and flavorful Max's Restaurant dining experience with the classic Spring Chicken (P 350.90-Whole/P 181.50-Half), the original dish that made Max's Restaurant known throughout the country as "the house that fried chicken built." The original recipe, with tender young chicken marinated in the family's signature seasonings and fried to golden perfection is still as good as the first time I tried it as a child. Perfectly tender and juicy with a lightly crisp outer layer, each bite just brings you back to those childhood summers.

And yes, add some some of that signature sweet and tart Max's Banana Ketchup and Hot Sauce to complete the flavors. And seventy-one years later, it's still sarap to the bones...

But save room for dessert...

Indulge in specialty cakes and pastries with Max's Corner Bakeshop's indulgent selection, the perfect ending with any meal at Max's Restaurant.  Max's Corner Bakeshop's Mango Cream Dessert, Ube Cream Decadence and other sweet desserts are guaranteed to satisfy any sugar craving.

The refreshing Buko Pandan (P 71.50), with green gulaman and tapioca flavored with pandan and topped with ice cream caps another perfect meal at Max's Restaurant. Comforting flavors that keep you coming back for more, like a never-ending love affair, Max's Restaurant has become a significant part of every Filipino's milestone. And I'm pretty sure Maximo Gimenez and Ruby intended it that way, starting with a recipe for fried chicken in their very first restaurant in 1945.  

Max's Restaurant is located at 21 Scout Tuason, Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City or call 372-1032 for inquiries and reservations. You can also visit and order online on their website at https://www.maxschicken.com/.

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