Everything about this place was amazing. From food to service, spectacular. We had six in our party and ordered a bunch of things. It's more of a family-style restaurant but you can also order individually. Everything was delicious. I forgot to take a pic when the food showed up. I did snap when we were almost done. lol. The place is super clean I I found the dining seating to be pretty impressive. There were rooms you could tell were used for larger parties. Along the other wall there are individual tables of smaller parties. It's the best of both worlds. If there is an event and there are a bunch of you you can get a larger area without bothering others. If it is 'date night' you can enjoy sitting with your partner in a more private setting. And it was soooo clean. I was told that this is a chain restaurant but honestly I would have thought a local Filipino person just decided they want to make great food. I didn't get a 'chainy' feeling at all. It's wonderful that there are so many Filipino dining options nowadays. That makes me super happy. read more

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My wife and I were driving up from Daytona Beach on our way to Amelia Island and decided to stop by Max's. It has been a long while since we ate at a Max's...perhaps not since we lived in Hawai'i 8 years ago. In any case, we were looking forward to dining at Max's once again. Upon being seated, we perused the menu. My wife ordered the Max's Budget Meal (fried chicken leg quarter, lumpia and rice for $18) and I ordered the Lechon Kawali ($18) and an order of white rice (3 scoops for $7). The fried chicken was good as expected but I thought the banana ketchup, which is probably house made, didn't seem to have that familiar Jufran or UFC brand banana ketchup taste. The lumpias were OK but once again, we would've preferred a sweet garlic chili sauce to dip it in instead of the house made sauce. The lechon kawali had a nice and crispy skin with tender and flavorful meat but the house made sauce fell short of duplicating the familiar Mang Tomas lechon sauce. Of course we had to top off the meal with an order of Halo Halo to share and that hit the spot...although at $11, it was a bit on the steep side. All in all, we felt the food quality and flavors were good but the house made sauces were a bit off what was familiar. Perhaps we were focusing on nostalgia and memories of past Max's dining experiences, but this visit fell a bit short. Lunch for 2 with tip came out to just over $70. read more

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Took Lola here for Mother's Day and overall had a really great experience. The restaurant was packed, but we were still seated pretty quickly which was impressive considering how busy it was. The food tasted very authentic and reminded us of true Filipino home-style cooking. Everything we ordered was flavorful, comforting, and definitely hit the spot. They did run out of one dish we wanted to try, but honestly it was understandable given the holiday rush and how crowded the restaurant was. The staff still handled everything well and kept things moving. Best part was seeing Lola so happy with the food -- that alone made the visit worth it. Definitely a solid spot for authentic Filipino food in Jacksonville. read more

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We have heard a lot about Max's other locations and have been wanting to try some great Filipino food. So off to the Jax Max we went. We were there for an early dinner so the restaurant wasn't that crowded. We were sat in a booth near the front. The booth was really too big and therefore a bit uncomfortable. Also, the AC was pretty chilly. We didn't comment about either. My wife got Kare Kare and I got the Sisig. We also got an order of pork belly. My wife thought the Kare Kare was okay. She ate some of it and took the rest home. At home, she added more stuff to it and she thought that made it a lot better. The Sisig was okay. It wasn't my favorite in Jax. But it was good. The pork belly was very good. The service could be better. Not sure what the staff was doing but they disappeared for a while. They only returned to give us the check and boxes. read more

A magical blend of Filipino food and Filipino hospitality. From the moment you walk in you are welcomed. The restaurant is clean. The food is reasonably priced. The service is impeccable. The fried chicken is the star of the show, but id say that the lechon Kawali also stole the show! They even have mostly OPM music from the 90s and early 2000s. If you're missing the Philippines, or want a small slice of life back home, please definitely come visit. read more

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So good!! My in laws took us here during our visit to Jacksonville. It can be tough to find Filipino restaurants. All the food was amazing but the one entree that really stood out to me was the grilled pork on skewers. I'm still dreaming about it - the flavor was amazing and the char on the meat - chefs kiss! The portions are pretty big and it's meant to be shared family style. It wasn't too busy when we went, but I hope they get plenty of business! I would definitely return. read more

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Have been here a few times since it opened in JAX May 2025. Pleasant staff and a clean space to enjoy Filipino food. The difference is how polite the staff is from the welcome host to the waitstaff. I've always left in a good mood and hope that never changes. 5 stars! read more

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Visited Max's Restaurant on their opening day. We were not planning on eating there but since we were in the area and their wait time gave us time to do what we had to do, we found ourselves putting our name in their waitlist. We were 7 minutes away when they texted us that our table was ready. Upon arrival. We were seated right away. Ordered the following and surprisingly they were served fast! Fried Chicken- it's their signature dish and rightfully so! Sarap to the bones or Delicious to the bones indeed! Chicharon Bulaklak - very tasty but not crispy. Crispy Pork Sisig - served on a sizzling plate but it was not sizzling nor crispy. The only crunch came from the chicharron on top but not the sisig itself. Pork Sinigang - great flavor but was lukewarm. This should've been served hot. I was a tad disappointed. Knowing this is their opening day, we did inform our server of our concerns when she asked for our feedback. Hopefully they will Improved as we definitely plan on coming back. read more

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I came here after work on Friday(08/01/2025). I've had them on my radar since they opened. As I waited to be seated, I noticed several people waiting for, "to-go" dishes. The place was pretty packed/full of patrons. That's always a good sign. I loved the decor, employees, service, atmosphere, food and the Halo Halo. I ordered the pancit and raspberry tea. Everything was good. The only minus is the oil that the pancit was cooked needed to be changed. It tasted old. Next time I go, I will try the fried chicken. Pros:close my home, great service, atmosphere. Cons:old oil. Recommend? Yes Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

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Delicious! Great service and a nice ambiance. Would totally go to this hidden gem again!

Max is a very popular Filipino restaurant and well known for their staple fried chicken. When we heard they opened one in Jacksonville, Florida, we had to take that 2 1/2 hour drive from the Orlando area. Maybe the staff is working out the kinks but our experience was very mixed. Let me start with the positives. The restaurant is very clean, and the place was packed. The host did tell us that it would be a 20 minute wait for a table (7 includes 2 handicapped). The host got us a table in 10 minutes. This was a great start. But the wait staff did not do a good job. We waited 10 minutes for the waitress to acknowledge us but she did not get our drink orders. We waited another 10 minutes until she returned to get our drink orders. Then another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive. She left again and came back in 10 minutes to take our food orders. Keep in mind, 40 minutes already passed. We waited another 30 minutes for the first set of dishes to arrive but not all at once. It took another 20 minutes for all of our orders to be plated. When we were ready to pay the bill after eating, it took 15 minutes to get it. The wait staff actually apologized for the long delay but this is a management issue not managing the restaurant successfully. As for the food, we ordered many dishes. The fried chicken, garlic fried rice, and palaboc are the highlight of our food. But there are some misses such as sig sig, nilaga, lumpia, and laing. I may give Max another chance. Jacksonville has a very large and growing Filipino community and many Filipino restaurants so lots of competition. read more

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My wife and I were in the area and decided to check out Max's grand opening to see how busy things were. After being quoted a 45-minute to 1-hour wait, we went ahead and put our name on the list and passed the time shopping nearby. Once seated, we went all in. We ordered the chicharron bulaklak, crispy sisig, pork sinigang, large garlic rice, and of course, Max's famous whole fried chicken. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. A hearty lunch with plenty of leftovers to bring home. Service was solid overall, though there were a couple of misses. The sinigang came out lukewarm when we would've much preferred it hot and both the sisig and chicharron bulaklak lacked the crispiness their names promise. No worries, they just opened. For dessert, we shared the mango sticky rice; a sweet and refreshing finish to the meal. Still a great meal and a fun experience. We'll definitely be back in the next week to bring friends. All the kabayans made it feel just like home in the Philippines. read more

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Max's Restaurant is a beloved Filipino chain, famous among homesick expats worldwide. Their first Florida location just opened at the newly revamped Town & Country shopping center off University Blvd in Jacksonville. With a Filipino population around 35,000, it's a smart spot to launch. I waited about a month after the grand opening before heading there for lunch today (7/6). If I learned anything from the Jollibee launch a few years ago, it's that every Filipino within 200 miles will make the trek for a taste of home. It was a packed house today, which is always a good sign. Max's is best known for their fried chicken, "Sarap to the bones," as their tagline says, but I skipped that to go straight for my favorites: lumpia, pancit palabok, pork sisig, and kare kare. Everything is served family style, so prices can feel steep, but you get enough to feed a group and take leftovers home, so it balances out. We started with Lumpia Shanghai, the shorter, stumpier version of the traditional roll, served with pickled carrots and onions for acidity. Unfortunately about half our lumpia were burnt. The filling was good, but the wrapper was charred enough to bring some bitterness into each bite. The sweet and sour sauce helped, but not enough to save it. Next was their pork sisig. I respect that Max's uses traditional off-cut parts like ears, snout, and cartilage. Flavor-wise it hit the spicy, bright, and crunchy notes. But sisig should sizzle. A sizzling platter traveling across the restaurant should get the same kind of attention as fajitas. Instead it arrived quietly, and its creamy texture threw me off. The taste was solid, but the experience lacked energy. Then came the pancit palabok. Rice noodles in thick shrimp sauce, topped with chicharron, boiled egg, green onions, and some cubed roast pork. That was a nice touch. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my favorite. The noodles were stuck together in one mass, so the sauce never really soaked through. You couldn't twirl it or pull apart strands. You had to carve a corner out and eat it like a noodle casserole. The kare kare followed. It's a peanut-butter-based stew, usually built around oxtail, with eggplant, bok choy, and long beans tagging along. The best versions have that deep, slow-cooked beef flavor balanced by peanut richness. Max's leaned too hard into the peanut, without enough depth from the meat. It felt like each ingredient was cooked on its own and tossed together later. It wasn't bad, just off balance. To go with it, we got the garlic fried rice. It arrived in a giant family-style bowl and was exactly what you want it to be: flavorful on its own and perfect for scooping up bits of sisig and stew. Overall, Max's is a taste of home for many Filipinos. That's both its greatest strength and its toughest challenge. Because if you grew up eating your Lola's lumpia or your Tita's kare kare, you're going to measure every bite against theirs. And while that's probably unfair, it's also what Max's is inviting you to do. 3 Stars - Familiar, comforting, and nostalgic in spirit, but the execution needs more heart and heat to match the memories. read more

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I went with a group of 8 and we ordered a whole bunch of food. They sat us at the back where we could "extend" our table room with their back counter (haha!) It was my group's first time coming here and it did not disappoint. The food was good, my favorite was the atchara and the chicharon bulaklak. We told our waitress that we were celebrating my uncle's birthday Max's style so she got the staff involved. They jump scared us by sneaking in and yelling "Happy Birthday!" and pulled out the tambourine as they sang. Everyone had such a great time, my party joked around with the staff and we all laughed together. It's very lively here on Sunday afternoons and the atmosphere is cheerful. Come by with friends and family! read more

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Hear yee, here yee. Gotta get yo arrs and come and eat here yee. Today (May 31st) marks the Grand Opening of Max Fried Chicken, which has finally made its first location for the Southeast Region. And I thankful they chose Jacksonville. Max Fried Chicken started their business in 1945. So to patiently say, 80 years later, Jacksonville now has their own location. If you're looking for true traditional filipino cuisine, Max is the place to be. They tribe on cooking their dishes true to traditional taste and recipe. Everything we ordered tasted delicious. The food we ordered tasted like my late Momma's cooking. My only nugget, the inside could use a little more Philippine inspired arts. Other than that, you have to come here and see for yourself. A 5 star shout out and dab to Eddie, who gave us great service. We will definitely be back. Everything was Saraps (delicious) to the "MAX"!!! read more

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Awesome! Lots of parking and new clean location. Party of 6 in Sat afternoon. Was able to get a table quickly, waitress was there promptly for drink orders and we quickly ordered - the crispy Pata, fried checks and Bbq were outstanding. Everything was pretty good. halo Halo at the end was a good way to end the meal Definitely will be back when get to Jacksonville again read more

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Yes! A Filipino restaurant closer to home! Opened on May 31, 2025, this new Filipino restaurant is gaining popularity in Jax! My partner and I decided to try them on Day 2 (of course, it's gonna be busy but the wait was worth it). We were greeted by staff and saw the place was busy busy busy, which is a good sign of course! The ambiance was great and everyone was enjoying themselves! When we settled, we ordered the following: 1. Calamansi Juice - very lightly sour and refreshing 2. Lumpiang Shanghai - crispy and very well seasoned meat. Loved the crispy lumpia bowl they served in. 3. Pork BBQ Skewers - one of my faves! Delicious, cooked and seasoned well. 4. Max's Filipino Fried Chicken - fried to a nice crispy perfection and seasoned with the right about of spices through the whole chicken to the bone! 5. Pancit Bihon - tasty, seasoned well with shrimp and chicken l, the rice noodles were great! 6. Garlic Rice - can't forget the rice! Great pairing with the pork bbq skewers and fried chicken! They also had other great items on the menu such as Kare-Kare, other Pancit dishes, Lechon Kawali, soups and desserts like Halo-Halo! Definitely a great experience and definitely revisit again and try out other items! Try them out and get a wonderful taste of the Philippines! read more

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Food was better the first time we came here. We ordered the kare kare and it lacked vegetables & the meat was very tough. The lechon kawali was good though. The service was not good at all. Our waitress was missing most of the time. I felt like we were wasting her time by asking her for a refill. Our wait for the food was soooooo long and even getting my drink refill was a long long wait. I caught her making a face when I asked for a refill or anything else. We canceled our dessert because it probably would've taken another hour. Also the place was not busy so there were no reasons for the delay. Definitely not coming back. read more

Filipino heaven in Jacksonville! Plenty of parking and seating. The menu items were plentiful and the food was hot and delicious. The waitress was friendly and accommodating. They even sang Happy Birthday to my 87 year old mother. The ambiance was airy and lovely. read more

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I'm quite surprised why it took me this long to write this review but Max's holds a special place in my heart with the most amazing memories with my family especially now that my dad is no longer here. Love that we have them in Jacksonville now which brings me back home with every visit and nostalgia. Food is always, perfect and authentic. read more

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The food is really tasty, It's perfect!! Really delicious . Can't asked for anything more.

I am in Saint John's county so this place is quite a drive to get your Max's Fried Chicken craving satisfied. Ample parking. I love their crispy pata and Kare Kare aside from their fried chicken. Always get the garlic fried rice cause it is the perfect pair for all of the dishes I mentioned. Service is quick. Simple restaurant but clean. Definitely recommending this place to give it a try. read more

Filipino food yum, we got the fried chicken, garlic rice and Laing with drinks of sago and hula man and calamansi juice..... we ate, and still had left overs of course we finished it with halo halo for dessert. My son and I were very happy and sleepy right after.... The staff are very friendly and attentive... look for Eddie.... The place is nice and clean with a mix of Filipino and Jacksonville vibe.... Unfortunately you have to try it on week days....i heard they get really busy during the weekend... try it , all the food we tried were good read more

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I love Max's! I always go to the one in LA when I visit family there and it's one of my favorite Filipino restaurants. I was so happy when they opened one here in Jax. The chicken is one of the best chickens I've ever had. I also love the crispy pata here. The salot gulaman was a little sweeter than I'm used to but overall everything is amazing. Also, the space is big and cute! We always have amazing service too. Love it! read more

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Hubby and I enjoyed our visit to Max's restaurant. We tried several dishes and of course, ended up taking a bunch home because it's more of family portion for these dishes. We arrived in mid-afternoon on a Saturday and the restaurant was pretty packed. We waited about 10 min and were seated. The restaurant was spacious and bright with wait staff buzzing about. We ordered several dishes to try: chicharon bulaklak (good), bangus sisig (yum), crispy pata (really good), pork sisig (meh), garlic rice (a'ight), and on top of all that, we got a fried chicken order to go home with. Everything was pretty tasty. We really like the milkfish and the pata. The fried chicken was really delicious too even as a to go for hours later. Definitely got good flavor. We hope to return soon to try other dishes! read more

I was so excited to hear that Max's was coming to Jacksonville! Last one I went to was years ago, in Hawaii. Loved it! Unfortunately, they missed the mark on this one. We waited a couple months before giving them a try. I wanted the newness to fade, so that there wasn't too long of a wait. It worked out well in that regard, because we waited less than 10 minutes for a table. At first glance, the place is spacious, and the ambience is lively. However, they did not sit us in the main dining area. We were taken to a side hallway where all the traffic from the kitchen and people going to the bathroom buzzed by the whole time. Also, we were in direct view of the trash station. Seeing the servers scrape uneaten food off plates into trash bins was extremely off putting. Our server was great though! She was probably the best thing about our experience. Very pleasant and friendly. By the way, I really liked the staff's uniforms. They are a nice touch to the Filipino theme. We ordered the Lumpia Shanghai appetizer, Sizzling Sisig, and Kare Kare. This is where things started to rapidly decline. It took a full hour, including our appetizer, for the food to come out. And to make matters worse, the food was served lukewarm! I was starving at this point, so I didn't make any complaints, but I wish I did because the food lacked everything. Heat, flavor, it didn't even appear appetizing. That is why I only posted one picture. Believe me, I could get over what it looks like if the taste had redeemed it. I did order flan for dessert. It came out with no presentation or execution whatsoever. It was just kind of slapped on a plate, falling apart. But surprisingly tasted delicious! I am open to giving places a second chance. Hopefully they will work out the kinks by then. read more

Max’s Restaurant - Jacksonville - Lumpia shanghai - Filipino Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Great place if you're craving traditional Filipino home cooking. The place is spacious with lots of seating. The staff is attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back to try more of the items on their menu. read more

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The hype is real! Max's Restaurant is now open in Jacksonville! One of the staples in the Philippines is now in our own backyard with a variety of Filipino food to experience true Philippine cuisine. My personal favorites were their famous Fries Chicken. Must try with their special sauce combination of banana ketchup, hot sauce and worschister sauce! I also enjoyed the laing with the coconut cream..delicious! The ambiance is great and the service was super hospitable and friendly. We will definitely keep Max as a staple for us! read more

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Traditional Filipino food was amazing. I can't wait to order take out again. Portions are large and food is delicious.

Ordered the new Sizzling Tofu, Laing and White Rice. The Laing us always a favorite. The taste of the coconut milk with the taro leaves is perfectly balanced. The Sizzling Tofu was delicious! It came on a hot plate with all the juicy goodness sizzled on it! We love Max's and owners Phoebe and Noel! read more

Max’s Restaurant - Jacksonville - Laing - Filipino Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Took my family on a food road trip all the way to JAX for them to experience Max! We even have our dog With us and the staff welcomed us with open arms. Ordered the traditional foods like BBQ, Laing, Chicken, Sinigang, Kare Kare, Sisig,. Kids enjoyed the Halo Halo, sago n gulaman for desserts. We drove from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville and you did not disappoint! If you're craving the Filipino traditional dishes without traveling all the way to Philippines then this is the best route to go! Max's Restaurant, Thank you for bringing back the taste of my childhood! See you next time! Hopefully soon! read more

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This is an interesting visit/review with many different meanings to me. I have only just moved back to living in the USA five years ago after over 20 years living in Southeast Asia. With nearly 10 of those years in the Philippines (where we still retain a home). It has been a while since we (my Pinoy wife) and I have been back. For a number of reasons. I say this as to let readers know that I am not some novice writing about a restaurant I have never been to. Yes the first time at this Max's in the states. In Cavite where we live, there are at least three writhing 30 minutes of the house and have been to all of them. This was a great for comfort food visit and did not disappoint. Each dish which my Asawa can make was very good with the exception to one. The portions were somewhat questionable. Particularly the Sinigang Baboy was small. The Sisig was very under cooked. Yes the overall bill was very pricey, but worth the it. Reminiscent of many family meals in the Philippines minus our family who we miss nearly. You may think it expensive but for example, BBQ sticks were large and very tasty. And almost $1 per stick cheaper with twice as much meat than some other Pinoy restaurants in Jax. We have heard Pinoys say "That it wasn't that good". Well maybe it wasn't for you, but for my wife, it fulfilled her hunger for floors without having to prep, cook and clean up. But if also reminded her of home. Thank you Max's for bringing a little taste of the Philippines to Jacksonville. Salamat read more

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The Pancit canton is not hot when it's served. Not the same in the picture in their menu. Just FYI read more

Max’s Restaurant - Jacksonville - This is the exact size of Pancit canton not the same picture sa menu nila na maraming ingredients and vegetable. - Filipino Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

The food was great and the service was amazing. Felt very welcoming and plan to go back as often as I can :)

21Jun2025: This Max's location is still fairly new so their process needs improvement. - Arrived at noon w/ a party of 8, was told possibly 30-45 min wait. Only ended up being 20 min, so 5/5. - After being seated, we had to wait approx 10 min before our server was able to get to us. Restaurant was probably 90% full and I'm not sure how many waiters/waitresses were actually there. So room for improvement there. - After placing our order (appetizers & main dishes), the first (main dish - crispy pata) came out within 10 min. But it sat at our table because most (us Filipinos) prefer to eat it with rice as with all other main dishes. - Next was the chicharon bulaklak, 4-5 min after crispy pata. This was an appetizer, so good job there. 7-10 min the rest of the dishes came in, including our other appetizer (lumpia Shanghai) See photos I posted for unbiased feedback on the dishes we ordered (kaldareta, pinakbet, pancit, etc...). Overall, food was delicious & pretty decent amount of tables. I just wish they had Bicol express & sizzling lechon kawali sisig on their menu. The wait staff and runners may need additional training and/or support, but they may all be new to the restaurant industry. read more

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Unfortunately, Not worth it! Service was ok..2 small dishes that do not come with a side of rice for $17 each or more is crazy! Food did not come out hot and tip was already included for a party of 6 paid separately-2 checks (missed that and overtipped ..Merry Christmas!) read more

Visited here for dinner with my mom and we enjoyed the Filipino food! We ordered the lumpiang Shanghai, Pancit Palabok, Sisig, and the fried Whole Chicken. I would've liked it if some of the sisig could've been more crunchy around the pieces on the hot plate with more citrus flavor. I've been to Max's in San Francisco and in Manila, Philippines. The service in this restaurant was excellent and exceptional. There were few birthdays going on and it was awesome to hear them singing and celebrating the birthday guests. Many of the servers were very friendly and helpful throughout our visit. The whole restaurant vibe and atmosphere was very welcoming and the restrooms were clean. We were very full and liked our meals. Next time we will have to try the halo-halo! read more

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Had "new" pork adobo; wasn't tender enough for me. Lumpoa Shanghai was authentic also had pancit. Ala Carte pricing wish they would considerCombination Plates read more

We had the whole fried chicken and garlic fried rice. The chicken was juicy cooked perfectly and the garlic fried rice was delicious as well. Would definitely go back! read more

No other place makes fried chicken like Max's! The food was good and flavorful, the restaurant was clean, and service was great. Ailene did a great job serving our table and was friendly and accommodating. Despite it being busy, everything came timely. We will be back again read more

Max’s Restaurant - Jacksonville - Filipino Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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