I know that Max's has a general rating of ~3/5, but for the couple of times that I've dined in at Max's, it's always been a 5/5! The restaurant is rather spacious with a ton of seating, so we always get seated right away. The servers have always been so kind, and the food never disappoints. When I was here with my parents, we had ordered Max's Teasers and it was a great plate to share with 3 people. Nothing too special about the dish, but it's a great app choice if you want a little bit of a few things/variety in your appetizer plate. The plates we shared were Max's Chicken and The Lechon Kawali. Max's Chicken is so perfectly cooked in my opinion with the most perfectly juicy meat steamed rice. The Lechon Kawali was also cooked really well, as it wasn't too fried to the point where the meaty parts of the pork was difficult to chew. I also had the Sago't Gulaman, and I will tell you that it's my favorite place to get Sago't Gulaman here. The second time I went, I brought my husband and he absolutely fell in love with the food too. For drinks, we ordered Calamansi Juice and Sago't Gulaman. You guys know my review for Sago't Gulaman; I would just say that the Calamansi Juice is on the sweeter side! For food, we ordered Lechon Kawali Sisig, and the Dinuguan. The Dinuguan was just the perfect meal to have to remind me of home. The ratio of the sauce and meat was perfect, and every bite was delightful. But between the two, I will say that the Lechon Kawali Sisig was MY personal favorite. The flavor was PERFECT and it was cooked just as well--it was tender and every bite was even better than the last...I definitely had to pace myself because it was that delicious. What always tops off my experience and why I'm giving Max's a 5/5 is because of how friendly and amazing the staff is. Always smiling and willing to help, and never snobby! Go visit Max's today! read more

4/5 food the beef for the nilaga was chewy 5/5 service was great .our server was attentive and we don't have to ask for anything. 5/5 definitely aesthetically pleasing 5/5 affordable pricing read more

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I live in a US state/town that doesn't have good Filipino food, so when I got to Honolulu, I was excited to see Max's. I didn't expect too much because of the low ratings here, but I was delighted to find the food is tasty. I ordered kare kare, dinuguan, BBQ skewers, and a side of rice. Everything was great! We did a doordash and it took 2 hours and 40 minutes to be delivered to a Waikiki hotel. So order early and expect a long wait. Order was put in 3:30 pm (which is early), and we didn't get it till after 6 pm LOL. read more

I don't usually leave negative reviews, but I felt this experience was worth sharing. I ordered the Adobo Ribs at Max's Dillingham because I wanted to honor my late father, who loved cooking adobo for our family. I was looking forward to a comforting meal that would bring back good memories, but unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The ribs were extremely tough, tasted like the meat wasn't fresh, and had an unpleasant flavor that didn't resemble the rich, savory adobo I grew up with. My husband had such a hard time chewing the ribs that his jaw was actually sore afterward--no kidding. We ended up leaving a good portion of the dish uneaten because it just wasn't enjoyable. To be fair, not everything was bad. The Pinakbet was delicious. The vegetables were fresh, well-cooked, and full of flavor. It was easily the best part of our meal and showed that the kitchen is capable of preparing quality dishes. I'm not writing this to criticize for the sake of criticizing. I'm sharing my honest experience in the hope that Max's Dillingham will pay more attention to the quality and freshness of their Adobo Ribs. A dish that's meant to represent such a beloved Filipino classic deserves much better. I truly hope this was just an off day, because I'd like to see them live up to the reputation that made us choose Max's in the first place. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Adobong Pork Ribs Pinakbet - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We've always come to this Filipino restaurant whenever we crave for authentic Filipino food. It has vast amounts of delicious authentic Filipino food. We've been to different locations around the world and one thing in common are they all taste amazing! The people are so friendly (Filipino are always so courteous) and they pay close attention to you. Different locations have different takes on Filipino architecture and displays; however, this particular location seems to be becoming run down - need that extra special touch of Filipino culture not overstock of boxes and paper products. But still worth the visit. I highly recommend!!!! read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Lumpia Lumpiang Shanghai - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Max's Restaurant is one of the popular restaurant chain in the Philippines. The restaurant offers a more relaxed atmosphere, family friendly vibe sit down restaurant. I remembered when they opened this location that it was always packed. Now, they are still packed, they do a lot of parties here. It has been a while since I've eaten here, so I was excited when my niece suggested we eat here and get the Halo Halo. I noticed that most of the dishes dishes are either overly seasoned- too salty or too much fat. The dinuguan has a weird smell to it, and Kare Kare was too salty for my taste. Dont need that alamang/bagoong. The Lechon Manok and Crispy Pata was a bit bland for me. The sawsawan made it taste better. The Halo Halo is still the star of the show. Service from the aunties and uncles though are still top notch. They never lost a bit considering they do have a big party going on. I do hope that they improve on the quality of the dishes if they want their loyal customers around. read more

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When we arrived to Honolulu straight from the airport and rent a car we go to Costco and this Max's for our first meal. Parking can be busy in this huge lot and we got lucky that it wasn't super busy by the time we got there. Service is great, food is good. We got sinigang tyan ng bangus (stomach of milkfish) and I got the Bangsilog breakfast which comes with a huge bangus, rice, and 2 eggs. My dad got coconut juice and my mom got hot tea. Max's reminds me of my childhood and a nice spot for Filipino food in Hawaii. They have a lot of seating and kind of private room areas, can get busy here! read more

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Attended a wedding and feast there! Food was yummers and loved all the drinks like coconut water, calamansi- so good!!! read more

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This place is ok. If you're placing online order you need to know the name for it or they won't help you. The order number doesn't do anything. Service is ok. Food is good. Parking is junk bc of the rail roadwork. But before was better read more

Took my son here for his 7th birday at his request as his favorite food is the Dinuguan from here. Tried to call ahead for a reservation as we were a party of 10, but they were full. The host said that we could come down and just try our luck as a walk in as it didnt seem too busy. So we did. Only had to wait about 20 minutes before we were seated which worked out perfectly. Food was delicious as always. Aside from the Dinuguan (which my son personally thinks everyone needs to try...and i don't disagree with that statement) we got the Kare Kare, Pancit Canton, Arroz Caldo (it was a cold, wet night), and Lumpia Shanghai. We also got the calami which was the one thing I didn't care for. They are lightly breaded and fried and served with a side of vinegar. Unfortunately they were also pretty rubbery and tasteless. Is it the greatest representation of filipino food i've ever had, no...that goes to a good homecooked meal...and this is a chain restaurant, so take everything with a grain of salt...or msg. But it really hits the spot when you haven't had any in a while or are too lazy to cook for yourself. read more

Walked in on a Monday evening and got seated quickly. The interior was clean and well lit. Our server Efren was attentive. Got their combo meals with a quarter of Max's chicken. The Fiesta Plate has two choices for the lumpia: fresh or fried, and a choice of side (rice or french fries). For Max's Platter, one has a choice between pancit canton and rice noodles (bihon), and the same choices of side as above. The chicken was delicious. Juicy and very flavorful. Both come with a chewy caramel bar. Had a great experience here. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Fiesta Plate - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We were invited for lunch yesterday to celebrate our friend's son who just graduated from UH. Food was a big disappointment, fried chicken was so dry and tasted old stock, the soup was just like GINATAAN so much cornstarch and does not taste good, totally junk, the pancit was also not good, all noodles, not much meat and other recados which makes the pancit taste good, tasted bland, a total waste of money, the only thing we appreciated was the ube ice cream and the servers. The only good thing was the camaraderie and bond we friends shared during that time and the celebration of her son who graduated with honors, we're so thankful to share it with them despite the BIG DISAPPOINTMENT Max Restaurant has given us. read more

Came in to Max's Restaurant in Dillingham for a quick lunch date with my girlfriend and it was exactly what we were craving--hearty Filipino comfort food and big portions. We ordered the crispy pork belly plate with rice and dipping sauce, plus soup on the side. The pork was the star: crunchy skin, tender meat, and super satisfying with the rice. The soup was warm and flavorful and rounded everything out perfectly. Service was friendly and pretty quick, and the vibe inside was casual and relaxed--easy spot to sit, eat, and take your time. Great value for the amount of food you get. We left full and happy and will definitely be back. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Hearty lunch combo--crispy pork with rice and soup - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food was good and reminded me of the Max in the Philippines. Since I'm from Seattle, the max friend chicken wasn't dry and really flavorful. I think due to budget cuts the food portions were way smaller, but that's probably happening to every resturant. Given that we went there on a Thursday noon time, food came out fast. Environment was nice and big. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Max's Fried Chicken, Beef Sisig, Adobo Fried Rice with Salted Duck Egg, Pinakbet - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My first meal back in US, and of course it was Max's! There's no way of duplicating their lechon kawali Sisig! It's my death row meal, my ultimate cheat day plate and my guiltiest pleasure. I love how it comes sizzling on its hot plate and how crispy the bits get the longer it keeps contact with it. My cousin treated me to lunch and we ordered an ass ton of other food too but nothing, nothing, nothing compares to the lechon kawali sisig. Funny enough my cousin is a freaking celebrity here and we were treated like movies stars...he comes here weekly and orders three or four dishes just for himself! My only gripe is the increasing prices but maybe it's due to being in Hawaii...nevertheless the sticker shock was real. Saying all this, I'll pay anything for the Sisig! read more

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Lunch. lechon kawali, canton pansit, chicken adobo, black bean fish, garlic rice. Beef soup for dinner. Food = 5 stars. Customer service = 3 stars. Went in few times. Hard time to order, especially when there is a large party. Had few gift cards to use. Last month, dine in dinner, there was a big party there. No Customer service, didn't even get utensils. Had to ask for everything. Utensils, water, bill, take out box. Manager that night, Elizabeth, said my 2 gift cards were too old to use. After leaving, I checked on line, both cards totaled over $100+. I sent an inquiry to max's. General manager stated on email, can use old gift cards, emailed balances for both cards. Good thing I inquired. And General manager, Maly, said it's still good to use. Sharing my experiences. Note: Prior visits, Customer Service was bad. Being ignored. I am oriental, but not Filipino. read more

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Large family style restaurant offering a mix of authentic Filipino cuisine. When I was there it was a Saturday and the whole restaurant was divided into various large private parties. They'll do individual plates and appetizers or a full buffet style of your choice. The whole fried chicken seems to be the specialty. They will also chop it into quarters for you. Most dishes include a large amount of fresh veggies as well. It is heavily staffed so you will not wait for drinks or any additional menu items you order. If you would like to get a dose of original Filipino food give this place a shot. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Fresh veggies with chicken and breaded fish - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love filipino food and I feel like there really isn't as much restaurants that serve it as I'd like there to be. We came on a sunday morning and the place was bustling with business. We were seated after waiting momentarily and handed out menus. The restaurant has a diner aesthetic, being very nicely decorated of its history and such. The food: - Pork Sisig: very flavorful and full of various textures of the pork ears and belly, pairs very well with rice. - Lechon Kawali: so crunchy and flavorful. however, there were some parts that were admitted a bit more dry. - Kare Kare: such a deeply flavorful dish, the peanut curry is just absolutely decadent and creamy. The meats inside was also tender and just perfect. I love kare kare in general so I knew I'd like it. I would definitely revisit and recommend to any other folks who wants to visit a filipino restaurant. read more

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Today I got to try the Lechon Kawali (Crispy Pork Belly) and it was very tasty. The service was very friendly and helpful. read more

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I dined here with twenty other relatives for a family dinner and to celebrate my uncle's birthday. We ordered a couple of the family sets which included several of their signature dishes. This included palabok, fried chicken, calamari, lumpia, pinakbet, bistek, crispy pasta, rice and ube ice cream. My favorites were the palabok, lumpia and pinakbet. It tasted like a home cooked meal. My least favorite was the calamari which was a little tough and chewy. The waitstaff did a good job of accommodating a large group especially on a busy Saturday evening. Service was very good. It's a large and comfortable restaurant. It's a little loud because of the many customers, but the noise level was tolerable and we had an enjoyable night read more

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This is the fresh lumpiang ubod that we ordered.. the egg roll is too hard, only 1 pc of carrot slice and 1/4 lettuce lol..1 tinnie tiny shrimp and no crabmeat or pork .. only shredded heart of palm is in there..so disappointing.the pancit bihon and sizzling tofu is okay.. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Fresh Lumpiang Ubod - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I had to do a take out over the phone on monday march 30th, i spoke to Aida who was in the front. Aida asked me what i wanted to order so i told her. That i wanted Classic Sisig (Mild) & Pinakbet & Adobo Ribs. So Aida took down my name & phone number & told me that my order would be ready in 20 mins. I really loved the Adobo Ribs that the meat was so soft and tender. And Classic Sisig was perfected cooked and the Pinakbet was really wonderful with vegetables. Looking forward to making another phone order in the future someday. read more

Never thought id be disappointed with maxs. I usually go to the Waipahu location but this one was closest when we were going home. We walked in, waited in front so we could get seated but it took them a while to seat us which was crazy cause it was not busy at all. I could see workers talking... just zero sense of urgency. Eventually we got seated and they bring us water. 2 out of 4 cups had old rice floating in it. I understand that the dishes go through a dish washer but still, disgusting to see it in our water. I asked for a Pepsi and never got a refill all night because worker did not check on us and we rarely saw them going around. The food was not that good either. I got the sinigang, Bicol express and lechon kawali sisig. The sinigang tasted ok but the veggies in it looked old and some of the eggplant in it was hard. The Bicol express was bland. I've never had a bland Bicol express. Lacked salt, spice... it just lacked a lot. The lechon kawali was ok... a bit salty but nothing major. Overall, I would steer clear from the dillingham location. I've been to the Waipahu one many times and have never had issues and the food is made much better there. If you really want max's, I would suggest driving to Waipahu. Waipahus location is much busier but the food is much better. read more

This is a disappoinment. It's not authentic. We tried both Max's Dilingham & Waipahu. They used powdered mix for Kare-Kare. The bagoong smells stinky! The Dinuguan has an after taste. The Lechon Kawali they served turned out to be a Crispy Pata trimmings that is not crispy at all. We will never go back here. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came for lunch on a Friday around 11:00am. The place had several tables full, but not too busy. The wait wasn't long at all. Our Server was Esmael and he was very attentive. My coworker and I ordered the Max's platter (ckn, pancit, garlic rice), pork sinigang, sisling sisig pork, and bistek. Everything tasted great. I would only recommend to put more lemon in the bistek. They have sticky mango rice on the menu, but I was too full to try it! Maybe next time/ The restaurant was clean and so was the restroom. There's a large area off to the side that can accommodate large groups for a party or etc. read more

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Ishmael the best server and is very attentive! I ordered the Boose and the Lich yeah I know already yeah do you have Apple Pay or not one Filipino favorite with of course, to roll lumpia withMakapuno ice cream good read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Esmael as for him! - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great place with easy parking. Open and airy, seating is well spaced and comfortable. Servers were happy to help, stayed around to discuss the foods and sauces with us. The food!! THE FOOD IS GREAT. Lumpia, Come support this wonderful kitchen. You won't be disappointed. read more

Popped in here after a Costco run. Delicious, plentiful Filipino food! Sure the prices are a bit high (this is Hawaii), but the restaurant makes up for it with portion sizes. The Max's platter came with their crispy chicken and pancit canton. Our server gave us a pro tip: mix up their "banana ketchup" with Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco for a tangy dipping sauce for the chicken - spot on! Also got the kare kare - a beef stew with oxtail and a delicious mellow peanut sauce. Ordered some garlic rice to go with it - yum! I really wanted to try the halo halo dessert (saw it on the table next to us) - looked massive, but we were too full. Our servers were all so sweet and helpful! Place had a cheerful diner vibe. I saw a lot of Filipino customers here - good sign! read more

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An old receptionist lady has attitude. Her demeanor shows she doesn't like being there. A middle aged lady that serves at front tables near exit has the same attitude. I cancelled my order because it seemed like they were gonna tell the cook to spit on the food. Last time about a month ago the same receptionist possibly told the cook to mess up the bulalo I ordered because it was tough and I had a hard time chewing it. read more

Only had take-out from Max's once many years ago. Today we dined in for lunch. The restaurant is spacious. There was only one couple at a table, and it took a while for us to be seated. What I remember from the last time I had their food, it was pretty good. Today we ordered Crispy Pata, Whole size Fried Chicken, Pancit, & Garlic Rice. The food wasn't that good tbh. Especially the Fried Chicken! It was too dry and tasted like it was cooked in old oil. Menu items are overpriced and lacks quality. Our server was cool. Subpar service from the other staff members. Small kine slow. Tables and walls need more cleaning. Aisus mariosep. read more

Filipino fare in Honolulu! Being Filipino; I was definitely excited to check out Max's Restaurant-Dillingham. This restaurant is located at the same plaza as Costco and so it definitely made for the perfect dinner spot post Costco run. It was a Wednesday night but the place was packed as there were even two Filipino birthday parties! Despite being a bit busy; we were able to get seated fairly quickly. Our dinner choices for the night inlcuded Lechon Kawaii, Laing, Chicken Sisig, Beef Sinigang and Kare Kare. Overall the Filipino food was good. I did notice some dishes were a bit on the salty side though. The Singing was definitely one of the dishes where I felt there was bit too much salt. I was also surprised to see so much mayonnaise in the Chicken Sisig. I think out of all the dishes; the Kare Kare was my favorite. It was nice to be able to check this place out. Though some of the dishes were a little off in terms of salt and sauce; it was still a good meal! read more

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Came here on a late lunch. This place is by Costco. I was anticipating crazy parking but it was not. Maybe because it was a weekday. We found parking right away. I wanted to compare this to the restaurant to the one in San Diego that is always a disappointment. I can say this was not disappointing. Food was great and tasty. Lechon kawali was cooked to crispy perfection. Dinuguan was okay. But it's hard to compete with my mom's version. The chicharon bulaklak could be crispier. But still very good and well seasoned. Pancit canton was delicious. Noodles were not soggy. But the winner of the say is the bulalo. Broth was very good. Beef melted in my mouth. Servers were very friendly and nice. The place is pretty big. read more

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Max's is well-known in the Filipino community. My family and I went there around 2:15pm for a late lunch, and had the Lumpia, Laing, Pinakbet, Fried Chicken, Bihon, and the Halo-Halo. My favorites were the Lumpia, Pinakbet (veggie dish), the Bihon (noodle dish), and the Halo-Halo (dessert). Service was not a problem for me. They show up to take your order and clear plates. They check in every once in a while, but mostly they provide privacy. The staff was friendly and understanding of my toddler who wanted to walk around often. The ambiance is very family-friendly, kid-friendly, and casual. 4/5 overall because the fried chicken was cooked well and flavored well, but the Max's chicken in the Philippines tastes better. The rest of the food was 5/5. read more

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We love the service especially our waiter Robert, he greeted us with a smile & sat us right away. He was very friendly, accommodating and gave us our drinks right away (after our 5 mile hike he can see we were tired). The fried chicken was delicious, crispy and reminds me of my father saying "the best fried chicken" . The beef caldereta my husband's favorite was very good, big portion of meat. The garlic fried rice was yummy and soft. Our dessert halo halo with Ube, & Leche flan the ice was a bit too big. Robert was always checking on us, while cleaning tables, sweeping the floor and serving other customers. read more

MAX's Resturant aka Filipino food style Resturant, Max's Been at this location for a while now for what I know and seems like at times lots of people come here and eat at this Resturant (for what I see when I always do my Costco runs) since it's right there in the same parking lot as Costco. As for the size capacity of the Resturant it's a decent big size Resturant with lots of seating space and also they have a private room as well for parties etc. Parking - Lets talk parking you don't have too worry about parking at all at this location Tons of parking space and stalls and best of it it's free parking so it's always a plus specially when comes too parking (IMO) Let's talk FOOD - The food here IMO is decent if you ask me coming from a Filipino background myself, there's only a few things I really like here at Max's and one of its is not a Food Entree dish but a dessert and it's there HALO HALO There HALO HALO here is like 4.5 out 5 STARS if you ask me. Another One I like aka food dish entree I'd say that it is good that I recently tried is there BANGUS SISIG on a sizzling platter IMO it was a good dish and I myself was surprise when I took a bite into it. There's other dishes that Max's serve but ahhh I've tasted better from home cooking and other restaurants. Would i recommend other customers who craving for Filipino food to come and check out this restaurant of COURSE I would definitely RECOMMEND people to check out MAX's Restaurant. read more

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Pansit and bangus sinigang is good, but thier fried chicken is a 2 star. Maybe if they see this review, they will improve how they cook the fried chicken. read more

Max's Restaurant - Dillingham - Filipino Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I thoroughly enjoyed my impromptu dinner at this Filipino restaurant in the Costco parking area next to L&L. Recommended by a pinay colleague, Max's did not disappoint. Upon arrival, I was impressed by its spaciousness and brightness and made a mental note that it would be a good place for large groups. The fact that it is located across the lot from Costco means parking would not a problem which is always a question among my companions. My friend and I ordered fresh lumpia, oxtail kare kare, chicken adobo and garlic rice. Everything was super tasty. My favorite dish though was the kare kare. The sauce was light and not too sweet. Our server, Daniel was also helpful, answering our questions. Our obligatory halo halo was refreshing and a perfect finish to our meal. It was shareable for the two of us. Now I have found a new place to meet friends that won't break the bank, convenient and a delicious alternative to the same old, same old. read more

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Filipino girlfriend's favorite place so I had to indulge in the experience. Was quickly seated and was greeted by Ismeal. He answered all our questions and took our order. Shortly, I'll food started arriving. The fish fillet with black bean sauce was amazing. Generous portions fried perfectly to a firm crisp, topped with red pepper, bok choy and a tasty black bean sauce. Lechon kawali was crispy and moist, bistek had a sour flavor that is unique to say the least. Pancit was piping hot, noodle had a great texture. Sinagang was delicious and hit the spot. Garlic rice complimented all the dishes. Stuffed ourselves and had a lot of good leftovers to go. Max is our standby whenever we want an authentic Filipino meal! read more

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I don't like writing bad reviews, but I feel like the service here has been subpar every time we come. I only come here when I'm invited to parties and even then, when I find out the event is being held here it's very difficult for me to says yes because I know the type of service we would be getting. I held off so long with writing a review but I feel that I have brought it up with management here so many times and nothing has been done. So this past event I came when, the server was being extremely rude it was time to make it known. PATRICK was our server and the amount of rudeness and attitude we received from him was unacceptable. First the food and drinks were late. It was fine, but we had to constantly ask the status. The event was at 6 and food arrived at 715. Supposedly we only had the place until 830 so we were getting worried. Drinks came about 10 mins after. When asked about it he response was a curt "we're busy, you're not the only ones here". Then later when we asked for extra utensils, Patrick said I set up 40 because that's the reservations I don't know why you're asking for more. Having worked in the service industry in the past, I know how hard it can be, but being rude does not get you anywhere. I hope management sees this and address the issue. It's not only this specific server, it's for the Max of Manila's service in general because it's always difficult to get good and kind service. read more

From ordering to finally eating the take out , everything was perfect. Excellent customer service, my order was waiting for me when I arrived . We will definitely be visiting again. read more