Cycle 5 – Item 235

28 (Thu) August 2014

Max’s Fried (Spring) Chicken

3.0

at Max’s Restaurant

(Robinsons Place)

-Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

with various Korean staff

Try Every Restaurant in Robinsons Place (77) (see also TERRP)

Living above Robinsons Place, I’ve been eating my way through the mall.  As far as I know, nobody has ever done anything like this, my unique contribution to the city’s food/blog scene.

Max’s Restaurant is a Filipino restaurant chain.  Founded 1945 in the Philippines.  Currently over 70 branches in the Philippines, as well as 9 in the US and 3 in Canada.  While offering many Filipino classics, the signature dish is fried chicken.  The corporate slogan is “The House that Fried Chicken Built.”  According to the website, founder Maximo Gimenez developed a recipe for fried chicken that became popular among American occupation troops stationed in Quezon City after WWII, eventually spreading to the locals.

The fried chicken was good.  Unlike typical fast-food fried chicken, Max’s version is cooked whole.  Light yet crispy skin, unbreaded, reminded me of Korean tongdak.  Simply seasoned, served with 3 types of dips: gravy, chili sauce, and some kind of adobo-ish soy/garlic/vinegar.  However, despite the server’s recommendation that the spring bird would be juicier than the regular or family, it was a bit dry.  Still, a very respectable dish overall.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)