Max's Restaurant

Lynn Eglan

I have not been to this location in a long time. I did come here today to pick up my Easter Bundle special pre-order. It was super busy and chaotic but my order was ready once it was my turn. No complaints here. Food was fresh and piping hot. As chaotic as it was, the people who worked there were super calm and helpful. They asked me about my order and guided me to the right place. Other people picking up orders seemed super impatient and grumpy. Surprisingly, the inside of this place has not changed much. They were super packed inside with a birthday party and some reservations. A lot of people were picking up to go orders as well. I think moving forward I'll just go here instead of Daly City location. They seemed a little more put together.

There are limited options for vegetarians but the staff was super friendly and took special requests to exclude meat and meat sauces. Tried their sizzling tofu and pancit bihon with a side of veggies. Food quality was great and portion sizes were more than sufficient for two.

We dined at Max's as part of a the last minute dinner plans. We drove from Half Moon Bay but arrived with 30mins til close, we were seated and served immediately. The only downside was "Buko pandan" Due to the late hour ....they were all out. Everything was great..lumpia, pancit, chop suey and a 2 chicken was enough for 4.

Aayushi Trivedi

There are limited options for vegetarians but the staff was super friendly and took special requests to exclude meat and meat sauces. Tried their sizzling tofu and pancit bihon with a side of veggies. Food quality was great and portion sizes were more than sufficient for two.

KSD Ksd

We dined at Max's as part of a the last minute dinner plans. We drove from Half Moon Bay but arrived with 30mins til close, we were seated and served immediately. The only downside was "Buko pandan" Due to the late hour ....they were all out. Everything was great..lumpia, pancit, chop suey and a 2 chicken was enough for 4.

Max's Restaurant in South San Francisco is a beloved place, and I find the authentic Filipino flavors incredibly comforting in its warm, inviting setting. It's perfect for family dinners or just a casual meal. The atmosphere is cozy, with great acoustics that make it easy to talk. I've always appreciated the friendly and attentive service; it reminds me of the traditional Filipino hospitality I know and love. When I look at the menu, I always tell people they must try Max's Fried Chicken, with its golden-brown, thin, crispy skin and moist, tender meat—it's best with their garlic rice. I also highly recommend the rich Kare-Kare (beef peanut stew served with shrimp paste), the crispy-skinned Lechon Kawali (crispy pork belly), and the flavorful Bangus Sisig. While I've heard some people mention slight inconsistencies with a few items, like the Pancit Canton, or slower service during rush hour, my overall experience has been overwhelmingly positive. I love the generous portions, and I truly feel I get an authentic taste of the Philippines here. I always encourage people to visit for the Fried Chicken and stay to enjoy the wonderful community feel.

Prices are more expensive as compared to Hawaii. Sizzling tofu was mid, they use lemon because I think calamansi is not easy to find here. The sinigang was great though! Very sour and tastes very much like sampalok. Quick service, did not wait long for food.

The food here is pretty decent not amazing, but it gets the job done. What I really liked was how clean the place looked, which is always a plus. Overall not a bad spot if you’re in the area and just want something simple.

Ki7a7aNiN

The food here is pretty decent not amazing, but it gets the job done. What I really liked was how clean the place looked, which is always a plus. Overall not a bad spot if you’re in the area and just want something simple.

JR Aquino

Always hits the spot. The fried chicken is unique and the sinigang is the right kind of sour

Chevy Bello

Prices are more expensive as compared to Hawaii. Sizzling tofu was mid, they use lemon because I think calamansi is not easy to find here. The sinigang was great though! Very sour and tastes very much like sampalok. Quick service, did not wait long for food.

Amy AwakeandAlive

Max's Restaurant in South San Francisco is a beloved place, and I find the authentic Filipino flavors incredibly comforting in its warm, inviting setting. It's perfect for family dinners or just a casual meal. The atmosphere is cozy, with great acoustics that make it easy to talk. I've always appreciated the friendly and attentive service; it reminds me of the traditional Filipino hospitality I know and love. When I look at the menu, I always tell people they must try Max's Fried Chicken, with its golden-brown, thin, crispy skin and moist, tender meat—it's best with their garlic rice. I also highly recommend the rich Kare-Kare (beef peanut stew served with shrimp paste), the crispy-skinned Lechon Kawali (crispy pork belly), and the flavorful Bangus Sisig. While I've heard some people mention slight inconsistencies with a few items, like the Pancit Canton, or slower service during rush hour, my overall experience has been overwhelmingly positive. I love the generous portions, and I truly feel I get an authentic taste of the Philippines here. I always encourage people to visit for the Fried Chicken and stay to enjoy the wonderful community feel.

Chopsuey was tasty along with Crispy Pata (pork hock), but service was lacking. Prominent sign displays they proudly brew Starbucks coffee but they said they 'no coffee' when I asked for one. Pepsi only, no Coke, no beer/wine. Had to re-ask far too many times for missing requests: no ice in water, soda, rice, check.

Gagan B.

I recently visited Max’s Restaurant to try Filipino food for the first time at this chain. I was really excited, especially to try their pancit canton, which I had high hopes for. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the expectation — the noodles were overcooked, which really affected the overall taste. I also ordered the fried chicken, a full serving of rice and sagot Gulaman drink. The chicken was just okay — nothing special. On the positive side, the rice portion was generous, and one full order was definitely more than enough. The drink was nice. The restaurant itself was clean and well-kept, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. They spoke Filipino, which added to the authenticity of the place. That said, I found the prices to be on the higher side, and based on the food quality, it didn’t quite justify the cost. Overall, it was an underwhelming experience, especially for a first-time visit.

oohgodyeah ¡69!

Chopsuey was tasty along with Crispy Pata (pork hock), but service was lacking. Prominent sign displays they proudly brew Starbucks coffee but they said they 'no coffee' when I asked for one. Pepsi only, no Coke, no beer/wine. Had to re-ask far too many times for missing requests: no ice in water, soda, rice, check.

I recently visited Max’s Restaurant to try Filipino food for the first time at this chain. I was really excited, especially to try their pancit canton, which I had high hopes for. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the expectation — the noodles were overcooked, which really affected the overall taste. I also ordered the fried chicken, a full serving of rice and sagot Gulaman drink. The chicken was just okay — nothing special. On the positive side, the rice portion was generous, and one full order was definitely more than enough. The drink was nice. The restaurant itself was clean and well-kept, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. They spoke Filipino, which added to the authenticity of the place. That said, I found the prices to be on the higher side, and based on the food quality, it didn’t quite justify the cost. Overall, it was an underwhelming experience, especially for a first-time visit.

I wish I could rate this better, and I really want to give them the benefit of the doubt. But 2 stars seems appropriate, given with how sub-par the service side was when I went. I dropped in for an order placed to go, and was given the expected wait time of about 25-30 minutes, due to the 1945 anniversary deal they were running. I was okay with that, since I was already expecting a wait of about 30 minutes due to the deal. Well, 30 minutes turned in to nearly an hour, and what's more is that they ran out of pork for pork sinigang, and had to change my order to something I didn't want or ask for: beef sinigang. While I can tolerate that to some degree, they didn't offer to comp that part of the order, but instead just swapped the pork with beef and kept it at full price. I can forgive a lot of things in the area of food service, but from my perspective, if a food critic or anyone of notable status came in and asked for my order, and had to wait double the time they were promised, a 2 star review would be a display of mercy.

Eddie

I wish I could rate this better, and I really want to give them the benefit of the doubt. But 2 stars seems appropriate, given with how sub-par the service side was when I went. I dropped in for an order placed to go, and was given the expected wait time of about 25-30 minutes, due to the 1945 anniversary deal they were running. I was okay with that, since I was already expecting a wait of about 30 minutes due to the deal. Well, 30 minutes turned in to nearly an hour, and what's more is that they ran out of pork for pork sinigang, and had to change my order to something I didn't want or ask for: beef sinigang. While I can tolerate that to some degree, they didn't offer to comp that part of the order, but instead just swapped the pork with beef and kept it at full price. I can forgive a lot of things in the area of food service, but from my perspective, if a food critic or anyone of notable status came in and asked for my order, and had to wait double the time they were promised, a 2 star review would be a display of mercy.

Bad customer service.They dont give water and the lady is so freaking rude.We asked for plastic bag.She dont even bother to smile and she gave us an attitude.

Extremely unprofessional experience. We placed an online order for the first time and were never notified that three items were missing. When we called to ask about a refund, the response was, "I don't know," before the call was passed around among the employees without any real help. The manager even refused to speak with us—they said they were too busy to do so. Is that how a manager would respond to a customer complaint? Unbelievable. The only person who showed any responsibility was the delivery driver, who actually tried to help us get the refund—unlike the staff at the location, who were rude and unprofessional throughout. I do not recommend ordering from this place if you value basic communication or customer service. 0/10. Seriously disappointing. If I could give this place 0 stars, I totally would've.

It was my first time to order online at Max’s website. All the food I ordered is available. Later, it was the delivery driver who called me that there are missing items in my order… The store did not even inform me. The driver said the store staff cannot talk to me because “they are busy.” I said that is not an excuse… I wanted to cancel everything and bring my money back. The manager, Evelyn, would not even talk and tell me how my money will be refunded… Very unprofessional and rude manager… They should close their store if they cannot accommodate their customers… they don’t deserve even one star.

Good food, but the staff were so rude! They hardly said anything to us when we entered, the whole time we were seated, and when we were paying and leaving the lady didn't even so much as look at us. We ordered a little ice cream for dessert and the waiter told us they didn't have any, yet the table right next to us was eating the very dessert we wanted. Overall the experience was pretty bad. The food was good but the staff hated being there and it showed. I don't know if it's because I'm a white boy or what, but the staff were horrible! Will not be coming back to this restaurant ever!

if you like dimly lit restaurant, tight place and small portions with heavy on the rice to get you full, then this is for you. Kare-kare is all soup with very small portion of meat and lots of bones with heavy on the price (so pricy!!!). Whole Chicken is small tasted ok. Never coming back to this place again.

We arrived around 7:30 PM, shortly before closing. Although the restaurant was still officially open, the staff initially hesitated to let us in, and the branch manager had to signal them before we were allowed to dine. At first, I was excited because I was able to order my favorite dish, kare-kare. However, it quickly became apparent that the staff were rushing to close and wanted us to finish as soon as possible. When the kare-kare arrived, the bowl was mostly sauce and vegetables with oxtail. There was no beef shank, no tripe, and barely any actual meat—just mostly bony oxtail pieces. I asked about this, and the staff explained that they do not serve tripe, which is why only oxtail was included. Even so, the lack of meat was disappointing and not what I expected. While the taste itself was good and did remind me of home, it did not fully meet my expectations compared to how kare-kare is traditionally served in the Philippines. The overall experience was further affected by the service, as we were rushed to pay even while we were still eating. The flavors were there, but the portion quality and service—especially close to closing time—need significant improvement.

09/13/2025 Fried Chicken is crispy, but extremely dry. It sucked up all the chicken juice to make it crispy. Chicken taste is Mediocre. For the price that they charged for the whole Chicken the fair price has to be $15.00 or around that and half Chicken should have only been $9ish. I almost choke from the chicken many times and with the server who's multi tasking doesn't even know how to communicate and does a very poor job. Pancit Bihon taste is also Mediocre with Hard Boiled egg on top is just weird to me, it is usually for Palabok. Pancit isn't mixed well with the sauce and the shrimp looks so uncooked and frozen. Shrimp on the Fried rice as well. Shrimp Fried rice taste is not even impressive. I could have cooked a lot better than Max's Restaurant. I expected more good taste from this restaurant, but I was shocked to find out they don't cook good enough with those 3 simple dish is totally frustrating. Jollibee and Chowking and other small business cook a lot better than Max's. Max's Restaurant started since 1960 and yet Max's chicken recipe hasn't been upgraded and modified, but just to say it's "crispy" and that's all to it. I swear I make a better fried chicken and also juicy! Max's Restaurant will be good for people who doesn't know how to cook and who never tried Filipino food for the first time, because there won't be a second time.

Kaye Jaypee Cabrido Mercado

We arrived around 7:30 PM, shortly before closing. Although the restaurant was still officially open, the staff initially hesitated to let us in, and the branch manager had to signal them before we were allowed to dine. At first, I was excited because I was able to order my favorite dish, kare-kare. However, it quickly became apparent that the staff were rushing to close and wanted us to finish as soon as possible. When the kare-kare arrived, the bowl was mostly sauce and vegetables with oxtail. There was no beef shank, no tripe, and barely any actual meat—just mostly bony oxtail pieces. I asked about this, and the staff explained that they do not serve tripe, which is why only oxtail was included. Even so, the lack of meat was disappointing and not what I expected. While the taste itself was good and did remind me of home, it did not fully meet my expectations compared to how kare-kare is traditionally served in the Philippines. The overall experience was further affected by the service, as we were rushed to pay even while we were still eating. The flavors were there, but the portion quality and service—especially close to closing time—need significant improvement.

Tee Zee

09/13/2025 Fried Chicken is crispy, but extremely dry. It sucked up all the chicken juice to make it crispy. Chicken taste is Mediocre. For the price that they charged for the whole Chicken the fair price has to be $15.00 or around that and half Chicken should have only been $9ish. I almost choke from the chicken many times and with the server who's multi tasking doesn't even know how to communicate and does a very poor job. Pancit Bihon taste is also Mediocre with Hard Boiled egg on top is just weird to me, it is usually for Palabok. Pancit isn't mixed well with the sauce and the shrimp looks so uncooked and frozen. Shrimp on the Fried rice as well. Shrimp Fried rice taste is not even impressive. I could have cooked a lot better than Max's Restaurant. I expected more good taste from this restaurant, but I was shocked to find out they don't cook good enough with those 3 simple dish is totally frustrating. Jollibee and Chowking and other small business cook a lot better than Max's. Max's Restaurant started since 1960 and yet Max's chicken recipe hasn't been upgraded and modified, but just to say it's "crispy" and that's all to it. I swear I make a better fried chicken and also juicy! Max's Restaurant will be good for people who doesn't know how to cook and who never tried Filipino food for the first time, because there won't be a second time.

Theresa Montenegro

It was my first time to order online at Max’s website. All the food I ordered is available. Later, it was the delivery driver who called me that there are missing items in my order… The store did not even inform me. The driver said the store staff cannot talk to me because “they are busy.” I said that is not an excuse… I wanted to cancel everything and bring my money back. The manager, Evelyn, would not even talk and tell me how my money will be refunded… Very unprofessional and rude manager… They should close their store if they cannot accommodate their customers… they don’t deserve even one star.

Francelle Deray

Extremely unprofessional experience. We placed an online order for the first time and were never notified that three items were missing. When we called to ask about a refund, the response was, "I don't know," before the call was passed around among the employees without any real help. The manager even refused to speak with us—they said they were too busy to do so. Is that how a manager would respond to a customer complaint? Unbelievable. The only person who showed any responsibility was the delivery driver, who actually tried to help us get the refund—unlike the staff at the location, who were rude and unprofessional throughout. I do not recommend ordering from this place if you value basic communication or customer service. 0/10. Seriously disappointing. If I could give this place 0 stars, I totally would've.

Brandon Pelton

Good food, but the staff were so rude! They hardly said anything to us when we entered, the whole time we were seated, and when we were paying and leaving the lady didn't even so much as look at us. We ordered a little ice cream for dessert and the waiter told us they didn't have any, yet the table right next to us was eating the very dessert we wanted. Overall the experience was pretty bad. The food was good but the staff hated being there and it showed. I don't know if it's because I'm a white boy or what, but the staff were horrible! Will not be coming back to this restaurant ever!