Hawai'i's Best Restaurants

	2006 'ILIMA AWARD WINNER - BEST ETHNIC RESTAURANT: CRITICS' CHOICE
	Every year, Advertiser readers are asked to vote for their favorite restaurants in the 'Ilima Awards poll. Meanwhile, our in-house food experts debate to select the critics' choice 'Ilimas, primarily focused on restaurants recently reviewed or revisited. With a few exceptions, categories change each year to keep readers interested and keep the winner list fresh.

BEST ETHNIC RESTAURANT: CRITICS' CHOICE
Max's of Manila

New in town in 2006, Max's is the sole Hawai'i outlet of a 100-restaurant chain that operates in the Philippines and California. Founded by Maximo Gimenez in Quezon City in 1945, Max's catered to American GIs and their specialty, from a recipe devised by Gimenez's niece, Ruby, was, and is, fried chicken — bone-in, skin-on, fried crisp and cut up. Today the chain calls itself "The House That Chicken Built." But they also serve all the Filipino standards, including a particularly delicious sinigang (sour soup) and delectable garlic fried rice. Family-size portions, reasonable prices, nice decor.

Waipahu Shopping Plaza, 94-300 Farrington Highway. 951-6297. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DS. No checks. $$.

Web site: www.maxsofmanila.com

Legend:

VS: Visa
MC: Mastercard
AX: American Express
DC: Diners Club
DS: Discover Card
JCB: JCB Card
Olioli: Olioli Card

$$$: Pricey; entrées mostly more than $17
$$: Moderate; entrées $10-$16
$: Budget-friendly; entrées mostly less than $10

Checks: Local checks and travelers’ checks only

Past 'Ilima Award winner

"Cheap eats" restaurant

"Local classic" eatery