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Ethnic Treats That Put a Smile On Your Face

Columns Jus' Desserts

March 31, 2013

Story By: Nicole Monton | Photos by: Lawrence Tabudlo

Max’s of Manila has been a Filipino-food lover’s paradise and is well known for its famous fried chicken and traditional Filipino dishes. The iconic connotation of pancit, sini-gang and lechon often overshadow the desserts, but here at Dining Out, we want to let our readers know about the tasty treats that await you at Max’s after a delicious Filipino meal.

Halo-halo ($5.75) is a staple among Filipino desserts, and Max’s always serves it up the right way. It’s a medley of different textures and flavors that is sure to appeal to your taste buds. Served with ube ice cream, beans, and milk atop shave ice, Max’s Halohalo also comes with flan and rice flakes, as well as tropical fruit in a gelatin form.

According to general manager Maly San Luis, Halo-halo is the restaurant’s most popular dessert.

It has all the components of being a great treat without overpowering on the sweetness, which means that you can eat until your heart is content. The colors and textures blend well together for the Easter holiday, so make sure to head on down for a real Easter celebration!

Buko Pandan ($4.25), Max’s of Manila’s second most-popular dessert, might be a lesser-known dessert, but after one bite you’ll realize what all the fuss is about. Also perfect for Easter, Buko Pandan comes in a light shade of green that incorporates coconut mixed with pandan leaf (screwpine) gelatin and tapioca. Stir that in with a hearty helping of fluffy cream sauce, macapuno ice cream and rice flakes, and this dessert is ready to go — straight into your mouth, that is.

“We get the flavor from the pandan, and that’s basically the flavor of the gelatin mixed with the young coconut meat, and we mix it with a little cream and milk,” San Luis says. “This is not too sweet compared to Halo-halo.”

Max’s puts its own spin on turon, better known as Banana Lumpia ($4.75). It features saba banana and jack-fruit in a crispy spring roll-type wrap, which is covered with brown sugar and sesame seeds. Add in some ube and macapuno ice cream, and this dessert will have you singing its praise once you’re done eating it.

Max’s of Manila

801 Dillingham Blvd., Honolulu
(also located in Waipahu Shopping Plaza)
951-6297
Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Honolulu, HI 96817

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