Jersey City Gets First Max’s Of Manila Franchise On The East Coast

The Jersey City Independent:

When most Americans hear the words “fried chicken,” they likely imagine the Colonel, Paula Deen or finger-licking soul food. But Jersey City eaters can now add another definition to that list, courtesy of Philippines-based Max’s of Manila, which is opening its first East Coast location right on Newark Avenue in the Five Corners area.

“The Filipinos have specialty foods, and we’re just trying to get people to learn about our culture,” says Derrick Arcilla, one of the owners of this franchise. “With the other branches, in California and Hawaii, Filipinos bring their friends and their spouses to Max’s, and they introduce those people to the cuisine. Then those people bring more of their friends. We’re slowly introducing our cuisine to the mainstream.”

The original recipe for Max’s signature fried chicken, which is golden fried and flavored with a blend of secret spices, was actually developed for Americans. In 1945, Maximo Gimenez, a Stanford-educated teacher, frequently invited American occupation troops to his home in Quezon City, Philippines. Read more.

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