Maxim's Seafood Restaurant
Maxim's Seafood Restaurant
Shrimp and egg omelette
Mongolian Beef
Buddah's Delight
Calamansi Orange Iced Tea
the front of the restaurant
Fly
a woman eating a bowl of noodles
tables and chairs
Inside
a large group of people eating
Clay Pot Catfish
the dining area
food, dessert
Pork Ribs
Condiments
Dirty table they sat us at
Family style menu (Vietnamese)
food, ramen and noodles, ramen, noodle soup, noodles, noodle dish
menu
Hungry for this: salt and pepper shrimp, Mongolian beef and spicy pork. Delicious with white rice
interior
Myphuong L.
May 14, 2024
First time here since it's been under new ownership. It's the same owners as Purple Mint! Which is next door. Makes me wonder if they share the same kitchen because Purple Mint is vegetarian.I love how the new space is now bright, simple minimalist decor. The food was A++ and we will be back many more times. We love the traditional cơm phần (family style) meal.We ordered the 2-3 family meal ($55)-sweet and sour tamarind soup-catfish clay pot -fried pork cutlets-water spinach (rau muống)Also ordered:-salted fish chicken fried rice-1/4 pound roasted duckThe soup had the spongy plant (elephant ear), okra, bean sprouts, pineapple, tons of cat fish filets. The soup had the right amount of tamarind, sweet and sour.Fish clay pot also had lots of fish filet. We liked everything in this set. Only mistake was not ordering the next one up which had the clams!The chicken salted fish fried rice was the least favorite. It didn't have the strong salted fish smell or taste. Had more chicken than salted fish.The parking lot is really small. Not many spaces and it's one way in, one way out. It's great that Paris bakery closes early. Leaving spaces for Maxim's and Purple Mint. The area is also a little bit sketchy if you have to park on the street.
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Bettye L.
Nov 7, 2023
What in the Sam Hill. Baby, this place is NOT IT. Today was the first and last day I ever come to this restaurant. I'm going to have to say "hell no". They sat us at a dirty table. We ordered kung pao beef, fried calamari, and a Diet Coke.I don't know who makes sweet beef and calls it kung pao beef. It was the sweetest non spiciest kung pao beef with the saddest peanuts I ever did see. The calamari...do be fair-was meh. Was it salty? Yes. Was it hot? Yes. Would I order again? NO. It just looked drier than a Popeye's biscuit LOL.During the middle of our dinner the waitress who I had assumed forgotten my Diet Coke came up to me and said "we ran out of Diet Coke" but when I went to pay the bill-they still tried to charge me. I said something and she was able to take it off.All I have to say is you know it's bad when we don't even ask for a box for leftovers. The food was not worthy AT ALL.
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Gary N.
Jul 23, 2023
The place used to be the 2nd best Chinese restaurant in City Heights area until the change of management, they're now running under Vietnamese owner. That's when everything went from good to mediocre to um what are you doing. I missed the prime day when Maxim opens until mid night with a lot of people eating out late as they got of work, my favorite would be sweet and sour pork ribs and deep fried halibut. Anyway no longer they're no longer available, the new menu has some Chinese items advertised as best sellers such as roasted duck noodles, so I oughta try, but I was disappointed, the duck meats were so tough and not flavorful as the meats were not marinated properly, maybe the cook was not experienced enough with roasting ducks, so I decided to give them another chance by ordering bún riêu cua ốc, well it tasted better but still lacking a lot of things, their bún riêu has pork blood, but no pork feet, or regular slice of porks, instead they gave me random pieces of pork ribs, wrong ingredients by the way, all no rau muống is another missing point.The worse parts were the service they provided, the guy didn't greet us, didn't bring the menu to us, we had to take them ourselves, he didn't ask us for drinks either, I guess he assumed we were so cheap we would not order anything but water, I had to ask him for a pot of hot tea later for my grandpa. This restaurant had a weird utensils setting, no spoons, only chopsticks available on the table, along with napkins and some random condiments, the spoons came with your meals as they brought out to us. Other condiments were set on a single table near the kitchen entrance, we had to ask, but the guy will come and wanted to take it back as we were done with it, strange.Also the food took a long time to come out, I never seen any restaurant took that much time to make their orders as the restaurant was not busy, only 3 parties as we dined in. I also read some Vietnamese reviews saying that they did a bad job on their to go orders, but I had to see for myself by convincing my grandpa for dinner tonight. Another point was the flies, not sure why there was dead flies on the floor and the live ones kept going for our food, we also saw flies on the windows, they really had some pests issues here.Finally the customer service again, we didn't feel very welcome from the start til the end, he's supposed to say thank you to us as we leave, this is common sense and my grandpa words, but even I would agree. They really need to step up their game here to run the business if they're going to keep the same name of Maxim with the Chinese logo 美心Ps: they're closed at 10 PM not mid night.
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Quy N.
Jan 18, 2023
The place has a refreshed in decor and appearance with the new ownership. With with tableware and furniture brings in a new refresh look to an iconic restaurant hidden in this plaza looking at El Cajon Blvd in little Saigon neighborhood. The food was great, we'll season, and great customer service each time we go.Definitely recommend coming to check out this place for some authentic Vietnamese/Asian cuisine.
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Lunar L.
May 19, 2024
Ordered Mongolian beef, there was hardly any beef and it was overly salty. Also ordered the potstickers but instead of the second box being potstickers it was just all white rice. Not sure why this place has the high ratings maybe the cook was mad the night I ordered but I can't see myself coming back.
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Lani M.
May 14, 2023
This place is under new management now. They've had the same owners for the whole 27yrs of my life & prior to me being born too! They recently got bought out because the parents were tired of working, which is understandable. We decided to give new owners benefit or the doubt to see if they'd live up to old owners. The entire interior has been gutted from old Chinese restaurant to new, modern, updated. I miss the old but the new interior is definitely up to date. They had similar menu to what we always ordered. Not listed. But when I showed them pictures they said they do have it. My FAVORITE spicy pork dish I'd order here no longer tastes the same. Watercress & hot/sour soup were familiar tastes, but different in a way. Not bad. But maybe I'm just being biased due to my long standing relationship I had w/ previous owner. The staff was friendly & responsive. Always checking up on us if we needed anything. Will I go back here? Maybe once in a very blue blue moon. I've been there once since the change of ownership. But not my go to spot anymore.
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Tanya V.
Jul 17, 2023
This place reminds me of my childhood and gives me a nostalgic feeling when I eat here. The food feels "homey" and it's always a good meal. Definitely recommend the fried rice and chow fun!
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Kathleena S.
Mar 6, 2024
Always feels like home coming here! Was greeted right away and all the workers here. Great hospitality with the new decor! This establishment has been recognize in the heart of San Diego a family gem or staple I would call it. Just finished an egg drop soup and it was a delight! Thank you Maxim Restaurant!
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Special K I.
Jun 29, 2023
The food/staff has always been good to me @Maxim's Restaurant...since I went to high skool, nearby since 1998. The staff is always nice to me and they have good service and ambiance. Keep up the good work...
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Steven B.
Jun 9, 2024
My family and I came here on vacation and it was the best food we've ever had. I got the chicken wings and she got the shrimp and scallops and everything was amazing including the customer service. You can tell the place is run by good people
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