Maxim's is definitely one of my favorite Central Phoenix food dives--the ambiance of course being cheapo Chinese cafe decor, complete with Buddhist shrine in the corner!
But then--Maxim's isn't REALLY a Chinese restaurant, it's one of the best pan-Asian dives in town. And I DO mean a dive--it's in a fading strip mall at Osborn Road and 19th Avenue which also houses other Asian businesses. Hold your nose if you park too close to the dumpster and run in fast ...but then again, I'm known as the Queen of the Ethnic Dives [I'm still mourning the loss of Ramon's Mexican Restaurant and Roman's four-dollar lunches!], so tacky and tasteless settings just egg me on to see what's between the tired old covers.
The pho is to die for!! I love to take my time and eat it up slowly. Problem is, I'm usually only here for lunch these days since I no longer live within walking distance of Maxim's. But since ALL the food is fab, that's not a problem.
Try the exquisite spring rolls, which pack a punch at like 1/3 the price of a spring roll order at one of those trendy places in Scottsdale or Kierland or any of those other yuppie-type places.
One of my faves is the lunch menu: pretty much anything you want off the regular menu [minus pho] for like seven bucks. You'll be rolling back to the office but what the heck, you'll not need to eat again for a long while...
The verdict: Maxim's is guilty of charged of serving a great
Asian meal for not a lot of money....punishable by lots of business by hungry Phoenicians.