"Just about everyone is excited to have Tim Ho Wan in Southern California. Long lines and fast service have defined this new strip mall hit down in Irvine, and now the LA Times is weighing in with a big new review of the place. Amy Scattergood, sitting in for Patricia Escárcega while she’s out, says that this stateside location of Tim Ho Wan doesn’t quite mirror the fun and energy of the area’s best dim sum houses, but that’s hardly the point. The massive company now spans some 50 locations from New York City to Hawaii to the Hong Kong mainstay outposts, and leans on the fact that it holds a Michelin star for its original location. Still, despite “the ambiance at our Tim Ho Wan [being] more Cinnabon than banquet hall,” Scattergood comes away somewhat impressed: And while “Irvine’s version is not the dim sum grail that you might expect” — just ask OC Weekly — there are still more than a few satisfying bites, particularly on the steamed and non-fried side of the menu. Rice rolls are “properly addictive,” while “turnip cakes are torqued with dried shrimp,” for example. In all, Irvine’s Tim Ho Wan is a reliable spot for dim sum that toes the line between being inexpensive, being accessible, and being delicious, says the Times." - Farley Elliott
