Tim Ho Wan (SHAM SHUI PO)

Dim sum restaurant · Hong Kong

Tim Ho Wan (SHAM SHUI PO)

Dim sum restaurant · Hong Kong

9-11 Fuk Wing St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

Highlights

Award-winning dim sum featuring BBQ pork buns & shrimp dumplings

9-11 Fuk Wing St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Get directions

timhowan.com.hk

HK$50–100

@michelinguide

"One of the early branches of the chain, it offers over 20 dim sum on the menu, all skilfully made and attractively priced. Some items rotate every two to three months to keep them fresh. Don’t miss their shrimp dumplings, baked buns with barbecue pork filling or steamed tofu with scallops. The spruce interior takes up two floors and the unflappable team operates seamlessly and swiftly, keeping waiting times down to a minimum." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/hong-kong-region/hong-kong/restaurant/tim-ho-wan-sham-shui-po

View Postcard for Tim Ho Wan

@infatuation

The 25 Best Places To Eat & Drink In Hong Kong

"Tim Ho Wan has become famous for their baked BBQ pork buns and for being one of the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, so it attracts a mind-boggling number of tourists. And while the original shop in Kowloon is good, there are now a bunch of locations around the city where you can take a number and wait in a huge crowd of people for some very, very good baked BBQ pork buns. There’s also now one in the train station at IFC (International Finance Center), so if you time things right, you can grab some buns just before you head to the airport." - jess basser sanders

https://www.theinfatuation.com/hong-kong/guides/best-hong-kong-restaurants

View Postcard for Tim Ho Wan

@eater

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opens Sept. 29 at the Palms - Eater Vegas

"Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin-starred restaurant out of Hong Kong, gets ready to debut Sept. 29 at the Palms with a 5,055-square-foot space seating 200. While the restaurant from chef-founders Mak Kwai Pui and Leung Fai Keung features many of the dishes found at the original location, the Palms added new dishes such as wagyu bundles with apples and mushrooms; shrimp toast with truffles and foie gras; and rice rolls stuffed with steamed lobster and Chinese black bean sauce, according to Robb Report. Of course, the menu features Cantonese favorites such as barbecue pork buns and rice rolls, pan-fried turnip cakes, sui mai (steamed dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings), and steamed egg cake. The bar features Japanese whiskies and traditional Chinese spirits including baijiu along with a tea program with Chinese flavors such as lychee black tea and Hong Kong-style coffee milk tea. The first Tim Ho Wan location opened in 2009 in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district, earned one Michelin star within a year of operation, and received the title of “world’s most reasonable Michelin-starred restaurant.” Once open, the restaurant sits within a new space that connects the west parking garage to the casino." - Susan Stapleton

https://vegas.eater.com/2019/9/20/20876018/tim-ho-wan-opening-date-palms

View Postcard for Tim Ho Wan

@eater

Tim Ho Wan dim sum opens at the Palms in September - Eater Vegas

"Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin-starred Hong Kong dim-sum restaurant, plans to open in September. The 5,055-square-foot restaurant joins the resort’s west casino expansion. The first Tim Ho Wan location opened in 2009 in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district, earned one Michelin star within a year of operation and received the title of “world’s most reasonable Michelin-starred restaurant.” Mak Kwai Pui, formerly a chef of three Michelin-starred Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons in Hong Kong, and Leung Fai Keung co-founded the restaurant. Dishes include barbecue pork buns and rice rolls, pan-fried turnip cakes, sui mai (steamed dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings), and steamed egg cake. Mak also plans to create a special dish just for the Palms location. Once open, the restaurant sits within a new space that connects the west parking garage to the casino." - Susan Stapleton

https://vegas.eater.com/2019/4/16/18304058/tim-ho-want-dim-sum-opens-palms-september-2019

View Postcard for Tim Ho Wan

Eibhleann Alexander

Google

I recently visited Tim Ho Wan and was blown away by the quality and flavor of every dish. I ordered the Jade Shrimp Balls, Pork & Shrimp Dumplings, BBQ Pork Rice Rolls, the Signature BBQ Pork Rice with Fried Egg, and a Signature Cold Milk Tea, each one was outstanding in its own right. The Jade Shrimp Balls were delicate and perfectly seasoned, with plump, fresh shrimp inside. The Pork & Shrimp Dumplings were juicy and savory, bursting with flavor in every bite. I especially loved the BBQ Pork Rice Rolls, silky smooth rice sheets wrapped around sweet and smoky BBQ pork, paired with a perfectly balanced soy-based sauce. The Signature BBQ Pork Rice with Fried Egg was a comforting and flavourful dish, the BBQ pork was tender and slightly sweet, and the runny fried egg added a rich, velvety touch. To wash it all down, the Signature Cold Milk Tea was smooth, strong, and just the right level of sweetness a perfect finish to the meal. There is a mandatory tea fee of 6 HKD, which is standard in many Hong Kong eateries, and it’s well worth it for the authentic experience. Overall, Tim Ho Wan absolutely lives up to its reputation as one of the best dim sum spots around. Fresh ingredients, expertly crafted dishes, and great value for the quality! I can’t wait to go back!

James Mims

Google

I stopped by to enjoy Tim Ho Wan after the recommendation from a friend as well as the Michelin guide. When I arrived, there was no wait. This is pretty straight-forward dim sum. I really enjoyed the pork buns and the shrimp shu mai. I didn't order the chicken feet, but literally EVERY table around me did. I will assume that they are also very good. They do not accept cash, so make sure you have some funds on your Oyster card before you arrive!

Gabriel Garcia

Google

We went to this restaurant after reading commentaries regarding street food in Hong Kong. We were pleasantly surprised to find out the restaurant had earned a Michelin star in the previous two years. The three of us tried almost everything in the menu. All dishes were tasty and it was all under $90 USD.

Wong Jennifer

Google

Every came to hk sure visit this dim sum store in sham sui po. Most favorite Dimsum is their crispy bbq bun . Outer layer is crispy with some sweetness , inside is the bbq pork ingredients. 3 buns for hkd33. Very rarely see this kind of Dimsum in anywhere. It’s a dim sum specialized prepared by the chef over here I think. Overall, Environment is good and clean . Customer service is ok too. Congee is superb nice unexpectedly . Tried their congee this time and it’s very good. Worth trying. Cheong fun is smooth and nice. Siu Mai is good.

George St

Google

Excellent experience! Good was really tasty and came really fast! Overall we for sure enjoyed it ! Try the pork buns for sure! Also the recommended dishes they have are exceptional! I would come back!

Em Vrz

Google

Whenever we visit Hong Kong we always visit this famous dim sum specialty restaurant in Sham Shui Po, they are amazingly good with very reasonable price. The locals were already lining up here before their opening hours, the store gate was still half way up only. Their baked bun with BBQ pork, siu mai, shrimp dumpling, etc, are some of our favorites. This year we discovered a new item on their menu, the roselle-infused crispy red rice rolls with shrimp. It was super good! Simply stunning! I heard from friends that although Tim Ho Wan had several stores throughout Hong Kong, the dim sum quality were not the same, and that the one in Sham Shui Po was the best. I may update this review if I find out more about that in the future.

Manuela Melinescu

Google

Below expectations. - Crispy red rice rolls with shrimp 6/10 The taste is okish.. and it comes with jam. Sweet fruity jam. Not the best combo - siu mai (steamed pork&shrimp dumplings) 7.5/10 The only dish that was somewhat good. Not the best dumplings though, just ok - baked bun with BBQ pork 3/10 Imagine the consistency and taste of a donut...filled with pork. And the pork is also sweet and has a weird taste - rice noodle rolls with pig liver 0/10 I like liver, but this was not it. The taste was awful!!! Had to spit it out. And the consistency of the noodles is like slime. Stay away! Overall, I don't know how this place is famous and has awards. The food is not good, the vibe is not good, the service is not good...

Vince

Google

Rating is adjusted relative to hype. I was excited to try their Tim Ho Wan for their dim sum, but it turned out to be mediocre. I decided on two dim sum spots to try on this trip with Tim Ho Wan being the first. I came 6 PM on a weekday and it wasn't busy, we were quickly seated as there were plenty of available tables. Since we were not too hungry, we ordered the Shrimp Cheung Fun, Har Gow, and Siu Mai. It took around 5 mins for the dim sum to come out and the food looked good. However, it really seemed like some flavors were missing the umami taste that you would expect of dim sum. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a disappointing meal, so I would recommend trying other dim sum spots when in Hong Kong.

Michael K.

Yelp

Good food! Shrimp dumping is very nice. It is not expensive even the food quality is very good. BBQ pork bun is the signature.

Vincent P.

Yelp

Beth Z.

Yelp

I loved the food and especially the pineapple pork buns. They force you to order tea, not coke, not milk tea but one of the 12 choices on the menu (no exceptions!). Then there is this strange ceremony of washing your plates in front of you. I didn't mind knowing everything was freshly cleaned but I have never experienced that before. Price is right and food is excellent.

Kevin E.

Yelp

The Tim Ho Wan in NYC was a disappointment so I wanted to see if it's better in HK. It seems not unfortunately as we were not impressed by any of the dim sum dishes that we ordered except for their famous BBQ pork buns. Those were still delicious. Everything else was mediocre and not worth trying. There are much better dim sum restaurants in HK so skip this one and just get the BBQ pork buns to go.

Nelson H.

Yelp

This's the original THW dim sum restaurant for decades, I ordered original classic dim sums and it was tasty n delicious.... It's different than the ones in Vegas and Irvine... Services were still fast n efficient but the new remodels place is still relatively crowded and small. People need to be aware of rush hours when having dining in the restaurant...

Sophie Y.

Yelp

We were in North Point and wanted the baked bbq buns. Found out that location is closed permanently and we went to Sham Shui Po. Entered my info upon check-in and the host called in 5 minutes for the table. Had a few dishes and they came out quickly. Food was delicious and quick service. Cash only.

Melody F.

Yelp

A little bit of a wait but well worth it. Dim sum was delicious and inexpensive. The menu is not huge but they have the basics and everything was well executed. Highly recommend if you are in Sham Shui Po.

Alvin C.

Yelp

Nestled in the heart of the city, this authentic dim sum restaurant offers a culinary journey through the vibrant flavors of Cantonese cuisine. From the moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings and sizzling delicacies envelops you, setting the stage for a truly delightful dining experience. The menu boasts an extensive selection of traditional dim sum favorites, each meticulously prepared with care and attention to detail. The fluffy, delicate char siu buns melt in your mouth, while the crisp, savory turnip cakes and succulent shrimp dumplings delight the palate. With impeccable service and a warm, inviting ambiance, this dim sum haven is a must-visit for any food enthusiast.

Christina W.

Yelp

Their menu does not have all the dim sum dishes you might expect at much larger dim sum restaurants. However, what they do offer, they do very well and at reasonable prices. There's definitely cheaper dim sum to be had in HK, but the flavor and quality of each dish we ordered at Tim Ho Wan was better than any dim sum I could find in 626 (Los Angeles), and that's a tough market to beat. We ordered the following: - Shrimp har gow: skin was perfect! Not too thick and not too thin, neither dry nor gummy in texture. Each piece of shrimp was freshly steamed, it was simple yet great - Lo Mai Gai: sticky rice in lotus leaves, this dish was very tasty and enough to share. I actually think this is done pretty well at most dim sum places I've been to, so I wouldn't say this is significantly better. Order it if you like it though, it's a must :) - Lo Bak Go: Pan-fried turnip cake that wasn't particularly oily, seemed more steamed and light in texture. - Har Cheung fun: shrimp rolled in rice noodle, sooooo tasty! - Baked Char siu Bao: omg these are as good as everyone says! The bun is a bit sweeter than your traditional steamed char siu bao(zi), so eating one is pretty satisfying. It's light and full of flavor, the Pork filling is sooooo tasty! Cash only, and if you're there around 2 or 3pm on a weekday like we were, there was no queue! We really enjoyed this place, but we ended up going to one dim sum after because we wanted to try other dim sum dishes that Tim Ho Wan doesn't offer. Part of me wishes THW has a larger selection, but then the quality my decrease. So I think they've found the right balance. 10/10 would come back again!

Winlee W.

Yelp

Good, but not great. However, the highly rated items are those for a reason. Baked char siu bao is all you need to order here. They are a level above the rest, and I've eaten WAY too many in my day (not only because I love them but because I'm Chinese and it's a right of passage). I wanted to be completely wowed by this place since it's Michelin starred, but i wasn't. If I was giving it a rating on the overall dim sum it wouldn't be high. Here are the reasons. 1. Ordinary, run-of-the-mill dim sum I usually get anywhere else wasn't extraordinary here. 2. Shumai stuck together. That's right, the wrappers were so close they stuck. And the presentation on those was lacking. Other than that, like I said, the bao was amazing. The service was quick and friendly. Michelin Star just for the bao.

Natalie H.

Yelp

Really good dimsum and really low prices! The place is a bit crowded and small, but that's what most restaurants in Hong Kong are like. I don't mind it at all, but it just wasn't expected for michelin star place. I was surprised how quickly they were able to seat us given the huge waitlist and full restaurant. Service was fast, and we finished our meal pretty quickly. I would recommend the baked bbq pork buns with a sweet crust on top. They were so good, but so was everything else we ordered.

Nina H.

Yelp

It's pretty good, and such good value, the bill came out at around $30. Not bad at all. Came with two other people on a Sunday at 12 pm, wait was about 10-15 minutes. Checked off what we wanted before sitting down, food arrived fast. There is only Pu-er tea, not my favorite... but it's ok. The pork buns are def my favorite item on the menu. The crispy bread and the sweet pork filling. I kind of wanted another set. We had a lot of the typical items like the shrimp and pork dumplings, spicy wontons, fried carrot cake, egg rolls (I don't typically like Chinese egg rolls since they tend to be filled with cabbage but these were really good, no cabbage and was filled with egg white and crab I think?), and shrimp rice noodle rolls. I liked everything, I probably wouldn't get the spicy wontons again, they were kind of mediocre. The wontons were just ok, and the spicy sauce was just ok as well. Some items I hadn't had before were the fried tofu (this was sooo good, it was a soft/silky tofu fried) and scallop rice noodle rolls, these were good too, they had some lettuce in there which was different but I liked it.

Dan N.

Yelp

Pros: -Service here is pretty fast considering how many guest were coming in and out -the food here won't blow your mind, but everything tasted homemade and just overall delicious. -it's not everyday you get to eat at a Michelin Star for cheap! -the menu was short and concise Cons: -The space is kinda crowded. If you're a bigger person your going to be a little cramped. I ended up being somewhat close to a guest sitting at the nearby table but I didn't mind. -they were quick to clean up and I felt a little rushed out The Recommendation: -Definitely worth a visit. If you love dim sum, you will love this place. It's hard to beat the price and the tastiness of the food here.

Perry P.

Yelp

Known as the cheapest Michelin Star Restaurant for dim sum, Tim Ho Wan definitely lived up to it's hype. This is supposed to be the original location. We read that we should arrive 30 mins before the opening and you definitely should, as a line was definitely growing when we were approaching the restaurant at that time. Once in line, we were given an order form to check off our desired items; they also have an English version of the order list. Tables are shared in the restaurant, so you might be seated next to strangers if your party is not large enough for an entire table. Staff members bring the dim sum to your table when it's ready. And if you want to order more, all you have to do is update your order form and give it to the staff member. The dim sum were awesome and so much tastier than the other dim sum that we were used to. The best had to be the bbq pork buns (cha sui bao). But we also enjoyed the har gao and sui mai. Cash only so be prepared.

Dani S.

Yelp

Well, it does have 1 Michelin star, but the whole experience was pretty mediocre. Came here because this is supposedly the first location of this dim sum chain and plus it was featured on multiple media outposts. We ordered a few dim sum dishes, the prices are ok, although we did find several other dim sum places that had way better tasting food and costed much less. The food was very mediocre in both presentation and taste, considering the prices. The service was fast and efficient but very very basic. We still felt very rushed when technically, dim sum is suppose to be a social thing that takes a long time to eat your meal. The restaurant was also kind of old and beat down, and the table and floors are not very clean. The bathroom was also not very clean. Honestly, we found so many other dim sum places in town that does not have a michelin star but had way better food, cheaper and better service. This place is kind of a hype.

Jana C.

Yelp

second time @ THW.?.the original location is near Kwong Wa hospital, near Wah Yun school. Luckily, the wait was not too painful. Not bad at all! Helped a Brasilian navigate the menu, between what he liked, and its most famous dishes. Resisted the urge to go a third time to Singapore's, since I knew there was also a branch there. And now, with IFC ( think coming to NYC too) having its very own branch, omg....I know where my next visit will be:) Food no joke. Yummy and this time, 3 people had more willpower, instead of 2, ordering practically the whole menu.

Bao H.

Yelp

Dim Sum in HK is solid and Tim Ho Wan is a must visit. I'll say one thing to order is their pork bun! Serious crusted on the outside with a warm toasty bun while the pork is steaming hot and moist. This my friend is a pork bun! I also ordered other items like the vegetable and shrimp dumplings. They were good too, but another favorite of mines were the pork spare ribs with the rice; I could eat this all day. The sesame balls here are good too; the filling is definitely fresh not like the ones you get in the US. In the end, Tim Ho Wan delivers in every way to my palates. The wait could be long, but they generally have community seating if you're in small numbers. I came alone so I would recommend keep your group small if possible to get a quicker seating. - Enjoy!

Richard D.

Yelp

It's how we do Michelin star dining. The prices here are very reasonable and the food is delicious. Just order everything. You really can't go wrong. This was also similar to the new York City location. Good and I'm glad I didn't encounter a wait when I went.

Manfred S.

Yelp

In the world of dim sum, this place is no stand out. Everything is okay. But just okay does not excite me. Of course, eating with my niece who is studying in Hong Kong was a wonderful treat. The shrimp dumplings were wonderful, but everything else seemed so-so. Kinda like in Boston's Chinatown. Seriously! Not worth a detour.

Forrest T.

Yelp

As noted in other reviews, this location of the Tim Ho Wan chain is the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world. And for the price, it definitely lived up to the hype. This is easily one of the best meals I've had for under US$20 (HK$160) in my life. We visited for a mid-afternoon lunch and the line was long but not outrageously so. The wait was maybe 20-25 minutes. Other reviews have noted the crowds milling around outside the restaurant, which were definitely a pain, but I don't think it's fair to blame the restaurant for that. Hard to find a really good dim sum restaurant where crowds/lines are NOT an issue. People just love good dumplings. Plus it's pretty easy to push through when you need to. Inside, the space is clean and undecorated; plain white walls, plain tile floor, nothing of note. Typical for dim sum restaurants around here. Servers are busy and running around the place, but there are a lot of them and it's easy to call someone over when you need something. Despite the crowds outside, our table was private and fairly quiet. The servers do gently push you to eat your food and leave, but you don't feel rushed or forced out at the end of the meal. As always, the food is the most important thing, and here is where the restaurant shines. Again, for an unbelievably low price, you can stuff yourself full of delicious dim sum dishes to the point where you can barely move. Standouts were the BBQ pork buns, meatballs, and sesame buns, all of which I strongly recommend. But really you can't go wrong with anything on the menu; I loved everything. Overall, a delicious and fantastic experience and one to which I'll definitely return on my next visit.

Lindsey O.

Yelp

The BBQ pork buns are TO DIE FOR. TO DIE FOR. I'd come back a million times and just get like ten orders or the bbq pork buns. That said everything else was just ok. The won tons in chili oil were good. Everything was edible for sure but a bit bland. The dumplings (shrimp and pork and the veggie ones) were bland. I did actually like the glutinous rice dumpling too. The only thing that stood out though was the BBQ pork buns. If I were to come back it would just be for those and the tea. The jelly dessert with goji berries was good too

Porsche C.

Yelp

You know I had to try Tim Ho Wan while I was living life in Hong Kong, right? This should definitely be on your checklist, just make sure you actually check it off. I get it, the lines are SUPER long, the wait time is pathetic, but it's worth it! Trust me, I came solo and had to wait 30 minutes. But I was in food heaven, I tell ya! Tim Ho Wan is known as "The world's cheapest Michelin restaurant." Mind you, they used to be a little hole in the wall restaurant in 2011. Yea, yea, I'm sure you already know they were known for their Michelin Star type of dishes, but it is more to it than just that. They are also best known for their delicious Dim Sum. Tim Ho Wan has opened several locations in many different areas of the world, such as Hong Kong, New York, and Hawaii. honestly- I wouldn't be surprised if they make their way to San Francisco. (Humm!) The process is easy. They have paper menus on the table and you check what you would like to order. They leave the menu on the table in case you are still hungry, you can always add on from the menu if you would like. The dishes do come out quickly, which is a HUGE plus! The service is great! My server made sure to check on me every chance they get. The dishes are also very reasonable. Everything ranges from $5-$10. My all-time favorite dishes were the Siu Mai, Shrimp and Chive Dumplings, and delicious Fried Rice (I am such a rice lover!). Did you know they have 29 different dishes to choose from? Choose wisely, Y'all! Taking MTR to get here? No worries! It's located between Prince Edward and Sham Shui Po. I can't wait to visit more locations around the world, but whenever I am in HK, I will definitely make this my last stop before I leave.

Byron C.

Yelp

3.8 Stars First off, I have heard nothing but good things about this restaurant and especially this particular location because of its "Micheline Guide" status. First impressions, not a fancy looking restaurant inside or out, you would not even notice it if you were walking by if not for the big crowd out front. The restaurant opens at 10am so the 2 of us went and arrived about 10mins after 10am. Luckily we got one of the last "tables" (as we were seated with another 4 people). We ordered: Shrimp Dumplings - very small in size, good flavour Chicken Feet - small portion, good flavour Steamed Spareribs- small portion, good flavour Steamed Beef Rice Roll - good flavour Pan Fried Radish Cake - found it very delicate, not much substance. The service was really fast, but it was a bit rude. Their main goal is to turn over as many tables as possible, so it's not a normal dim sum meal like we're accustomed to here in Vancouver. Overall the dim sum was good but didn't blow me away. The price surprising was quite cheap especially for Hong Kong. Overall Experience: Service - 6.5/10 Cleanliness - 7/10 Food - 8/10 Value - 9/10 Parking - N/A

Tina L.

Yelp

Aside from the slightly rude customer service I received, this restaurant serves up some pretty yummy dim sum at cheap prices! Not sure if it's worth being Michelin rated, but it's still pretty good. However, I haven't tried much dim sum in Hong Kong yet so I don't have much to compare it to. My friends and I were seated immediately on a Wednesday night. They give you a little menu with boxes where you can write down how many orders of each dish you want. We ordered the shrimp rice rolls, har gow, sui Mai, and rice with beef and fried egg. The lady who took our paper gave us some attitude throughout the whole night, but I didn't expect amazing customer service anyways. The har gow and siu Mai were definitely my favorites! Hot, steamy dumplings served fresh and so full of flavor. I could've eaten several baskets of each by myself. The shrimp rice rolls tasted great as well, and I thought the rice with beef and the egg had a strange, herb-like taste that I wasn't too fond of. Overall, I had a pretty good experience here ultimately thanks to the food. Go on a weekday to skip long lines!

Glydia C.

Yelp

Yes, it is completely worth it to trek to this location. It was so insanely good, it almost brought tears to my eyes. The entire experience was amazing. The chinese cook in the front steaming room making dim sum to the authentic lack of customer service exceeded all of my expectations for a dim sum place in Hong Kong. You can get the high end, good service anywhere but this is the real deal. The most tasty, melty dim sum I've ever had in my life. Like multiple levels higher than the most tasty dim sum in San Gabriel Valley. If you go to Hong Kong (the motherland), make a stop here if you love dim sum and you will be able to tell a difference between the dim sum you've had and this place. Melty goodness.

Ashley B.

Yelp

The dim sum here was hot steamy and delicious. You check off items on a menu rather than the carts coming around. There isn't that wide of a selection but all of the classics are there. It's a great place to go to if you know exactly what you want but if you're looking to try something new you should go somewhere else. It's a great experience though.

Natali B.

Yelp

Finally got to try this "cheap" Michelin star restaurant in Hong Kong and I think I ordered everything off the menu! I can in a weekday afternoon about 1 hour and 3 mins before they closed and there was no wait. We got seated right away. The seating is kinda tight, and after being seated for awhile we were moved again because our table was awkwardly in the middle. I had the famous pork buns and they were quite good though I felt like I've had better. We tried several of the dumplings, sticky rice, and even the fried taro cake. Even though it didn't look or taste like taro so I don't know if there was a mix-up. Overall it was a tasty experience but it didn't blow me away. For the price, it's worth going at least once.

Tiffany C.

Yelp

When figuring out which restaurants to eat at, my friend mentioned that I absolutely had to try Tim Ho Wan - the cheapest Michelin star restaurant with a number of locations across Hong Kong. My parents, already having tried it once before, didn't think it was worth another visit, but seeing as how I really wanted to go, decided to put it onto our list of restaurants to try in Hong Kong. This particular location is on Fuk Wing Street. There isn't much of a waiting area, so a ton of people just crowd around the entrance waiting for their number to be called. We arrived on a really rainy day and were pretty dismayed to see all the people waiting. Luckily they were all large parties and we waited only about 10 minutes or so. Because the restaurant is so busy and the tables are really cramped, you're not really taking in the ambience or décor - you just want a taste of what all they hype is about. The menu is in Chinese, but if you ask you can get an English version. I was pretty dismayed to find out that a lot of the popular items that people were raving about were not offered at this location of Tim Ho Wan. I really wanted to try their shrimp wrapped in bean curd, but apparently they didn't have it here. We decided to just try a few popular items and then eat elsewhere if we were still hungry. We ended up ordering the normal dishes that are typically ordered during dim sum: Steamed Pork Dumplings (Siu Mai) Shrimp Dumplings Shrimp Rice Roll Radish Cake There was nothing special about ^ those three dishes. Very typical dim sum quality that you'd expect to find in SGV. The two items that were really good had to be the beef rice roll and the bbq pork buns. The beef was cooked extremely and had good flavor. Rice roll itself was super smooth and silky, making the entire bite really delicious. And the popular bbq pork buns - they are definitely as good as people say. Normally I am not a fan of the buns topped with a pineapple crust, but the crust definitely added to the overall flavor of the bun, going incredibly well with the bbq pork inside. The meat inside had a good sweet flavor to it and didn't taste dry nor cheaply put together. This was seriously the best bbq pork bun I've ever had and I was sad that it was so small! tl;dr - Definitely a restaurant worth visiting just so you can say you've eaten at a Michelin star restaurant. As for the food - it's not bad, but I think I expected to have my mindblown after hearing so many good things about it. The bbq pork buns were definitely amazing, but everything else was just decent. Seeing as there are so many dim sum restaurants in SGV, you're not missing too much if you don't get the chance to go to HK.

Anthony C.

Yelp

One of the less busy Tim Ho Wans. I got lucky the first day (a Sunday morning around when they opened) and had no wait. The second time I tried, a Friday around the same time, there was a one hour wait. This place is famous for their baked BBQ pork buns, which has a bit of a pineapple bun top to it. For $20HKD it is a steal of a michelin star. I had so many of those suckers! So, so good. I come from a heavy populated Cantonese area and these are still the best I've ever had. The bun is crispy, flaky, airy and filled with tasty BBQ pork. Pro-Tip: If you want to skip the line, just ask to order to-go. Go up to the register and place your order. Takes only a few minutes to get your food.

Christine U.

Yelp

We came here because it was said to be the cheapest Michelin star restaurant and we were not disappointed! Four of us came at regular dinner time on a Wednesday and we did not have to wait. The baked pork buns were definitely the star, and the one dish that stood out. I'm not sure if they're just not common in North America but I've never had baked buns with a sugary crust like that. It's sweet and sort of melts in your mouth. Everything else on the menu was pretty standard, but very well done. Dumplings were cooked perfectly, fried items were perfectly crispy, etc. I think the high turnover at the restaurant makes it so that everything is constantly being cooked and so none of it sits and overcooks. So so cheap, but most everything was cheap to me coming from the US/Canada. Cash only!

Anita Z.

Yelp

No frills, one-star Michelin Dim Sum. Expect a wait. Yes, Tim Ho Wan is good. Yes, it's a Michelin Star restaurant. Yes, it's cramped, slightly dirty, and the service is mediocre. Should you fly to Hong Kong just to get a taste of their BBQ pork buns? Well, I guess it depends on how desperate you really are. There's not much room to complain about this place given the amount they charge you for the quality of food. They truly deserve a Michelin star for their food. But that's it. Not because the waitstaff coddle and tend to your every wish, not because the decor was carefully handpicked and scrubbed spotless after every customer, and certainly not because the ambiance makes you suddenly feel more important, but don't skip out on this place. The BBQ pork bun is super tender and fluffy - it's a must-try! Everything else on the menu is a fresher, slightly more delicate version of any typical dim sum dish you order. I'll definitely give it a shot when they open one in Houston, TX!

Daniel H.

Yelp

FOOD: with a Michelin Star and a reputation to uphold, Tim Ho Wan delivers solid dim sum. Flavors are authentic and food is fresh made. Selection is pretty typical for dim sum fare- things to try of note are the pork buns and flower (perhaps chrysanthemum) gelatin SERVICE: while they do have an English menu, expect local waiters and service. Helps to have a native speaker. Food comes out quick but don't expect your teapot to be frequently refilled EXPERIENCE: Multiple tables that are bustling from open, it's a simple decor with often a very long line. We went on a Thursday lunch at 1145 and had no wait- once we left around 1, the line was 10+ deep. VALUE: almost all dishes are between 15-30 HKD (~$2-5 USD). Definitely the cheapest Michelin fare you will find, aim on 2-3 dishes per person for a full meal SUMMARY: Tim Ho Wan has a reputation for being the cheapest Michelin Star experience around. While probably true, the dim sum itself was fine and long wait meant that I would probably find a less high profile spot for my next dim sum fix. Worth a try though just to say you've done it!

Miki S.

Yelp

I still dream about the dim sum from this place! Hands down best dim sum on earth! Probably the only Michelin star dim sum place too. Everything was so incredible, I even liked the pork buns. I would almost fly back to Asia just to eat there again.

Tammy N.

Yelp

This was definitely the best dim sum place I had while in HK (but I did only go to three) and the pineapple pork buns alone were enough to see why this place got a Michelin Star. It was crispy but soft and the savory flavor of the pork fell in perfectly with the dough of the bun itself. If you go here you absolutely must get the brown sugar cage and the pork bun pineapple cake! We got a variety of items of around 9-10 dishes and our total bill came out to be $23 usd . That quality. That price. American dim sum will never taste the same now lol. I highly recommend going here. We came when it first opened at around 11 and there was no wait at all.

Molly E.

Yelp

I was tagging along with my boyfriend on his business trip to Shenzhen and decided to take a solo Hong Kong trip. Best idea ever. And across this amazing dim sum spot. Michelin star dim sum, whattt?! Hell yeah! This spot was a little hard to find because it's the middle of strip, but I love how low key it was. I walked in at an off time around 3pm and there was almost a full house! I was able to get seated immediately and just went crazy on ordering everything on the menu. My favorite was the bbq pork buns with a crusty top I have never had one like that before, usually they're soft. Hope to visit Hong Kong again

Tina N.

Yelp

Tim Ho Wan is the World's Cheapest Michelin-starred Restaurant. Ordered 11 dishes plus 2 teas for $226 HKD ~ $31.17 USD Tina's Travel and Tabloid - Get a number and you'll wait a good 30 minutes. - Use tea on table to wash your utensils and pour into big bowl. DON'T DRINK IT! - Too many good dishes to post, but had to choose the baked bun with BBQ pork as my favorite dish! My mom and I looked like pigs eating so much, we had to get to-go boxes too! Eyes are way bigger than our stomach. - Various locations, but this one is located on on Fuk Wing Street and the most popular one as it's one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant! - Communal tables, once again! Get used to it. - Must order the pork buns and turnip cake! - All worth it for the price (takes credit card) - fast, good, and popular!

Xiao Ling Z.

Yelp

Hands down the best dim sum I have ever had. They have each and every meal painted down to a science-- SO CONSISTENTLY AMAZING. The line here starts even before the place opens, and I came here on a weekday (though obviously I didn't have to wait because the restaurant wasn't small and there were plenty of seats). When you are first seated, there is an extra bowl in front of you-- use that to pour some tea in to wash your chopsticks and cups. I don't think their utensils are dirty, so I opted not to do this, but it is tradition for a lot of Chinese people-- so in case you were wondering, that's that! The lotus leaf wrap is by far the most unique thing that I have ever had. It is usually very small and lacking in stuffing when I have it in other restaurants, but you will find yourself with a generous portion of food here. I also LOVED the pork buns, they were like crack. PURE CRACK. IT WAS SO AMAZING, I don't know how I will ever eat any other pork bun ever again without feeling disappointment. Everything else here is amazing too, but I don't have a special need to call them out. This place does not serve milk tea or coffee, but whatever.

YangHwa P.

Yelp

Just like any Kowloon restaurants and cafes, this place is busy. We actually were seated right away and asked if we wanted the Chinese or English order form. I thought it was nice we had options. The service was efficient, but not too attentive (as I said this place was busy). Once we handed the order form the food came out relatively fast. The price was really good, and the food flavourful. Nothing spectacular, but it was delicious. The ambiance was hurried so it's not a place where you can relax and fully enjoy the food, however, as long as you know what you want you can still savour the food and be satisfied.

Dorothy L.

Yelp

Two words: PORK BUNS. Get them! We ordered two orders for the four of us and got an order to go. Everything else we had was pretty delicious as well. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them items offered. It was kind of difficult to flag the employees down after ordering because they're so busy so make sure you order everything you want... and then some! We got there early.. about an hour or so and walked around for a few minutes then got in line and was able to get in with the first wave. A must go in HK!

Kelsey C.

Yelp

This is the real dim sum, and the means a lot of things. Service is slow, this restaurant is not ritzy, and you need to accept that you will spend the better part of your meal listening to your neighbors chew. This is an authentic experience, and you'd be dumb to miss it. The menu is impressive, and I dare you to think of a staple that they don't serve. I live for the Shrimp Dumplings, and I've never seen anything so succulent and so perfect crafted. It is very difficult to make these not fall apart, and I don't know how they did it. Other favorites: meaty Shu Mai; a fluffy, bare-there Steamed Egg Cake; al dente shrimp Vermicelli Rolls rolls; impossibly tender Spareribs, Steamed Beancurd Rolls - the only good ones I've seen. The Crispy Beef Brisket is melt-in-your-mouth fatty and savory, but this one is really heavy . These are the Baked Buns with bbq pork that put this place on the Michelin map. The pineapple crust is divine, and the bun shrouds the melty, juicy pork like a cloud. I've had "turnip cakes", but I've never had Turnip Cakes. Turns out they're not supposed to be bland AF gelatin. These are fresh and sweet, and the dried shrimp gives them a fantastic flavor. Steamed Rice sounds simple, but it's worth a try. It's comfort food: tender ground beef with a runny fried egg to mix in. Dessert takes it up a notch with Deep Fried Sesame Balls filled with custard cream. The damage: 280 hkd. For all that. It's barely $40 US at the market rate of exchange, and in a big city like Hong Kong, it's unheard of to get food this good at a price this cheap!

Mimi N.

Yelp

If I could visit HK again, this is definitely a place I would come back. Why? It's the baked BBQ pork buns. I don't know why, but I'm currently salivating for those tasty, flaky, crisp buns that are generously filled up with sweet / BBQ flavored pork. I haven't had buns like these before in the States and to me, that alone is worth the trip here. Tim Ho Wan is a highly popular dim sum place (with multiple locations) and reservations are suggested to avoid the long queue. Came here with a few friends during my HK visit and thankfully, we were able to get a reservation in during the off hours / non peak eating times. When seated, do note that there is some type of ritual/process in washing your cups and utensils. Another neat thing about this place is that most of the dim sum items are included in the visual menu that is conveniently placed onto the table itself. For ordering, you just list what you want to eat on the order sheet, and your food will be brought to you. Overall, dim sum here is yummy. Portion sizes are decent and quality is fresh and hot. Like most dim sum places, you'll see the usual options offered but the one thing that stood out the most to me was definitely the pork buns. Service is quick and if you really need something, simply wave your arms about and someone will attend to you shortly. Prices are decent (especially if you're in a group) so bring cash with you to help split the bill easier!

Jonny M.

Yelp

I've been dreaming about coming back to Tim Ho Wan ever since my first visit to their original location four years ago. All you need to know is it's a one star Michelin rated restaurant at a shockingly affordable price. They've expanded to five locations in Hong Kong! I dropped in on a Saturday during an odd hour (around 5:15pm) hoping to avoid having to wait. Hit the jackpot! I got seated right away. Guess there are pros to traveling solo. The menu is short and sweet: steamed, deep fried, steamed rice, congee, vermicelli (aka. rice rolls) and desserts. Tick what you want off the list and flag down a waitress. I got lucky and ended up chatting with another solo travel that was seated beside me. We ended up sharing several dishes. - Tea ($2 HKD) - they drop off a pot automatically at your table. At least it's a big pot. - Ha jiao ($28 HKD) - they're a bit tinier than normal but good skin and quality shrimp. - Pan-fried turnip cake ($15 HKD) - comes with a side of hot sauce. Cheap but just average. - Baked bun with BBQ pork ($20 HKD) - 100% a must get. You get three of these babies and they're amazing. Flaky, buttery, sweet, umami goodness. This is THE reason to come to THW. - Steamed beancurd skin roll filled with pork & vegetable ($16 HKD) - three tasty stuffed beancurds. I'd get it again. - Wonton in chili sauce ($24 HKD) - pretty meh. Don't bother getting this one. - Siu mai ($28 HKD) - tiny like the ha jiao but packed with meat and flavour. - Vermicelli roll stuffed with BBQ pork ($23 HKD) - these were actually delicious. I wasn't expecting them to be this good but the texture was fantastic. - Steamed dumpling in chiu chow style ($14 HKD) - these are totally worth the price. You get three pieces and it's stuffed with chopped peanuts, chives, radish, mushroom and dried shrimp/ground pork. Solid. Get the baked bun with BBQ pork! Everything else is bonus.

Sherry V.

Yelp

Known as the cheapest 1-Michelin star restaurant at the time (2015), it did not disappoint. Everything we had here while we were in HK was pretty good, but the star of the show was the Baked BBQ Pork Buns. When I tried this again in NYC, it just wasn't the same. I'm not sure if it was because they were still working out the kinks, since it newly opened. The only thing that was good were the BBQ pork buns. However, it was overly sweet when I had it in NYC. In Hong Kong, it was perfect. We went right when it opened, so there wasn't a wait. If you go any later, expect a long queue. Definitely try this place in HK because it's the best location I've had it at!

Christina N.

Yelp

My first Michelin star restaurant and I'm happy to have had the experience at Tim Ho Wan. This place was on our list of places to try out while visiting Hong Kong. It is very affordable and comparable to dim sum prices in Boston. The food is definitely more fresh as all the items are softer and less salty compared to the places in the states.

Nevin L.

Yelp

Best Dim Sum I've had in my life. I've had a hatred for dim sum ever since my parents forced me to eat bad dim sum when I was a kid, but this place has healed me of those scars. I am too lazy to write about every single dish here so I'll focus on the most important one. BBQ Pork Buns - 5/5. The bun itself tasted like a sweet biscuit and had this amazing, slightly crunchy texture. The filling itself was full of flavor without being overpowering, which was impressive given how sweet the biscuit was already. Easily the best and most memorable thing on the menu, and it would be a crime to not get this here. This is coming from someone who hates BBQ Pork Buns normally, so this was exceptional. The Rest - 4.5/5. Everything else here was at least as good as the best dim sum places I've had in San Francisco/ Los Angeles, which is impressive since it's rare for a place to have so many good things on the menu. The wonton in Chili Oil was interesting since it was just drenched in diluted vinegar sauce, which worked since the sauce was watery enough to not stick onto the wontons. The turnip cake was super soft and had turnip chunks that tasted very fresh. Shu mai and the shrimp rice rolls had the nice fresh shrimp flavor to it, etc etc.

Cathy T.

Yelp

I love how this city is bustling with these wonderful Michelin star restaurants....and the great thing is that they are super affordable and food is always sooo yummy!! I thought I knew dim sum until I got a taste of what this place is all about...I am truly enlightened! And omg it's no wonder they are famous for those amazing BBQ pork buns bc these little buns are seriously out of this world! I can probably eat a whole carton and still crave for more. Shu Mai, sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf, cheong fun, hakao were also very very tasty as well. This place opens at 10 am so I suggest getting there right when it opens or you'll be expected to wait. But even then, these Hong Kong restaurants are quite efficient with their seating arrangements bc they'll be filling every seat that is open even if you have to sit among strangers. Getting in and out and is always a breeze. Such an amazing dim sum experience. The only Tim Ho Wan that exists in the US is in NYC. I sure hope that they one day make their way out to LA!!

Halwell T.

Yelp

Excellent food! Imaging atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Hannah E.

Yelp

Do I include hype and expectations in this review? It's hard not to. I was recommended this place by no less than four people. Plus, there's the whole 'cheapest Michelin starred restaurant' thing. And the line out the door on a Monday at 1pm thing. I think it's a good thing I didn't go to the location on the island. I went to the one in the ugly industrial area of Kowloon. And being a single diner, I was seated within five minutes... at an intimately tiny table with an older lady who spoke no English and who made a game out of totally avoiding my eyes and pretending I didn't exist, even when I tried to pour her tea. That is, until my BBQ pork buns arrived, at which point she was suddenly curious. She caught my eye and pointed to the tray of buns, giving me a quizzical thumbs up. The lady at the next table tried to translate. "You tasty?" she asked. I was tasty. The buns were that style we see less often abroad... the flatter fried style with the sugar crust on top. Usually with a bun like this I assume dessert. And with the sweetness level of this thing... that's not too far off. It was perfect texture wise, so flaky it fell apart under my chopsticks and I had to use my hands, something I'm sure my tablemate noted disapprovingly, and the pork and sauce were tasty, but man, that bready sugar coating... I wished I'd sugar-fasted before coming here so I could have enjoyed it more. My shrimp dumplings were vastly more enjoyable for me, if with less detail to describe. It was just a perfectly executed dumpling, with the skin unobtrusively melting away after it had served its purpose, leaving just the slippery, springy shrimp and its fresh flavor behind.

Kenny N.

Yelp

Tim Ho Wan is a decent dim sum restaurant. I do believe it is way over-hyped. We had the standard dishes such as feng zhao, siu mai, har gow, lo mai gai. Overall, I was expecting these dishes to be superior to the ones in America. However, most tasted normal despite its Michelin status. The menu is also bare bones, so I didn't see any bolo baos or options to get different teas. That said, I did enjoy the freshly made char siu bao. That was amazing and hands down the main attraction by the locals and tourists such as myself. The food was cheap and I guess I can't complain as our total bill came to roughly $20 USD for a party of 2.

@michelinguide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/hong-kong-region/hong-kong/restaurant/tim-ho-wan-sham-shui-po

View Postcard for Tim Ho Wan

@infatuation

Eibhleann Alexander

Google

James Mims

Google

Gabriel Garcia

Google

Wong Jennifer

Google

George St

Google

Em Vrz

Google

Manuela Melinescu

Google

Vince

Google

Michael K.

Yelp

Good food! Shrimp dumping is very nice. It is not expensive even the food quality is very good. BBQ pork bun is the signature.

Vincent P.

Yelp

Beth Z.

Yelp

Kevin E.

Yelp

Nelson H.

Yelp

Sophie Y.

Yelp

Melody F.

Yelp

Alvin C.

Yelp

Christina W.

Yelp

Winlee W.

Yelp

Natalie H.

Yelp

Nina H.

Yelp

Dan N.

Yelp

Perry P.

Yelp

Dani S.

Yelp

Jana C.

Yelp

Bao H.

Yelp

Richard D.

Yelp

Manfred S.

Yelp

Forrest T.

Yelp

Lindsey O.

Yelp

Porsche C.

Yelp

Byron C.

Yelp

Tina L.

Yelp

Glydia C.

Yelp

Ashley B.

Yelp

Natali B.

Yelp

Tiffany C.

Yelp

Anthony C.

Yelp

Christine U.

Yelp

Anita Z.

Yelp

Daniel H.

Yelp

Miki S.

Yelp

Tammy N.

Yelp

Molly E.

Yelp

Tina N.

Yelp

Xiao Ling Z.

Yelp

YangHwa P.

Yelp

Dorothy L.

Yelp

Kelsey C.

Yelp

Mimi N.

Yelp

Jonny M.

Yelp

Sherry V.

Yelp

Christina N.

Yelp

Nevin L.

Yelp

Cathy T.

Yelp

Halwell T.

Yelp

Excellent food! Imaging atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Hannah E.

Yelp

Kenny N.

Yelp

Tim Ho Wan (SHAM SHUI PO)

Photos

Highlights

Postcards

The 25 Best Places To Eat & Drink In Hong Kong

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opens Sept. 29 at the Palms - Eater Vegas

Tim Ho Wan dim sum opens at the Palms in September - Eater Vegas

You might also like

The 25 Best Places To Eat & Drink In Hong Kong

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opens Sept. 29 at the Palms - Eater Vegas

Tim Ho Wan dim sum opens at the Palms in September - Eater Vegas

Tim Ho Wan (SHAM SHUI PO)

Photos

Highlights

Postcards

The 25 Best Places To Eat &amp; Drink In Hong Kong

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opens Sept. 29 at the Palms - Eater Vegas

Tim Ho Wan dim sum opens at the Palms in September - Eater Vegas

You might also like

The 25 Best Places To Eat &amp; Drink In Hong Kong

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opens Sept. 29 at the Palms - Eater Vegas

Tim Ho Wan dim sum opens at the Palms in September - Eater Vegas

The 25 Best Places To Eat & Drink In Hong Kong

The 25 Best Places To Eat & Drink In Hong Kong