Tim Ho Wan
Dim sum restaurant · Westpark
2700 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606
Highlights
Michelin-starred dim sum featuring baked BBQ pork buns
Michelin-starred dim sum featuring baked BBQ pork buns
"An outpost of an internationally known, inexpensive Michelin-starred concept serving dim sum; it brings high-quality Cantonese small plates and wallet-friendly dim sum options to the neighborhood." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"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
"Various dishes were considered 'inexplicably dull' or 'puzzling,' with particularly harsh criticism for battered dessert milk sticks." - Farley Elliott
"Tim Ho Wan, an iconic Hong Kong dim sum destination, has officially set its sights on Houston. A representative for the chain tells Eater that it currently has plans to open a Houston outpost, though no address or timeline for its arrival has been set just yet. The news comes on the heels of Tim Ho Wan’s newest restaurant, which debuted in Irvine, California this week. Founded in 2009 in Hong Kong, the Michelin-starred restaurant also operates dozens of outposts across the globe, including U.S. locations in Hawaii, New York, and an outpost that’s soon set to debut in Las Vegas. For the unfamiliar, Tim Ho Wan is known for its decadent and diverse selection of classic dim sum offerings, ranging from barbecue pork buns to steamed shrimp dumplings, deep-fried eggplant, and steamed rice rolls stuffed with minced beef or shrimp. Congee is also on the menu, along with sweets like pan-fried black rice mochi served with pineapple and crisp sesame balls stuffed with “lava custard.” No word yet on when Houston diners can expect this Michelin-starred hotspot to touch down, but stay tuned for more details." - Amy McCarthy
"Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin-starred dim sum spot located at the Diamond Jamboree plaza, known for its highly-regarded Hong Kong-style dim sum." - Matthew Kang
