Tim Ho Wan is known to be the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world. They started in Mongkok Hong Kong as a 20-seater dim sum restaurant and strived to earn Michelin star recognition.
They expanded overseas with their first international outlet being in Singapore and opened Tim Ho Wan in Plaza Singapura in 2013. Soon, more outlets opened and we tried the one located in Westgate Jurong East.
First Impressions
I have never seen Tim Ho Wan without people queuing outside the restaurant so we joined the queue and prepared ourselves for the long waiting time.
Very prominent in their frontage is their huge green name and logo designed with two dragons embodied inside a circle that is equally divided with what seems to be a pair of chopsticks. To me, the logo appears like the top view of a dim sum basket. Speaking of which, you can also notice a lot of dim sum baskets artistically lined-up as cornice decorations.
The dining area is very bright because of the tall unobstructed glass windows. The interior design is also minimalistic and I find the table arrangements a bit cramped. Maybe this is their way to accommodate the high volume of customers.
The Staff
The server who ushered us to our table was a middle-aged woman who speaks Cantonese. She was polite and even if we can't understand what she was saying she made body gestures to compliment her way of communicating to us.
She handed us their menu, a sheet of paper that seems to be a checklist, and a pencil. She explained to us (in Cantonese and body gesture) that every item on the menu is individually coded. If we want to order a particular item, we just need to find the matching code on the checklist, tick it, and specify the number of quantity. Then call her up when we are done. Quite straightforward. Easy peasy.
The Service
Food service is surprisingly fast. It took about five minutes and all the food we ordered was already on our table.
Payment is self-serve which makes your overall experience from going in, dining, and payment like a walk in the park.
The Food
Hong Kong Braised Beef Noodle instantly became my favorite when it comes to beef noodle soup. The best I ever tasted so far.
There was a deep beef broth aroma and the soup was very flavorful because of the spices added to it. The noodles were thin, springy, and fused with all the beefy goodness of the broth. Specially selected chunks of beef with tendons were also added. It was very tender and melts in your mouth. It was garnished with chopped onion leeks and green leafy vegetables.
Hong Kong Braised Beef Noodle
Pork Congee with Century and Salted Eggs
The Sesame Balls were an awesome treat. There were three balls per serving with each ball placed on thin crown-shaped paper to absorb oil. It was fried until gold brown that made it so crispy on the outside but soft and chewy inside. The sweet paste filling was absolutely delicious but heavy on the stomach.
Sesame Balls
Their signature Baked BBQ Pork Buns is their best seller and technically what made Tim Ho Wan on the global food map.
Each serving comes with three buns. These freshly baked buns have delicate crumbly surface that was sweet. When you slice the soft bun, wisps of steam will come out from the inside. Then you'll be able to see the rich filling made of char siew, which means roasted pork, blended with their very own in-house sauce.
It tasted so good that it was very addictive.
Baked BBQ Pork Buns
Our Take
We definitely recommend their Baked BBQ Pork Buns. If you will be visiting Tim Ho Wan soon and you are a first-timer, this delectable treat is a must-try. This is what made them famous after all.
Operations
On weekdays they are open from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM. On weekends and public holidays, they start at 9:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM.
They accept all major credit cards, NETS, and cash payments.
Speak Your Mind
Do you know another Michelin-starred restaurant that is affordable? Share it with us in the comment section below.
Post a Comment