Tim Ho Wan


Tim Ho Wan is a Chinese dim sum restaurant chain that originated in Hong Kong. It now has 46 outlets in seven countries and two Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Macau, Japan, USA and Australia.

History

In 2009, Chef Mak Kwai-Pui, formerly a chef of three-Michelin-starred restaurant Lung King Heen, alongside Chef Leung Fai Keung opened a 20-seater dim sum restaurant in Mongkok, Hong Kong. Tim Ho Wan would eventually earn a Michelin star of its own in the 2010 Hong Kong and Macau Guide. In 2015, its Sham Shui Po, North Point and Tai Kok Tsui branches had all received one Michelin star. Since then, the restaurant has been dubbed as "the world's cheapest Michelin-star restaurant."

Expansion

From its original Mongkok location, five additional branches were opened in Hong Kong; Sham Shui Po, Central, North Point, Tai Kok Tsui and Tseung Kwan O. In 2013, the original Mongkok branch relocated to Olympian City.
Tim Ho Wan began expanding overseas in 2013, with the opening of its first international location in Singapore's Plaza Singapura. It also expanded to the Philippines in 2014 with the opening of a branch at SM Megamall in Metro Manila and in Australia the following year with the opening of a branch in Chatswood and subsequently in Westfield Sydney and 580 George Street. Another branch opened in Jakarta at the end of March 2015. The chain also has branches in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, New York City and Irvine, California
Dim Sum Delight Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian operator of Tim Ho Wan, closed down all of its outlets in 2017, after recording losses of RM895,642 in 2016. Founder Mak Gui Pui said the business failed because of cultural differences — the majority of the population in Malaysia is Muslim and don't eat pork, while pork is the main ingredient in dim sum dishes like BBQ pork bun and siu mai. The news triggered some discussion among Malaysian Chinese. Many have argued that it is irresponsible for Mak Gui Pui to blame Muslim culture for his business failure.

Franchise

In May 2018, TLC Capital Management Pte. Ltd. a private equity fund acquired Tim Ho Wan Pte. Ltd. which holds the exclusive long-term master franchise to operate the business in the Asia Pacific region.