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Look out Chinatown, 4th Avenue is where it’s at for NYC’s hottest dumplings! Yes, you’ve heard it, you’ve read about it, you’ve anticipated it – the world acclaimed Tim Ho Wan, famed for being the world’s cheapest restaurant to get a Michelin star, has made its way to New York City!
Huge lines around the block on East 10th St.
For those of you who have been living under a rock this past winter, Tim Ho Wan is a Hong Kong dim sum chain ranked the best restaurant in Asia that has kept its Michelin rating for seven consecutive years! The original Hong Kong hole-in-the-wall quickly became a household name, to later expand its Cantonese dim sum to outposts all over Asia, before finally arriving to the U.S. of A. Few Manhattan restaurants have caused such excitement as Tim Ho Wan‘s January 2017 opening. Forget the Cronut®, Tim Ho Wan now has the craziest line in the city – just managing to actually get in has become the hottest ticket in town! Seatings start at 10am and if you get there any time after 9:30am, expect a 2-3 hour wait if you’re lucky enough to get on the waiting list…
Get there before 9:30am for first seating!
Sun’s out Buns’ out! 😆 Long lines at any weather!
The famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – $4.95 for 3 pieces
Their signature Steamed Egg Cake $4.25 – incredibly light and spongy
So what is it about Tim Ho Wan that makes it dimsumthing special? 😆 No other place offers high-quality, traditional Cantonese gastronomy at such an affordable price (all dishes are under $5.50, so for $20 per person you get a feast)! The star attraction here is the dim sum of course. Tim Ho Wan strives for dim sum perfection and precision is the rule of thumb for all chefs in the kitchen – every dish is prepared fresh daily and cooked to order. Make sure you tick from their customary checklist their famed Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – one of the four dishes (referred to as the “Big 4 Heaving Kings“) that gained Tim Ho Wan its success and international following . Other must-orders include their Steamed Egg Cake, as well as the two NYC exclusives, a Vegetable Deep Fried Spring Roll and their unique version of a French Toast (*gourmand alert* on this one! 😛 ). Pair your meal with one of their six different teas, although this restaurant, unlike other locations, does serve beer and wine.
Open 7 days a week
All things steamed! Clockwise from top: Steamed Shrimp & Chives Dumplings, Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow), Steamed Dumplings in Chiu Chow style, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf, Steamed Egg Cake, Steamed Rice Roll stuffed with Shrimp and Chinese Chives – less than $5.50 each!
Inside the buns: BBQ pork wrapped in a soft, crisp sweet dough
Deep Fried Eggplant filled with Shrimp $4.75
Close-up: the eggplant was a bit greasy but the shrimp ball was delicious!
Pan Fried Turnip Cake $4.50
Everyone was eating a Congee so I had to order one: a hearty rice soup with pork and preserved egg – $3.75
Steamed Rice Roll stuffed with Shrimp and Chinese Chives $5.25
Loved this French Toast filled with Custard – $4.25 – an exclusive menu item only in NYC!
The 60-seat restaurant is as simple and unpretentious as its menu. The service is humble but once you’ve sat down (score!) dishes come out super quick. If you’re flexible with the seating, they have limited standing room at the entrance bar which will allow you to peek into the kitchen!
Simple dining room in between services
Standing room by the open kitchen available for a quick bite & shorter wait
Gimme some dim sum! Ticking off as many boxes as I can!
So is it worth the rave and the Michelin rating? Um… Well… I mean, dim sum is dim sum! But if you’re patient enough to stand in line and risk rejection, Tim Ho Wan is definitely worth the effort for its perfectly executed dim sum at a bargain. Thank you Tim Ho Wan for finally coming to this side of the world before I planned my next Hong Kong trip (solely) for you!
Open Sun – Thu 10:00am – 10:00pm | Fri, Sat 10:00am – 11:00pm
