I love Tim Ho Wan, so when I heard they had opened a restaurant in East Village, I was genuinely excited. Tim Ho Wan started in Hong Kong as a small dim sum spot with a sharp focus on the classics done properly. For several years, some of their Hong Kong locations held a Michelin star, and the reputation as the world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurant still sticks, even though the stars are long gone. The food, however, has not changed, and it is still very good.
Just like at the Hong Kong restaurants, the East Village location is casual and efficient. You fill out an order slip, check off the dishes you want, and then sit back while the food arrives as it is ready. If you feel like more, you simply order again.
Prices are very reasonable (significantly lower than at Din Tai Fung), so you can order freely without worrying too much about the bill. The menu includes all the dim sum classics along with several Tim Ho Wan signature dishes. The baked BBQ pork buns are mandatory. They are baked rather than steamed, with a crisp shell and filled with rich BBQ pork in a thick, sweet sauce. We clearly leaned into the BBQ pork that day, because we also ordered the steamed rice rolls with BBQ pork. Rice rolls are something Tim Ho Wan also does exceptionally well. They are silky smooth, perfectly textured, and finished with warm soy sauce poured over at the table. The shrimp version is also excellent, but there was simply no room this time.
Steve was in the mood for congee, so we ordered the congee with pork and preserved egg. A warm, filling dish that was exactly what you want on a cold day.
I first tried Tim Ho Wan’s pork wonton in spicy sauce years ago in Bangkok, and they were outstanding. Back then, they were a temporary menu item, but they now seem to be here to stay. They were not as visually pleasing as the ones I had in Bangkok, but they were just as tasty.
Tim Ho Wan also has soup dumplings on the menu. I have never felt a strong urge to order them before, but we were curious and decided to give them a try. They were fine, but not particularly memorable.
For once, we ordered just the right amount of food. We finished everything and left feeling comfortably full. So happy there’s a Tim Ho Wan in New York City.
What to order at Tim Ho Wan? Here are my suggestions
Tim Ho Wan, 85 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003
This is a really nice setup if you like steaming food and want something that actually works well. The bamboo steamer gives you that classic, gentle steam that’s perfect for dumplings, dim sum and vegetables, while the stainless steel pot underneath doubles as a solid stock pot for soups and broths. It’s a simple, practical set that doesn’t take up much space and is great if you cook a lot of Asian food at home.
