| Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialists[1] 添好運點心專門店[2] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||
.jpg) Tim Ho WanSham Shui Po branch | |||||||||||
| Restaurant information | |||||||||||
| Established | March 2009; 16 years ago (2009-03) | ||||||||||
| Owner(s) | Jollibee Foods Corporation | ||||||||||
| Previousowner(s) | Mak Kwai-pui and Leung Fai-keung | ||||||||||
| Food type | Hong Kong Cuisine,Dim Sum[2] | ||||||||||
| Website | http://www.timhowan.com.hk | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 添好運 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 添好运 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Tim Ho Wan (Chinese:添好運) is aHong Kongdim sum restaurant chain originating fromHong Kong. Known for being "the world's cheapest Michelin-star restaurant", the chain has since expanded and now has franchises in 12 countries.[3][4]
In November 2024, the company was acquired byJollibee Foods Corporation of thePhilippines.[5]
Tim Ho Wan was founded in March 2009 by Mak Kwai-pui (a former chef at three Michelin star restaurantLung King Heen) and Leung Fai-keung, with their first location being a 20-seater restaurant inMong Kok.[6] Mak had stated that, "the food scene in Hong Kong globalized and I saw less and less authentic Cantonese food", and that by opening Tim Ho Wan he wanted to "keep the tradition alive at an affordable price".[7] The name Tim Ho Wan means "to add good luck".[8]
Within a year of opening, the original Tim Ho Wan in Mong Kok gained aMichelin star.[9]
The original Mong Kok location relocated toOlympian City in 2013, and the chain has 5 additional branches in Hong Kong.[4]
The Tim Ho Wan Group was owned by Mak and Leung (50% equity holding each), and the group owns all branches in Hong Kong. The Group also collects fees by franchising out their brand globally; all Tim Ho Wan head chefs at these franchised locations must be experienced dim sum chefs, and go through a mandatory 4-week training session in Hong Kong.[8]
In November 2024, the company was acquired byJollibee Foods Corporation of thePhilippines.[5]
The Asia-Pacific franchise rights are held by Tim Ho Wan Private Limited and includes 39 branches in 9 Asia-Pacific markets (excluding Hong Kong, as Tim Ho Wan Group retains direct control of their Hong Kong branches, and Japan). The master franchise rights for the region were acquired in 2018 byJollibee Foods Corporation for approximatelyUS$33 million.[10]
The franchise rights in Europe, the United States, and Japan are held by Japanese dining group WDI Group. They currently operate 8 branches, with 2 inTokyo, 2 inNew York City, 1 inIrvine, CA, 1 inLas Vegas, 1 inWaikiki, and 1 inKaty, TX.[11][12]
