Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan (Chinese: 添好運) is a Hong Kong dim sum restaurant chain originating from Hong 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]

Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialists[1] 添好運點心專門店[2]
Tim Ho Wan Sham Shui Po branch
Restaurant information
Established	March 2009; 16 years ago (2009-03)
Owner(s)	Jollibee Foods Corporation
Previous owner(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
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Tiān Hǎo Yùn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Tim1 Hou2 Wan6

In November 2024, the company was acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation of the Philippines.^[5]

History

Tim Ho Wan was founded in March 2009 by Mak Kwai-pui (a former chef at three Michelin star restaurant Lung King Heen) and Leung Fai-keung, with their first location being a 20-seater restaurant in Mong 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 a Michelin star.^[9]

Local Expansion

A Tim Ho Wan outlet in Westgate shopping mall in Singapore

A Tim Ho Wan outlet in Hibiya, Tokyo

A Tim Ho Wan outlet in Taipei, located across the Taipei Main Station

Inside Tim Ho Wan in Melbourne, Australia.

The original Mong Kok location relocated to Olympian City in 2013, and the chain has 5 additional branches in Hong Kong.^[4]

Franchise

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 by Jollibee Foods Corporation of the Philippines.^[5]

Asia-Pacific

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 by Jollibee Foods Corporation for approximately US$33 million.^[10]

Europe, the USA, and Japan

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 in Tokyo, 2 in New York City, 1 in Irvine, CA, 1 in Las Vegas, 1 in Waikiki, and 1 in Katy, TX.^[11][12]