Hong Kong: Tim Ho Wan 添好運點心專門店

Welcome to the cheapest Michelin Star Restaurant in the world, Tim Ho Wan 添好運點心專門店. We came, we saw, we conquered. This restaurant was on my must try list of restaurants and food in Hong Kong, which one really should not miss, so during our last day, I made sure we freed up some time to try out this restaurant.



I told Adi, the navigator of the trip, the address and he located it on the map. Good thing he is an expert map reader (he says he got the skill from playing GTA). Tim Ho Wan is located at Flat 8, Ground Floor, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The street was easy to locate, but the restaurant, not really. I had to ask around before we finally found the restaurant.

We went at around 10 in the morning, opening time. I hurriedly asked for the menu and for a number. Make sure to ask for the English version of the menu, or else, you would not really guess what it is you are ordering because they usually give out the full Chinese version of the menu/order sheet to the customers. #37. Wow. We arrived 10 minutes past 10 am, and we are already #37, and they were serving #8 at that time.



We waited for a while, until, the attendant was trying to say something in Cantonese. If I got it right, she was saying that we go away first, and just come back. I have read from the blogs that you can actually go around and do your shopping or sight-seeing first and just come back without worrying because they will put you right back to "next to serve" if your number has been skipped. Cool huh? Yeah, so instead of just waiting around and wasting time, Adi and I proceeded to do our list of bargain/item hunting.

P.S. I just read that they opened a new branch, which is a lot bigger, and does not have that long queue or wait time to be seated. Proceed to 9-11 Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po if you want to avoid the long lines. Although, they say that the quality of food is still better in the flagship branch. You decide.



We went back, fulfilled, at around a little past 12nn, and they were already serving #83. I showed my menu form to the attendant, and they put us right back on top of the list to be served next. Nice! :) We were starving, and excited to try this restaurant out. As we were ushered into our seats, they got the menu/oder form. Now, is the restaurant worth the wait? One by one, our orders came. They served us each a cup of pu-er tea.



Steamed rice with beef & pan fried egg (HK$17) Adi did not like the beef, so he just ate the rice, while I ate all the beef and little rice. :))



Steamed fresh shrimp dumplings (ha jiao) (HK$22) One of the best Hakaw I have tasted. The shrimp is just so fresh, and it just explodes with pure joy in your mouth.



Fried noodle with soya sauce (HK$12) Nothing fancy or extraordinary, we both did not like this. This is probably the least enjoyed dish during that lunch.



Now, this is the famous Baked bun with BBQ pork (HK$14) This dish earned Tim Ho Wan its One Star Michelin reputation. This is definitely the star of that lunch, a must try, must order dish, I tell you. The crust and outer layer is crispy, and the char siu filling is just so irresistible. In fact, we ordered another plate for us. Writing this post during lunchtime is not healthy. Now I am craving for this, as I write this blog. :))


The next two dishes, Steamed pork dumpling with shrimp (HK$22) and the Steamed spareribs with black bean sauce (HK$14) are equally as yummy. Dimsum love!!! The Hakaw, Siomai and the Baked Buns (made in heaven) are the trio I would love to have again, and again, and again. Absolutely yuh-meee.



This place is definitely worth the wait (well, if you are smart, you could avoid the long line and wait...it's up to you, maybe you like the thrill of waiting, haha!) and the money. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's visiting Hong Kong. :)



Tim Ho Wan 添好運點心專門店
Flat 8, Ground Floor, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po.

Other One Star local new-comers include:
a.) Loaf On: No. 49 See Chueng Steet, Sai Kung.
b.) Hung's Delicacy: G/F, 84 Wharf Rd North Point, tal +852 2570 1108

Hong Kong: Lok Yuen Beef Ball King 樂園牛丸大王

It was our first time in Hong Kong. Adi, my cousin, and I booked a Cebu Pacific Air promo flight out of Manila to Hong Kong last October 13, to see the sights, to take advantage of changing of the season SALE (which is/was happening over there), and to eat good food. Unfortunately, or fortunately, despite lacking time to roam around and see the touristy sights, we managed to do much of the latter.

The weather, I would say, is just the same as Manila's, but the sun is not really irritating because of all the high rise establishments and buildings all over the city which act as shade. It was the perfect weather to walk and explore Hong Kong, like how it should be.



Hong Kong is synonymous to good food and good bargains. We experienced those first hand, as we walked and walked, and walked all over Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong Island in search for great discounts and bargains, and of course, great eats.

Upon arrival, we trooped to the bus station in search for our A21 bus that will lead us to MongKok for only (HK$33). It will be more expensive to take the airport train at (HK$100) so we opted for a cheaper alternative. It would be better if you get an Octopus Card, which you just top-up. You can use it to pay for MTR, Bus, Taxi or Tram fares. You can even use it to buy in a lot of shops.

We checked in our room at Ka Wut Villa, a modest and rundown inn, which is not that easy to find. In fairness though, the location is very ideal and perfect, right smack in the middle of MongKok, where you can easily navigate through the bargains. There are a lot of better accommodations, I am sure, but that is what we got for booking 2 weeks before our trip. On the bright side, we got an unforgettable, funny, and undeniably caring "auntie" landlady (best part of staying there I guess?).



With no time to lose, we headed out and see what we could find. Almost all the shops are closed or closing, so we identified which ones we are going to the next day. Hungry from walking, we retired at Lok Yuen, for a meal.

Lok Yuen Beef Ball King 樂園牛丸大王

We settled for a noodle shop to fill our tummies. Later did we find out that the restaurant is awarded, "One of The Best Restaurants in Hong Kong." :) We ordered the Wonton Noodles (HK$26) and the Beef Brisket Noodles (HK$26).

“We were the first to offer this and now everyone calls this dish the ‘Exploding Beef Balls’,” says the owner of Lok Yuen. Rumor has it, as I have read in the blogs, that their Beef and Fish Maw Balls inspired the scriptwriter of Stephen Chow's "The God of Cookery". Remember the "Exploding Beef Balls"? :) We should have tried their Beef Ball Noodles, I know. Now, I am getting hungry.



The noodle soup, wonton and beef are good, to satisfy our hunger that night. The place is very unpretentious. The prices are relatively cheap. It's easy to navigate through the menu. Remember to order the Beef and Fish Mew Balls, and you're all set for your first meal in Hong Kong. On to the next!