Tim Ho Wan

I don't know what people are saying and why this place is considered bad. Ya'll got trash for a palate. Maybe it's because they're used to eating cheap flavored dim sum with lower quality ingredients that's overly filled with MSG and salt.Sorry not sorry. Everyone that says China garden, seafood cove, capital, or the closed down place, Sam woo, is better has trash or mid taste. Perhaps the flavor is too refined for some people to appreciate.From dim sum, to daikon cake, to the noodle soup, they're all pleasantly fresh and well flavored. Not overly sweet, salty, or cotton mouth filled with msg. This is how quality dim sum should taste.The ambiance is nice and not grimey, dusty, and sticky like the other places. I have nothing bad to say about the service other than average. It's not a five star restaurant service but at least it's better than other places.

Good dim sum & excellent service! The place is always bright & clean. Love the Har Gow.

The food is mediocre dim sum and is not worth the trouble for the long line wait. We sat down and their service is extremely slow and barely any attention is given to us. Let alone lets not forget about the automatically 15% gratuity and hidden tea charge. I've been to Tim Ho Wan outside the US and this location is not held to the same standard. I do not recommend this location. Plenty of other dim sum options in Irvine.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Solid dimsum choice, especially during non-busy times. I met up with a couple of friends for dinner on a weeknight, and it was very quiet. They also have happy hour from 3-6, which we took advantage of. We ordered the following to share:Fried eggplant with shrimp - very goodShrimp har gow (2) - standard, but goodFried turnip cakes (2) - very goodBeef noodle soup (I didn't partake)Rice roll with shrimp (we ordered ones with chives but there were no chives--still ok)Steamed egg cake (fluffy, lightly sweet)Service was nice, but again, not very many people. It was a pleasant midweek dimsum hit, but not sure if I'd brave the weekend crowds here. Would definitely return.

Three stars for the meal experience, minus one star for one of the dirtiest bathroom encounters - I was hoping for a traditional cart to be rolled to our table. Unfortunately, you have to order the selections with the server at this made-to-order restaurant. Tim Ho Wan boasts as a place that serves "quality and affordability." While I can attest that there was quality in each dim sum that we ordered, it is only half true as I did not feel that our five selections were considered affordable. Spending over $40 for five does not make dim sum an affordable dining experience. Also, I have to point out that for a restaurant with high standards to have one of the most unmaintained bathrooms that I've ever witnessed. The toilet was leaking from each flush, and the floor was slippery, which is a serious hazard.What we ordered:BAKED BBQ BUNS (3): I believe this is their best-seller and what this place is known for. The BBQ buns were soft, and the taste of the marinated pork was sweet.STEAMED SHRIMP DUMPLINGS (HAR GOW) - If you love shrimp, this is a must-order. The dumplings are savory and light.STEAMED PORK DUMPLINGS WITH SHRIMP (SIU MAI) - Similar to the Shrimp Dumpling with an added pork meat on the bottom.STEAMED DUMPLINGS WITH SHRIMP AND CHIVES - Another steamed selection that complements with their chili crisp sauce.STEAMED RICE ROLL WITH BBQ PORK - These stick rice paper rolls are like soft cigars packed with meat of your selection and drenched in sweet soy sauce.All five selections were an enjoyable treat. However, this isn't the place for a budget-conscious dim sum experience.

My first Tim Ho Wan experience was in Honolulu back in ~2018. I've been craving it ever since, probably because I like how structured and operationalized it is. There are none in the SF Bay Area, not sure why, though I can only speculate it's probably because how many "good" dim sum places there are in the SF Bay Area as is. I wouldn't mind if THW still came to the Bay though.The problem with the dim sum places in the Bay are that they aren't nearly as consistent. There are many places that will taste great one time then totally flop the next visit. I'd like to think THW (since it's a global chain) has the consistency portion down.- Baked Char Siu Bao: Good, iconic, but more on the sweet side. There is a sugary coating on top. - Congee: Good, serviceable, well seasoned.- Spare ribs with black bean sauce: I always get it, and it was done nicely here.- Steamed Rice Roll with Shrimp: It comes in 3 rolls, and they didn't cut it. Decent, but wish they would cut it into better pieces.- Chicken Dumplings: Very run-in-the-mill pan fried chicken dumplings with some ginseng flavor to it.I always get the Siu Mai and Har Gow, but they didn't taste that great oddly enough.It's clean, service is good, and it's in a great plaza in Irvine!

Wow... yeah... Heard great things about this place and also experience lack luster quality food. Why such the contradiction? Well... quality control was not there. I've heard that they earned a Michelin Star at the Taiwan location. How can that be if the quality is as such here? QC is the best answer. Tried the staple items of dim sum and even for novice patrons, you can tell it was just empty calories. Hai Cau was ok but that's the extent of it. I did enjoy the porridge but that's expected. I won't know what to say if that wasn't up to par. The inside decor was a take on old modern ish which seemed to have identity crisis. Regardless of that, food quality affects the overall experience. Heard the wife mentioned that the bathroom was not up-kept. That's a big no no for any restaurant in my book. Truthfully, I don't think they will be here that much longer with the price they charge and the mediocre food they serve. I hope they look into these points and start making adjustments. This isn't looking good for their future endeavors.

Baked BBQ Pork Buns: a signature dish here I'm told. The breading was surprisingly light and airy. I could polish off about a dozen if left unattended. Hehe.We tried more yummy foods, as evidenced by my pics, but I'm stuck fantasizing about those pork buns even now...

I ordered a few items from the menu, some steamed, and some other regular dim sum dishes. The food tasted great. Everything was well seasoned, not too fatty or greasy.These baked bbq pork buns are seriously my favorite food ever! They're so flaky and moist on the inside with sugar and crunch on the outside. Shiu Mai was not dense and fresh tasting , service was fast.Everything was clean and organized. I am not sure why this location has gotten so many negative reviews maybe the food portion is not much for the price.

Tim Ho Wan is a great spot for delicious dim sum. The baked BBQ pork buns are still tasty, but they seem smaller now. We enjoyed every dish we ordered, though the table was a bit sticky when we sat down. The service was decent, and the staff was friendly. We'd definitely go back to try their happy hour menu.