Tim Ho Wan - Honolulu

I’ve dined at Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong and several other locations worldwide, and I found the Hong Kong branch to be flavorful and a great value. Unfortunately, my experience at the Honolulu location wasn’t nearly as positive. While the portion sizes are comparable to other locations, charging $7 for Sui Mai that only tastes mediocre does not live up to expectations. The food was decent overall, but for the price, I was hoping for much more. I would honestly recommend looking for another dim sum spot in Chinatown, where you’d likely get better value. However, if your goal is simply to say you’ve visited a Tim Ho Wan, then it might be worth it despite the higher prices.

The prices are steep, but they provide a kamaaina discount. The dim sum is authentic and delicious. I was initially concerned when I noticed the dark soy sauce, but everything turned out to be perfect. I tried the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, chicken feet, and spicy wontons, all of which were fantastic. The service was friendly and attentive. Additionally, it's quite rare to find dim sum available for dinner. I would definitely return.

We had the most disappointing meal we've ever experienced. The food was completely bland and lacked any flavor, and it was absurdly overpriced. The waitstaff treated us poorly, making us feel as if we were just cattle in a sales yard, with zero regard for customer service. The meal tasted as though it had come from a mass production line, lacking any authenticity or care.

The food here really doesn't live up to the hype. The atmosphere was decent and the restaurant appeared well-organized, but the food itself fell short of my expectations. To be honest, it wasn't even enjoyable, especially the dumplings. They really need to consider adding some mustard sauce options, as I didn't have any available. Additionally, the service was somewhat slow.

This was an incredible experience with glutinous rice. It was exceptionally soft and tender, with a wonderfully crispy fried exterior. The pork buns and fried pork dumplings felt like biting into a delightful, fluffy cloud filled with savory meat. The siu mai and the egg custard sesame dessert balls were also outstanding. I honestly felt like I was turning into the parents from Spirited Away. My husband and I ended up returning twice during our trip!