Tim Ho Wan

Has this Michelin Star Dim Sum lost its Novelty here in Singapore?

Tim Ho Wan Menu

I still remember the time when its first launch in Plaza Singapura with a exaggerating long queues where people were willing to wait up to hours just to dine in there and I was also one of them. With about 5 outlets here in Singapore now, the wait is finally reduced. There are no longer sights of snaky queues and staff are well trained to handle crowds at least better for now.

Having been to Westgate for countless times, frankly, Tim Ho Wan is the last restaurant I ever want to visit. Firstly I have tasted their Dim Sum and secondly to avoid the queues.

Good thing is that they will only assign a table to patrons who are present at the scene. No reservation and waiting on the table is allowed. However there is seats provided in the queue for those who are waiting for the rest to come.

Two small bowls were given to divide the portion between us. Congee was rather smooth with two kinds of eggs and pork was chopped into smaller portions.

Congee with Pork, Century Egg & Salted Egg - $4.20

Porridge

When it comes to the Dim Sum cart, being the staples of such delicacies Siew Mai & Har Kau are always the top ordered item. I wouldn't say they are of my favourite here in Tim Ho Wan but shrimps that were elegantly wrapped under this thin layer of translucent skin were springy and tasted something run-out-of-the-mill.

Prawn Dumpling - $6

Siew Mai was rather standard fare too with one wolf berry that gave a final finish to the pork dumplings. Meat was neither greasy nor fatty, decent enough.

Pork Dumpling with Shrimp - $5.50

Out of the dishes ordered, this is what I like best. Mushroom was quite big with yummy soft glutinous rice. Chicken was tender and sausage was fragrant.

Rice with Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom - $6

Rice with Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom

One of the Big 4 Heavenly Kings of Tim Ho Wan, come 3 in a dish, this flaky crust outer layer was talk of the crowd previously due to its limited production each day. During then, one patron was also given a limitation to the number purchased.

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork - $5

However, it had soon lost its charms when I took a bite at them. They no longer carries the kind of buttery fragrance but its sweetness still remain.

Char Siew Fillings

Standards of Radish Cake used to be tip top but apparently, they were of standard fare right now.  Cake was still as soft and gentle on the bites but the taste and level of excitement was no longer as good as before. Where did the good day goes? Can they still live up to its name among the Heavenly 4?

Pan Fried Radish Cake - $4.80

Service was abrupt and when ever the servers place the trays of Dim Sum, we did not really feel comfortable. Instead of placing them on the table, the tray was "drop" with a tad sound. Perhaps it was too hot for them to handle or there were very many trays to be handled in a narrow area. But being so, this is not the kind of service we are expecting.

Rating: 3 / 5

Tim Ho Wan
Location: Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive #01-13/14 Singapore 608532