Jollibee Fully Takes Over Tim Ho Wan

Tin Ho Wan is known for cheap dim sum with little quality

When I landed in Hong Kong earlier this year for my first visit in two years, my first meal was at Tim ho Wan just above the Airport Express.

It was quite busy at dinner time and my friend and I waited for about 20 minutes before we were seated at the back. The dim sum was meh, but the location was convenient and a quick meal before we went our separate ways.

It was opened by a former Lung King Heen chef

Interesting that Jollibee Food Corporation was interested in Tim Ho Wan in 2021 buying shares then, and in January purchased more to make it 92 percent ownership of the dim sum chain that has 80 restaurants in 11 markets, including Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Melbourne, Tokyo and Manila.

The latest news is that the Philippine-based fast food company Jollibee Food Corporation has now snapped up the remaining 8 percent of Tim Ho Wan and fully owning it.

Tim Ho Wan was started in 2009 by chef Mak Kwai-pui, who formerly worked at Lung King Heen in the Four Seasons Hong Kong. The tiny restaurant in Mong Kok was awarded a Michelin star a year later and quickly became the talk of the town.

It was then known as having quality dim sum at reasonable prices and maintained its one Michelin star until 2021, when it was downgraded to Bib Gourmand.

Perhaps peach mango pie at Tim Ho Wan?

Singaporean broadcaster and businessman Robert Chua and his brother Harry bought a stake in Tim Ho Wan in 2013 and brought the dim sum chain to the Lion City. They sold their stake in 2022.

Now what will Jollibee do with Tim Ho Wan? Offer peach mango pies for dessert? Open Tim Ho Wan next door to every Jollibee? How about deep-fried xiaolongbao?