Inside Tim Ho Wan, Orange County’s Major New Dim Sum Player

Some of the world’s most famous dim sum is ready to debut in Southern California, as Tim Ho Wan looks to open in the Orange County city of Irvine tomorrow. The restaurant has been steadily growing its international footprint in recent years, jumping from its home in Hong Kong to locations in New York City, Hawaii, and even Las Vegas soon enough.

Tim Ho Wan is well known to fans of the dim sum genre, not only for its heralded status as the self-described “cheapest Michelin-starred meal” but for its robust menu of favorites from shrimp siu mai to the iconic BBQ pork bun. There are a couple of California-specific menu items unique to this location as well, including a deep-fried bean curd with avocado and shrimp. This new Southern California location lands inside the packed Diamond Jamboree plaza, a similarly popular hub for Asian-American restaurants in Orange County.

Irvine’s Tim Ho Wan will not only offer dine-in capabilities with over 100 seats inside, they’ll also have private dining rooms for large groups to reserve ahead (reservations are not otherwise accepted), and a takeaway window for the restaurant’s most famous items. The window won’t open right away, though — expect it to arrive on May 18.

In the meantime, Tim Ho Wan will keep hours starting tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with an extension to midnight on Friday and Saturday. After May 18, hours will shift to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. While the restaurant does not take reservations, diners will be able to use the Yelp app to join the waitlist and receive a text when their table is ready. Otherwise, as always with Tim Ho Wan, expect a line.

Tim Ho Wan. 2700 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA.

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