- HONG KONG
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Tim Ho Wan Brings Its First Global Dim Sum Innovation Lab To Causeway Bay
Michelin-Starred Dim Sum With A Glass Lab
Tim Ho Wan, the dim sum brand that turned a 20-seat Mong Kok shop into a global name, has opened its newest Hong Kong outlet at Lee Garden Two in Causeway Bay – and it comes with a first for the company: the Global Dim Sum Innovation Lab. The new shop sits on the lower ground floor of a mall already packed with kids’ floors, so yum cha can sit neatly next to a toy browse. Kids see wrappers pinched, steamers stacked, and chefs mentor in real time, which turns a meal into a living lesson in Hong Kong craft.
The Global Dim Sum Innovation Lab’s transparent walls lets you watch recipe trials, temperature tweaks, and mentoring while you eat. Breakthroughs developed here will roll out across the brand’s global network, so this is not a gimmick kitchen. It is the research bench for the “Taste of Hong Kong” the chain has carried since 2009, when chefs Mak Kwai Pui and Leung Fai Keung opened a 20-seat Mong Kok shop that earned a Michelin star within a year and has kept Michelin recognition for 17 consecutive years.
Causeway Bay-only plates give kids a story on the table. The Chef’s Special Siu Mai Trio (HK$48) arrives in one steamer: the classic pork-and-shrimp siu mai with a goji berry, a quail-egg-and-XO version with basil, and a Typhoon Shelter Crab siu mai that nods to the neighborhood’s garlic-chili crab stalls. Roasted Tea & Fig Steamed Pudding (HK$36) is a Put Chai Ko-style dessert lifted with hojicha and fig. Iced Apple Lychee Lu’an Tea (HK$32) cools the table when little guests want something chilled.
The glass kitchen is the real secret weapon with younger diners, there’s a show to watch during the inevitable wait between baskets, which is more than a passing trolley ever offered.
Lake-green interiors, warm wood, and circular booths make sharing easy. A semi-open kitchen means you can point at a dumpling being folded instead of only naming it from a photo. VIP rooms work for birthday yum cha or a grandparent lunch. After the last basket, a merchandise counter sells Yum Cha tees, caps, tote bags, ceramic coasters, and packaged tea boxes if you want a small souvenir that is not another plastic toy.
Pairing tea with dim sum is part of the ritual here. The new Orchid Lu’an Tea, scented with golden orchid blossoms, pours amber-red and is designed to cut richness. A six-tea menu ranks intensity from Supreme Pu-erh to Peach Oolong so parents can choose a cup that matches both the siu mai and a child’s palate. If you are mapping a wider Hong Kong yum cha day, start with our guide to the best dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong that kids love and keep Lee Garden Two as the Causeway Bay stop on a family restaurant circuit.
Highlights At Tim Ho Wan Lee Garden Two
- Watch chefs invent and mentor through glass walls while steamers land on your table
- Order the Causeway Bay-only Siu Mai Trio that tastes like classic Hong Kong plus typhoon-shelter crab
- Finish with roasted-tea fig pudding and iced apple-lychee tea that kids actually finish
Little Steps Insider Tips: Go weekday 10:30am-11:30am, before the lunch rush, and ask for a booth facing the lab so small hands have a show. Split one Siu Mai Trio across two kids first; the crab version is garlicky. Pair dessert with Orchid Lu’an if you want a grown-up sip without ordering a second teapot. After eating, ride up to Lee Garden Two’s children’s floors and Playdot so the meal is not the only outing.
The Scoop: Tim Ho Wan At Lee Garden Two
- Age range: Toddlers to grandparents; best for ages 4+ who can watch a kitchen
- Duration: 60-90 minutes for a family yum cha
- Location: Shop LG02-08, Lower Ground Floor, Lee Garden Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
- Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
- Tickets: Walk-in; phone +852 2328 6269 for larger groups or VIP rooms
- What’s included: à la carte dim sum, exclusive Causeway Bay dishes, tea menu, merchandise counter
How do I book Tim Ho Wan at Lee Garden Two with kids?
Call +852 2328 6269 for larger tables or a VIP room, or walk in off-peak. Weekday mid-mornings are calmer than weekend brunch. Ask for a booth facing the glass lab so children have something to watch while baskets arrive.
What is the Chef’s Special Siu Mai Trio?
It is a Causeway Bay-only steamer at HK$48 with three styles: classic pork-and-shrimp, quail egg with XO and basil, and typhoon-shelter crab with garlic and chili. Share it first so picky eaters can try the familiar pork-shrimp one before the crab.
When should I go to avoid the longest wait?
Aim for 9:30am-11am or after 2:30pm on weekdays. Late August opening buzz plus Causeway Bay foot traffic means Saturday noon fills fast. The mall is covered, so rain does not change the plan.
What is included if we only want a short family yum cha?
Order two or three steamers, one rice or noodle plate, and tea. The exclusive pudding and iced apple-lychee tea add a sweet finish without a long dessert wait. Merchandise is optional if you want a small take-home.
Why Little Steps Loves It:
This is yum cha with a window into how Hong Kong’s most famous affordable Michelin dim sum is actually made, which turns a busy mall meal into a memory kids can talk about on the MTR home.
Who It's Perfect For:
Families who want classic baskets plus a little theatre, grandparents hosting a treat, and visitors who want a Causeway Bay meal that still feels local.
Where To Find It:
- Tim Ho Wan Causeway Bay
- Shop LG02-08, Lower Ground Floor, Lee Garden Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
- +852 2328 6269
Additional Info:
Tim Ho Wan Lee Garden Two is a 3-minute walk from Causeway Bay MTR Exit F2, inside a mall with kids’ retail, Flexa, Maison Petit by Petit Bazaar, and Playdot. Indoor dining is rain-proof. Expect HK$48 for the exclusive siu mai trio, HK$36 for the fig pudding, and HK$32 for the iced tea, plus classic baked BBQ pork buns and har gow from the house menu. Confirm highchairs when you arrive.
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