6.205 Steamed Spinach Dumplings with Shrimp

6.205

29 (Wed) July 2015

Steamed Spinach Dumplings with Shrimp

3.0

at TimHoWan (Robinsons Place)

-Ermita, Manila-

with TL, JL, and various colleagues

TimHoWan is Chinese restaurant chain.  Founded in 2009. Started in Hong Kong, currently 20 locations worldwide, including 4 in the Philippines, the latest one in Robinsons Place.  Famous for receiving a Michelin star at multiple locations, the only chain to have earned the distinction thus far.  Specializes in dim sum.

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Where Banana Leaf (see generally 5.010 Stir-Fried Malaysian Noble Leaves…) and Superbowl of China (see generally 5.016 Pork Strips with Kangkong…) used to be.

When signs announcing the arrival of TimHoWan in the mall had gone up several months back, food/restaurant/dim sum enthusiasts in the neighborhood had been surprised that such a prestigious brand would even consider setting up shop here.

We awaited the launch with giddy anticipation.

Since the grand opening last Saturday, 5 days ago, TL has been there 5 times — that good, apparently.  She treated the team to lunch there on Monday, though I was unable to make it.

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Way more spinach than shrimp, which is a good thing.

On my first visit, I found the food to be disappointing, for the most part.  The Steamed Spinach Dumplings with Shrimp were quite nice, the emphasis placed emphatically on the veg, a welcome departure from other dim sum dumplings that tend to be all about meat.  Everything else, however, seemed rather amateur, both in taste and texture.  Totally unworthy of the hype.

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Prawn Dumpling (har gao) (2.25) — rubbery skins, minced filling with no discernible shrimp (see for comparison 5.182 Har Gao).
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Pork Dumpling with Shrimp (2.5)
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Vermicelli Roll with Shrimp (1.5) — mushy wrap, same unpleasant minced filling as in the har gao.
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Poached Fresh Seasonal Vegetable (1.5) — iceberg lettuce with soy sauce.
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Wasabi Salad Prawn Dumpling (2.5) — deep-fried har gao with wasabi mayo; salty.
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Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork and Shrimp (3.0)
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Vermicelli Roll with Sweet and Sesame Sauce — sweet, not my kind of thing.

2 thoughts on “6.205 Steamed Spinach Dumplings with Shrimp”

  1. Should’ve tried the baked pork bun…it’s one of the most hyped up items. I’d like to hear how it measures up.

    Reply

    1. never been a fan of pork buns, don’t think i’ve had one in decades, so i’m not remotely qualified to judge. but if i ever go back, i’ll try one in your honor.

      Reply

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