14.064 Abalone Pork & Shrimp Dumplings

Cycle 14 – Item 64

10 (Fri) February 2023

Abalone Pork & Shrimp Dumplings

3.0

-Samseong, Gangnam, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with W

In 2019, the world-famous TimHoWan restaurant group opened its 1st Korean location. Since then, the chain has expanded to include 5 restaurants.

Located across the street from Coex Mall (Oakwood Residences side) – the original

I was underwhelmed by prior experiences at TimHoWan in the Philippines (see most recently 6.213 Rice with Beef and Egg). Looking back, I wonder if the disappointment might have been influenced, at least in part, by the easy access that I had at the time to so many good dimsum restaurants, both at home in the Philippines (see for example 7.236 Yum Cha) and in the course of duty travels while working for WHO, which often took me through cities like Singapore and Hong Kong (see for example 5.182 Steamed Shrimp Dumplings).

Perhaps the only truly authentic Cantonese menu in the country.

But now, living in Korea, the country with likely the worse dimsum options on the Asian continent, whether in terms of quality (see for example 13.065 Xiaolongbao) or value (see for example 14.047 Dimsum Hahaha), I am much more amenable to embracing any decent dimsum at a reasonable price.

Arriving at 13:00, after the lunchtime rush, the restaurant was only half-full, so we were seated immediately.

In the morning, W and I had dropped by Setec (Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention) Center, where the company is participating in a baby fair this week, then went to TimHoWan for lunch afterwards.

Amazing Brewing Co: another local microbrewery.

All good. The selection was good. The service was good. The dishes were good. The prices were good – the abalone siomai cost 4 times less than the same item at Jue (see 14.047 Disum Hahaha), and tasted better. Exactly what dimsum should be.