dim sum for everyone

Global favorite dim sum restaurant opens in Katy with freshly made dumplings and signature BBQ buns

Tim Ho Wan has opened in Katy.

Courtesy of Tim Ho Wan

One of the world’s most acclaimed dim sum restaurants has opened in Katy. Tim Ho Wan is now serving bbq pork buns, shu mai, and more.

Known for its freshly prepared dim sum specialties, Tim Ho Wan’s reputation stems from a Hong Kong location that held a Michelin star from 2010 through 2021, making it one of the least expensive restaurants in the world to be recognized by the famous dining guide. Currently, the Hong Kong restaurant has Bib Gourmand status, which indicates that it serves quality food at affordable prices. Locally, diners can expect to pay between $6 and $10 for most of the restaurant’s dishes.

That combination of quality and affordability has led to considerable acclaim. When it expanded to New York in 2016, diners waited hours in line for a table. Since then, the restaurant has opened a second location in New York as well as in Hawaii; Las Vegas; and Irvine, California. With only 120 indoor seats at the Katy location, Houstonians might experience a similar wait.

Tim Ho Wan interior Tim Ho Wan will seat 120 people inside.Courtesy of Tim Ho Wan

Yu “Joe” Koyama, principal of Tim Ho Wan USA, tells CultureMap that the restaurant has a different approach than other dim sum establishments. Everything is made fresh daily and cooked to order, which ensures customers receive hot, fresh dumplings every time. He cites the signature BBQ pork bun as one example of what makes Tim Ho Wan stand out.

“The way we prepare them is different from the one you typically see at other dim sum joints,” he says. “They steam them, but ours are baked. We have the crunchy crust on the outside. It has a little sweet and savory flavor. Compared to regular steamed pork buns, it’s a totally different item.”

Founding chef Mak Kwai Pui has been in Houston to help train the staff ahead of the opening, while head chef Paul Li brings 35 years of experience to Tim Ho Wan, according to a release. The restaurant officially opened at approximately 1:30 pm on Monday, November 7, a day and time chosen in line with the principles of feng shui.

Located in NewQuest Properties’ Katy Grand development, Tim Ho Wan joins other international brands such as Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya, Kura Revolving Sushi, Taiwanese restaurant 85°C Bakery & Café, and HaiDiLao, which was dubbed “the Ferrari of hot pot restaurants” by the late, award-winning food critic Jonathan Gold. In December, the development will add PopStroke, a mini golf concept with courses designed by legendary golfer Tiger Woods.

“The city’s growth has and continues to be the strong attraction for noteworthy tenants like Tim Ho Wan and PopStroke,” NewQuest development partner Heather Nguyen said. “It’s an exciting time at Katy Grand.”

openings news-you-can-eat

THE 'BUCKS STOP HERE

1 Houston-area Starbucks to shutter among 250 nationwide

Photo by ANKUR MADAN on Unsplash

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Starbucks is closing a Houston-area locations this week as part of a broader plan to shutter 250 underperforming stores across North America, the company says.

In a September 24 press release, chief operating officer Mike Grams revealed Starbucks would close the coffee shops where the company doesn't "see a path to acceptable financial performance" or locations where the company doesn't believe can "consistently deliver the experience [they] want" for customers and employees.

The Seattle-based coffee chain operates more than 40,000 coffee shops globally, and over 18,000 in North America. The recent closings make up about 1 percent of the total stores operating in North America alone.

Starbucks has not publicly released a list of the locations that will be closing, but an online list has been confirmed by CultureMap's content partner KVUE.

The Tanger Outlets Houston Starbucks at 5885 Gulf Freeway in Texas City is included in the list of closures. The Starbucks store locator indicates affected stores will be closed after Saturday, September 26.

Grams says the company is speaking directly with affected employees and will transfer them to other stores whenever possible. Employees who cannot secure transfers will receive severance support.

Other Starbucks locations in Texas that are set to close include:

Snider Plaza – 6733 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, 75205
Preston & Alexis – 14760 Preston Rd., Dallas, 75254
6115 Camp Bowie – 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 76116
Hwy 59 & Miller St. – 202 Loop 59 N., Atlanta, 75551
Loop 360 & Westlake – 3801 N. Capital Of Texas Hwy., Austin, 78746
SR 71 & US 290 – 7015 W. U.S. Hwy. 290, Austin, 78736
N. Bell & 1431 – 1109 N. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park, 78613
S. Home St. & FM 942 – 609 S. Home St., Corrigan, 75939
Main St. & TX-361 – 2975 Main St., Ingleside, 78362
College & 9th – 812 College Ave., Levelland, 79336
Murphy & Blackburn – 6600 Murphy Rd., Sachse, 75048
Wurzbach Rd. & Gardendale St. – 8746 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, 78240
FM 544 & Hwy 78 – 410 Highway 78, Wylie, 75098

"Every year we close some coffeehouses and open others as part of managing our portfolio," Grams says in the release. "And as we shared previously, we remain excited about the significant long-term growth opportunity ahead in North America."

In May, Starbucks said it would close some U.S. offices, including one in Dallas, and would lay off 300 corporate employees and as part of its ongoing turnaround.

Starbucks has been trying to reduce costs and complexity under Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in 2024. Last year, the company laid off 2,000 corporate employees and closed hundreds of stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Niccol said last spring that the simplified structure would help the company innovate more quickly.

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This story contains material from the Associated Press.

starbucks closings coffee shop houston