Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant opens as firm considers to bring in 2 more resto brands
With Cebu fast becoming a hub, a Manila-based company which operates 200 stores under 12 restaurant brands in the country has brought in the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant and is also looking to introduce two more brands in Cebu soon.
FooDee Global Concepts officially opened the first Tim Ho Wan store outside of Metro Manila last Saturday.
In an interview on Friday, FooDee Global Concepts chief executive officer Rikki Dee said they believe in the Cebuano market, which he said has grown robustly over the years largely influenced by the surge of the millennials who are very updated.
According to Dee, people nowadays consume a lot of information. They are updated on the latest fashion, dining, attraction, destination and more; thus the demand for quality also increases.
The Cebuano market is no different he said, saying that Cebuanos now also dine a lot outside.
“In the past, people dine outside four times a week. Now it’s ten times a week.”
According to Dee, the Cebuano market has matured not only in the number of people here but also the economic DNA that makes up a market that attracts more investors like them to come and offer what they have.
“We have done some studies not only here (Cebu City) but also in its neighboring cities and we found out that the other cities are growing as well with a lot of developments unfolding. In terms of the purchasing power, Cebuanos are now earning well to be able to afford dining out more often,” he said.
Tim Ho Wan is located at the upper ground floor of the Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City. It is the seventh store in the country and the first outside of Metro Manila.
Dee said Tim Ho Wan is among the five brands under their group that are Michelin-starred.
Tim Ho Wan today is known as the “most affordable Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant in the world.”
Tim Ho Wan started as a 20-seater hole-in-wall eatery in Mongkok, Hong Kong in 2009 founded by chef Mak Kwai Oui and chef Leung Fai Keun.
Because of its quality offerings, the eatery quickly earned the Michelin Star after a year listed in the 2010 HK and Macau Michelin guide.
Since then, the restaurant expanded to Singapore, then to the Philippines in 2014.
It now has branches in Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Macau and most recently in New York.
Dee said the Cebuanos, just like the rest of the Filipinos, know what it means to be a Michelin-starred restaurant as influenced by social media.
“When you say Michelin-starred, it tells of quality and we know for a fact that the Cebunao market will really pay for quality. That is the value that we are offering here,” he said.
FooDee Global Concepts currently has 12 restaurant brands under them and operates 200 stores nationwide.
Dee said that they are also looking to introduce two brands in Cebu soon which includes their gourmet burger brand Pound by Todd English.