
Tim Ho Wan
World's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, serving authentic, delicious, and affordable dim sum classics.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Tim Ho Wan

Highlights
Must-see attractions
World's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, serving authentic, delicious, and affordable dim sum classics.
Avoid peak hours
Visit during off-peak hours or evenings to avoid crowds and minimize wait times.
Consider takeout
Opt for takeout to avoid potentially long waits, especially during busy periods.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Dim Sum, Cantonese
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+852 2332 2896
Address
Shop G72A-C, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Rd, Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong
Website
timhowan.com.hk/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Affordable Michelin-Starred Dim Sum
Experience award-winning dim sum without breaking the bank. A taste of Cantonese culinary excellence at an accessible price.

Iconic Baked BBQ Pork Buns
The legendary baked BBQ pork buns are a must-try, praised for their sweet and savory filling and crispy exterior.

Traditional Cantonese Delights
Savor authentic dim sum and traditional Chinese dishes made with precision, served in a casual and clean setting.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid peak hours
Visit during off-peak hours or evenings to avoid crowds and minimize wait times.
Consider takeout
Opt for takeout to avoid potentially long waits, especially during busy periods.
Check ordering methods
Be prepared for potential changes in ordering, such as using QR codes.
Sit away from high-traffic areas
Choose a seat away from the front door or kitchen for a more peaceful dining experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid peak hours
Visit during off-peak hours or evenings to avoid crowds and minimize wait times.
Consider takeout
Opt for takeout to avoid potentially long waits, especially during busy periods.
Check ordering methods
Be prepared for potential changes in ordering, such as using QR codes.
Sit away from high-traffic areas
Choose a seat away from the front door or kitchen for a more peaceful dining experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Tim Ho Wan is celebrated for its authentic, Michelin-starred dim sum that offers exceptional value. Diners consistently praise the quality and taste, particularly the iconic BBQ pork buns and fresh dumplings. While some mention that portion sizes may have shrunk and prices have increased slightly, the overall consensus is that it remains a must-visit for delicious and affordable Cantonese cuisine.
"This is my place to go for when I want to have reliable Dim Sum - I believe their BBQ Pork Buns are the ones keeping me coming back.
Also really good quality for the price!
Being a chain, this is definitely a good bite!"
Sergio Camilo Fandino Hernandez
"2025-04 First time back for lunch after much needed renovations. New digitized queuing system much more streamlined. Pleasant natural decor. Comfortable seating. Larger tables to place food but closely spaced. More options to pay. Good quick service. Above average prices. Good portions noticeable shrunk."
Fredathetoothfairy
"I ordered three dim sum items for takeout to sample their menu: the traditional Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf (古法糯米雞, #7), the Shrimp Dumplings (晶瑩鮮蝦餃, #2), and the Pan-fried Radish Cake (香煎蘿葡糕, #19).
Be aware that takeout incurs an additional charge of $1 per plastic container, plus another $1 for the bag.
The restaurant was exceptionally busy on a Sunday, with a full dining room and a crowd of people waiting outside for their takeout orders alongside delivery drivers. My wait was approximately 20 minutes—next time, I'll avoid ordering on weekends.
Despite the wait, the dim sum was excellent. The sticky rice in the lotus leaf was a particular highlight."
DJ Q
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Tim Ho Wan is famously known as the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, renowned for its delicious and affordable dim sum, especially the baked BBQ pork buns.
Reservations are generally not taken, and wait times can be long during peak hours. It's advisable to visit during off-peak times or opt for takeout.
The iconic Baked BBQ Pork Buns are a must-try. Other popular choices include shrimp dumplings (Har Gow), pork siomai, and glutinous rice in lotus leaf.
Yes, Tim Ho Wan specializes in traditional Cantonese dim sum, prepared with precision and authentic flavors, as noted by many diners.
While the menu focuses on traditional dim sum, some steamed vegetable dumplings and other items might be suitable for vegetarians. It's best to inquire directly.
Service is generally described as efficient and quick, typical of Hong Kong's fast-paced dining culture, though some reviews mention it can take time to be served.
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Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialists aren’t called that for nothing, and at this famed restaurant, the proud owner of one Michelin star, you can find both excellent traditional Chinese cuisine and hordes of hungry diners. For a very reasonable price, you can tuck in to traditional dim sum and Hong Kong style stir fry, including steamed shrimp dumplings, shrimp stuffed vermicelli rolls or even baked buns with barbecue pork. Rest easy knowing that the owner is a former dim sum master from a three Michelin starred restaurant and that there are a selection of branches across the city.
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Founded by chef Mak Kwai Pui and chef Leung Fai Keung in 2009, Tim Ho Wan was the cheapest MICHELIN-starred restaurant in the world when it received its first star in 2010. They have started to work with Foodpanda to offer delivery service for the first time. Among the 30 types of dim sum on offer are their popular baked BBQ pork buns (HK$25/3 pieces), shrimp dumplings (HK$37), siu mai (HK$37) and ma lai go (HK$22), along with a selection of rice noodle rolls, steamed rice, congee and snacks to complete the menu.
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Since this neighbourhood dim sum spot earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, long queues started to form every day, full of anxious people waiting to get a bite of what is considered to be some of the city’s best dim sum. The restaurant specialises in traditional Hong Kong dumplings, and it hasn't budged on its deliciously low prices, which is a win-win situation if you ask us. The dim sum is not overly creative, but it's consistent and hits the spot whenever you need it.
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Dim sum is an all-day affair at Tim Ho Wan, a Michelin-starred fast-casual restaurant. The menu has all the classics: Don't miss the baked barbecue pork buns and pan-fried turnip cake, a festive food for Chinese New Year that's become a year-round favorite. While dining at one of the communal tables is part of the experience, the wait is never pleasant—do like in-the-know locals and opt for takeout, which can be eaten picnic-style nearby.
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Opened by a former Four Seasons chef, Tim Ho Wan was the first-ever budget dim sum place to receive a Michelin star. Many relocations and branches later,…
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When it comes to the question of what to eat in Hong Kong the first thing that springs to mind is dim sum; the quintessential Hong Kong specialty. Served in little bamboo baskets with two to three servings, it is ideal for sharing and the variety in which these delicate little dumplings come is staggering; from the wide range of fillings to the sheer variation in presentation and dumpling casing – from translucent rice pastry to fluffy steamed buns and everything in between – you could spend a lifetime sampling these tasty treats in the city and merely scratch the surface. My personal favourite is dim sum with shrimp, added to yummy fatty pork and perfectly spiced before being wrapping expertly in a thin yellow sheet and steamed.
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Known for its humble beginnings as a cozy dim sum spot tucked away in Mong Kok, this Michelin-starred gem has captured the hearts and palates of both locals and visitors. Tim Ho Wan, renowned as one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong, is celebrated for its mouthwatering yet reasonably-priced dishes. From their famous baked barbecue pork buns to timeless favorites like Siu Mai and Har Gow to inventive creations like Vermicelli Rolls with Pig’s Liver and Pan-Fried Turnip Cake, each plate celebrates the essence of traditional Cantonese dim sum.
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Famously the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan is perfect if you’re after dim sum in Hong Kong that’s made with precision and served in a flash. The baked barbecued pork bun – crunchy on the outside, with a moreish mélange of sweet and savoury barbecued pork within – is often imitated but rarely equalled, especially not at this price. There are several branches of Tim Ho Wan around town, including a handy one above Hong Kong Station, which is on the Airport Express line, but the Sham Shui Po branch is the oldest.
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One of our tried-and-true wallet-friendly favourites is none other than Tim Ho Wan. Once known around the world as one of the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants, yum cha enthusiasts flock to its locations across Hong Kong – and now across the globe, with its several international outposts – for its uncommon balance of taste and value. All the classics are made fairly well, but the baked char siu bun – crisp and crackly outside, jammy-sweet porcine goodness inside – is what it’s all a-bao.
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One of the most famous dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong is Tim Ho Wan, another chain of dim sum restaurants which has been awarded a Michelin star with humble prices to beat. Tim Ho Wan has even found a market overseas from New York to Singapore to Sydney. Started in 2009, Tim Ho Wan quickly gained international recognition by 2010 with the help of the Michelin Guides, and these days Tim Ho Wan is as popular amongst locals as it is with foreigners.
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Dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan holds the distinction of being the cheapest dining establishment to have been awarded a star by the Michelin Guide. Established by a former chef at Cantonese fine dine Lung King Heen, Tim Ho Wan offers all your dim sum favourites at very agreeable prices (ranging from around $17-27 per dim sum dish, like har gow or siu mai). Various locations including G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, (852) 2788 1226
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Tim Ho Wan is a name that polarises: an icon of yum cha, a tourist trap; blessed by Michelin; one of Hong Kong’s most overrated establishments; a big deal, hardly worth a mention. Yeah, look, the reality is Tim Ho Wan is overrated: it’s highly unlikely that it’s the best out there, and its signature baked pork bun is certainly one of the most overhyped dishes to ever have come out of Hong Kong. This slideshow requires JavaScript.
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Touted as the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant, Tim Ho Wan had the best dim sum I’ve ever tasted. A line out the door packed with locals was a telltale sign that it would be good, as we descended up on this hot restaurant located in charming Sham Shui Po, an old-school foodies neighborhood. It’s worth waiting to get into this laid-back dining destination, where Chef Mak, a veteran chef, creates surprising food gifts.
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Known as one of the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, Tim Ho Wan offers an extraordinary dim sum experience that belies its no-frills setting. Originally a humble hole-in-the-wall eatery in Mongkok, it has grown into a global franchise, much to the delight of dim sum lovers everywhere. Despite its rapid expansion, Tim Ho Wan continues to maintain the high standards that first earned it a Michelin star.
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Tim Ho Wan is arguably the most famous dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong and is commonly referred to as one of the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. When it first opened in 2009, it was just a 20-seat hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the Mong Kok neighborhood, and just a year later it had earned its Michelin star. Now Tim Ho Wan has six locations in Hong Kong and 48 branches worldwide.
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Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1) IFC Mall, Central Opening hours: 10:00–21:30 Nearest MTR: Hong Kong or Central. After enjoying Tim Ho Wan in Singapore, we were eager to try it at its original location in Hong Kong. We visited the branch near Hong Kong Station in the basement, where we ordered the classic har gow (HK$30), siu mai (HK$30), and the famous turnip cake (HK$16).
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Begin your culinary adventure with a visit to Tim Ho Wan, the acclaimed dim sum eatery known for its Michelin-starred cuisine. Dive into a world of delectable dumplings and savory delights, meticulously prepared to perfection by the skilled culinary team. From steaming baskets of har gow to crispy, golden BBQ pork buns, Tim Ho Wan promises a dim sum experience like no other.
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Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin-starred restaurant that has gained popularity over Hong Kong for its affordability and quality of food. Now, Tim Ho Wan has branched out to the U.S. in New York City but nothing beats the original flavours of dim sum from the place it was created. The famous BBQ pork buns here are coated in a slightly sweet bun and a saucy filling are to die for!.
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Whether you’re here for dim sum or hot plates, you’re guaranteed a good time (Photography: Tim Ho Wan via Facebook). Winning the hearts of critics and gourmands around the world, Tim Ho Wan boasts the honour of being one of the cheapest Michelin-recommended dim sum joints in town. With a no-reservation policy, a trip to the “dim sum specialists” requires patience.
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Created in 2009, Tim Ho Wan is Hong Kong’s most international dim sum chain, known as the “world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant” and for its scrumptious Cantonese baos, rice dishes, and dim sum bites across six stores in Hong Kong. Get a flavour for how sweet, salty and great dim sum can be at Tim Ho Wan. Location: Tim Ho Wan, click here to see all branches
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Known as ‘The World’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant’, Tim Ho Wan is now a beloved restaurant chain for dim sum. For the most authentic experience, head to their original shop in Sham Shui Po. Aside from the prestigious title awarded to this restaurant, people came for the Baked BBQ Pork Buns, which are unlike the pork buns found at other dim sum restaurants.
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This no-fuss restaurant became a household name in 2005 when its barbecued pork buns were named the cheapest Michelin-starred dish on the planet. The phenomenon has since gone global, with offshoots in both Sydney and Melbourne, but it's hard to beat home soil for authenticity. This North Point incarnation is plonked in a suburb of high-rise estates.
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Six locations across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, timhowan.com. Every food-loving Hong Kong-bound traveler must confront the question: “Where should I go for dim sum?. ” A reliable answer is one of the six locations of Tim Ho Wan, a brand that originated 15 years ago in Hong Kong and has expanded to include 80 franchise locations in 12 countries.
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What: Tim Ho Wan shines like a beacon in North Point, not least on account of its great food – try the sticky braised pork or courgette and prawn dumplings – but also its ungreedy prices. A colourful and frenetic ambience is all part of the experience. No wonder queues build at the weekend with locals discombobulated without their dim sum fix.
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Known as the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan is every dim sum lover’s dream – it sure was mine. Tim Ho Wan started in Hong Kong in 2009 and has since expanded to ten other countries – a testament to how great they are. While their baked pork buns are their most iconic dish, I don’t eat pork so I can’t comment on them.
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Ask anyone in the city about the best Michelin restaurants in Hong Kong and you'll invariably Tim Ho Wan, a dim sum restaurant that became an international chain. The long lines that still form outside each of the restaurants are testament to the quality which hasn't been lost during expansion. All the dim sum is hand made and all is good.
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Arguably this is not only the best cheap food in Hong Kong but the best in the world. Since Tim Ho Wan gained its Michelin Star a few years ago this bare bones Dim Sum canteen has enjoyed run away success (they have even opened their doors in New York). The Dim Sum here costs anywhere from HK$15 to HK$30, and you eat well for under HK$50.
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We can hardly round up the best cheap eats in Hong Kong and not mention Tim Ho Wan. Known to be the cheapest Michelin-rated dim sum in the city, you know that it’s always going to be good. The branch in Sham Shui Po holds One-Star, whilst the North Point branch is still up there with a Bib Gourmand status in the Michelin Guide.
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You can’t make a list of the best yum cha experiences in Hong Kong without mentioning Tim Ho Wan, once lauded as the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. They serve solid dim sum but they’re best known for their bbq pork buns. These baked beauties put them on the map and turned Tim Ho Wan into a global phenomenon.
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Often referred to as “the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant”, Tim Ho Wan now has franchises in 12 countries. Started by Chef Mak Kwai Pui, formerly of Lung King Heen restaurant in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel. The restaurant is known for its signature BBQ pork buns, and all the dim sum is a must try.
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At Tim Ho Wan, they'll serve the traditional tea (for yum cha) with your dim sum. Tim Ho Wan is internationally distinguished as among the cheapest 1 star restaurants in the world. One branch was selected as a Michelin 1-star restaurant for 2010, and afterwards, other branches received the rating.
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In the Sham Shui Po restaurant, the original branch of the famed dim sum chain of restaurants, there are delightful and reasonably priced dim sums for the picking. There are around 30 options including crystal shrimp to chicken feet so try not to miss a taste of this excellent Hong Kong food.
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Tim Ho Wan (Shop 72, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui) – This is the world-famous dim sum restaurant located in Mong Kok. Its three Michelin stars mean that everyone wants to eat here and, as a result, wait times can be up to three hours long. The food is worth the wait!.
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With visitors, usually I would take them to the Michelin-star Tim Ho Wan (various locations including 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. Tel: 2788 1226) to try their famous baked barbecue buns, siu mai or steamed pork and shrimp dumplings, and har gow – or steamed fresh shrimp dumplings.
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On my first day in Hong Kong, I visited the famed Tim Ho Wan dim sum restaurant. That wasn’t the only dim sum I had when I was in Hong Kong. I also visited Din Tai Fung for their famous xiao long bao (soup dumplings), as well as Dim Sum Square, another dim sum place near Sheung Wan.
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Not really much of a secret, but Tim Ho Wan offers arguably the best dim sum in all of Hong Kong. Tim Ho Wan has even snared a Michelin star for 3 of it’s outlets in HK. That has earned it the highly marketable title of the world’s cheapest Michelin starred restaurant.
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Sham Shui Po: G/F & M/F, Ka Wui Bldg, No.9-11 Fuk Wing St. | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Central: Hok 12A & 12B, Level 1, MTR Hong Kong Station | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Olympian City: Shop G72A-C, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
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When former Lung King Heen chef Mak Kwai-pui (affectionately known as Pui Gor, or “Brother Pui”) opened a hole-in-the-wall in Mong Kok, crowds flocked here for top-quality Hong Kong dim sum at rock-bottom prices. Then came a Michelin star. And the masses descended.
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Famous for its crispy Cha-siu bun, Tim Ho Wan is one of the most loved tea houses by locals in Hong Kong. Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall) , Central Tel: 2332 3078. Shop 72, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui Tel: 2322 2896
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These “Char Siu Bao” (barbecued pork buns) are deemed the world’s best. Known as the world’s cheapest Michelin Starred restaurant, this tiny restaurant is a heaven for Dim Sum lovers. A meal for two can cost as little as HK$150, or about £13!
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These dim sum restaurants are famous in Hong Kong and beyond as one of the cheapest Michelin-starred experiences in the world. Despite the Michelin star, it’s very affordable, with dishes from around HK$50. There are branches across the city.
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This dim sum restaurant is the perfect definition of best-value dining. Founded by a former Four Seasons chef in 2009, Tim Ho Wan has gone on to become synonymous with dim sum in Hong Kong. It has also opened branches all over Asia.
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Tips: The only dim sum place you have to go to if you had to choose one. There are a number of locations now in Hong Kong so the lines aren’t as bad anymore. There are now 5 locations scattered around HK and Kowloon.
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Originally the "world's cheapest Michelin-star restaurant", Tim Ho Wan has capitalized on its fame by expanding internationally and setting up shop as a (still beloved) chain. Cantonese dim sum - try the pork buns.
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No list of Michelin-recommended cheap eats could be complete without mentioning local dim sum stalwart Tim Ho Wan, which is widely recognised as the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong.
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I don’t know (or fraternize) with anyone who doesn’t love dim sum. Have the char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), cheung fun with shrimp or pork (steamed rice paper rolls), fried turnip cake.
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(One Star ★) Address: G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po 地址: 深水埗福荣街9-11号地下 Average Spending: about HK$ 50 per person 人均消费: 大约港币$ 50 Food Style: Dim Sum / 点心
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