Halina Tam Finds Success As Snack Shop Owner

Halina Tam (譚小環) may have found her true calling. Although the 41-year-old Miss Hong Kong winner made little progress in her entertainment career, she is now enjoying a second chance at success with a thriving snack shop business.

After winning the crown in 1994’s Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Halina worked for TVB as a variety show host and often filled minor supportive roles in dramas. She left the company in 2011 after nearly 18 years of service, reportedly because she was frustrated at her low $18000 HKD monthly salary and the measly $300 HKD raise that TVB had offered as a contract renewal incentive. Since then, Halina has disappeared from the entertainment industry and lived a normal life with her husband, insurance executive Eric Choi (蔡強榮).

With Eric’s help and encouragement, Halina got her first taste of business ownership when she opened a craft supplies store in 2013. She continued her entrepreneurial adventure last month with a small snack shop in Causeway Bay, selling popular street foods such as fish balls, rice rolls, and noodles. Chopping off her long hair and wearing little makeup, Halina put her focus on her customers and worked long hours as a hands-on boss. She was seen handling every detail, from transporting supplies to cleaning the tables, all done with a constant smile on her face.

Her mother is often by her side, and Halina credits her for keeping her customers happy. “Mom used to be a street hawker selling pajamas, so she understands what customers want. She is also a “taste king” and helps me season the sauces… and she would ask customers for feedback so we can immediately make changes to fix problems.”

When local media reported on her new venture, many fans flocked to Halina’s shop for a chance to meet her. Halina welcomes their business and kindly takes photos and chats with each of them. Since news broke, her shop saw a steady stream of curious people, locals and tourists alike. Every day, she sells 3000 fish balls, 2000 siu mai, and 3000 rice rolls, making roughly $340,000 HKD so far. Seeing profit in her first shop, Halina opened her second snack shop on March 22.

Even though she is still new to the business, Halina seems to have a good grasp on the secret formula to success. “Food shops really rely on quality and service. We are very strict with our food’s quality. We have taste-tested all the products for a whole month before we opened so that we would sell only the best. Sometimes we would keep a limited supply of certain items to maintain their quality. I would also come up with new menu items every two weeks so that our customers will always have something new to try.”

Halina Tam shop  Halina Tam shop 4  Halina Tam shop 3

Source: ihktv.com

This article is written by Katrine for JayneStars.com.

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Responses

  1. Really unrecognizable face. TVB pays low and its sad. She not the only one who is switch carriers. Good for her.

  2. Husband’s got good face fengshui. Both should succeed

  3. i thought she left tvb for a few years before returning in the early/mid 00s. she was the female lead (or second lead) in a tvb series once.

    1. what i meant was she probably missed her window of opportunity.

    2. I don’t think she left that period. Shes been with TVB since Miss HK 94.

    3. She did. She was the first lead in her debut series, Nothing to Declare, beating Marianne at the time. Then, she did a few movies (Y&D franchise) and then she disappeared for a bit.

      I also think she lost out on her chance. She came back to TVB playing a supporting role in that series with Roger, Fennie and Nick. I couldn’t recognize her bc she slimmed down. If you watched Nothing to Declare, then you’ll know Halina was a bit fuller back then. So, I’m guessing she probably ventured out to some other things in between and wasn’t successful.

      1. That wasn’t her in the Y&D franchise, that was Pinky Cheung.

      2. I remember that Halina dated her ex back then and left the circle for like 5 years. She was pretty much a stay at home wife if I reminder correctly. However,she eventually saw that things were not working out so decided to come back to TVB since she still had a contract with them. But sadly,,after her come back she got mostly minor or supporting roles only, sad to see her leave the circle but great to see her doing well and found another line of work that she likes.

  4. Halina Tam will always be Miss Hong Kong 1994 & Artist. Glad she is enjoy her normal life. Wish her the best!

  5. wow, i really don’t recognize her! i always enjoyed her acting…but tvb just didn’t give her the opportunities….oh well, i’m glad she’s thriving as a business owner and doing something she enjoys! 🙂

  6. I really liked her too. I wish she the best! I sitll think she looks very lovely!

  7. I find Halina Tam prettier with her short hair. She is lucky that she loves food but does not gain weight easily. She is always too skinny.

    Good luck to her business endeavours.

    1. She disappeared from TVB in the middle of her career, because she broke up with her BF and gain lots weight. When she got over the break up, she got really fit and more beautiful! I wish there was more of her , I think she was a good actress too.

  8. I find her to be still pretty, and she does have minimal makeup on. As long as she and her family is happy. She seems to be pretty good at what she does, so good luck to her business endeavors!

  9. Glad she’s doing well! She’s a pretty good actress. She was often paired up with Wayne before he made it big. Hehe

  10. Go for her!!! Hope her future as a owner will be successful and most important is she is happy. Her background as miss HK and tvb actress will help her business too.

  11. She looks different in a good way 😀

    Glad for her 😀

  12. She looks like a totally different person. I prefer her look now.

  13. Oh, we call her Strawberry Miss HK in my house because her face looks like a strawberry. She seemed really nice on tv. Miss HKs always have this nice air about them except for Michelle Reis which is hopefully just an act on the part of Michelle Reis.

    1. I think it’s that same air that American pageant winners have as well and also Disney Princesses at theme parks – that very kind and tolerant air with taking pictures with normal people – it’s really nice so her fishball shop must be a fun place to visit. I remember this Miss HK always seemed to have that air in front of the cameras.

  14. Halina looks pretty and good for her age with minimal or no makeup. TVB as always, being the cheapskate that they are pays very little and inhumane.

    1. I am guessing her husband helped her because I think he is pretty well off.

    2. Her husband is well off, I think Anne Heung also dated him.

  15. hi there

    1. tam still looks delicious.
    2. chin up gal.
    3. she got the fighting spirit.

  16. good on u girl! will visit her shop when i go to hk

  17. Always like her! Still look pretty with little makeup. Wishing her the best!!! miss her on TVB for sure. Always thought she was a good actress!

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