If you are in Melbourne, Victoria, and are wondering where to find the best dumplings, you have come to the right place! These are the best dumplings that Melbourne has to offer, and they are all worth your while to try out!
Tim Ho Wan – Melbourne CBD
Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, which has 20 branches in Australia and Asia. Its menu includes the classics, such as dim sum, noodle dishes, and barbeque pork stew with noodles. You can also try the Xiao long bao, a dumpling stuffed with meat, fish, or mushrooms.
Dumplings are an integral part of Chinese culture. They are simple, but delicious, and there are many ways to make them. There are many restaurants in Melbourne that serve this delicacy. One of the most famous and popular places to order a good dumpling is David’s Dumplings.
However, Tim Ho Wan has a more upmarket feel. While the place is known for its legendary dim sum, the menu also offers a few other small tasting dishes. Among them are spicy prawn paste, fried bean curd with minced prawn, and braised phoenix claw in abalone sauce.
Tim Ho Wan also boasts an impressively large and modern dining area. The decor is simple but eye-catching, with floor-to-ceiling glass frontage and olive green accents.
The best thing about Tim Ho Wan is its service. It boasts casual, quick service, and it does a great job of offering a flavor sensation that you won’t find elsewhere.
HuTong – Melbourne CBD
The HuTong Dumpling Bar is located in Melbourne’s bustling CBD. Taking inspiration from ancient alleyways in Beijing, this Chinese dumpling bar recreates the mood and atmosphere of a traditional Chinese dumpling house. Known for its signature xiao long bao (soup-filled pork buns), the HuTong Dumpling Bar is a top choice for authentic Chinese cuisine.
With a menu spanning three levels, the HuTong Dumpling Bar offers classic dishes as well as unique dishes. Fans of the place say that the Xiao Long Bao (soup-filled pork and soup dumplings) are the highlight. Besides these, HuTong Dumpling Bar also serves steamed vegetable and crab meat buns, grilled chicken, and honey lemon chicken.
In addition to dumplings, HuTong offers other Chinese specialties, such as peking duck. Its location makes it a popular place to visit, since it’s surrounded by great shopping and other attractions.
Another popular dumpling spot in Melbourne’s Chinatown is Ruyi. The menu is full of delicious goodies, such as steamed vegetarian, pan-fried pork and chive, and a sweet-and-sour chicken. Other options include fried goodies and flame-thrower pulled pork.
For a more upmarket take on dumplings, there’s Mr Huang Jin. The menu offers steamed or fried dumplings, including the xiao long boa, a traditional pork and soup-filled dumpling.
David & Camy Dumpling Restaurant – Box Hill
David’s Cafe in Melbourne is a top pick for Shanghainese food and tea. This popular restaurant has been in operation for over 20 years, serving up a wide range of simple, yet delicious dishes.
The menu includes a number of traditional dishes that have become favourites with locals. For starters, try the xiao long bao, or pan-fried pork buns. There are also a number of lesser-known Chinese foods on the menu.
For something a little more substantial, try the Shanghainese-style dumplings at David’s Restaurant. These are a great value for money. Many of the recipes are passed down from Yong and Emily Liu’s family, who began preparing them in 1904.
As for drinks, there is an extensive list of drinks. The cocktails are a good start, and the wine selection is reasonably priced. But the big highlight is the all-you-can-eat weekend yum cha.
Another must-try is the hot pot. There are two main varieties: one uses premium Australian beef tallow and another mixes it with Sichuan ingredients. Unlike the fried version, this noodle soup is made from real ingredients.
If you’re looking for the best dumpling in Melbourne, then you’ve come to the right place. The David and Camy Dumpling Restaurant has been voted the best in town by the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology.
ShanDong MaMa – Melbourne CBD
If you love dumplings, then you need to try ShanDong MaMa. The restaurant opened in 2008, and has since become one of the most popular dumpling restaurants in Melbourne.
The food at ShanDong MaMa is unique, and the owners are proud of their recipes from the Shandong Province in China. They’ve created a menu of northern Chinese-inspired fare, as well as a range of seafood-focused dishes.
The fish and meat-stuffed dumplings are some of the best in Melbourne. Each dish is carefully crafted using fresh, high-quality ingredients. For example, the lamb dumplings are an Australian twist on the classic Chinese recipe.
Another standout is the Xiao Long Bao. These small dumplings are steamed or sometimes fried, and contain a variety of flavours. You can enjoy them with a dipping sauce.
There are a number of dumpling spots in Melbourne, including the Great Little Dumpling Place. However, these can be a bit overpriced, and the service can be a bit slow.
Luckily, there are some good restaurants in the arcade that connects Bourke Street and Little Bourke Street. Ruyi, for example, won the award for best Chinese restaurant in 2017. This is also a great place for lunch.
Spice Temple – Melbourne CBD
If you are looking for a place to enjoy a fine yum cha meal, then Spice Temple may be the restaurant for you. This upmarket Chinese restaurant has a menu that draws from the lesser known regions of China.
The menu is based on the chef’s interpretation of Chinese cuisine. It features dishes inspired by Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Jiangxia.
Spice Temple’s dumplings are a specialty. They’re silken yet firm. Stuffed with meat, prawn, or chives, they have thin skin and a crisp exterior.
A la carte dinners are available seven days a week, with lunch service from 12 to 3 pm on weekends. There are also two banquet options.
The restaurant features an extensive wine list with over 100 Australian and imported wines. Their cocktail list changes with the seasons. The cocktail list is themed around 12 Chinese zodiac signs.
For dessert, there’s an impressive mango pudding with condensed milk chantilly. There’s also a three-milk cake, made with dried pistachio and almond.
The Spice Temple is a fine-dining Chinese restaurant, located on the Yarra River. The interior is contemporary and drenched in toffee-hued lighting. Tableware is in a variety of shades of black.
