The ultimate dumpling guide to Melbourne

Coming into the city to celebrate the Lunar New Year festival? Discover the best spots to feast on dumplings in Chinatown and beyond. Steamed, fried, baked or boiled – there’s no such thing as a bad dumpling.

HuTong Dumpling Bar

HuTong Dumpling Bar in Market Lane is beloved by all serious dumpling devotees. Come here for the signature soup-filled xiao long bao or zippy chilli wontons. Be hypnotised by the clever hands of the chefs as they whip up delicate dumplings behind glass. Accompany your dumpling feast with side dishes like side dishes like clay pot eggplant or string beans with minced pork and chilli sauce.

Aunty's Dumplings

Find delicious handmade dumplings just like Mum used to make at this new Carlton spot. Watch the experts at Aunty's Dumplings carefully fill and fold each little pocket of goodness right before your eyes. Find specialty dumplings stuffed with ingredients like scallops and octopus. Or go for tried and true varieties and order the pork or chicken and prawn.

Lucky Dumpling

You know you're in the right place when there's a self-serve station with complimentary prawn crackers. Lucky Dumpling offers up a very affordable menu of juicy handmade dumplings. You can get four soupy xiao long bao for under $10, crispy pan fried ones for under $8 and bbq pork buns for under $5. And don't forget your free dipping sauce with fresh ginger.

Secret Kitchen

The secret is out – behind that big curved fish tank in Chinatown you’ll find one of Melbourne’s best yum cha spots. Gorge on baskets of Cantonese favourites alongside rare delicacies. Secret Kitchen’s dishes are cute as a button. Snap a pic of the adorable piggy custard buns before you gobble them down. Finish off your meal with a mango pudding or durian puff.

Heartling

Discover delicious heart-shaped dumplings at Heartling. The focus here is on 'slow' dining – a meditative food experience that allows you to savour every flavour. Choose the seafood, plant-based or meat-based menu, then indulge in a series of hand-crafted, authentic dumplings. Splurge on dessert, you won't be disappointed.

Yulongfu

This dumpling wonderland has a long and delicious history. Using a classic family recipe that dates back to 1904, the husband and wife duo behind Yulongfu hand fold dumplings fresh to order. Head in for signature black truffle xiao long bao, pan fried wontons, spicy claypot eggplant and more.

Shanghai Street

At Shanghai Street on Little Bourke, homemade dumplings come boiled or fried. They also come swimming in chilli oil or floating in broth. Fillings include pork, chicken and prawn. There's also beef, vegetable or our favourite, kung pao chicken. Vegetarians have some un-bao-lievable options too! Visit the Elizabeth Street outpost for dumplings in an ‘east meets west’ Tiki bar.

Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan is famous for being a tiny, budget dumpling joint in Hong Kong that earned itself a Michelin star. The Melbourne branch is more upmarket and the dumplings here are excellent. Make sure you order the barbecue pork bun. This global phenomenon is baked, slightly sweet and thoroughly addictive. Then end on the Hong Kong-style egg tarts.

Hakata Gensuke

While the main dish on the menu is the ramen, you can't go past Hakata Gesuke's gyoza as a must-try side dish. These Japanese dumplings are first steamed then go straight into the pan to create a perfect crispy shell. They're packed with a delicious pork filling and come with a citrus pepper on the side.

Spice Temple

Spice Temple, a glamorous restaurant at Crown, showcases the spicier regional cuisines of China. First, try the chef’s selection of steamed dumplings. Do not miss the silky prawn wontons in aged black vinegar dressing. They are truly memorable.

China Red 

China Red is the spot for the juiciest, soupiest xiao long bao. The menu also has a range of other delicious dumplings, including Peking pork. Sit under the glow of red lanterns, order from a touch screen and wait for those steaming bamboo baskets to arrive.

ShanDong MaMa

ShanDong MaMa is a no-frills dumpling house that has been a crowd favourite for years. Try inventive flavours like green chilli Wagyu beef. Or the squid ink dumplings. They're filled with New Zealand squid, home-minced chicken breast, flying fish roe and a surprising hit of basil. The vegan dumplings are a winner too.

Old Beijing

Old Beijing will have you feasting like a king. Delivering a slice of imperial China to Melbourne’s CBD. Catering to all appetites, enjoy fried noodles and dumplings for under $20. Or indulge in foie gras and add marinated duck tongue with mustard sauce. There's even a dedicated xiao long bao menu with gourmet fillings like lobster, sea urchin and black truffle.

Momo Station

Don’t tell anyone we told you about this hidden dumpling destination. Momo Station is a no-frills eatery tucked away in The Captiol Arcade serving tasty Nepalese dumplings (momos). Try the chilli momo, pan-fried and tossed in sticky red onion and capsicum chilli sauce.