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13 Best Dumpling Spots in Melbourne
Baked, boiled, steamed, simmered and fried, the humble dumpling is a favourite amongst the multicultural diners of Melbourne. The tiny meat and vegetable-filled parcels are the perfect meal any time of day, a light snack for lunch or a tasty part of a multiple-dish dinner. Mouth exploders, crispy fried on the outside, steamed to juicy fluffy perfection there is not much better than a delicious dumpling and Melbourne is one of the best places to get your fill.
So many restaurants both Asian and modern Australian offer a variety of dumpling options from traditional Chinese recipes to modern and unique twists, there’s something for everyone’s taste. Melbourne takes its dumplings so seriously that there’s even a three-hour dumpling walking tour through Chinatown where you can mingle with your fellow dumpling enthusiasts. So why not take advantage of the city’s food scene and check out the best dumplings Melbourne has to offer?
Related: Looking for more than a few dumplings? Check out our favourite yum-cha spots in Melbourne.
How Man of Many Chose the Best Dumplings in Melbourne
Compiling our list of the best dumpling restaurants in Melbourne was easy because most of the restaurants in question are also found on our list of the best Yum Cha in Melbourne. In fact, we were able to hit two birds with one stone when it came to this list, revisiting some of our personal favourites such as Oriental Teahouse on Lt Collins and ShanDong Mama. We’ve gone out of our way to include a few fine dining options for date night, such as Supernormal, while also incorporating a few hidden gems. Our list also takes into account a variety of price points (most dumplings will cost anywhere from $10-20) although expect to pay more for the fine dining options on this list. Let’s check it out.
Best Dumplings in Melbourne at a Glance
Our list of the best dumplings in Melbourne goes like this.
- Best dumplings in Melbourne overall: Oriental Teahouse Lt Collins
- Best for a quick lunch: Din Tai Fung
- Best for date night: Supernormal
- Widest range of dumplings: Shanghai Street
Now we’ve rounded up our favourites, let’s check out the full list.
Oriental Teahouse Lt Collins | Image: Supplied
1. Oriental Teahouse Lt Collins
Tea and dumplings, what could be better? Oriental Teahouse is the perfect spot if you’re looking for some of the best Asian food in Melbourne and a pot of steaming hot tea, all in an authentic Chinese teahouse atmosphere. The teahouse hosts an array of sweet and savoury dumplings but some notable favourites are the signature white chocolate dumplings, ginger prawn dumplings, roast duck with Peking sauce dumplings and the flame thrower pulled pork with slices of pork belly.
Address: 378 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Tue-Thur 12-3 pm & 5:30-9 pm, Fri-Sat 12-3 pm & 5:30-10 pm
Phone: (03) 9600 4230
New Shanghai | Image: Supplied
2. New Shanghai
Conveniently located in Melbourne Central shopping Centre, you can now do your shopping and enjoy deliciously authentic dumplings. Offering a variety of dishes from the Shanghai region, we recommend you choose from spring-onion pancakes and grilled Shanghai-style skewers packed full of soy and Sichuan pepper flavours, just to name a few. Be warned, there are over 200 plates to choose from, so you won’t be short of options!
Located in: Melbourne Central
Address: Level 3, Cnr LaTrobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Sun-Wednesday 11am-9pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-10pm
Phone: (03) 9650 8887
HuTong | Image: Supplied
3. HuTong
If you’re looking for Melbourne’s best dumplings we recommend you check out HuTong’s Dumpling Bar in the CBD. We love this spot because they offer authentic home-style dishes that will make your taste buds melt, with favourites of ours including prawn, boiled pork, spinach, pan-fried, crab meat, mushroom, duck meat and just about everything else on the menu!
Address: 14-16 Market Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 am-3 pm & 5:30-10 pm
Phone: (03) 9650 8128
Chotto Motto | Image: Supplied
4. Chotto Motto
Japanese dumplings, handmade, daily. Say no more. At Chotto Motto enjoy all the best that Japan has to offer, we’re talking food, drinks, vibes and the ideal dose of Japanese culture to transport you to the stress of Japan without having to leave Melbourne. We recommend the pork dumplings (obviously) with crispy chilli oil, miso butter braised greens with crispy garlic capsicum and the chocolate mochi brownie for dessert. They also sell some of their signature ingredients as well as a few cute accessories.
Address: 287 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Hours: Tue-Thur 5:30-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-10:30pm
Phone: 0466 054 911
Juicy Bao | Image: Supplied
5. Juicy Bao
For Chinese cuisine about as authentic as it comes, look no further than Juicy Bao. While these guys specialise in steamed, juicy bao, they also have a great variety of noodles and seafood on their menu, like their Shanghai fried noodles and salt and pepper squid. The steamed vegetable and mushroom bao is our top pick, and, accompanied by Chinese tea and unpretentious vibes, we couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy a delicious feed.
Address: Shop 2/178-190 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon & Wed-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm & 5-9:20pm
Phone: (03) 9041 7009
Shanghai Red | Image: Supplied
6. Shanghai Red
Capturing the elegance, luxury and flavours of Shanghai, this Melbourne restaurant is a tribute to the delicacy of traditional Chinese food. The star of the show here is the legendary xiao long bao, which comes in six varieties and fusions. Once you taste the delicious sweetness of the soup broth and the freshness of pork filling, we guarantee you will be coming back for more.
Located in: Chadstone
Address: Shop F015/1341 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East VIC 3145
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8:30pm
Phone: (03) 9569 8882
Shanghai Street | Image: Supplied
7. Shanghai Street
If you’re a bonafide fan, then another great place to check out for some of the best dumplings in Melbourne is Shanghai Street. Since 2010 Shanghai Street has been offering a unique taste of traditional Chinese food and culture. Try their homemade favourites with pork, beef, chicken and prawn, as vegetarian and tasty Kung pao chicken.
Address: Various locations
Din Tai Fung | Image: Supplied
8. Din Tai Fung
Since its opening in 2008, Din Tai Fung has earned a reputation for pumping out some of the best dumplings Melbourne has to offer. Expanding up to ten venues across Melbourne and Sydney, the delicately crafted parcels are just one of the appeals at Din Tai Fung. Try all the different variations like black truffle pork, shrimp and pork and the popular xiao long boa.
Located in: Emporium Melbourne
Address: Level 4/287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Thur 11:30 am-2:30 pm & 5:30-8:30 pm, Fri 11:30 am-3 pm & 5-9 pm, Sat-Sun 11:30 am-8:30 pm
Phone: (03) 9654 1876
Mr Huang Jin | Image: Quandoo
9. Mr Huang Jin
Mr Huang Jin specialises in making some of the most delicious Taiwanese-style dumplings in Melbourne. Located near Southern Cross Station, the popular hotspot serves up hotly fried and steamed dumplings that melt in your mouth. Everything from seafood to pork and vegetarian options are available but for an explosion of flavour in your mouth try the steamed laksa xiao long boa.
Address: 24 Katherine Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3 pm & 5-9 pm, Sat 5-9pm
Phone: (03) 9629 5452
The decor at Supernormal is exceptional, but these dumplings are next level | Image: Supplied
10. Supernormal
Supernormal combines all the things you love about Asian cuisine with influences from Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong. What really stands out on the menu though is the delicious and tantalising dumplings, they’re so good owner Andrew McConnell once told The Guardian they serve 2000 per day! We recommend you try the prawn and chicken parcels with chilli and vinegar sauce, vegetable dumplings with spiced ginger vinegar and Szechuan pork favourites with sweet soy and chilli sauce
Address: 180 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Sun 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 9650 8688
RuYi Modern Chinese | Image: Supplied
11. RuYi Modern Chinese
RuYi Modern Chinese is the perfect spot for tasty dumplings in Melbourne and is the winner of the 2017 best Chinese in Melbourne award. You can’t go wrong if you want delicious pan-fried, boiled and steamed goodies. Some of our favourite dishes include the soup bursting pork and crab xiao long boa, pan-fried pork and chive dumpling, and steamed vegetarian with fresh spinach, mushroom and vermicelli.
Address: Ground Floor, 16 Liverpool St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Tue 5:30-9:30pm, Wed 5-10pm, Thur 5:30-10pm, Fri 5:30-11pm, Sat 5-11pm
Phone: (03) 9090 7778
ShanDong MaMa | Image: Supplied
12. ShanDong MaMa
The mother-and-daughter-run ShanDong MaMa is serving up some killer dumplings in Melbourne CBD. Located in a tucked away arcade, ShanDong MaMa offers a whole array of delicious and unique dumplings like sea urchin, the bold black dumplings made from squid ink, tasty vegetarian zucchini and perhaps the most popular and hyped-about, Spanish mackerel dumplings.
Located in: Midcity Centre
Address: 7/200 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-9:30pm
Phone: (03) 9650 3818
Immi Dumpling Bar | Image: Supplied
13. Immi Dumpling Bar
Offering a fresh, contemporary take, Immi Dumpling bar in Mordy delivers delicious Chinese cooking with a relaxed, fusion vibe, both in the food and the interior of the trendy space. Known for its laid-back attitude and local wine list, it’s the perfect spot to meet with mates while you devour boiled dumplings, dumpling soups, pan-fired dumplings, wonton, yum cha, bao along with noodles and stir fry.
Address: 562 Main St, Mordialloc VIC 3195
Hours: Wed-Sun 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 8524 8008
Dumplings in Melbourne FAQs
What is the best spot for dumplings in Melbourne?
Melbourne is renowned for its diverse food culture, meaning there is a wealth of great dumpling spots in the city. According to Google Reviews, the top-rated dumplings in Melbourne come from ShanDong MaMa in the Melbourne CBD.
What are some good dumpling places in Melbourne’s Chinatown?
Melbourne’s Chinatown district is one of the nation’s best and for this reason, there are a number of great dumpling spots. Among them, you’ll find Shanghai Street, Hutong Dumpling Bar and Ruyi.
What is in a dumpling?
Dumplings generally consist of pieces of wrapped around a filling that usually includes meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, fruits or sweets.
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Lucy Stones
Lucy Stones is an experienced freelance writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She completed a Bachelor of Communication in Journalism & PR at Griffith University. Specialising in food, beverage and culture coverage, Lucy's work has been featured in publications such as AmsterDo Magazine B.V and Echoes & Dust.
