Steamer baskets piled high, the crisp and caramelised lace of potstickers, or swimming in a bowl of punchy chilli soup, dumplings are the one thing we can all agree on. And in a state that’s busting at the seams with excellent dumpling outlets, scoring a spot in Victoria’s top five is nothing short of magic. Here are the best dumplings in Victoria, as crowned in the delicious. 100.
HuTong will forever be synonymous with xiao long bao, the wrinkle-bottomed soup-filled pork dumplings that scald and delight in equal measure. Since opening in Market Lane in 2010, countless diners have marvelled at the hatted chefs expertly pleating these beauties. And while the broader menu is great (shout-out to the wontons in chilli oil), the XLB steal our hearts. Unit 1/162 Commercial Rd, Prahran & 14-16 Market Ln, Melbourne; hutong.com.au.
Melbourne has its share of dining institutions, but David Zhou’s beloved Shanghainese restaurant has been winning people over for 20-plus years. The authentic dishes remain as consistent as ever, but its dumplings might steal the show. Xiao long bao are non-negotiable, as are the shu mai, wontons and mapo tofu dumplings. Try the lot during weekend yum cha. 4 Cecils Place, Prahran; davidsrestaurant.com.au.
Having dished up Shanghainese specialties since 2010, Shanghai Street now has three venues. The menu has many queue-worthy options but skip the dumplings at your peril. The soup-filled xiao long bao are hard-earned crowd favourites – pork, crab and pork, or chicken and prawn (order the lot and thank us later). No-fuss deliciousness at its best. Various locations; shanghaistreet.com.au.
The mackerel dumplings will hook you into the MaMa cult – light and fragrant with coriander, ginger, spring onion and chives, they’re a transcendent reminder of seaside Shandong, homeland of owners Meiyan Wang and her daughter Ying Hou. Even the vegan dumplings – fat with zucchini, fried tofu, coriander and ginger – could convert a committed carnivore. 7/200 Bourke St, Melbourne & 5 Centre Pl, Melbourne; @shandongmama.
Each delicate xiao long bao here is handmade with 16 careful pleats, an art form that’s been handed down through the owner’s family for almost 120 years. Pick from pan-fried or steamed dumplings, wontons, steamed buns and those OG soup-filled parcels. Just don’t miss the signature black truffle and pork xiao long bao with their distinctive black skins. 136 Bourke St, Melbourne; @yulongfubuns.
