It's fairly safe to say that a life without dumplings would be a pretty sad one. Dumplings are a common feature of many cuisines, taking on a few forms—from steamed, pillowy, and soup-filled to fried and crispy, around the world, there's manti, pierogi, ravioli, momo, gyoza—the list goes on.
Sydney has a few standout joints slinging delicious dumplings in all their many formats. Here we've rounded up a list of the best, with a special focus on Chinese-style dim sum and soupy xiao long bao.
To get your fix, dive into this list of the absolute best spots for dumplings in Sydney.
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The Best Dumplings In Sydney At A Glance
- The Best Dumplings In Chinatown Sydney
- The Best Dumplings In The Sydney CBD
- The Best Dumplings In The Inner West And Western Suburbs
- More Of The Best Dumplings In Sydney
The Best Dumplings In Chinatown Sydney
Nanjing Dumpling
6 Little Hay Street, Haymarket
Despite being surrounded by other popular Chinatown restaurants, Nanjing Dumpling has quickly become a spot worth noting for its parcels. From classics done right with steamed pork xiao long bao to spiced-up versions of wonton soup, you can catch a glimpse of the chefs as they hand-make your dumplings fresh.
With Nanjing being the capital of the Jiangsu province in China, this place offers a specific approach to dumplings and dishes that brings a taste that’s hard to find anywhere else in Sydney.
Insider Intel
- This is a safe choice if you’re bringing vegetarian friends, with the menu boasting several options symbolised with a little green bubble.
Lee's Dumplings
694 George Street, Haymarket
Image Credit: Lee's Dumplings | Instagram
Inspired by the same specific cuisine as Nanjing Dumplings, Lee’s Dumpling has made a name for itself amongst Sydneysiders.
With sleek neon “Welcome” signs hanging from the ceiling, this restaurant quite literally invites you to dine on their dumplings packed with juiciness. With options ranging from the traditional to more experimental, you (or a friend with a wider palate) can try their pork wonton with duck blood jelly, or (slightly more tame) fried beef dumplings.
Chinese Dumpling Master and Chinese Noodle House
91 Enmore Road, Newtown and 160 Thomas Street, Haymarket
Chinese Dumpling Master on Enmore Road is the offspring of the storied Chinese Noodle House in Haymarket—and both serve piles (and piles) of some of Sydney's most delicious dumplings. Many of us have been visiting the Haymarket joint for years; it's affectionately known by regulars and fans as "that place with the plastic grapevines on the roof". Don't expect airs and graces here, this is one of those rare restaurants that enjoys a reputation based on word of mouth, which has to be the most telling testimony in our digital age.
Dumplings here have a signature flavour and a denser texture, making them a bit different from the delicate varieties you might find elsewhere. While this is a divisive feature, if you want a cheap, hearty, tasty meal (that’s BYO to boot), this is your place. See what people are saying online.
Insider Intel
- When feasting at Chinese Dumpling Master in Newtown, pop across the road for an epic selection of natural wines from the legends at P&V Wine and Liquor.
The Best Dumplings In The Sydney CBD
Golden Century
Crown Sydney, Level 3/1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Golden Century | Supplied
You can find a new era of Golden Century inside Crown Sydney, the same skyscraper that homes the internationally renowned Nobu restaurant and locally famous buffet Epicurean. Eating across from views of Sydney’s harbour, Golden Century is the spot to have finely crafted dumplings in luxury style and with top service.
With a number of dumpling options—including steaming shrimp dim sims, crispy and golden pork wontons, and even black sesame sticky rice dumplings for dessert—Golden Century could be the most chic spot in Sydney to satisfy your dumpling cravings.
Lotus
Various Locations
Image credit: Lotus Barangaroo | Website
There are multiple venues under the Lotus name in Sydney, including a spot along the tranquil Darling Harbour—but one thing remains true of the Lotus Group. Their dumplings are divine. The concept came into fruition back in 2012 when Michael Jiang put into play his dream of owning a restaurant that would bring his childhood memories of food to life.
Right now, you can channel the best of the dumpling menu, which looks like Sichuan-style prawn and pork wonton. You’ll also find chicken and peanut sauce dumplings, seafood and squid ink dumplings and the special duck and spinach dumplings.
Insider Intel
- Lotus occasionally holds events, including dumpling-making classes. Perfect for some social fun before satisfying the dumpling cravings.
Lilong By Taste Of Shanghai
Various Locations
The word "lilong" describes the old street communities in Shanghai that were connected by laneways which means, unsurprisingly, most Lilong outposts from central Sydney all the way to the Greater West resemble terrace-like houses, traditional Chinese courtyards, and back-street haunts tucked behind big city buildings. Started by Jennifer Du, the food is a large nod to Du’s heritage and focuses on Shanghai and Northern Chinese cuisines.
Lilong's dumpling legacy has been going strong since 2006. Sink your teeth into everything from sticky rice dumplings and chicken and sweet corn dumplings to crispy Shanghai turnip croissants and crispy fried Chinese milk buns.
Insider Intel
- Queues get long at the CBD locations. Reservations can be made at their locations just outside the CBD if you’d rather not wait (although it is definitely worth it).
Mr. Wong
3 Bridge Lane, Sydney CBD
Image Credit: Merivale | Website
Mr. Wong, led by the legendary Dan Hong, has a dim sum menu for lunch as well as yum cha on the weekends. Like everything on the dinner menu at Mr. Wong, the dim sum delivers a perfect mix of innovation and tradition. Mr. Wong’s dim sum is picture-perfect too, with the dumpling wrappers naturally coloured and artistically wrapped to showcase each type. And the xiao long bao? Definitely a contender for the very best in the city.
Any adventure to Mr. Wong feels like a special occasion thanks to the awe-inducing opulence of the space, but don't be fooled. It certainly isn’t pretentious—the dim sum is reasonably priced considering you’re eating at a two-hatted restaurant.
Mr. Chen Beef Noodle
8 Thomas Street, Haymarket
Here, chef Gary Yuen heads up the kitchen, armed with a casual 40 years' experience in traditional Chinese cooking and, yes, he is a veritable dumpling king.
Dumplings are made to order so brace yourself for generously stuffed pork morsels either boiled, pan-fried or steamed and fluffy BBQ pork buns to start your feast.
Insider Intel
- Big bonus? BYO is free.
The Best Dumplings In The Inner West And Western Suburbs
Best Gourmet Restaurant Newtown
234 King Street, Newtown
Living up to its name, Best Gourmet Restaurant Newtown is a place tucked away on King Street, a street renowned in the Sydney food world for its variety of mouth-watering dining experiences. When exploring their extensive menu of Chinese dishes, you’ll easily be able to spot the dumpling varieties they have to offer.
Consider ordering their fried pork dumplings that crunch in your mouth just right, and their hot and spicy dumplings that deliver a tasteful kick to diners who can handle the heat.
New Shanghai
Various Locations
Image Credit: New Shanghai | Website
From the signature Shanghainese xiao long bao to prawn dumplings with peanut sauce, let’s just say your taste buds are in for a vivid flavour safari at New Shanghai. It should come as no surprise that New Shanghai has outposts all over the country and the world, with its Chinese dishes stemming from recipes that have been passed down through generations. There’s a hefty menu dedicated entirely to dim sims and dumplings. The aforementioned Shanghainese xiao long bao is a signature, as is the crab meat xiao long bao, and the potstickers.
Insider Intel
- Keep an eye on the “What’s On” section of their website–they’re offering free birthday dumplings for subscribers.
Queen Chow
2/167 Enmore Road, Enmore and Manly Wharf, 22/23 E Esplanade, Manly
Inspired by neighbourhood restaurants in Hong Kong, Queen Chow is Merivale's take on Cantonese cuisine. Expect all the polish you've come to know and love from the Merivale family—plus seaside views (in Manly) and a slick pub refurb (in Enmore). When it comes to dumplings, you'll want to try the jade seafood dumpling, which is actually a stunning jade green hue, and the wild mushroom dumplings. Try them all and more with a dim sum platter.
Yang’s Dumplings
Shop 9, 11-15 Deane Street, Burwood; 123 Enmore Road, Enmore; Level 1/4-12 Garfield Street, Five Dock
Yang’s Dumplings comes to you straight from Shanghai, where the chain has been serving up tasty handmade treats for more than 20 years. The fame it has garnered in Shanghai is not lost in Sydney, where Yang’s now has venues in Burwood, Enmore and Five Dock. The must-try dish is the Sheng Jian Bao, a soupy minced pork dumpling with a crispy bottom (just proceed with caution—it’s hot!).
If it means anything to you, and we'll assume it does, the venue is known to attract those from, or familiar with, Shanghai and its cuisine, so you can take that as a guarantee of authenticity and yum.
More Of The Best Dumplings In Sydney
Mama Mulan
Level 1, The Concourse, Chatswood
Image Credit: Mama Mulan | Instagram
Mama Mulan is a modern Chinese food restaurant with a menu that serves up staple dishes with a fun twist. Most of the time, the people line up at all hours of the day to hit the unparalleled yum cha on offer here, with plates of steamed, pan-fried and deep-fried dim sum dishes all mixed with fresh ingredients and a spice repertoire that can be sourced back to different places all over the world. At any given point, the mixed dumpling platter is the way to go, loaded with Mulan prawn har gau, scallop and bean sprout dumplings, pork and prawn shumai, and mushroom and veggie dumplings.
Baba Wu’s Dumplings
230 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills
You won’t often find a work lunch-break meal in Sydney for less than $10, let alone $5–except at Baba Wu’s. With a menu small but mighty, the Baba Wu’s locations in both Surry Hills and North Sydney offer pork, halal chicken, and prawn dumplings that all come in generous sets of 12. Grab a complimentary sauce on your way out, and you have your cheap lunchtime meal or after-work snack sorted.
Momo Bar
28 Market Lane, Manly; 15-19 Pacific Parade, Dee Why; 48 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach
People travel far and wide to sink their teeth into the poke bowl and dumpling affair at Momo Bar. The stickler at Momo is that the dumplings are pretty much the size of your palm and come out in all kinds of variations (vegan, traditional, Nepalese, and gluten-free).
There’s a landslide of dumpling fillings to try too, including lamb, chicken, lentil, mushroom, pork and veggie dumplings, most of which are served with a flavoursome broth you’ll want to knock back like water. The unmissable bowl here is the chicken dumplings, which are hand-rolled Nepalese momo. You’ll want to load her up with paprika butter, garlic yoghurt and the elixir of life that is sriracha chilli sauce.
Insider Intel
- Momo Bar often has seasonal specials and discounts, so check their current deals for an even cheaper feed.
Imperial Peking Restaurant
979 King Georges Road, Blakehurst
Image Credit: Imperial Peking | Instagram
Imperial Peking Restaurant is an institution, to say the least. The venue has been standing strong in the Imperial Building on King Georges Road for 20 years now and as you might guess, the Peking duck is a big must. The menu is loosely focused on Cantonese-style dishes but you’ll also find a line-up of classic Pekinese dim sim, like fried pork dumplings and steamed prawn dumplings. Pop in for yum cha to experience numerous varieties of delicious dim sum.
Dumpling And Noodle House
1/165-167 Victoria Street, Potts Point
It’s hard to find cheap eats in the Potts Point area. However, Dumpling and Noodle House delivers (and we mean that literally too, it’s on UberEats). In this small and cosy restaurant, the dumplings come steamed, pan-fried or boiled. While the pork and chive is a favourite, Dumpling and Noodle House also has surprising beef, lamb, and chicken and corn options that you won’t see in many other places.
Sydney Dumpling King
183E Burwood Road, Burwood
Shakespeare asked “what is in a name?” and to that we say, when it comes to Sydney Dumpling King, pretty much everything. This lo-fi dumpling joint has a business model entirely fixed on making Sydney’s best dumplings without all the fuss and it’s something the crew have exceeded expectations on. Here, the juicy steamed pork dumplings reign supreme and all dumplings are handmade daily. See what people are saying online.
Insider Intel
- Prices are already great, but come with some cash in your wallet and you might get a cash discount.
Main image credit: Nanjing Dumpling | Instagram
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