12 of the best Sydney dumpling restaurants for Chinese New Year dinner
Fat ones, small ones, ones drenched in chilli oil. In a city brimming with great Asian street food, Sydney’s dumpling obsessed have their work cut out for them.
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From the no-frills neighbourhood gems to popular Shanghainese franchises and high-end restaurants, Sydney is spoiled for choice when it comes to great dumplings.
And as the Lunar New Year 2021 kicks off on February 12, there’s never been a better time to order a bamboo steamer of the city’s best.
To welcome the Year of the Ox, many Chinese restaurants will feature special ‘lucky’ dumplings on the menu, while others will simply dishing up their steaming best.
Here are 12 of the best places to start.
EAST OCEAN SEAFOOD
Get among the noise and chaos of yum cha at East Ocean, a Chinatown institution, and prepare to down some of the most delicious dumplings and dim sums. Be sure to order at least one bamboo steamer of the signature Tiger Prawn dumpling and don't miss the masterly-crafted gao choy gow garlic chive dumplings pleated with intricate precision.
Level 1, 421 – 429 Sussex Street, Haymarket
DIN TAI FUNG
Din Tai Fung are offering a cheeky ode to 2020 with masked ox-shaped chocolate buns in addition to Yusheng (prosperity toss salad), red-coloured Wagyu beef dumplings and a Lunar New Year frozen hamper. Products are available until February 28 (while stock lasts) from select Din Tai Fung restaurant.
Check your local Din Tai Fung location for details.
NEW SHANGHAI
To celebrate the Year of the Ox and put diners on a prosperous footing for 2021, New Shanghai has plenty of lucky dishes on the menu from February 4-21, including the ‘Make Me Rich Dumplings’ as part of its specially curated 8-course Lunar New Year Banquet menu ($36 pp). At any of Ashfield & Sydney CBD locations.
CHINESE NOODLE HOUSE
Known for the plastic grapes on the ceiling, the Chinese Noodle House (and its offshoot Chinese Dumpling Master in Enmore) have a devoted following for their cheap and hearty northern Chinese dumplings. Pan fried or steamed and dunked in chilli oil, vinegar and soy, you can’t go wrong with a steamer of pork and Chinese cabbage, or egg and chive.
160 Thomas St, Haymarket; 91 Enmore Rd, Enmore
YANG’S DUMPLINGS
With its trademark neon pink signage, Yangs, a Shanghai stalwart, is known for their “sheng jian” bao, a crisp-bottomed, doughy dumpling filled with soupy minced pork. There’s a lot of varieties on the menu though, including the delicate spicy dumplings in chilli oil and peanut sauce. (pork or vegetarian options).
1/15 Deane St, Burwood, 123 Enmore Rd, Enmore
MR. CHEN BEEF NOODLE
Boiled, pan-fried or steamed, these made-to-order dumplings are juicy, generously stuffed and packed with flavour. The pan-fried pork buns are a must try, but the dumplings are equally delish. Try the beef and shallot, pork and egg or vegetarian dumplings.
Prince Centre TG5 Quay Street Enter via, 8 Thomas St, Haymarket NSW 2000
BODHI RESTAURANT
This vegan family institution (it’s been open since 1988) in the heart of Cook and Philip Park under St Mary’s Cathedral is must for those seeking a meat-free dumpling hit. It’s also a beautiful green location for a twilight feast. From the carrot, broccoli and ginger dumplings to the sweet Japanese pumpkin and chilli smoked soy and beetroot dumplings, there’s also plenty of ‘faux-meat’ options to delight the non vegetarian diners.
2-4 College St (at William St), Sydney, NSW
SYDNEY DUMPLING KING
Delicious, fresh and cheap dumplings with a great selection of fillings, the King comes highly recommended for its tasty no frills options. Lots of vegetarian options, a LOT of pork options, plus beef, lamb, chicken and seafood fillings. With 15 dumplings per serving (around $18) you can order half-half options. But unless your hungry, bring a friend.
83E Burwood Rd, Burwood
LILONG
These Shanghainese and Northern Chinese dumplings are tasty and fresh, with a good variety and great portion sizes. Try the pan-fried lamb and spring onion, the steamed chicken and corn or the beef and baby celery. There’s also fried pork buns and xiao long bao, as well as desserts and traditional Chinese inspired drinks.
1 PA Park Rd & Cross St, Hurstville NSW 2220 (Westfield rooftop)
THE ROCKS LUNAR MARKETS
Lunar New Year at The Rocks will be a feast for the senses, with entertainment, lion dances, markets and of course, sizzling food stalls and food trucks.
Visit at night and walk among the hundreds of red lanterns and pick up fresh dumplings and pork buns from the street stalls.
FORTUNE8
Don't let the no frills decor or arcade location fool you — this hidden gem dishes up large dumplings and yum cha menu offering big flavour. Try the steamed prawn and coriander dumplings, fried prawn dumplings, or go big and sample the Alaskan crab and seafood dumplings. Pork BBQ buns are a must and the wild mushroom dumplings perfect for vegetarians. There’s even Nutella-filled chocolate buns for the sweet tooth
47 Park Rd, Cabramatta, Australia
MAMA MULAN CHATSWOOD
From the vegan mixed vegetables and mushroom dumplings to the BBQ duck and spinach, variety, Mulan prawn Hargau and the pork and cabbage pot stickers – this popular yum cha spot dishes crowd-pleasing tasty morsels worth booking a table for.
Level 1, The Concourse, Chatswood, NSW
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