10 best dumplings you must try in Sydney
THE addition of a handful of new Chinese restaurants and the arrival of an internationally acclaimed yum-cha master has reignited the battle for the title of Sydney’s best dumpling.
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SYDNEY has gone dumpling crazy, with fans of the plump pillows of perfection getting all steamed up over the search for the most delicious delights.
A combination of factors, including the rising price of meat, has pushed dumplings from the backburner to front and centre.
There has also been a jump in dumpling restaurants in Sydney with three additional outposts of the acclaimed Din Tai Fung added to the flagship restaurant in World Square.
Tim Ho Wan, the only Michelin-starred dumpling restaurant in the world, which opened in Chatswood back in 2014, has sprouted a second store in the CBD.
And most recently Neil Perry has gutted his fine-dining institution Eleven Bride and replaced it with a cavernous Cantonese offering called Jade Temple to rival its neighbour Mr Wong — another cult dumpling go-to.
And, plumping up the dumpling dilemma, Perry has enlisted the services of acclaimed dumpling master Moon Kuen Ng, who arrived in town from Macau last week.
“The level of skill we were looking for just wasn’t available in this country so we had to look overseas and luckily (Ng) was available,” Perry said of the fast-fingered dumpling master, who began honing his craft at age 14.
Ng said the magic is all in the right filling and using the freshest ingredients — and ensuring the casing should be translucent enough to see through.
“You should be able to hold it up to the light and see what’s inside,” he said. “But it should never fall apart.”
Perfect cooking time is also key, he said, as is the consistency of the meat filling so that each different flavour can be easily identified.
But, if all that sounds like too much hard work, we’ve got the 10 best dumplings in Sydney, in no particular order.
Just try them all!
TOP 10 DUMPLINGS IN SYDNEY
SHANGHAI SOUP DUMPLING, DIN TAI FUNG
World Square
Originating in Taiwan, Din Tai Fung reinvented the wheel with their world-famous soup
dumplings; perfect pocketfuls of savoury pork mince and broth.
THE PRAWN WONTON, BILLY KWONG
Potts Point
As famous as Kylie Kwong’s restaurant itself, the boiled prawn wontons — served with a delectable organic brown rice vinegar — are a must-try; silky, mouth-watering, delectable and clean-tasting.
THE PORK BUN, TIM HO WAN
Chatswood
Not a dumpling per se — and baked rather than steamed as most dumplings are — Tim Ho Wan’s pork buns are made up of a crispy sweet dough encasing a magical, gooey centre of barbecue pork and sweet sauce.
THE POT STICKER, EAST LONDON
Paddington
Paddington is an unlikely pit stop for authentic Chinese cuisine but East London, which opened in 2015 as part of the London Hotel, is a pleasant surprise.
Their pot-stickers — Asian dumplings fried with a dash of liquid so that they ‘stick’ to the pan — are the best in Sydney.
THE PORK GYOZA, HARAJUKU GYOZA
Potts Point
The Chinese dumpling’s Japanese cousin, gyoza differs in that they’re cooked in an iron pan as opposed to a bamboo steamer.
Crammed with juicy pork and fragrant chives, Harajuku Gyoza’s pork gyoza remain Sydney’s standard.
PRAWN, SUGAR SNAP & WATER CHESTNUT DUMPLING, CHINA LANE
CBD
Served with an exquisite Chinese red vinegar, these tasty parcels are a crowd favourite for freshness, sweetness and perfect composition of meat and vegetables.
THE CHICKEN AND PRAWN SUI MAI, CHEF’S GALLERY
Parramatta
Spruced up with fresh corn and bulging with fresh filling, the Chicken and Prawn Sui Mai at Chef’s Gallery are generally regarded as the reason diners regularly queue for a table.
THE SCALLOP AND PRAWN SUI MAI, MR WONG
CBD
By far the most popular dumpling at Merivale’s Mr Wong, the scallop and prawn sui mai are a sensationally modern take on the classic pork and prawn.
PRAWN DUMPLING (HAR GOW), PALACE CHINESE RESTAURANT
CBD
They say the litmus test of a good yum-cha is its har gow. If so, the longstanding Palace Chinese Restaurant is up there with Sydney’s best.
The prawn dumpling is a masterclass with its translucent skin and bouncy prawn filling.
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