Melbourne might not be Shanghai, but it’s closer than you’d think. The dumpling scene here is legitimately world-class, spanning Cantonese dim sum, Shanghainese xiao long bao, Japanese gyoza, Korean mandu, and everything in between.
The XLB (Soup Dumpling) Power Rankings
1. HuTong Dumpling Bar (CBD)
The original Melbourne soup dumpling destination. The xiao long bao ($16.80 for 8) are still the benchmark — thin skin, clean pork broth, precisely balanced. The pan-fried pork buns ($14.80) are the sleeper order.
2. Shanghai Street Dumplings (CBD)
The value play. $8 for 8 steamed pork dumplings during happy hour (2-5pm). The quality-to-price ratio is unbeatable. Multiple CBD locations — they’re everywhere for a reason.
3. New Shanghai (CBD/multiple)
The chain that doesn’t taste like a chain. The XLB ($15.80 for 8) are consistently executed across all locations. The cucumber salad ($8) as a starter is an underrated move.
Dim Sum — Weekend Warrior Edition
The Golden Dragon (Chinatown)
Classic yum cha experience with trolley service (increasingly rare in Melbourne). Go Saturday or Sunday 10am-2pm. The har gow ($8.50) and char siu bao ($7.50) are the fundamentals.
Tim Ho Wan (CBD)
Hong Kong’s cheapest Michelin restaurant, now in Melbourne. The baked BBQ pork buns ($9.80 for 3) are the signature — flaky, sweet, savoury perfection. The rice rolls ($10.80) are silky.
By Suburb — Your Dumpling Map
| Suburb | Go-To Spot | Signature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | HuTong | XLB | $16.80/8 |
| Box Hill | DTF | Truffle XLB | $18/8 |
| Richmond | Tina’s Noodle Kitchen | Prawn Dumplings | $14/8 |
| Footscray | Thanh Nga Nine | Crystal Prawn | $12/10 |
| Glen Waverley | Juicy Bao | Soup Dumplings | $14/8 |
| Doncaster | Shanghai Dumpling House | Pan-fried | $12/8 |
| Springvale | Indochine | Wonton Soup | $11 |
The $50 Dumpling Crawl (CBD)
Route it in 2 hours:
- Start: Shanghai Street — 8 pork dumplings ($8)
- Stop 2: HuTong — 8 XLB + cucumber salad ($25)
- Finish: Tim Ho Wan — 3 BBQ pork buns + tea ($14)
- Total: ~$47. You’ll have eaten 19 dumplings and 3 buns. No regrets.
All prices verified March 2026. Dumpling inflation is real but Melbourne still delivers value.
💬 Discussion
Join the conversation — no account needed