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Melbourne's Best Yum Cha


Is it the siu mai, the congee or the quality of the tea? Is it the buzz from the kitchen, the hum of happy diners or the soothing spirals of steam pouring from the trolleys? Neither man nor food critic will ever define the true key to the appeal of yum cha. It’s a mystery and only one thing is clear: we should be very suspicious of anyone who doesn’t enjoy yum cha.

Very recently, I was able to introduce some country relatives to my dim sum nirvana. And, I’m happy to report, I have no need to be suspicious of them. They adored the food and the rush and the experience of being able to pick-and-choose from a flotilla of hot little trolleys.

When one is tired of yum cha, to paraphrase Samuel Johnson, one is tired of life. There is nothing that is not to like about this mad dash of dumplings. If you’re not a habitué of this relatively low-cost treat, we offer you a few hints for spotting the best.

Not all yum cha joints are created equal. To find those that that bob above the rest is a difficult test. To state the unforgivably obvious: let your taste-buds be your guide.

There is nothing whatsoever preventing you from just ordering a single dish at yum cha. When you’re searching for a favourite, minimise your risk and just order one or two bites to assess the quality of the place. The prawn dumpling, or ha gaau, is a steamed standard that can offer a great guide to a kitchen’s quality. Is the rice flour dough translucent and even? Is the filling at once juicy, savoury and sweet? Do you wish to eat fifty more? If the answer is yes, this might be your joint.

Again, to flirt with the painfully apparent, ask yourself: is this restaurant full to bursting? Big business means high turnover which means hot, spanking new bamboo steamers. Big business does not mean you should be ignored. Although you may wait, particularly on a Sunday, up to an hour for a seat in a yum cha restaurant, a truly great joint will feed you fresh food relentlessly. Part of the pleasure of yum cha is the pace; if your tea pot is not regularly refilled and there is not, at some point, a Hong Kong skyline of steamer baskets on your table, then you’ve come to the wrong place.

Fill your cup with oolong and your person with rice-wrapped parcels of pleasure and don’t forget to report back on your favourite dim sum diner.

SM King, Citysearch

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Best Yum Cha - Melbourne

Man Mo

42 New Quay, Docklands
-37.8147593855453 144.941731095314

In Melbourne’s melting pot of nationalities, restaurants such as this one take full advantage of the many unique and distinct flavours available.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $22.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Red Emperor Chinese Restaurant

Ur3, Southgate, UR3, Upper Level, Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank
-37.8201921409907 144.966646671164

Dine in the mystical atmosphere of exciting Melbourne, while taking in the wonderful panoramic views of the city and the majestic Yarra. Yum Cha is served daily and its fast service makes it ideal for business lunches. When arranging an important business banquet, our knowledge and experience will ensure it's an unprecedented success.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $14.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Yum Cha Dragon Chinese BBQ & Restaurant

Shop G14, G14, 427 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City, Docklands

Situated in the Docklands precinct, this latest addition is the first in Melbourne to offer what we’ve all been clambering for – all day yum cha.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $15.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Shark Fin Inn City

50-52 Lt Bourke Street, Melbourne
-37.8107883901669 144.971262216568

Set over three levels at the top end of Little Bourke Street in Melbourne’s Chinatown, this authentic Chinese eatery is a sure fire hit for lovers of Cantonese fare.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $17.50 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Plume Chinese Restaurant

546 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster
-37.78812404 145.1191305

Big is beautiful at Plume, a large and usually crowded Doncaster restaurant where the seafood dishes are outstanding, and the choices nearly infinite.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $18.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Golden Dragon Palace

363 Manningham Road, Templestowe Lower
-37.77458319 145.1153739

To the Chinese beliefs, the Golden Dragon ("Ching Lung") symbolises supernatural power, goodness, fertility, vigilance and dignity and regarded as the Supreme Being amongst all creatures. It has the ability to ward off wandering evil spirits, protect the innocent and bestow safety on all that hold its emblem.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $18.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Red Door Antiques and Yum Cha Cafe

1 McIlwrick Street, Windsor
-37.8555080110731 144.993374347687

All too often the last thing you can rave about at a decent yum cha restaurant is the décor. However, at Red Door the setting is as impressive as the food. Sure it feels like a Chinese antique furniture store, but the furniture is no longer for sale. Not to worry, the food will do just fine. They serve yum cha daily, and the dumplings are made on site. The prawn and crab dumplings are excellent, as is chicken curry buns. The setting is laid-back and it’s a quirky way to spend an afternoon. Very reasonably priced for such authentic fare.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $10.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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East Imperial

323 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
-37.799184 144.969881

A good Chinese restaurant is not what you really expect in this part of town, and that’s what makes East Imperial even more inviting. This plush restaurant is architecturally designed and marries and elements of modern design with traditional Chinese features beautifully. However, it is the Peking duck that East Imperial is known for. Regulars come here for their fix of this perfectly made dish. Try the quail sung choi bao and the fried calamari in spicy chilli salt for starters followed by the spare ribs in Mandarin sauce. There is a good range of vegetarian options too.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $13.50 // Cuisine: Chinese

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David's

4 Cecil Pl, Prahran
-37.85054 144.99483

Started by tea entrepreneur David Zhou 15 years ago as a tea shop, the Shanghainese cuisine of David’s in Prahran has maintained hatted status since 2007.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $15.90 // Cuisine: Chinese

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Shark Fin House

131 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
-37.81156525 144.9685658

Shark Fin House offers not only seafood specialties but a vast array of Chinese restaurant cuisine to Melbourne city workers, dwellers and visitors alike.

Category: Restaurants // Mains from: $14.00 // Cuisine: Chinese

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