Yum Cha Trolley. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Dumplings are an elite food – pocket rockets full of flavour, with as many fillings as there are stars in the sky.
Canberra icon Jade Dumpling Noodle House in Gungahlin has very recently closed its doors after a mammoth 13 years of filling, folding and steaming dumplings. So we thought we’d take the opportunity to shout out some of the other great dumplings around town, just in case anyone needs to eat their feelings at this troubling time.
Yum Cha CBD, Civic
Living up to its name, this compact venue lives and breathes Yum Cha for lunch every day. Pick and choose from a classic range of dumplings and yum cha dishes off the trolleys.
The siu mai are juicy, the har gao are plump and the epic crunch of the lobster dumplings can be heard a mile away. Outside of Yum Cha hours they specialise in live seafood dishes.
Pork and prawn Sui Mai dumplings are a favourite at Ginseng. Photo: Ginseng.
Ginseng Chinese at Hellenic Club, Woden
Weekend yum cha at Ginseng is a rite of passage in Canberra. This institution has been running for more than 20 years and is a favourite among Cantonese locals and anyone else with good taste.
They have three specialist Yum Cha chefs in the kitchen, and there are over 30 varieties of dumpling available each weekend.
A smaller range of dumplings are also available on the a la carte menu at other times, but it’s worth getting a table together and ordering dishes like the Peking duck experience: a two course duck delight. First course is duck pancakes, second course is shredded duck with egg noodles and shiitake mushroom.
CBD Dumpling House was humming away on a Tuesday evening. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
CBD Dumpling House, Civic
Those aunties folding dumplings in the window of CBD Dumpling House at breakneck speed should all be given medals.
CBD Dumpling House offers comfort, consistency and just the right amount of chaos. In what order will your dishes arrive? Don’t ask questions, just eat. The prawn and pumpkin dumpling is a personal favourite and the steamed pork buns are as fluffy as you once imagined clouds to be.
Dickson Dumpling House, Dickson
This fast-moving casual eatery does a roaring trade with its looooong menu that reads like a hefty novel (one worthy of any literary prize in my opinion).
You can expect all your classic dumplings – boiled or pan fried – along with a few soon-to-be favourites. Plain steamed mantou buns can be used as a vehicle for any other flavourful dishes you order. The fried leek dumplings are a real treat and you can also get an extra large barbecue pork bun all to yourself. The handmade noodles make a great main dish.
I once ordered so many dishes for a table of four the waiter told us to please stop, but we ate every bite. Still proud of that.
The scholar offers excellent old-school Yum Cha. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The Scholar, Dickson
The decor is getting a little tired, but the food is still brilliant at The Scholar. The weekend Yum Cha is popular with families and groups of friends. There are several variations of steamed prawn dumplings available – prawn and pork, prawn and chives, prawn and coriander – as well as a tasty pork and peanut dumpling that offers a nice crunch.
Fan favourite dumplings are available as entrees on the main menu, and the dumpling soups are particularly good.
Dumpling Social, Woden
Untethered from any tradition, Dumpling Social goes wild with fusion flavours and surprise combinations. Chicken and kimchi dumplings sit on the menu alongside Tom Yum pork and prawn dumplings, and even cheeseburger spring rolls. Vegetarians (often overlooked on traditional menus) have options like mushroom or eggplant dumplings. It’s trendy, fun and a good time with friends.
And we have to give a shout out to Dumplinlins: a local online business encouraging you to “get dumped” with frozen dumpling deliveries. They also run pop-ups, events and catering.
I’m looking with interest at the new Yat Bun Tong Dumpling Express venues. This restaurant seems to have gone from two large sit down venues to five or so takeaway joints. I’ll have to grab some and see if they’re still the same!
Did we miss your favourite dumplings? Sound off in the comments!
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
