Beulah Abrahams Harris
+5
I have a friend visiting from Cape Town, South Africa who has never had dumplings before. I took her to Hutong for the best ever dumplings. I love this place so much. Great ambience, great service and excellent food. My favourite place by a long shot
Had a fabulous lunch here - everything delicious including salt & pepper prawns and duck dumplings. Fantastic service and superb wines at very reasonable prices . Highly recommend and will definitely go back.
This is undoubtably the best dumpling restaurant in Melbourne. Do not miss this place, so book to avoid disappointment! Set over 3 levels the service is second to none, presentation & quality can not be faulted. Love this place.
Tasty and delicious!! Their Xiao Long Bao is to die for. Awesome fried rice too! Highly recommend it for a scrumptious meal in the CBD.
Delicious dumplings. Cantonese spicy dumplings were our fav.
Amazing food and service highly recommend
One of my favourite places to eat in the city for dimsum, it’s a bit pricey as compared to different suburbs but always consistently good. The chrysanthemum tea from here is noteworthy - highly recommend
Came here for a late night supper. The dumplings here are amazing. Totally agree with their TimeOut magazine feature. So juicy, skin is so well made. Spicy wontons are delicious and the sauce was delectable. Only issue was the pan fried dumplings being slightly soggy but it was easily looked past given the stellar quality of the other two dishes. Excellent and professional service from the manager.
I love the xiao long bao here! The skin is the perfect thickness and texture and the filling is fluffy and falls apart in your mouth. I also love the red bean pancake which I forgot to take a photo of amidst my excitement but it’s crisp, light and not drenched with oil. Perfect for a cheap date night or catch up.
Really good value for their lunch special. We had xiaolongbao, steamed crab dumpling, boiled pork dumpling, shanghai fried noodle and special fried rice.
No explanation needed for their xiaolongbao. They are already famous because of xiaolongbao. Steamed crab dumpling is their new menu. It was really good. Shanghai noodle and friendly rice were so so. Definitely can get better one from other chinese restaurant. Overall, I still enjoyed it.
Really delicious!
Salt & pepper squid was sensational, super soft and tasty. I loved the dumplings, especially the xiao long bao! Service was attentive and efficient. Will definitely go back
Hutong is the ultimate for wontons in chilli oil. And xiaolongbao. The potstickers can be a little inconsistent... sometimes the bottoms are crispy but sometimes they are sadly soggy. But I never say no to night at Hutong. 4.5 so I rounded up to a 5 :)
Love the decor and fitout at Hutong and the dumplings here are really good. My favourite has got to the xiao long bao, just how the dumpling skin is so thin and its packed fill with flavours
This place used to be my favourite dumplings place to go in Melbourne, especially their Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings). But in the last couple of visits, I've enjoyed their chilli oil wonton and the pan fried dumplings more. I'd recommend trying the Shanghai fried noodle.
N.B. Please book in advance if you're going in a big group
A consistent dumpling feed and the chilli wantons are definitely the best I've eaten around Melbourne. Not all the dumplings match this one though and can be a bit hit and miss.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Its a bird, its a plane, its HuTong Dumpling Bar serving food faster then George Calombaris running out of a fair work convention.
If your drooling for dumplings but your low on time and cash, then HuTong is for you.
Whether its pan fried, steamed or souped they have it all. It's all hot, quick and most importantly yummy 😋
Besides ordering a truck load of dumplings, we also ordered Lucksa chicken, lemon chicken, sichuan noodles with pork and special fried rice. These dishes weren't anything special (except for the Laksa chicken which was aces) so we would recommend coming here for dumplings with possibly a side of special fried rice.
Please note, the staff here do not appreciate you using the lazy susan as a dj turn table; as a matter of fact, neither does anybody else on your table (lesson learnt the hard way for Mr S.)
All in all we rate HuTong Dumpling Bar: 3.5 dumplings out of 5. 🥟🥟🥟 1/2🥟
With extra points for price and efficiency
Will we be back? I think we just found our new go to inner-city dumpling house (yes we have a dumpling house for different areas of Melbourne).
They have a very unique twist to their dumplings that did NOT disappoint. Bookings are a must. Service sucks but what you usually get at any asian restaurant. Would defs be back!
Spring rolls were pretty good no complaints there. The pan fried pork dumplings were our favorite. Shao long bao dumplings were also fantastic. The calamari was a generous serve and taste was good. Great find on a rainy Melbourne night before the footy.
All of the workers are extremely attentive and had wonderful customer service. Probably my new favourite dumpling/Asian place in Melbourne, all at a very fair price. Highly suggest coming here!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
3.5
Today I had lunch with a work colleague at HuTong, we shared a bottle of rose and indulged in vegetarian spring rolls, prawn, mushroom and watercress dumplings, salt and pepper squid and Chinese greens with oyster sauce.
I enjoyed my lunch and the dumplings were to a good standard but was a little disappointed with the squid which is normally a highlight for me. It just didn’t have the pop of flavours I am used to. Not enough chillies on top perhaps?
Overall we still enjoyed our time at Hu Tong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Previous Review
4
We have tried to get in here so many times in the evening without a booking and have lost count at the number of times we have been turned away. Fortunately though we came here for a work lunch on Friday with a regular attendee and we were very well looked after by Patrick. This huge restaurant is over three levels, it is a fantastic venue for a large crowd or a small group. I’ve been here with a group of twenty and today it was just a table of three. The service is quick and efficient, the staff lovely. We ordered the calamari, this has proven to be consistently good as I order it each time and i have never been disappointed. It’s hot and tasty with a light batter, is scattered in dried shallots, garlic and chilli. We also had steamed prawn dumplings, steamed pork dumplings, and fried pork dumplings and fried prawn. All delicious flavours and very tasty, we all left very full and very satisfied.
As a food blogger, I'm often asked where the best dumplings in Melbourne are. Lucky for me, the answer is simple - Hutong Dumpling Bar. Spanning across 3 levels, with its delicious home-made dumplings and byo wine policy, it's no surprise that the venue is always packed to the brim. Whilst probably the least attractive dish on the menu, Hutong's spring onion pancakes are actually out of this world - crisp on the outside, and incredibly light and fluffy on the inside, they are the epitome of the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Love HuTong it is my fav for dumplings in melbourne. Our first dish today was a bit luke warm but the rest were nice & hot. All the flavours were there & service as always was super friendly, quick & clean. Price was great.
We’ll be back.
Great place for some crazy good dumplings that is price fair and taste amazing. The place is always busy and packed the atmosphere is lively and chilled.
Easily my favourite dumpling place, and it never fails to deliver in terms of quality and consistency. The shao-long bao here is my favourite in town, with a thin skin that rarely breaks, deliciously warm soup and tasty meat. The wantons in chilli sauce are a close second and the pan fried pork dumplings round out my top three. We did also try the crystal prawn dumplings, boiled spinach dumplings, shredded turnip pastries, crab meat dumplings, mushroom prawn and chestnut dumplings, silky beancurd & vegetable spring rolls, spring onion pancake, mixed vegetable dumplings, prawn and garlic chive dumplings which were all very good. Note that there are not many gluten options (only rice and steamed fish!) Service was very good this time, although it has been variable in the past. Highly recommended.
Nai ho ma raggazzi. Went here with nana the crazy greeks squadra Francesco for a going away lunch they enjoyed their food very much. Zaijian
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ambiance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the best dumpling restaurants in Melbourne. I could not fault the experience. The service was very polite, unlike other Chinese restaurants. We ordered the Wontons with Hot Chilli Sauce. The skin of the wonton had a perfect texture - not too thick, not too thin. Contrary to the name, the sauce was not too spicy, so that was great. The Pan-fried Pork Dumplings were not too greasy and was only pan-fried on the bottom. Unlike other dumpling restaurants, I did not feel bloated after eating the dumplings. The Singaporean Noodles were a bit bland, but I guess they do specialise in dumplings. Overall, an exemplary experience.
When I heard that Hu Tong was of the best dumpling places in Melbourne, I had to check it out. Perhaps their signature dish is the Shao-long Bao. This was probably the best dumpling I have ever tasted. Juicy and full of flavour. The most disappointing thing was that I had to share them! Definitely coming back just for them. We also had the prawn dumplings which were delicious. For main we had the laksa chicken which was nice but a bit one dimensional as it was just chicken and onions with a hint of heat. Some vegetables would have made it an excellent dish. We also had the Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce. The sauce was a little overpowering so i think the garlic sauce option would be better. To top off the evening, we had the Egg Custard Buns which were amazing! The service was pleasant and attentive which made for a very enjoyable experience.
A favourite among Melbourne dumpling aficionados, HuTong have been ruling Melbourne's dumpling scene for several years. Like Pelligrinis, Movida, Stalacites, Chin Chin, Hu Tong is on the list if you're visiting Melbourne for the first time.
There used to be a time where the lines were long, and it was hard to get in. We didn't have this experience but we were given a reasonable timeframe to eat and get out.
HuTong remains one of Melbourne's premier dumpling spots in the CBD, the interior is on theme, clean premises, excellent service. My go to is the chilli oil won tons, and the xiao long bao. It doesn't have the wow factor, it's more like you're favourite Aunty. Comfort food at its finest. (It would probably have the wow factor if it was your first time though!)
This place is super great for groups, BYO and a really good atmosphere. Staff are lovely, however the restaurant is always busy and booked out so book in advance. Food very yum, slightly pricey but always good portions.
Been here heaps of times. Xiao Long Bao and Chilli Wantons are great to start with. Pan fried dumplings are great! Possibly the best dumplings in Melbourne. These guys have two other restaurants - China Red and Man Tong. Hu Tong sits in the middle of them - and is just as enjoyable - possibly more so for me than more up market eateries serving this kind of cuisine.
Gorgeous dumplings. The spicy wantons were so lush, they almost melted in my mouth. Mains on the other hand were average, but the ambience had a Christmas-y home feel to it.
This place is has well priced fresh and good dumplings. Its never disappointed me. The steamed pork dumplings are my personal favourites. Service is quick and efficient
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I was a bit nervous upon walking in because everyone seemed to be tourists but once the food arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. We didn't have reservations but managed to snag a small table - a couple that came in right after us was turned away though (well, given a long wait) so reservations are recommended. We had the XLB (amazing - is actually out these above Din Tai Fung!) and pork wontons with chili. The dough on these was so soft and silky - some of the best wontons and dumplings I've ever had! We also tried the spring onion pancake and turnip pastries. The dough on these was perfect though the turnip filling wasn't to our liking (nothing wrong, just not our favorite). We finished with the green beans with minced pork which was phenomenal and the braised pork which was tasty but fatty - we didn't realize this was pork belly! So if you're looking for a heavier meat dish, give it a try. Underneath the layers of pork belly appeared to be a shredded pork and mushroom mixture? We're not sure but this added a unique complexity to the flavors in the dish. Overall, a yummy and filling meal!!
The best place to have dumplings in the city. Probably one of the best places to eat in Melbourne. Every time I come it is a delight. I want to tell anyone who wants a night out this is the best place to come.
Pan-fried dumplings at Hutong. So disappointed at this dish - it used to be awesome! Now it just seemed like a soft tasteless steamed dumpling with a sheet of crunchy bit underneath instead of an actual pan-fried dumpling. It had some soup leaking out like a xiao long bao which I didn't want and I didn't end up enjoying or finishing it :(
Xiao long bao (Steamed soup dumplings) are so slurpicious! Nibble a bit on the skin and slurp the warm tasty soup enclosed within each dumpling. Then eat the meat filling and chewy thin skin together. It is especially delicious when dipped in vinegar and Chili. I ate 8 in this manner! I am really picky on my xiaolongbaos and this one was good!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Came here twice and in my opinion, they have the best Xiao long baos in town and that's the reason why I'm giving this place a 4. The skin is thinner than other places and the "soup" inside is delicious. We also had the wontons in hot chilli sauce (which are better at China Red - part of the same Hutong group I believe), boiled pork dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, spring rolls, chicken in lemon sauce and the shanghai noodles. To be honest, other than the xiao long baos, everything else was average with the dumplings tasting a bit better than the other dishes. The lemon sauce for example was very bland and too watery. It didn't really have any flavour except for being slightly bitter. However, I do love the setting here. We were sat upstairs both times. Excellent service though they did ask us to leave after an hour and a half on a Saturday evening. They did let us know beforehand when we booked the table and there were people waiting downstairs when we left. It always seems to be busy. I tried coming here a couple of times and they were fully booked or had a long wait.
This is the place to come to for all kinds of dumplings (Xiao long bao, Pan fried dumplings, Wantons in Hot Chili Sauce). The dumplings here were pretty delicious & tasty especially the xiao long bao, it was one of the best we had in Melbourne so far.. wrappings was thin & filling was very juicy.. however I was a bit disappointed in the other dishes, as it was pretty average.. we ordered fish head soup, pork ribs, eggplant with scallops, some vegetables, tofu and weren’t impressed with any of these other dishes.. I would strongly suggest to come here just for their dumplings..
My favourite xiao long baos in Melbourne! They’re delicious little gems with bursts of flavour.
I’ve been here so many times > 10 for lunch and always love all the dishes here.
Food: My usual spread consists of the XLBs, chilli wontons, pork dumplings and prawn dumplings. Love the quality of the food, serving size is smaller than the usual spots in China town however you get what you pay for.
Venue: Great spot, make sure you book if you’re in a group of more than 2 people. There are approx. 3 levels to this space.
Service: Good service for a yumcha restaurant
Verdict: Love this spot, that’s why I keep coming back!
Great location and very spacious! The food was pretty good, we had the steamed pork dumpling and the vegetarian dumplings, special fried rice x2, lemon chicken, soup dumplings, dumplings in chili sauce and some prawn dumplings. All in all, food was good only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because the female waitress’ kept on reaching over me and were being extremely rude not even a word of an apology when I was talking to my friend. Must have been my spot on the table I understand but have some manners for goodness sakes and say excuse me before reaching over and almost knocking me out. My Aussie friend who I was talking to even thought it was extremely rude also.
So so greatly! We are having on my birthday tonight and all the food is so yummy as well, a nice restaurant and I like the restaurant style.., services are awesome. Thank you for making me have a happy birthday.
I have regularly come here since they opened. They manager is a perfect example of old school Cantonese Hospitalities. He makes everyone feel welcome. The food is a scratch above the rest in Chinatown and the ambiance is perfect. For casual dates or big group lunches, this is one of my favourites.
one of the best xiao long bao in Melbourne, highly recommend for xiao long bao and deep fried king prawn with cream butter sauce, but the pumpkin cake was disappoint. In that day, in the restaurant was busy and staff were average at best. I would back again and again.
Great XLB place! Very juicy and tasty. Went there right before they open for Friday lunch, and we were seated upstairs. No dim sum cart, but service was attentive. I would also recommend their fish head soup in claypot! Price wise, probably a tad more expensive than similar Chinese restaurants, but you can't really complain once you taste their food 😊
This is a fun, bustling restaurant with lovely decor. It's spread across two levels so much bigger than it initially appears. We went as a group of 6 at 8pm on a Friday expecting a long wait but we were shown right to an upstairs table. The dumplings are a little more expensive than other places in Chinatown but they're also a higher quality than many places. We ate ourselves silly and really enjoyed it!
Swung by here the other day and I think this is the perfect place for a quick lunch fix in the CBD area. All the dishes were reasonably priced! My personal favourites were the mapo tofu & xiao long bao! I do wish there were ginger slices to go with the dumplings 🥟, though I am not sure if you can request for it! Was a very warm and hearty meal and definitely filled me up 😋
The dumplings here are absolutely amazing! Loved the vegetarian steamed buns!
Service was a bit lacking though. Got a booking for 7pm and was told we had to give up the table at 8:30pm, which was fine, but they took a while to take our order and then, our last dish didn't get served till 8:10 ( after which we had asked to check for our dish because it hadn't been brought out with the rest).
Juicy dumplings and authentic. At times it can be very busy and with a long queue. It’s one of the places that have decent and real dumplings.
Best dish: chilli wontons; do order 2 servings - it was perfectly balanced - spicy, sweet, savoury and sour. Pork filling was nice, skins were smooth.
Xiao long bao skin was quite thick, not smooth. The whole thing was a bit too big. Soup was nice. However the bite site XLB at Din Tai Fung and perhaps Shanghai Street are better and more authentic.
The boiled spinach dumplings had a wonderful filling however the skin was too thick.
We also ordered mushroom & prawn and crab meat dumplings; they weren’t great.
Service was friendly.
Quick service and of course excellent dumplings. They have vegetarian options if that's your thing. There are 2 floors with large tables that can fit up to 10 people. Definitely a must visit if you're looking for some good dumplings.
10/10 for impeccable service. Xiao long bao was yum, but it's claim as best on town is contestable. The mushroom and prawn dumplings were great, as were wontons in chilli oil.
Would defs recommend this place to anyone looking for a great feed and comfortable vibes
The best Shao-Long Bao’s and Chilli Wontons in town!! Couple that with some really affordable wine - win win!
As for other dishes (ie spicy Szechuan noodle soup or Shanghai fried noodle) they’re ok but really we all know you come here for amazing dumplings.
Been here a couple of times and love the xiao long bao (Shanghai pork dumplings). The other dishes that I’ve tried there seem to pale in comparison.
Make sure you book, especially for weekends. This place is my go to dumpling place. service is good, food is great, prices are acceptable.
the three levels of dining add to the atmosphere of the place. if you like dumplings, make sure you add this place to your list.
I went there last week for a late lunch. The restaurant was still quite busy but there was no wait time. I ordered their signature xiao long bao ($11.80 for 8 pieces).
I have been to many Chinese dumpling bars to search for good XLB and I wasn't disappointed. It's too common to find XLB in Melbourne CBD with too-thick skin and/or not enough soup inside. Yes, the XLB were a little small at HuTong, but they made up for it with personality - the skin was quite thin, yet they all packed a lot of soup. No soggy mess either. Heavenly. All 8 XLB went down too easily and I probably could have ordered another 8. Highly recommended.
Service was quick, and no minimum spend for EFTPOS. I will definitely return
I came here for lunch along with my family. We had booked a table in advance and that saved us from waiting. We ordered quite a lot of food and I must say that this has been the best Chinese food I have had. Every dish was unique and flavourful. The dumplings were truly awesome. Finished off the lunch with their Mango pudding. Over all it was an awesome experience. Will be visiting again.
If you are a lover of dumplings and live in Melbourne, you cannot miss HuTong! I love that they have heaps of vegetarian options!
However in comparison to their branch at South Yarra, this venue is cramped and they push you out once you finish your meal (only on weekends I hope)! The green spinach dumplings are a must try for vegetarians!
I come here for some of the best xiao long bao in Melbourne.
Sadly the place is losing its authentic vibe and being overrun by disrespectful trash who are treating it like some jump off point for a night of hooliganism. Get a life guys.
Note to management: Ban BYO, refurbish the restaurant and focus on what dishes that you do best. Lift the prices and price out the trash.
Both HuTong’s are amazing and the CBD restaurant has a great atmosphere. The service is efficient but still nice.
The dumplings are so delicate and delicious! You could honestly eat them forever. Those chilli wontons - wow.
I usually get a more adventurous main but decided to go on a journey to 1990 and ordered the lemon chicken. All I can say is the future is where it’s at, so will stick to my usual Szechwan bean curd minced pork or dry chicken in chilli.
HuTongs is definitely a go to in my books. I wish there was a HuTongs near my home, I’d be a regular.
Some seriously amazing shao long-bao!!
We also ordered some of the fried chicken which was pretty good. However, I think I might just get a selection of dumplings next time.
It’s BYO so we were able to bring our own wine; A BONUS!!👌
Service was good on a quiet Sunday arvo. XLB was hot and well-seasoned but the pot stickers were inconsistent - only half were crispy. Shanghai noodles not too oily and assorted veggies wasn’t drowning in starchy sauce. Loved the tofu with mountains of fried shallot, garlic and chilli. Very moreish!
Quick and efficient service. Tasty dumplings and good range of food. Prices are a little higher than some cheap dumplings, but the service makes up for it if you want a bit more than your standard china town dumpling place.
Chilli wontons are delicious!
Really enjoyed this place!
We were a party of three and were seated immediately but it was advised to make a booking beforehand. Service was a little cold but efficient.
We had the fried rice, spinach dumplings, crispy tofu and Chinese broccoli. Everything was the best I’ve had! It was flavourful and cooked perfectly - zero complaints! I did feel it was pretty pricing considering the amount of cheap places around, however you really do get what you pay for. Will definitely be back again soon.
You always need to book to secure a place for dinner time, often having to return the table in 1.5 hours, but, the food is worth it!
Xiao long baos were bursting with flavour, as it should be. The pan fried dumplings had a good amount of meat vs pastry ratio, with a crunchy exterior. The shanghai noodles were tasty, though a little oily for my liking- just wash it down with some Jasmine tea.
Overall, my go to place for really good quality dumplings and noodles when I need my fix of shanghai food 😁
Came for the dumplings, was not disappointed. The Shao-long Bao was very good! Food came quickly and it was a nice atmosphere. Great value dumplings!
Lizzie Eats Melbourne
+3.5
😱Lizzies first impression: The decor of the restaurant is very oriental and creates an authentic look of the chinese culture. The service is quick and the food comes out quickly.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I have been here a few times and I have been pleasantly surprised by the chilli oil wontons. They are simply delicious and I would come back for me. Their dimsums are also quite yummy and have plenty of flavour.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: The zha jiang mian noodles are very soft and the noodles are not the chewy texture like it should be and was also quite bland. I am not sure if it was because I went for lunch that they rushes the dishes. We were the first customers of the day but they still insisted we go on to the 3rd floor when there waa plenty of space elsewhere..
🎖Lizzie rates overall: A great place for dumplings and I would recommend them as it is affordable and consistent. However, it may be a hit or a miss with the other noodle dishes.
Been here on thursday with few friends.
Place was quite busy but the experience was bery enjoyable.
Quality was good and food was really tasty.
Def be back.
Mar 2022. Visited HuTong at the recommendation of friends. Bookings are always required as this venue is extremely popular. The manager was quite stressed downstairs, not helped by rude clients pushing for a table even though they'd been told twice already that the restaurant was fully booked.
We were on the second floor and served by the wonderful Dee. Dee was super friendly and talked us through the Menu items suggesting complimentary dishes. The meal was one of the best dumpling experiences in Melbourne of all time. The beans and pork mince were THE best. Such a simple dish, done superbly! If you're in town, definitely give HuTong a try.
Everyone has their favourite dumpling place in Melbourne, so it's contentious to say a place is the best. While maybe not the best, this is one of my favourites and I love the chili wontons - a must try dish!
The atmosphere is cozy, the staff are really lovely, nice and service is very fast. Enjoy the aromas from multiple dishes while you dine, and be sure to have a peek in the kitchen window in the ground floor to watch the master dumpling makers at work.
Price is great given the food portions. Add this one to your list when you want something a step up from your "dirty dumpling" joint.
Great experience expect for the waiter asking for tips at the end. Made us feel tricked.
The OG dumpling house, a trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without stopping in here for a xiao long bao, chilli dumplings and chilli fried chicken. Great staff, the gentleman on the door has been working there for years and is always friendly and hospitable. Make sure you book so you’re not disappointed! They have some walk in spots for singles and couples but don’t count on it.
Hutong has a really good menu and range of food choices for all. They had a lot of different dishes for vegetarians. We ordered the spinach dumplings and the silky bean curd spring rolls. The Chinese tea choices are great too! We enjoyed all the different flavours and the staff are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend giving their food a go if you're craving dumplings and happen to be in the city.
Consistent quality of xiao long bao. Their spring rolls, chilli dumplings are also good. Their shanghai noodles are worth trying
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes