Had the fried fish dumplings. Glad I tried them but wasn’t enough of a fan to return for them. However I’d really like to try the boiled version at their main restaurant and see if I enjoy them more.
Time for dinner with my partner. The service is ok, efficient without being personable at any level lol.
We ordered some Aussie Lamb pot stickers which were delicious. The wonton skin was thin and really tasty.
The chicken and Shepard’s purse pot stickers were equally as good.
The boiled pork dumplings were flavoursome and filling. I really liked them.
And finally we had a corn and x pancake, I can’t remember the exact name, that was alright but not the best.
Overall it was a great meal, and although we had to negotiate for a table to sit by ourselves, even though the place was only half full, it was a good feed.
And although the prices have increased over time, it is still reasonable value.
Having been to this street for a few times, we did see this little shop was always flooded with visitors. No matter having meals or simply grabbing some snacks and drinks.
This evening, we made it to try out their pan-fried dumplings (a wide selection of flavours🥳) and BBQ Pork Rice. Shandong Mama did a great job in its dumplings skin - thin enough - the dumplings were crispy from the outside, and super juicy inside😋
The BBQ Pork was also tender, with a lot of sauce.
Staffs were very friendly. Will be back to try out more flavours!!
I came here to eat lunch after reading so many positive reviews about this restaurant. I ordered the fish dumplings and it was delicious. The service was quick and serving size is decent. I am writing the review but still thinking about how flavorful the dumplings are...ughh so good.
The Wandering Reviewer
+4
Centre Place just keeps on giving. Today, deliciously tasty food in a small, divinely eclectic eatery. The staff are nice and the food is amazing.
So many boutique beers to choose from. Ho hum. Decisions, decisions. The dumplings are good and very light. The prawns, black fungus & chives was pretty good with a reasonable portion size. The inclement weather didn’t seem to deter diners.
There are books placed on the wall or you’d like something to read during your meal. Or perhaps the newspaper cuttings sharing the nice reviews from well known chefs and reviewers.
Like many of the Central Place cafes this has its own style and regular visitors. Spoke to two other diners who said they’ve been coming here for a long time and find it their favourite dumplings places in Melbourne. With so many great places to dine within 500m that’s a big statement.
Notes: recommend you come early during those busy periods if possible as it does get busy, suitable for vegetarians and vegans or those with dietaries, restaurant is wheelchair friendly but it is tight. Is somewhat kid friendly, takeaway available.
I like their dumplings a lot. They are not the usual dumpling types but rolled like a spring roll with filling out on both ends.
My favourite are the pan fried Melbourne dumplings with a bit of everything. It's so flavorful you don't even need dipping sauce.
We ordered Mackeral Dumpling and Chicken Dumpling. Both were super delicious. The shape of dumpling is flat rather round.
Took couple of my friends to this place.Everyone just loved it. Highly Recommend👍
Treat yourself to a Dumpling dinner... The Melbourne dumplings are amazing, especially with the chilli dipping sauce...
It will be a favourite from now on
All 5 just for the Mackerel Dumplings.
Of course, all the other Dumplings ( prawn and black fungus and dilliscious) and Pork Belly Bun we ordered, and that were dished-out from the tiny kitchen of this very very tiny eatery were also good...But Mackerel Dumplings was the highlight.
They have some vegetarian options too. Hospitality is very good....And pricing is decent.
They deserve the name and fame that they have garnered ever since it was established. A Must
Dropped in here for a light meal. Love this area of the CBD for its selection of cute little eateries and bars but something about the dumplings drew me in - and rightly so!
Great dumplings, good range of beer and cider. Fast, friendly service too. Have to come back to sample more of their wares but I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
3.5
I'm a fan of Shandong Mama and Shandong Mama Mini continues to live up my expectations.
The dumplings are flatter rather than oval-shaped, and this means more crisped edges! We ordered the Mackerel Fish dumplings and Dill-icious dumplings, and the fillings did not disappoint. The former was reminiscenced of a homemade fish paste ball (魚滑), and the latter comprised of juicy meaty pork mix with the distinctive tatse of dill. However I did noticed that the fillings for fish dumplings seemed less generous than the dill dumplings.
We also tried the Daryl Noodle, and very much enjoyed the thick and flavourful soupy gravy. The black fungus added a crunchy texture, and the noodles were soft and bouncy. A tiny bit more dried shrimps and diced pork would be nice tough.
Slightly more pricier when compared to other dumpling joints in Chinatown, but what you get is better quality ingredients and fresher flavours here.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
The mini version of the one in Midcity Arcade this has a narrower menu but still retains all a lot their dumpling menu. Price-wise significantly more expensive than your standard dumpling joint but the quality of the fillings is great.
We shared their Dill-icious dumplings which had an unmistakable dill flavour with the pork mince. Their untraditional wrapping at times stuck together but had been pan-fried for maximum surface exposure. We also had their mackerel fish (one of their signatory dumplings) which had a nice soft homemade texture, kind of like how mum sometimes makes fish balls at home. We had all this with some of their special chilli garlic sauce ($0.80) which was very much like a spicy chilli relish (we clean it out). You have your standard sauces on the table also so fear not.
We also had some stewed pork belly buns which were tasty little morsels but you'd expect more. It was small and required more fat as you'd expect from pork belly.
Totally different vibes and meshes well with the laneway. They offer a variety of craft beers and feels much more homely than their other restaurant.
i think one of the best dumplings ive had in melbourne, particularly the pan fried ones. 'The Melbourne' was interesting, but the pork & dill was really good. Tried some of their other dishes also -the thin sliced pork was nice, but the scallion and corn dumpling was a little too oily and soggy texturally. 5-stars for the dumplings though! We visited the Richmond one also which was also good, but zomato lists it as permanently closed now - haven't been there in a few weeks or so - will check it out!
Small hidden joint, but food is awesome. I love their seafood dumplings ‘Melbourne’ and chicken wings (fried though). I have been here twice and every time had a great experience.
A very tiny but cute little restaurant in the Melbourne CBD. The dumplings were very yummy and perfectly cooked, along with the Beef Baos which were delicious. A good selection of beers as well on offer if you like a drink. A nice place to check out if you're in town exploring the city.
Shandong Mama mini - an apt name for the place as it is so tiny but the dumpling are smashing - would love for them to have more vegetarian options rather than just one!! That would sure put this one high on my list... Vegan noodles were delicious too with soybean sauce. Midweek dinner in the city - who doesn’t love it!! @shandongmama #rating3.5 (only cause of lack of options) #midweekdinner #melbournelaneways #summerdays #ilovedumplings #melbournebesteats #igersmelbourne #melbourneblogger #foodblogger #instablogger #foodielife #vegbourne #vegetarian #vegan
Don’t be fooled by the humble exterior as the food is delicious! Pork dumplings were crispy on the outside, whilst the fillings on the inside were juicy and flavourful.
Highlight of the night was definitely the cold and spicy sesame noodles. Combination of the cold ingredients was perfect for the 40 degree weather I was in, and I appreciated the extra bowl of peanut sauce they provided so that I could drizzle it over the top. Despite the name/description in the menu, this dish was not spicy at all.
I will definitely come back to enjoy the noodles again!
Teeny tiny, but has a few tables and we were lucky enough to snag one. Accepts card (with a surcharge), which it’s sister in Midcity Arcade should learn from. I thought the staff here were a little friendlier and more service oriented too.
We got panfried beef and dill-icious dumplings, and a bao. Husband thought the bao was excellent. The dumplings were good, although a little burnt. I don’t know if that’s standard or not (looking at some of the pics, ours were more burnt than most). I think I preferred the boiled ones at the bigger outlet in Chinatown. But still a worthwhile stop in the area.
Perhaps a little more expensive than some other dumpling places nearby, but far superior in terms of quality of food and friendly and smart service. I've thought about visiting their main restaurant but their location on Central Place is so convenient that I keep coming here. My favourites are the mackerel dumplings and cucumber salad. Teamed up with one of their reasonable selection of local beers makes for happy days!
Nice little eatery place in hustle bustle Flinder lane. Dumpling are fresh and noodle are tasty. We ordered their Melbourne dumplings (prawn, chicken n mushroom) and it was really tasty. Their cold sesame noodle also fresh and flavoursome. Will be back to try others dumplings.
The fried dumplings were so so yummy!! Perfectly cooked and flavored. Did not take long for food to arrive. I found that the portion sizes were generous and one small serving as more than enough. I do recommend however going with two or more people and order a range of dumplings to share. Keep in mind the shop is fairly small and often very busy. The staff were super friendly and even took the time to show me the correct way of using chopsticks. They also have a large variety of craft beers to pair with you meal. Loved it, can't wait to go back!
The pork in the pork belly bao was slightly too salty. The dumpling skin for the zucchini and tofu (vegetarian) was really thin. The mackarel dumpling filling was almost like a mousse.
My absolute favourite dumplings! Discovered it by accident whilst strolling through degraves street. And I haven't been anywhere else for dumplings since! The portions are great and the dumplings are flavoursome and crispy! Even my husband (who is not a huge dumpling fan to begin with) loves this place! Highly recommended for any dumpling lover !
I love this place!!! Such an amazing little hidden gem in the city. The dumplings are beyond good - little rachael seafood (yum), the Melbourne (yum) but the winner is definitely the Mackeral....can't fault any of them. They have few venues in the city, but the little shop in Centre Place also serves alcohol and has a great atmoshpere with the hustle and bustle of flinders lane, degraves street etc around. Staff are super super friendly. So if you're looking for dumplings in the city, this is definitely the place to come!!
Oh wow! Looove this little place hidden away in the CBD, limited space but most definitely not limited flavour! Must tries are the Mackeral dumplings, zucchini dumplings and their chili sauce! Couldn't fault any of them. Great range of bottled beers (two brothers Kung Foo rice beer is my fave! ) Will most def try their other venue and most def will come back here! Love love love!
Absolutely delicious food. The cold & spicy sesame noodles is amazing especially. My friend loved her dumplings too and the cauliflower skewers were really nice especially with the noodles. Will definitely return. Great service too. But the place is a bit squishy with uncomfortable chairs.
Cool fusion based dumplings and other assorted Asian/melbourne blind foods. My go to is the 'Melbourne' with Chili sauce. Little eating space but exceptionally quick service and takeaway.
I came here with a bunch of friends a while back. Perfect place to satisfy some major dumpling cravings but seats are limited during lunch time.
Lovely place for a quick lunch.
Dumplings come in less traditional flavours but are delicious nonetheless.
Really great location in the laneways and is a nice spot to meet a friend for lunch.
vegetable zucchini dumplings where on point, best I've had 😋 dill-icious pork dumplings where nots as much.
Staff where very helpful and friendly, with a heap of funny sings about no split bills, eftpos, chille source. little bit over priced but still quality.
Not grate for wheelchair accessible but there is space to make it work.
Located in a bustling laneway, this little place could be overlooked with its surrounding cafes but not to be missed! It is well known for its pan-fried mackerel fish dumplings, which we ordered. The dumplings were definitely satisfying, they were moist and you can definitely taste the mackerel. They only have 2 noodles option, one served cold and one served hot. We chose the hot noodles option which we are pretty happy with. The winter melon drink is just a tad too sweet. Service was okay. It doesn't have much seating capacity so be warned.
Stumbled across this tiny place in one of the CBD laneways and decided to have a quick bite. I had the beef dumplings and my husband tried the mackeral ones. We both loved these and found the small size portions more than enough to keep us going. The staff were very friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food as the place wasn't too busy around 3pm on a weekday. If I had more time in Melbourne I would definitely seek out the main restaurant.
My first ever review. I don't usually like reviews but the owner was so nice and caring. The food was insanely good. To not like cauliflower usually and try my vegetarian sister's, seasoned cauliflower skewers and eat half the plate that is saying something. Then the Melbourne dumplings (a fusion of Melbourne multiculturalism and cusines). Highly recommended for a quick lunch or a late night eat
Ordered a plate of mackerel, pork and lamb dumplings. The winner of the evening was the mackerel. It was seasoned perfectly that no additional sauces were needed. The pork and lamb were fine as well, but it was obvious which plate we loved the most.
The overall cost was cheap/fair in comparison to the amount of food served. Busy place though!
Cute little tiny place in an alleyway, so Melbourne! Friendly staff, got a take outside and had dumplings and fried chicken wings. Didn't enjoy the chicken wings but their dumplings were fab. Had the "Melbourne" dumplings, soft in texture and melt in the mouth. Also the prawn dumplings were great.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Came here for lunch with a few work mates after we were looking to try a new dumpling place.
The restaurant is located on the busy centre place laneway and is actually very tiny. It really only has two tables at the front that are dedicated to a for up of four while inside they are all small tables. Although they can be pushed together, it is actually quite squishy and awkward as it is a very tiny shop with pretty small tables and stools, which truly reflects the "mini" in the name.
We decided to order a mix of the 4 large dumpling plates to share. The Melbourne, the dill-icious, the lamb and the chicken and shepherds purse. We got two of the dishes in the combo with a craft beer and cider and we also ordered two hot milk teas. We also tried to order the fries chicken wings however they didn't have any which was a little disappointing. We were impressed with their large selection of Aussie craft beers and ciders which is a cool feature at a smaller restaurant like this.
As mentioned earlier the tables are pretty small, so when these massive plates arrived, it was VERY squishy trying to fit 4 large plates, two stubbies, two mugs, 4 small bowls and the soy and vinegar sauce. This made the whole experience a little annoying and awkward.
All the dumplings themselves were quite enjoyable as they were cooked well and full of flavour. As a group we all thought the 'Melbourne' dumplings were the best, with its tasty flavour combination while we all agreed the 'Dill-icious' dumplings had a really strong anise-type spice flavouring which was bit over powering.
The other point worth mentioning is that these dumplings look more like a typical gyoza shape, they are long roll-type dumplings with the filling inside and the pastry wrapped around. This shape allows for a lot more contents inside and is definitely more filling then standard size dumplings however they can be quite tricky to eat, let alone tear apart as they are all joined together when they are cooked and served on the plate. So you can run into some difficulty separating each dumpling, this can result in the dumpling splitting open at times which can be very frustrating!
Overall we all enjoyed the dumplings and I would come back to try some of the other variations however I would not recommend coming here with a group of people. This places seems more like a quick meal or a one on one lunch venue as it would also be hard trying to get seats as the venue is really that tiny.
I love Shandong Mama Mini's offerings. My only gripe is that as time goes by, it seems more and more items are crossed off the menu. Boo..... Or when coming in relatively early and some items are sold out already. I wish the original SM would offer more items as the Mini. Apart from that, the dumplings are delicious, teas are moreish and the craft beers plus the cider/beer-dumpling combos are winners!! Service is mostly good, except for the occasional space cadet who doesn't seem to know where they are, where they work or even if they have some items in the kitchen or not.
I absolutely love this small but delicious restaurant in the heart of the city! A little bit cramped inside, but the exquisite food absolutely makes up for it! I ordered the 'Melbourne' Dumplings and the stewed pork belly buns. Both were delicious and the service was fantastic. Lovely staff as well! Would highly reccomend shandong mama mini!
I have loved it since it has opened, and I have recommended to numerous friends that love chinese food.
For its closest flavour to home-made chinese i have ever had in town!
But I feel like I give it a "4.0" to my memory...not to the latest experience. I went to SDMM mini, it wasn't good as before; not long ago I went again to the first store, ordered the same dishes - but it's same result - kind of lost, overacted.
Mackerel doesn't taste as good as before - didn't even taste mackerel to me. I dont mind keep paying increased price but please just at least maintain the flavour of what-made-you-famous.
They were (mackerel and melbourne dumplings) mostly salty and lack of texture.(compared to what i had before)
It's really a pity:-(
Had their Cold & Spicy Sesame Noodles and Mackerel Fish Pan Fried Dumplings. The Cold & Spicy Sesame Noodles tasted average as I felt that it was lacking in flavours. In contrast, the Mackerel Fish Pan Fried Dumplings were amazing! The dumplings were wrapped in an unique way whereby the fillings were not totally enclosed. The skin of the dumplings were thin, smooth and were pan-fried until it was fragrant, with a charred aroma. Moreover, the fillings were succulent and flavoursome!
Small and quaint with quick service and delicious dumplings! I had the pork dumplings and my friend ordered the zucchini ones which I also tried. Both were very delicious. A good place for lunch if you're in the CBD.
Me and my friends had a great day, we walked a lot so we needed a sumptuous meal to calm our hunger pangs and end the day. There were a lot of cafes and bars to choose from. Dumplings were a common choice among all, so we picked Shandong Mama Mini. Their menu had an exclusive range of Panfried dumplings to pair it up with Aussie Craft beers. So I ordered Chicken Panfried dumplings and some wheat beer. It was a hell of a combo. Yummy juicy succulent dumplings ! *Foodgasm* 😍 Service was excellent. Loved the Ambience.
After some exhausting Boxing Day shopping and traversing the thousands that had descended into the city, lunch was much needed. Unfortunately Mugen was closed and meant a planned cross city walk to Ikkoryu for ramen. However enroute a very "Melbourne" laneway appeared and my eye was caught by a sign - "Shandong Mama Mini". I had heard rave reviews about the dumplings but had never made it there. This seemed a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the previous (mis)fortune. There was only one other person eating here in the middle of lunchtime and so I didn't have to experience this new fad of queuing.
Was walking past slightly hungry and noticed some yummy looking dumpling on someone's plate. Decided to share a plate of "Delish" pork pan fried dumplings with my wife. While waiting the interior looked kinda cool in a basic way. Could get a bit cold during the winter. Plate arrived, looked golden hot and scrumptious. In the end they were pretty good. I would have liked an option to have different meats on one plate. It would also be really nice to have some interesting sauce or dip rather than just soy. If you have dumpling requirement then this place is an excellent choice.
Cute spot with friendly service and some tasty dumplings. I had the Melbourne dumplings which had seafood and chicken. Piping hot, a crisp fried base and went down a treat with soy sauce, vinegar and home made chilli oil.
Had the small (7 pieces) shrimp-black mushroom-chives dumplings; Taste: really good, a bit salty; Appearance: different looking dumplings, but size is quite big; Portion: quite generous; Place: small, not too comfortable for a sit in; Service: nice and friendly; Price: OK, because i have been to a place nearby that is way cheaper, but does not taste as good though.
Stopped by for a quick lunch just after one and was immediately seated despite dining alone. Staff delightful. Ordered the mackerel dumplings. Delicious. Just wish it was easier to get sauces and chilli - kept in large bottles at front of the restaurant.
I caught up with a friend here for lunch on Friday a couple of weeks ago. The restaurant is quite small and only seats a limited amount of people, so we were quite lucky that we managed to get a table within a couple of minutes.
We ordered the Pork, Melbourne and Lamb dumplings and for drinks, we just had milk tea. The dumplings here are shaped differently from normal dumplings and were all fried. They tasted surprisingly good and were served freshly. The only downside was the fact that each dumpling molded together and having to extract an individual dumpling was quite tricky if you're trying to retain it's shape. It was also a little bit salty and it was bit annoying that when you wanted soy sauce or vinegar, you had to go over to another table in order to obtain it (when people didn't return it to its original location). There was only 1 or 2 sets that I could see floating around.
Cafe Condiments (Justin)
+3.5
A great addition to an iconic foodie place in Melbourne. The dumplings here are cooked well and to a standard that, although not quite the same as the original, still well above the rest in the area. The dumplings are made on premises in the original store in Bourke St daily and transported here. So you are getting the same stock. The staff are not quite as friendly but there is rarely a long wait for ones food. A good cheap meal in the lane.
A quick and tasty meal before you need to be somewhere that doesn't break the bank. The sweet and sour cabbage is well worth trying and the dumplings are different to the norm in Melbourne very yum.
Ordered a 打滷麵，招牌紅燒豬肉飯，the fish fried dumpling and a pork fried dumpling. Personally I like their 打滷麵 with a lot of vinegar (can be added yourself after). Their 紅燒飯 is recommended too both portion and taste wise. I didn't really like their 茴菜豬肉鍋貼. There is a weird sourish taste that didn't go well with my own taste. But overall is definitely a place I'll go back again
I love this place! Speedy and friendly service with amazing dumplings. What else can you ask for?
The pork and dill dumplings are my favourite, with the mackerel being a close second.
Delicious mackerel dumplings!! Beware the first few bites are very hot (freshly pan-fried)! A little oily, but nonetheless it just tastes amazing. Drinks are a bit pricey and don't think we'll order them again next time, just gonna stick to the yummy dumplings!
Nice little dumpling place, warm vibe and good quality dumplings. Abit pricey compares to traditional dumpling houses, but considering the 'city' standards it's still acceptable. :)
One the best Dumplings! (Yes I said it) Nice and cosy on the world famous food lane in Melbourne's heartland. A must try for all food lovers.
Cute environment, low key, some good vegan options, homemade chilli oil was made well, pricing is pretty expensive in comparison to portion sizes which means I won't be coming back unless as regularly as I would like.
Just popped in, stayed!. Just popped in for a quick snack, ended up having 3 dumpling dishes. Zucchini, Lamb and Chicken were all on point, staff were lovely and everything came out asap. A++++
Amazing!! I loved the pan fried dumplings, especially the pork ones. Just so tasty! I also enjoyed the lotus chips and the sweet and sour cabbage. And if you're looking for a delicious and refreshing drink, get the iced jasmine tea - only $1
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