I do recommend giving this place a go. Its in the heart of China town and if you blink then you might miss it.
The food was fantastic and the staff were very friendly and hospitable. The only negative I have about this place is that the bathroom needs to be significantly updated and cleaned a bit more. You walk into a lovely restaurant but I cringed a little when I had to use the bathroom.
Other than that, this place is very good and I rate it very highly!
We were walking past looking for somewhere for dinner. We come across this place which looked quite but authentic. We were just looking at the menu when invited in and seated. This dumpling soup for $10.50 really was perfect and filled tge both of us up for a light dinner
Cheap, cheerful and delicious. Hella cheap dumplings. The vegetarian ones are great - 20 pieces for ~$10 - which is pretty, pretty, pretty good. Delicious garlic vegetables. Spring onion pancake was a bit hard. Overall, it’s cheap and the service is super fast, even when it’s busy.
Not sure where everyone else is eating, this place isn’t just our favorite hole in the wall, it’s our favorite Resturant, hands down. Yes it’s dingy. But the food is amazing value for money and service is super fast. The quirky music adds character and the cross section of Melbourne that eats here must be proof of something.
I go here when I'm hungry and the food tastes good, not sure what is with the low ratings...seems like people are a little precious about what they expect when they show up to eat somewhere..they want immediate service when they walk in the door? I never have to wait around for long, depends what time you go. This place always cook up nice dumplings, you can dip them in 2 sauces and are delicious. They have tea on tap for free as well. Always hits the spot, no complaints whatsoever.
Sad to see that this venue has such low ratings cause it's one of my favourite cheap eats spots in the city. Their vegetarian sliced rice cakes and sweet pumpkin cakes are tops 👌. The space is definitely no frills and ambiance is hit or miss, but it's an interesting experience on every visit. Also, if you tell staff it's your birthday they will sing to you.
Staff: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Decor: 2/5
Price: 4/5
Will return? Always if in area!
Quick, cheap, tasty food! I always get the Shanghai veg noodles and they are YUMMY! Can’t comment on the dumplings as I hate dumplings but the garlic Chinese broccoli and my partners curry chicken were also extremely delicious! Can’t wait to return.
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This a great place for a large get together or a small group of hungry friends, there is always plenty of food with a large range and that's just for the all you can eat, I have eaten just of the main menu and was just as much satisfied with there pricing and quality, if your wanting high class this is NOT the place for you but if you want your moneys worth when it comes to a $15 menu this is Perfect. Although the staff can be Pushy or seem Ruse they are usually quiet rushed and trying to get customers in and out all the time. Your here for lots of cheap food not the service. they do however have a large range of vegetarian, nut free and gluten free options, depending on the timing they may even be able to make slight changes to some meals but this all depends on what and the timing for example asking for something without the sauce can usually be done but asking for a change in ingredients may be difficult or impossible. a few tips for visiting this venue is 1. its cheap 2. you will get cheap service 3. the quantity is large and 4. you are not paying for service
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The only review you'll need to read honestly.
I've been going here for 7 years, and let me tell you, though the place doesn't look the best, and the service is mostly curt, the food is tasty, and it's amazing if you're on a budget! My best friend and I always order the Shanghai Fried noodles with pork, fried pork dumplings, and the fried rice. The all you can eat menu for $15pp is great, especially if you're with a large group, and you get so much food let me tell you.
If you're looking for a reasonably priced place (with free hot tea also), I would recommend it. To be honest, you do get what you pay for. There is no finesse in plating, mostly just thrown on a plate, but $15 for a plate of noodles and under $10 for 15 dumplings is practically unheard of in Melbourne's CBD. I have had worse dumplings that I've paid double the price for, so I think that says something.
I do try to go in the late afternoon, or at night, on weekends especially, as I've found the food to taste better when it's busy. And when I say busy, I mean busy. The place is not the biggest, around 100 covers on the ground level at one time, but it will be packed, so if you don't like a busy place that's noisey, I wouldn't recommend going at night on the weekend at all (I've been super late and it was still busy!!). THIS IS NOT DATE FRIENDLY. A little messy depending on what you're eating too, so don't mistake it for a nice place to go for a quiet dinner.
Also be weary that they do close for a couple of hours after 3:30pm to get ready for dinner, and if I remember correctly, they open again between 5-6pm.
I mean realistically, do any of the staff speak good english? No. And I've read a lot of reviews about this place with that as one of the main complaints. But is it an issue? Absolutely not. It's a family run business, and I respect that. I've also seen a lot of complaints about food not coming out the way it should be, and honestly it has happened to me before. I had a plate of really oily fried dumplings once, and I let them know and they made another plate, hot and crispy, they way they should be, with no incident or up-roar, you just have to ask.
I've moved about 30 mins out of the CBD now so I can't go all the time unfortunately, but when I do, I'm never disappointed. I've honestly (as embarrassing as it seems) been going in for so many years the owners know me, and it kinda feels like I'm visiting an old friend when I do go back.
EXCELLENT !!
I have always rated their boiled pork dumplings in chilli oil soup as the best in Melb. albeit basic decor and sometimes curt service..
Add to this, last weekend my better half was stuck in the CBD while I was in meetings. After her meal at Shanghai Dumpling House they insisted she stay inside with them until I arrived to collect her (9pm and dark outside). Thank you so much for looking after my wife. A very caring attitude and great food on top of that. To top it off they gave her a set of chopsticks for me to eat my takeaway dumplings - nice touch!
Very impressed!
This place used to be my go to restaurant for cheap dumplings that would fill you up very quickly. The service is prompt (you collect your own tea) and the food is fast to reach your table. The freshness of the dumplings is questionable, but if you're not willing to spend very much and are very hungry, I would not say no to dining here. If you choose to be open minded, you will find this place adequate for your dumplings cravings.
I really enjoyed eating here! A little bit crowded but great atmosphere and so so cheap! Would recommend if you are on a budget and want an decent meal!
Great place for cheap dumplings! Always busy, so you know the food is always fresh. Been there a few times with friends and it's always been an awesome experience. Can't wait to go this week!
Cheap good food! Casual dining, customer service and venue it's self is very average but if your looking for some good, cheap and quick food this is the place to go! Able to BYO
The restaurant is located down a lane way. It's a bit run down, but there were a decent amount of diners to assure me to try it. I was craving dumplings so I ordered the Shanghai shao long pau and the steamed pork dumplings. The Shanghai dumplings were really good with a flavourful filling and lighter dough exterior. However the pork dumplings were the exact opposite, with a thick dough and bland filling. Most of the other dumplings are similar in dough to the pork dumplings, so I wouldn't recommend most on the menu, but maybe getting them fried would be an improvement. I have mixed feelings about this place and the food, but it was very inexpensive so I wasn't too upset.
Love this dumpling place! Incredibly cheap and quick service. Great place to grab a quick BYO dinner with friends. Service isn't the best and you can sometimes be rushed out the door because it's so popular! Get what you pay for on the customer service side but you should still tell them it it's your birthday!
This place got me through going to uni on a student budget. You get so much food for such a small price! The place has a nice authentic vibe to it but isn't somewhere you would stay around to continue conversations, it's more of an eat and go. The dumplings are so good.
Julia Eats Melbourne
+3.5
The good: Cheap, quick, can BYO beer & wine (for extremely cheap corkage), love the chinese broccoli with garlic sauce & love the pan fried pork and chicken/prawn mix dumplings as these are very, very tasty
The bad: service is terrible, you can't read the bill to check it's right as it's in chinese (last week I got charged for a beer even though it was never delivered to my table, it was hard to check this out!), looks pretty dodgy/poorly maintained on the inside, they will ask you to leave once you've finished eating so only a place for quick meals, steamed dumplings are often served slightly warm so best to go fried if you ask me for food safety purposes!
If you know what you are in for and set your expectations right you will have a delightful meal - my go to place for a quick & cheap feed before a CBD show or comedy fest etc
Love this place. Always enjoyed the food and quick service. The banquet/all you can eat deal works great when you have a big group. Place is a bit shabby but all the good places are.
By far the cheapest dumpling place in Melbourne! Interior looks old Anglo Asian cafeteria style however place often busy. Reason been they serve cheapest most enjoyable dumpling to over fill your tummy. Pork fried dumplings are crispy outside & meaty inside. Fried rice had surprisingly large amount of vegetables & meat. Tiny bit salty though. Food oily. Staff can be not so attentive. Food came out fast. Comparing food quality, service, taste against the price gives an overall rating of 3.8*
If you're a swanker who wears an expensive watch that actually has the wrong time set on it because it has no functionally purpose other then all you're work friends have an expensive watch and you need to fit in and you're not high or drunk then don't go here.
It's filth plain and simple 10% chance invertebrate DNA in the presence of every dumpling but hey 12 dumps for $6.50 it's criminal.
Unsure if they use horse meat but hey it's tasty as fark.
I couldn't possibly take my mum here.
Advice: Take your drunk mates here
3.12/5 so cheap
Please dont be negatively swayed by the older decorum...no one really comes here for that. This place serves up dumplings fast and fresh. I have been coming here for years. In saying that I have definitely noticed the spring onion pancakes have gone downhill...they taste more floury than they used to. Thats a shame! The egg fried rice is always enjoyable though!
Tasted a lot of dumplings and Shanghai village had good offering. Got there early on a weeknight, table for 2 downstairs. Very quiet but by time we left around 7 much busier. Quick service, didnt really look at much else on menu apart from dumplings but overall decent and don't be fooled by inconspicuous front or be mislead to the Shanghai dumpling house not far down Street!
Great food, super cheap and really fast service, although comically abrupt. Essential to every Melbourne trip.
It's also a great way to embarrass your friend on their birthday, just tell them it's glorious.
Ok so I wouldn't go on a first date - but this place is still our favourite cheap, cheerful and quick CBD dumpling fix. We've always found the dumplings reliably good, the noodles tasty, the service swift (don't expect niceties) and the bill small for what you get! The decor is average - but you can't eat that and you're not encouraged to hang around to admire it. You may find yourself sharing a table with strangers... We've been plenty of times and we'll keep going!!!
You need to be ready for the Shanghai Dumpling house before you enter. If you want great service, smiles and to be waited on, don't come here.
I love this place, now. I was so offended the first time I visited. They couldn't have been more rude.
I've been here so many times now tho so I know what to expect.
They have really cheap, yummy dumplings and beer, that's honestly all I care about.
The Domestic Traveller
+3.5
Hands down, the best dumpling place after a big night out, or just a big appetite. Bring cash. But you won’t need much of it to fill you. Located in Tattersalls Lane, this is one of those rare gems that only the locals know about. But if you’re smart and know whom to ask, then you’re in for a delight.
Robert J Henderson III
+5
I've probably eaten here a hundred times, maybe more, and In all those visits I've never been treated well by by the waiters or had a quality meal. The toilets are filthy, the dumplings are probably frozen and they play Happy Birthday over the speakers at an ear-splitting volume every few minutes.
Yet I keep coming back.
Truth is, I don't eat out to make friends with the waiters, and you can mask the flavour of those dirty dumplings with vinegar and chili sauce.
The price. Lets be honest, that's the only reason any of us eat here.
I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'll probably eat here another hundred times.
Feel free to judge me.
I loved the vegetarian steamed dumplings and the Shanghai vegetarian noodles! The service isn't great the staff aren't friendly at all but the food comes out so quickly and everything is very affordable and filling so you can't really complain :-) will definitely be back
This is as cheap and cheerful as it gets. The food is so cheap, but absolutely fresh and delicious. Drinks are at rock bottom prices too. The restaurant is often crowded with a buzzing atmosphere. Don't expect much from the decor or the service - I really think they need to invest in table numbers because food often gets lost along the way! Don't expect to linger over a drink as once you're done because they will boot you out! Even on a Tuesday night there was a queue out the door waiting for our table. Tattersalls Lane is looking quite cool these days and Shanghai Dumpling is a great for a cheap city meal. Note it is cash only.
My favourite hidden gem in the CBD for steamed vegetarian dumplings & spring rolls, great pricing and speedy friendly service. Never had a bad experience in the 4 years I've been there.
Good service! Reasonable price! Taro paste pancakes is very good!
Loved the Vegetarian Laksa here. Definitely one of the best I tried in Melbourne yet.
Has the most varied selection of vegetarian dumplings in the area. Democratic, family friendly and affordable. Had a blast dinner there.
Shanghai Dumpling House has an all you can eat offer for $19.90. For the cost of an entrée at some other restaurants, you can have all the fried rice, noodles, spring rolls, Chinese vegetables, buns and of course a variety of dumplings, you like. However, to take advantage of this offer you must be on a table of a minimum of 4 people. It’s great value for money and the food is good. The other bonus is that the corkage for wine is only $3 per bottle.
If you are looking for a quiet, up market, romantic restaurant, this this is not the place to come to. There are no table cloths, the crockery is cheap, wine glasses are plastic and the serviettes are a box of tissues. It can be a bit noisy, however if the group of 10 I was with are not there it should be substantially quieter.
Great place to come for an inexpensive meal. I recommend the custard buns for dessert or you can just try them all.
I feel the low ratings are a bit harsh - sure they have had some issues in the past, but these guys were the dumpling place to be for the longest time. Before it was 'cool' to have cheap dirty dumplings, Shanghai Dumpling House was the place to be. It was the first place I went to in Melbourne to have dumps back in 2004.
I went here last night with a friend, we just got some pan friend dumplings and some mushroom dumplings. They were decent. We got a glass of house white which was.... interesting but for $3.50 I'm not going to complain really - the whole bottle is $15, so that tells you what the wine probably costs retail. If you're here looking for customer service, go to some white person restaurant and pay white person prices. This is Chinatown, you are here for the cheap food, not to be treated like a king.
There are better dumplings out here but I do have sentimental feelings towards this place. It's part of Melbourne's history.
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