The dumplingers
My husband never really gets excited about food. So much so that the idea of dining at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant didn’t thrill him much. He just saw it as a place at which he had to grudgingly wear a suit. However when I read Ffichiban’s review signalling the Northside arrival of Shanghai style dumplings, I knew that this would excite him. We’ve always had to trek all the way to Ashfield to get these little plump morsels of soup and meat but now we’re pleased to discover a closer location in Chatswood. A sister restaurant to New Shanghai in Ashfield, the Chatswood location has been open for 2 months already.
At 2pm there is already a queue and a stand with a sheet of paper you write down your name and tear off a tag with your number and wait. We end up waiting for about 10 minutes while watching the 4 dumpling ladies in matching aprons make each dumpling pleating and pleating until the requisite number of pleats appears on top.
It’s a large rectangular space full of people and the tables are rickety and flimsy despite how new it is. The menu has lots of pictures to make it easy to choose but of course we know what we want. We choose a range of dishes including some Cold dishes, soup and of course dumplings and the level of English here with the waitstaff is very good particularly when compared with Ashfield.
Iced green bean drink $4.20
Our drink arrives quickly and I may have spoken too soon. I asked for red bean and I’m given green bean which I don’t really mind. It’s mostly ice and the thick straw helps a little in sucking up the drink although a long handled teaspoon is needed for the pieces at the bottom.
Pork Ribs $4.80
Our Gold dishes arrive first. I’m a bit confused as we ordered them as the outside menu listed them as “Gold Dishes” so when I bite in I realise they mean Cold dishes. The pork ribs are cold but delicious and glisteningly sticky sweet with a sweet soy sauce. The white bones, ones that I usually crunch through if they’re soft enough are a little too hard but we both enjoy the flavour of this immensely.
Thai flavoured chicken’s feet $4.80
The Thai flavoured chicken’s feet are a little too jellied and firm and cold. I usually prefer my chicken’s feet softer cooked and hot, like at Yum Cha but these are a bit too firm and gelatinous for my liking.
Spicy sour soup $4.20
The hot and sour soup is a thick, vinegary soup a little too strong in the sour than we both like. It is filled with tofu, pork and egg strands.
Xiao Long Bao 6 for $6.80
The Xiao Long Bao, my favourite little dumplings are not bad at all, quite gingery in flavour which we like immensely. The mince pork filling is usually a bit more firm but this mince is softer. And none break on the way to the mouth! Be careful of the chili sauce however. It’s a variety with salty soy beans in it and is incredibly salty.
Pan fried dumplings $8.80
It’s a long wait for the other two dumpling dishes and we aren’t the only ones. The tables surrounding us are experiencing the same wait. One table has to ask twice for their dumplings. We’re waiting for about 30 minutes for the pan fried dumplings, my other favourites. Once they arrive we turn them upside down and examine the bottoms. They’re nicely browned. One thing we note is that while prices are the same as the Ashfield store you get fewer dumplings.
At Ashfield you get 10 of these dumplings whereas here you get 8 for the same price. Biting into them they’re filled with juicy soup inside. Which brings me to the title. How to eat these little morsels. From watching other diners wrestling with the surprise soup dumplings and having wrestled with these myself while dripping soup onto the table I watch the table next to us. They have the routine down. For those of you seasoned eaters who already have this routine down pat, you may laugh but having watched many a person clumsily munch their way through one spurting soup all over the table, believe me this helps.
Le specimen
First put the dumpling on your soup spoon
Bite the tip off the top.
Bring the spoon with the dumpling to your mouth and nibble around the top of the dumpling so that you get a cup of dumpling, the soup and the meat filling.
Then sip the soup and then eat the rest of the dumpling!
Steamed pork and coriander dumplings 12 for $7.80
After another 20 minutes our steamed pork and coriander dumplings arrive. Again while the price remains similar to Ashfield, the quantity of this is fewer with 12 of these rather than the 18 you get in Ashfield which is a rather large difference in quantity They’re not bad although the appeal of these for Mr NQN was the sheer volume of them for the price.
Filling the pastry
And if you were interested here is a little photo series on how to fill a dumpling!
Patting down the filling
Twist and pleat!
Tell me Dear Reader, which Dim Sum dumplings are your favourite? The Fluffy white Char Siu buns? Xiao Long Bao? Pan fried buns? Prawn Har Gow? Or a different one altogether?
And just a little reminder, the Secret Nanna Recipes project deadline is June 30th. Please submit your favourite Nanna or Mum recipes. Read all about it here!
New Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
Shop 20, 427-441 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood (inside Lemon Grove Shopping Centre)
Tel: +61 (02) 9415 3536
Open 7 days until 8pm
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46 Comments | Add your own
Are those little cartoons on their aprons?
I love the translucent shrimp dumplings (har gow)! Potstickers are a close second, though.
This place looks delicious! I always loose all of the soup in my dumplings so I will have to try your method!
I check the base of the pan fried dumplings too!! I also use the same eating technique for the Xiao long bau but usually don’t have a soup spoon. It’s a bit trickier trying to drink the soup holding it with chopsticks lol.
Haha!! I enjoyed reading your how to story!!
My fav is the xiao long bao, followed by the fluffy bbq pork bun. Although, when my mother inlaw make bao, nothing can top it, as she make it big, with balls of pork mince and half of a hardboil egg!!!
I adore all kinds of baos, and wouldn’t say no to any! However I normally can’t eat too many of the pan-fried/deep-fried ones, so I get the steamed ones and eat more
lol. That’s annoying that you get smaller portions, but I guess if you consider the proximity to you, it’s worth it?!
Hmmm I love xiao long baooooo. (though I love everything equally!) I somewhat usually manage to eat quite well without burning my tongue and mouth with the hot soup inside, but for the first timers they should provide an instruction manual LOL
So would you say you rather go to the one in Ashfield if distance wasn’t an issue?
Oh! I love their aprons! I haven’t really had dumplings as there unfortunately isn’t much of a restaurant scene (outside of lots of seafood places all proclaiming they have the “best lobster roll”) up here in Maine. The soupy fried dumplings look like fun to eat!
I saw FFichiban’s post too, and can’t wait to go! Just got to find a night off first..
oh man i’m salivating over the spicy sour soup! it’s too cold today and these are just perfect!!
lol “Gold dishes”
Those chicken feet don’t look the best, I love the yumcha ones cooked in black bean sauce.
My ALL time favorite dumpling at yum cha is siumai. Also love the Chee Chong ones you made! I must try to make siumai one day!
x
The Char Siu buns from Addiction Cafes Yum Cha menu are great. i love them, they are so sweet and fluffy
Today’s blogpost has me jumping for joy! A dumpling place at Chatswood! I sure that if they keep it up with consistently good food then they will do really well. The queue and ticket numbers remind me of Makato, the sushi train on Victoria Avenue. I am just so happy that we don’t have to drive to Ashfield for a quick dumpling fix!
This is excellent! We went to the one in Ashfield on the weekend after I salivated over your previous post about it…well worth it for sure! We’ll have travel over the bridge for this one too!
Surely you’ve been to Din Tai Fung in World square? I don’t remember how much it was but i think its a bit more expensive, but the interior is very nice and there’s heaps of staff who are great service so you get yoru monies worth, oh and of course the soup dumplings which are delicious. Apparently it can get very busy but i go for early yum cha and its fine. and they have instruction sheets on teh table to eat the soup dumplings!
Hi, this was a nice piece to read. We have lived in Shanghai for some time now and I wanted to share my technique for eating xiaolongbao: pick-up the bun with chopsticks and dip the bottom lightly in Chinese vinegar. Take a small nibble out of a bottom edge from where the soup can be enjoyed. The more slurping noise made – the better !!
Re-dip the pierced bun in the vinegar and pop into your mouth. Perfect. Also, they are not so hard to make once you get a little practise and the other jaozi are even easier. Worth a try anyway.
Wish we knew the twist and pleat method, so we could make dumplings at home.
Din Tai fung is pretty good (if you don’t mind the waiting or sharing a table) – and yes it is expensive but worth it
Quick, friendly service plus they give you a little storage for your bags!. Last Sunday I’ve organised a surprise bday lunch for a friend. We went to the yum cha restaurant (I think its called Palace chinese restaurant) at Picaddily Tower on Castlereagh st. Very clean and their yum cha tasted good also from what I remember (everyone was too excited to eat cos of the surprise plan working sooo well! haha). I might have to go back there again to properly ‘analyse’ everything hehehe! x
Hah hah.. I’ve been caught out with the cold dishes before as well! Though atm I’m addicted to the lamb and onion dumplings from Shanghai Nights… who knew such an odd combo would be to tasty!
Oh,I would be in heaven if I could enjoy such a meal. There are NO places that even come close here.
oh my God…looks fabulous! I love those little xiao long baos. And your husband doesn’t know what a lucky bloke he is to have a foodie for a wife! I wish I had someone dragging me to Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant! although it would probably be the other way around
I’m so glad this place opened up, it means I don’t have to trek out to Ashfield! Must go try it soon. Those pan-fried dumplings look so good! Love the step by step instructions, it’s very nice how the bottom of the dumpling makes a miniature bowl for the soup
I suppose the rents in Chatswood are higher than in Ashfield, hence the price difference? Good to know there’s a dumpling place there, though, as opposed to another yum cha palace.
And my dumpling yardstick is sui mai – had some fantastic ones at Zilver a couple of weeks ago.
I have never seen or heard of soup dumplings before, so these look very interesting – thanks for the tips on eating them! The pork spare ribs also look delicious, although I think I’d prefer mine hot.
Char Siew Bao for sure…mmm…love the sticky sweet bbq pork or chicken in the light fluffy cloud like encasing…gosh I have a hankering for dim sum now! hehe…thanks for the tip on how to eat a soup dumpling…those are quite a handful
Check Here comes the food, check NQN… two ticks! Good dumplings, new place… off we go!
I love xiao long bao too! And I always burn my mouth on the hot soup so I’m thankful for the tips on how to eat them. Your photos remind me of the Din Tai Fung in Singapore which I was lucky enough to eat at way before the Sydney branches hit town. I am hoping to go to the World Square one soon but as Chatswood is not too far away, I will definitely be visiting this one too!
I’ve been to this place twice already.Although the food was good my main complaint is the quantities are small.When I went there they brought each dish out separatly which meant we waited 30min for each dish,I like everything to come out together so that you get a taste of the different flavours.Because of that experience I haven’t returned.
The service was also really slow.
It’s a shame the serving sizes have shrunk. They must be very popular in spite of that to have a queue outside and waiting inside. LOL to the gold dishes!
looks more tasty and cheaper than Din Tai Fung. will have to try although the long wait is unfortunate. obviously too popular now.
The fitout at this store looks v nice compared to Ashfield – I guess that’s reflected in the pricing.
I always seem to burn my tongue…
Thanks for the eating tutorial!
cute aprons
Hee hee Lorraine’s Advanced Dumplinging 101
How does quality compare though?
Oh we getting cheaped here
Lol at Gold dishes, I didn’t notice that haha
Hi Blond Duck-I think so! I noticed that too plus they’re matching!
Hi Lucy-Oooh me too!
We always order 3 lots of Har Gows if it’s just my husband and I 
Hi Feasting on Art-Hehe me too! It always used to end up all over the table
Hi Shanks-Haha great minds think alike!
Ahh that sounds like an advanced manoeuvre! 
Hi Dorcas-Thankyou! Oooh she sounds like she makes amazing ones! Half a hardboiled egg is a new one but I like it!
Hi Betty-Me too, I always feel a bit healthier ordering the steamed ones, plus I like them better. Yeah if we just can’t be bothered it’s good to know it’s not too far away!
Hi Yas-Haha equal opportunity eater? You are a gifted dumpling eater I see!
Yep I think Ashfield is better as you get more for your dollar but the service is better in Chatswood (although it is slower there). But out of the two hubby would definitely prefer Ashfield.
Hi anna-Aww what a shame. But you guys have great chowder and seafood right? Lobster roll? Be still my beating heart!
Hi Y-Hehe or a day for lunch!
Hi Trisha-It is freezing isn’t it! Why did Winter come so suddenly?
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-I thought I was losing my mind until I checked the menu on the way out
Ahh Siumai! My mum has a recipe for those too! 
Hi Tara-They’re hubby’s favourite. I just eat the char siu in them
Hi Maria T -Cool! Yes I think they’re doing quite well so if they can just move it along a bit quicker they’re pack them in. Me too!
Hi Karen-Very cool! Glad that you liked it and that it was worth the trip!
Hi Neil-yes surely I have and I’ve reviewed it! There wasn’t a guide when I went as it was a few weeks after it opened.
Hi Shanghai Aussie-Thankyou so much!
haha thanks for the alternative way-I’ll give it a try next time! 
Definitely worth a try!
Hi The Duo Dishes-Ha me too! they did seem very practised at it
Hi Edge-Yes we really liked our dumplings at Din Tai Fung and the service was great! That’s great that it all went well and smoothly with the surprise party! Hehe yes a revisit and analysis sounds like a great idea
Hi Victoria-Oooh I haven’t tried those. I must give them a try next time!
Hi Bethie-Aww no, really? You should come to Sydney!
Hi Sophia-Thankyou! Haha thankyou-I’ll pass your message onto him!
Haha yes usually people are dying to go!
Hi Steph-Me too! The North shore was just dying for a good XLB place! Thanks!
Hi Belle-Yes I think so. Hehe yes Chatswood definitely has enough Yum Cha places!
Ahh cool, will give those a try when I get to Zilver one day 
Hi Cakelaw-Oh really? If you get the chance, do try them. They’re great in Winter!
Yes I have to say they would be better hot 
Hi Alexandra -hehe hubby loves those! He can eat so many of them. They are aren’t they! I always end up with soup everywhere
Hi Ellie-hehe excellent!
Hi Gummi Baby-Cool! Ah yes I’ve suffered many a burnt tongue and mouth too
The Sydney Din Tai Fung is great!
Hi Anna-Yes they definitely have a problem with getting the food out in a timely way! Especially the dumplings!
Hi Arwen-Yes I can sort of cope with 1 or 2 less but to go from 18 to 12 for the pork and chive dumplings is a bit much! haha they also had “Noodled” instead of Noodles on the menu
Hi Simon-The dumplings aren’t as delicate or silky textured as DTF but it’s not bad! Hey with Chinese food, a queue can only mean a good thing!
Hi Tina-Hehe yes they don’t really go for looks in Ashfield! You’re welcome-I used to too!!
Hi DeLaCour-heh yes!
Hi FFichiban-Haha for our next class…The taste is the same as the Ashield one though (the pan fried ones aren’t crispy enough like Ashfield sadly
). I only noticed as I was surprised they were cold! 
nice-looking dumplings, but i don’t like to hear about reduced serving sizes. i require a big portion of such things, thank you very much!
Those soup dumplings look so cute! And of course, delicious, i will have to try them out when possible,
Looking at these photos, it’s been WAY too long since I’ve had chinese food!
Oh that looks SO SO good(except for the chicken feet)
my favourite HAS to HAS TO BE prawn har gows. followed by xiao long bao, then yummy pork and chive dumplings (frozen ones from supermarket are spectacular with everything, from rice, to noodles, to pasta !)
Looks like fun. It seems like the potsticker equivalent of our Krispy Kream Doughnuts lol
The panfried dumplings are yummy here – but they are AMAZING in Shanghai (how can you compare though?) I haven’t seen them anywhere else on the menu.
I liked the xiao long bao but to be honest I think Din Tai Fung’s are better – they’re more refined obviously, but the DTF’s tastes just hit the spot. I know a lot of people think Shanghai Night’s are more superior but DTF’s xiao long bao’s have a more complex, delicate taste that resonates more with me. Though New Shanghai’s is pretty good too, and I’d definitely come back again.
Hi grace-I know, we only realised that the servings were smaller when it took so little time to eat the pork and chive dumplings!
Hi ArtemisIII-Definitely do if you get the chance!
Hi maris-Hehe I sometimes get like that too and have a sudden craving for it!
Hi Sweta-Hehe yes they don’t look so appetising do they?
Hi Mei-Ooh yes the har gows are so good aren’t they! Now if only I could get XLB, pan fried pork dumplings and har
gow all together then I would be happy! We buy packets of them too!
Hi Jackie-Haha that is so funny!
Hi Nat-I can imagine how good they are in Shanghai!
Yes they’re definitely more refined but I like the gingery
filling in these. If I could “breed” the skin from DTF and the filling from here or Shanghai Night I’d be happy
The xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung in Taiwan is the best! Sydney just does not compare.
oh another note, if you like pan fried dumplings, there’s a shang place at Eastwood on Rowe Street which does wonderful pan fried dumplings, great noodles and some not so great xiao long baos. However be warned, the service and the english is not best you can find in Sydney’s chinese restaurants. But the pan fried dumplings make up for it!
The chicken was not cooked enough! was raw inside, and the lady told me that was part of the dish. You cant eat raw chicken it will make you sick.
gave me food poisoning the next day!
Hello,
What is the best brand of dumplings you can buy from an asian supermarket that taste the most authentic?
Thanks
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[...] the bottoms are this crisp and the tops are so fluffy. Inside there’s some gingery soup and now that I know how to eat these babies I can forever kiss away any Pretty Woman escargot moments with the dumplings flying across [...]
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