Although I don’t snack a lot during the day, I have to admit that I’m a big fan of snack foods. Every country or culture has snack foods and in Northern China, a bowl of soup noodles or dumplings would suffice instead of a packet of chips or a chocolate bar. One afternoon, while driving past Broadway, I spotted a shop name that caught my eye. Chubby Girl’s Bunz Shop.
Not fancy by any means, there is a small area to eat in at which seats about six people – eight at a pinch and jostling of elbows. The Chubby Girl in question is apparently an accountant and the girlfriend of the young man that stands behind the counter and who makes the dumplings fresh every day. “We need to make them fresh every day to survive on this street. So many businesses close down here.” Along with eight varieties of dumplings made fresh, they also do a range of noodle soups with different additions. Congee with century egg, mung bean soup and pig’s trotters also feature on the small menu. Some signs are only in Chinese but if you can’t read Chinese, one of the outside doors features a colourful menu in English.
The steamers are busily chugging out steam throughout the restaurant. There is Thai massage offered in a corner of the premises behind a curtain -steam a bonus there too, and the security camera footage is full of steam too. There are four types of buns available at the moment with the other four varieties being currently steamed.
We ask for one of each of the four buns and they raise the wet cloth held in place by bulldog clips that is keeping the buns warm and they place two on a plate. An order for noodles is made and we sit down and try the buns while we wait for these. There is vinegar, soy sauce and a chilli sauce paste on the counter and we help ourselves to some chilli paste.
Soy bean drink $2.50
The soy bean drink takes me back to when my father used to make soy bean milk from scratch. Chinese soy bean drink is thinner and sweeter than soy milks that you can buy at the supermarket and here it is served hot which warms us up quite nicely indeed.
Lamb & cumin bun and hot beef bun $1.50 each
Each dumpling is $1.50 each and they’re large steamed buns about 10cms in diameter. We start with the lamb and cumin bun which a delicious filling well spiced with cumin. The bun itself is soft and melting in the mouth yet not damp at all, at a guess this would be from the fact that they are freshly made and not frozen. The hot beef bun has finely minced beef and is another favourite with a small amount of soup inside to make the inner moist. The ratio of bun to filling is good too especially as the bun isn’t too stodgy.
Mushroom & vegetable bun and egg,vegetable and vermicelli bun $1.50 each
We try the two vegetarian buns, one is a mushroom and vegetarian which is strong in shiitake mushroom which Mr NQN likes. I prefer the egg, vegetable and vermicelli bun which has a little crunch from the noodles and vegetables.
Pork ball soup $8.50
Our soup comes out and it is full of hand made noodles with a springy chewy texture that you can only really get from fresh, hand made noodles. The broth, well it’s a bit pale and needs a bit more flavour for our taste although I’ve had broth just like this in China. Perhaps it’s also eating this after the chilli dipped buns that makes the broth less flavoursome in comparison. There are three small pork balls, some tomato slices, half a boiled egg (although a tea egg can be added for 50c) and some baby bok choy.
Yummy pork bun (front) and pork & vegetable bun. Hmm my hand looks like it can’t resist!
We enquire as to when the rest of the buns will be out and are told that they’ve just finished steaming. There are three pork buns and one lamb bun left to try and so thankful that we haven’t had any breakfast and Mr NQN ate a light dinner we order all of these (research purposes darlings!). The yummy pork bun was a favourite for both of us with the finely minced pork and ginger filling. The pork and vegetables are good all rounders, mildly flavoured and with a filling not unlike those Shanghai steamed dumplings.
Pork & celery bun (front) and lamb and carrot bun $1.50 each
The lamb and carrot wasn’t bad but I preferred the lamb & cumin out of the two lamb buns. The carrot did impart a nice sweetness but I liked the cumin because sometimes lamb can smell a bit muttony otherwise. The pork and celery has quite a bit of celery, although I’m not a big celery fan there isn’t enough to overwhelm it and it gives it a good texture and it has a nice amount of ginger in it too.
I suspect that after sampling eight of these and a soup between the two of us, there isn’t just one chubby girl around 
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite snack food? And how often do you snack?
Chubby Girl’s Bunz Shop
141 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007
Tel: +61 (02) 9211 7788
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
52 Comments | Add your own
I’ve never had this type of bun before. The place sounds quite successful though and it’s not expensive at all. My favourite snack is cheese and crackers. I love a noodle soup so I was disappointed that your selection didn’t quite meet your expectations.
That is some great snacks, although it would fill me as a decent meal! I don’t snack until about mid afternoon, and then something inside me turns in and I am like a crazy nut muncher: I love walnuts and dried apricots…
I love the name. I wish Chubby Girl’s Bunz was around the corner from me because I would be there frequently.
Cool! And these dumplings are so cheap too. My favourite snack food for sweet is chocolate and non sweet is rice crackers.
Buns look great! just like the ones my grandpa made and glad to hear they are fresh and cheap. I’ll be checking this place out!
This looks like comfort food once again. I love buns and these look delicious. Great name for a shop as well.
I do like to snack, unfortunately. Here in Mexico, I must say a quick taco or early morning tamal never goes amiss.
Oooh, thanks for the review…I’ve gone past a few times in the bus, and the name and pink sign has momentarily caught my attention; now I know what it is!
I tend to eat snack food as a small meal when I’m out and about, usually sushi because it’s so portable.
Chinese snack food beats a packet of chips any day
I’m loving the Ga
M
Being a forager and grazer the pantry,fridge and fruit bowl get a good workout during the day. I can’t say I have a favourite and lately it’s been Salada crackers with butter and Vegemite,lol!If I bake a cake or cupcakes then they’re the first to go
Love the name of this little eatery ,at first I thought it may have been a pastry shop ( the ultimate sweet-tooth) but am not a fan of this type of food ie: buns as I don’t like the texture and find that some are too big & spongey, I prefer dumplings and spring rolls. Speaking of which , my Vietnamese foster sister My Lam visited the other day and brought some of her delicious spring rolls.Omg, they were demolished within minutes of frying them up. No-one and I mean No-one makes them better then her not even restaurants!
I snack everyday. I am a cheese and nuts kinda girl!
Love the look of these dumplings, and I especially love the name of the shop, it is adorable.
yum!! i’ve been eyeing this place off for ages and went to check it out after stuffing myself on indonesian first so i wasn’t hungry enough to buy any but now i will make sure i head back!
Yummy, yummy, yummy! The dumplings look so very delicious though I have a preference for the sweeter varieties, particularly ones filled with red bean paste. My favorite snack is shaved ice, particularly of the patbingsu variety! I just love it, particularly when it starts melting and the ice cream mixes with the condensed milk and the softly shaven ice and the red bean paste gives just that touch of sweetness and texture. I can’t snack too often on it; too much liquid bloating!
I’m not usually a steamed bun fan but the meat inside those looks irresistible!
I’m a big snacker. I have morning and afternoon tea nearly every day but usually it’s some fruit, yoghurt, nuts, cheese ad crackers and occasionally (ok sometimes more than occasionally) a sweet treat.
The name makes me giggle!
I’m a mad snacker. In fact, all I’ve done today is snack… but I’m blaming that on the fact that I was travelling from 7am to 3pm, and have blisters all over my feet so couldn’t walk much further than the grocery store near my current accomodation.
Entire box of Vitatops, a block of chocolate, and roasted sprouted lentils? WHY NOT.
P.S. This comment is entirely about me. Oops.
Seems one of these convenient places to know if one is in the neighbourhood: cheap and honest
! I truly think snacking is a habit – I have never had it and honestly would not dream of having any form of food, savoury or sweet in between meals. Even if I stop for coffee, it is just that 
!
I snack way too often!!
Sometimes to satisfy a salty craving-Crisps.
A sweet craving seasame snaps
This is just what I’m craving for..we will definitely be heading there this week! Thanks for the recommendation.
LOVE Steamed Buns, TRUE!
Favourite would have to be pork too!
Not really a snacker as friends think I eat all the time too!
The key for me is to eat more, not less,
For a healthy stable weight (for me), is about the combination of foods which I no longer have to guess!
Oh Lorraine, how I’ve missed your posts
This place looks insane, makes me miss HK! That lamb and cumin bun looks crazy good. I always have an afternoon snack, rarely a morning snack. Not a huge snacker, really.
Heidi xo
mmm..Pork buns… after your description this makes me think I’ve never really had true handmade steam buns!
we have a ritual in our house – cheese and crackers at 5:30pm with a glass of wine whilst cooking tea. Although when we have been shopping in Sydney and brought Japanese and Chinese snack food home we will happily munch on soy snacks of varying quality and variety, nori snacks, wasabi peas. I would prefer pistachio nuts to cheese and biscuits due to dairy intolerance.
The prices at this restaurant seem so very reasonable. It’s hard for me to believe it’s in Sydney. Love how everything is made fresh daily. I do have a few dreadful snack items I keep hidden at the back of the pantry xx
Looks yummo and its just 2 minutes from my work! My lunch plans just changed!
Sounds good to me…thumbs up!
Oh Lorraine, you brought back very fond memories of food stalls in china! Im taking Jason back there next year and I can’t wait to get my hands on some Fuzhou fish balls and Fuzhou wontons! Have you ever tried them before? They are simply divine!
i have to stop reading your post at work . i now have a craving for steam buns and i am stuck at my desk. A shame it’s not in Perth, my 12 year-old daughter is mad about steam buns and she would love them
I love snacking on muesli bars! They are my fave snack
All those steamed buns look delish!
I walk past this place ALL the time and eventually decided to go on. I have to say, I wasn’t too impressed
Booooo.
Love the name of the shop
I’m a major snacker, in fact I prefer to have small meals and nibble in between on bits and pieces. Those bunz look good though I do prefer a bit more bread on mine but the noodles look really nice and fresh!
Chubby Girl’s Bunz looks like my kind of place, fantastic snack food. Not that I should be snacking………..
I loved steamed buns – here they are called Manapua. I think the first time I tried them was when someone brought them as an after snack at one of my daughter’s soccer matches. I was hooked. You can even buy them here at the local 7-11. We have some interesting flavors here but I would love to try the lamb and cumin.
It sure looks authentic just like the stores in china!!!
wish we had something so authentic in Melb hehe
Those buns look good, but not as good as the name sounds . Im a fan of fun!
That’s it I am coming to NSW to eat, Pork Buns, really!
The lamb ones look tasty, have only ever eaten the pork ones they make in western China.
I love the name – and the food looks just as fun and tasty!
What a fabulous concept, I hope they do well! Those buns look great!
Cute place! Any sweet buns?
Popcorn!!! Yummmmm Chinese Comfort food!
yum! i love buns and noodles – definitely comfort food! especially in winter
What a great find! I would love to have a shop like this in the UK. I really miss good Chinese food. I can think of nothing better than indulging in some dumplings and a massage (probably not at the same time though).
I am not really tempted by snack food of the “junk food” variety but food like this is .., i would gobble down so much it would no longer be called a snack
Oh and pork buns are Mr GG ‘s favourite, so we will have to bookmark this place
Hmmm.. new eating place that I gotta try.. The bun looks really goooood
This sounds sooo like my kinda place! In fact, perhaps they named it after me too
The food sounds great, and the prices are too. Love it!
I drive past Chubby Bunz regularly and had no idea it was serving up these delicious looking buns! I need to visit asap.
Stopped in there today and got three buns for me and my girl to share: a beef, lamb and cumin and vegetarian with the eggs an noodles and they were DELICIOUS!!! and SO CHEAP! Thanks Lorraine, this will be a regular haunt for me and the other Inner West Mamas
Hi Reem! So glad that you liked them. They’re so big and tasty aren’t they?! You’re very welcome!
I love the name of this place! Haha – fresh buns are the best.. My dad recently started working in a Chinese restaurant do I get all the mis-shaped buns and dumplings no one wants mmmm!
Okay, that settles it. I walk past this shop every day I’m at work and never go in. I shall remedy this Monday.
Great name!
My favourite snack is chocolate & as for how often I snack… too often!
ive driven past this shop so many times! I wouldnt of have guessed for their buns to look that scrumptious on the inside
ah and the soybean milk will be a bonus!
I LOVE the name hahahaha
I want to eat here so bad!
Its freezing here today and that pork ball soup looks fantastic!
Post a Comment