I texted my friend Ute as I was heading out the door.
“Sorry I’m running 10 minutes late!” I told her.
“And I’m 1 minute early. I’ll go for a wander” she texted back immediately.
I reached Taylor Square breathless. It seems that I’m always late to meeting Ute who in her Germanic fashion is always on time or early. The neon sign for Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar isn’t lit but I follow the sound of the noise and feet upstairs for what they call Wong Tang Wednesdays where dumplings are $1 each. The space is small but fits many and the walls are plastered with Chinese newspapers. I note that we’re sitting next to the personals section which has provided Ute with much entertainment while she has been waiting.
There’s a chalkboard menu on the wall and ordering and payment is done at the counter. About two thirds of their dumplings are made for them by a “dumpling master” who comes in once a week. The others are contracted out while the salads are made in house. The prices, well they’ll never beat Ashfield’s prices but then again rents are higher here. The crowd, well you guessed it. In this neighbourhood, they’re hipsterrific and the atmosphere is buzzy. The turnover for some diners is fast-they get a few trays of dumplings before they’re gone while other tables linger a bit longer.
Ute goes to order at the counter where the three clocks behind show times in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei. A sign tells you that you are going “the Wong way” and just after she returns from ordering, our food hits the table.
Prawn gow gees $5 (usually $8.50)
The prawn har gows came out first and we note that all of the items come out in cardboard boxes. Some of the skins are broken but the filling is full of prawns and they’re satisfying enough. While they’re not the best har gows that we’ve had, they’re not bad.
Roast duck pancakes $16 for 3 pieces
The duck pancakes aren’t cheap but the pancakes are soft and fresh with just the right amount of hoi sin and roast duck filling.
Chicken salad $16
With a fair amount of soya sauce chicken in it, there’s also a tumble of fresh herbs, shallots, sesame and cucumber. The cucumber is in chunks that are perhaps a smidgen too large but the salad is fresh and well balanced in flavour.
Pork and vegetable dumplings $5 (usually $8.50)
Admittedly, these looked quite unimpressive, especially as they were served less photogenic side up but these were our favourite dumplings of the evening. With a well seasoned, flavoursome pork filling highlighted with ginger they were spongey textured, moist inside and moreish.
Vegetable dumplings $5 (usually $8.50)
Alas, neither of us were fans of these dumplings, the skins were quite wet and gluggy and the filling wasn’t particularly crunchy or flavoursome. I was a little sad that these went uneaten but unfortunately we just didn’t love them.
Shanghai Style Shallot pancake $9
However, the polar opposite were the Shanghai style shallot pancakes. Served as three folded over rings, they were filled with shallots and were crispy crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. We also liked the portability and presentation of these which are usually served as large pancakes.
OK, for these we can forgive the Wong jokes 
So tell me Dear Reader, are you the first to arrive at meetings or the last? And do you like places with a buzzy atmosphere or quieter places where you can linger and talk?
Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar
383 Bourke St, Level 1, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Tel: +61 (02) 9331 3100
Open Wednesday to Sunday evenings. Wednesday night is Wong Tang Wednesday where a selection of dumplings are $1 each (but must be ordered in tray quantities).
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43 Comments | Add your own
Mmmm, lovely dishes – particularly the Roast duck pancakes. You have to be the best person in the world to go out with – you order everything on the menu!
Yum, I love dumplings! These look fantastic.
They have duck pancakes – that’s all I need to know
Oooh a new dumpling resto to try! Thanks Lorraine! I have a cousin named Johnny Wong – I must take him there if he ever makes it to Sydney again!
The prices seem a little ‘wong’:) Cheap dumplings, expensive other stuff…
Nice! I love dumplings. I vary between running late and being early. Running late does stress me though.
I really like the decor of this place. The food doesn’t look too bad here. Prices may be a bit steeper but you’re right, rent prices are higher so needs to compensate some how. I love the look of the har gow; translucent – they way they should be!
Dumplings!!
Mr Glam and I often go to a restaurant bar where the food is just ok. But it’s really buzzy and makes great cocktails. It’s worth putting up with the food, from time to time, for a fun night out. GG
Dumplings Dumplings Dumplings. There are not nearly enough places to get dumplings in Brisbane!
Thanks Lorraine for this post! We’re always on the lookout for a great dumplings spot.
Take care!
Mahei
The har gow do look nice and plump, they are one of my favourite dumplings too, yummo!
If I’m meeting a group I prefer to not be the first, but I hate being late. If I’m just meeting one other person, I’m happy getting there early and scoping out the place – and menu
Ohhh dumplings
you didn’t have sui mai my favourite hehe prawn har gaws are also one of my fav hehe
A shame the vegetable dumplings weren’t that great…I don’t like wet and gluggy pastries either
I’m more late than on time hahaha but really trying to learn and be on time more!
Shanghai spring onion pancakes are a favourite of mine – I grew up with my mum making them! These look pretty good though I suppose Ashfield’s dumpling strip will trump these ones
Dollar dumplings? Great idea. Love the Chinese newspaper on the wall as well. This looks like such a fun place.
I am cursed with being on time. I just always am. Of course, I am actually usually very early as I live in Mexico where everyone is late at all times!
This looks like the perfect spot for a really quick feed before going off somewhere else! I do love dumplings so much.
I love the look of those shallot pancakes…yum. I like a buzzy type of place that isn’t TOO loud as I like to sit & have a chat.
The dollar dumplings are an attractive idea: not very appetizingly served though?! The Shanghai style shallot pancake perchance appeals the most . . . Being entirely of the quiet talk and wanting to linger mob, I also happen to be quite ‘Germanic’ in my timeliness: could not be late if I tried
!
I used to be like Ute and always on time or early. The older I get or maybe the more commitments I make, the later I am for everything. I hate it but that’s life.
Looks like a very trendy place!
I would love to find a good dumpling place in Toronto, I’m sure we have them, I’ve just never looked. It’s a real shame when something doesn’t hit you when you’re out to eat, often I’ve been offered to order something else, but I guess they didn’t make that offer to you.
My husband is a stickler for timeliness and we’re usually early or on right on time. I’m usually a few minutes late – but it’s the grand entrance that counts!
BIG fan of dumplings too!
The duck pancakes (abet pricing) looking YUM too!
I like places where you can hear yourself think, perhaps is me,
But I would always treasure interacting (and hearing) my company!
I am in serious need of good dumplings, haven’t eaten them for at least… Gaaah I can’t even remember!!!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Another amazing place with fantastic food and decor to match. As far as being on time goes for scheduled appointments be they for dinner or staff meetings etc, I like to be on time but usually end up there in a feverish whirlwind of breathlessness but at least I make it by the appointed time. And yeah me too, I would prefer somewhere quiet where I could enjoy the family and friends I am with.
If I’m the first to arrive, for a split second I worry that I’ve gotten the date or time wrong!
Dumplings aren’t the prettiest looking things are they but they sure taste good. That’s sad that the vegetarian ones were disappointing but I don think dumplings need meat.
I’ll have to keep this place in mind I have a friend that is serious about her dumplings and suspect would love it…although I’d be arriving first.
Mmmmmm, dumplings. I would crawl over cut glass for a good dumpling – pork always being my fave. Those Shallot Pancakes made my mouth water…. As for being early or late, my mum was late for everything and it was always such a rush (not an enjoyable one either) to get anywhere. Consequently, I’m always early:) xox
Love the “wallpaper” and the dumplings all look very plump and delicious =)
Love the newspaper wallpaper, so kitsch! I have an uncle called Johnny Wong
but he’s not much of a cook hehe. Yay for cheap dumplings :3
Hi Lorraine, I used to be the early bird but as I get more disorganized it’s not always the case – must be the relaxed antipodean air
Duck pancakes are hands down favourite every time. How did it compare to Mr Wongs? Poor cousin or edgy nephew?
aw no! You can’t be late for dumplings! LOL I’m usually late for meetings…I’m so bad
There are so many things here I would just love like the chicken salad and duck pancakes and shallot pancakes. Lately, I feel like I’m late to everything! xx
What I really, really want to know is how you can be in Hong Kong one day, and Darlinghurst the next?? It’s mind-boggling trying to imagine how you do it!
Hi Jennifer! I travelled to Hong Kong a few weeks ago but don’t put up all my stories at once so that people get a good spread of stories on different topics
I’ve always tended to be early and still am if I’m on my own. With the Boy it’s him that makes me late these days *sheesH*
I had been wondering what Johnny Wongs was like. I am always on time, if not early. Dad was in the army
I am so, so hungry after reading this post now
I prefer to get there first or be one of the first to arrive.
Hmmm I see loads of “sexy ladies” on the newspaper on the walls.
I don’t really like to be the first one to a restaurant since you’re usually hungry and thus impatiently waiting… you’re then left with 2 not very fantastic options: go inside and sit at the table by yourself or wait outside. If you go inside, it’s either play on your mobile phone or check out the menu. In an ideal world, we’d all arrive at exactly the same time and go in together.
Also, I prefer quieter places where you can linger and talk – I totally understand a busy restaurant wanting high turnover and wanting to shoo you away to make room for more customers though. I’m usually happy to oblige if that’s the case. However, I don’t really like loud places where you can’t even hear the other person who’s sitting right across from you talk. It’s not a nice experience when by the end of the meal, your throat is starting to feel sore from shouting.
I want to eat those pancakes (both duck and shallot)!!!
More often than not, I’m early to everywhere.
I’ve always loved dumplings! What a fun treat to have for breakfast/ lunch/ dinner. It’s so cute that the sign shows Wong Way, lol.
Always last, particularly when husband involved… sigh! At least our good friends now know what to expect & account for our tardiness.
Thanks for review, don’t think I’ll be venturing over that way for this offering tho when we have the inner west Ashfield gems. Our Darlinghurst friends can come to us for their dumpling fix!
Nothing will beat the dumplings around the corner at Miss K’s it is a dumpling and Tea House. I recommend the pork and coriander and the vegie
I would just DIE for a little dumpling this very instant w/ some nice Merlot.
NOW. This moment!
I love coming here. <3 X
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