Overview
Bang Bang China Cafe is a dumpling lover's dream, hidden away in the back of the newly launched restaurant Saint Alice.
This new dumpling haunt landing in the Viaduct Harbour is a grungy hole-in-the-wall eatery that takes its inspiration from the much-loved restaurants of Dominion Road. The restaurant is owned by the trio who brought Dr Rudis to the Viaduct, Callum O'Brien, Andrew Roborgh and Kristian Lloydd.
O'Brien says he was grateful for the opportunity to play around with the concept. "It will be a vibrant Chinese dining experience. It's fun, casual, the food's good. It's kinda like a Dominion Road dumpling restaurant that's made its way to the Viaduct via Melbourne. It's got a little bit of edge to it," says O'Brien.
The space is filled with typical Chinese eatery knick-knacks. Mismatched foldaway tables, chairs and stools are interspersed around the floor, while the walls have been left raw with exposed brick peeking through the drywall, adding to the upmarket grungy vibe.
In the kitchen, a team of sous chefs are huddled over Mandarin labelled containers as they prep the food for the night. O'Brien says the team he's assembled creates incredible, authentic meals. The menu hangs above the kitchen window, with the clear specialty being a range of shu mai, pot sticker dumplings, steamed buns, Hainanese chicken and dan dan noodles.
The restaurant is open every day from 11am for a quick dumpling fix at lunch and into the evening for karaoke and late-night shenanigans.
Bang Bang China Cafe opens its doors on Monday, 3 December at Level 2, Corner Quay & Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour.