Yulongfu Steamed Buns Restaurant

Overview

It's safe to say the husband-and-wife duo behind Yulongfu take their dumplings seriously. Located on Bourke Street, this Shanghainese-style steamed bun restaurant is a celebration of tradition and craftsmanship, its menu of signature dim sum morsels expertly handmade to long-held family recipes — some dating back as far as 1904.

The 130-seat space is an inviting one, lit warmly and decorated with ornamental birds. It even boasts a dumpling stage where you can catch the chefs in action as you dine on their carefully folded creations. Xiao long bao are the specialty stars of this show, each dumpling featuring the requisite 16 perfect pleats and plump with a hot, soupy filling.

Right now, you'll even find a dramatic (and oh-so-Melbourne) black variety, teaming the rich flavours of a black truffle casing with an aromatic pork broth centre.

Beyond the many styles of steamed dumplings, pan-fried buns and juicy wontons, there's a wealth of other Shanghainese delights begging to be shared with your crew — an elaborate sweet and sour barramundi dish, drunken chicken marinated in Chinese wine, claypots and sizzling black pepper beef, to name just a few.

Images: Griffin Simm