Shanghai Fried Dumpling, Wolli Creek

Calling on all dumplings lovers – discover Shanghai Fried Dumpling in Wolli Creek. Is it cheap for a reason or is it a hidden gem?

Heading to Wolli Creek for Asian food is perhaps not something you’d find yourself doing on the weekend, but my group of friends and I did just that.

Located just outside of Wolli Creek Station, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a number of new apartment complexes, and with this, there’s been an influx of new Asian restaurants, takeaways and grocery stores.

Shanghai Fried Dumpling is one of the first restaurants you’ll be greeted with. The exterior decor isn’t particularly interesting. In fact, it looks like a standard Chinese restaurant you’d find on any street.

With that said, the restaurant’s interior is what captured us to try this eatery.

As you walk closer to the restaurant, you’ll be able to see the menu stuck on the outside of the window and as you do so, you’ll see the interior of the restaurant, and it’ll remind of you those good ol’ Chinese restaurants with dark wooden chairs and tables that are slightly wet (as they were recently wiped clean). It’s also quite crowded and the spaces are tight, with customers speaking loudly to hear one another- if this doesn’t remind you of the restaurants back in Asia I don’t know what will.

The final thing that convinces you to try this eatery, is the set up of the dumpling station. There is an excitement of being able to watch the staff hand-make your dumplings fresh in the restaurant.

The element of authenticity in its interior design draws you to this eatery. Yet, this still begs the question, was the food good?

The truth is, items from the menu were either a hit or a miss.

We mainly ordered from the dumpling section of the menu. After all, it is a dumpling restaurant – it’s in their name.

We ordered –

1. Wontons in spicy peanut sauce – $11.80
2. 8 Piece Pan fried juicy pork buns – $11.80
3. 12 Piece pork and chives dumplings – $11.80

The pan fried pork buns were the first to arrive. Now, I’ve had my fair share of pan fried juicy pork buns, and unfortunately Shanghai Fried Dumplings does not measure up. By the time the dish was served, the pork buns weren’t fresh or hot. Sometimes you just want the hot juiciness to burn your mouth a little (just a little), but by the time it reached us, the buns were room temperature. When I bit into the bun, I expected hot juice, but I could see it starting to congeal. 

The wontons in spicy peanut sauce were superb. Although the dish wasn’t piping hot as one would hope for, it made up for it in flavour. The dumpling filling was seasoned just right, while the dumpling wrapper was on the thicker end. Don’t let the name fool you; it isn’t spicy at all. However, the peanut flavour is so rich and fragrant, all the elements tie together. This is one dish I’d come back for.

The pork and chive dumplings were delicious and arrived hot to the table. The same dumpling wrapper is used, so it is on the thicker side. For 12 pieces at $11.80, it’s probably one of the better valued items on the menu. For this price and quantity, you are also getting huge portions of filling and large dumpling sizes. I’d recommend ordering this if you want something cheap and easy to fill up on.

If you want high quality meals, and a casual and relaxed setting, Shanghai Fried Dumpling in Wolli Creek unfortunately isn’t it. It is the sort of place you’d go for a big AND cheap meal – a bang for your buck.

However, we do have to warn you that this is the type of place that does lack customer service etiquette so don’t go in expecting attention-to-detail waiters and waitresses. The staff that served us also wasn’t fluent in English and communicated better in Chinese.

Despite this, you’d be glad to know that you can pay with card here (phew).

If you’re looking for a cheap eat or a cheap and easy catch-up place with an old mate (without breaking the bank), definitely try Shanghai Fried Dumplings in Wolli Creek – but enter at your own risk given what we’ve described above. 

Are you still game enough to try? Let us know in the comments section.