Shandong MaMa – Dumpling Heaven Here on Earth

What can you expect to find in the hidden lanes of Melbourne’s Chinatown?

Lots of things. Bargain priced fashion, alongside shiny, bright and alluring accessories but if you look even harder, there a place you may not have expected.

Luckily for the locals (and sorry, now everyone else) there is a restaurant more than ready to give your feet a rest and your taste buds a treat.

Welcome to Shandong MaMa. This restaurant screams Chinese restaurants of days gone by. Interiors are familiar and cozy, offering a place to sit and dine on food cooked from the rich heritage of the owners.

Comfort in the form of a dumpling?

No wonder there’s a line to get in.

Share and Share Alike

This is the perfect shared meal restaurant. Not that anyone is going to blame you for wanting these dishes all to yourself, but it seems a shame not to bring along at least a few lucky dining partners.

Now to the good stuff.

The dumpling options are vast so if this is your idea of heaven on earth you may never want to come back.

Have a lot or a little, but for something a little different begin with the Squid Ink Boiled dumplings. These shiny black morsels arrive as a set of ten.

Please leave a few for your guests…if you can.

Here, not all dumplings are created equal. Some seem sweeter while others lean toward the more savoury. Some are fine and some are chunkier. 

It’s all about the dumpling wrapping. Thin and light or thicker to suit a more robust filling, 

The perfect mouth feel to suit the right filling be it fish, other seafood, pork or chicken. Shandong Mama knows how to do it well. All meats are tender, fresh and are partnered with the freshest of herbs and vegetables.

Call them dumplings or potstickers. There may be no discernible difference for many diners, most because they are so fresh, so soft and flavourful, it doesn’t seem to matter what they are called.

A rose by any other name.

But it doesn’t end there.

If you still have room after plate after plate of deliciousness there are more decisions to be made.

Spiced chicken wings, rice dishes that will start conversations about the nationalities that do them best, and of course the beef cooked to perfection in sauces you would not even bother to try to recreate.

For those wanting a meat free dining experience there’s plenty to choose from at Shandong MaMa.

Zucchini Fried Vegan dumplings are popular as are the Vege Trick offering and the aged Vinegar and Black Fungi Salad.

The Rise and Rise of the Humble Dumpling

Whether in soup or just as they are, there’s no doubt these small morsels now have a permanent place in our collective hearts.

So, where did this all begin?

William Chen Wing Young, an Australian business owner has been crowned as the inventor of the Dim Sum selection of Chinese food, but just like determining the official creator of this Northern Chinese parcels, pinpointing an exact date is also difficult. 

The common denominator in all of the names and places seems to lie within with the great age of the 1940’s

Since those times, the trajectory of popularity has not been a slow one but a steady growth of acceptance, approval, and vocalised declaration of the dumpling’s worth in both street venues or more formal dining establishments.

Is there a cultural significance to the dumpling?
The Lunar New Year celebrations stand out as the times when dumplings were made and offered. They did and still do represent wealth and prosperity in much the same way as long noodles represent longevity.

Today dumplings either fried, steamed or boiled represent a different, equally as important significance. Cultural importance aside, they still reign as being the king of befitting the biggest of appetites for their dough filled deliciousness. 

What else can you expect on a visit to Shandong Mama?

The line to get in might deter some, but the staff here get people in and out at a seamless pace. It’s worth the wait.

Interiors are simple and look like the typical Chinese restaurant with green fresh interiors and Chinese lanterns.

The restaurant is no frills but offers plenty of choice.

If that sounds like you then head off to Shandong MaMa next time you’re doing a bit of shopping near Melbourne’s Chinatown.

Where: 7/200 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC

Cuisine: Northern Chinese, Handmade dumplings

Bookings: 03 9650 3818

Feel like dumplings tonight? Bring your Good Food gift card along to Shandong MaMa or find out where you can try the best places to eat out where you live.