The best yum cha in Melbourne

What is it? Crown Melbourne’s upmarket Chinese restaurant, perfect for special occasions, business meals and yum cha experiences with a little more pizzazz.

Why we love it: While the food’s sensational and worth going for alone, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the visual grandeur of this restaurant. Four rooms feature Chinese-inspired tapestry and walls adorned with richly detailed woodcarvings, as well as stunning views of the Yarra River. You can even book a private dining experience in a gorgeous Mongolian tent!

Time Out tip: Keep in mind there’s a smart casual dress code at this restaurant. 

Address: ​​8 Whiteman Street, Southbank 3006

Expect to pay: From $13 per serve.

What is it? Out in Huntingdale, small family-run restaurant Chef Wong is serving up one of the finest yum cha feasts you can enjoy in the state.

Why we love it: With more than 40 years of experience in preparing authentic Cantonese food, Chef Wong makes everything from scratch and you can even get a bag of his tasty creations for takeaway or order them online. You'll spot all your favourites on the menu, from pork siu mai to har gow and the crowd favourite, a fried beancurd prawn roll. 

Time Out tip: The egg custard tarts are a must-order. 

Address: 284A Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale 3166

Expect to pay: From $7.50 per serve.

What is it? A traditional Chinese restaurant located in Templestowe, widely revered as home to one of Melbourne’s best yum cha offerings (if not the best).

Why we love it: Carved dragons, human-sized urns and a piano surround the pristine linen-covered tables make Golden Dragon Palace one of the more ornate Cantonese restaurants going around. Siu mai comes with an XO sauce, while the sweet suckling pig is all crispy skin and melting meat. This is the spot to try something different, as the seemingly endless amount of dishes available during the service provide an opportunity to sample more than just har gow and cheung fun. 

Time Out tip: If you prefer wine with your yum cha over tea, you’re in luck. Golden Dragon Palace has a fantastic wine list that spans producers from Australia, Spain, France and Italy.

Address: ​​363 Manningham Road, Templestowe 3107

Expect to pay: From $12 per serve.

What is it? A two-storey Cantonese restaurant in the CBD that specialises in seafood and indulgent yum cha experiences, easily recognisable by its curved live fish tank – one of the biggest in town – on the corner of Little Bourke and Exhibition Streets. 

Why we love it: Of all the reasons to eat yum cha here, seafood is the most compelling. They pride themselves on their soft shrimp tarrow, Hakka-style salt and pepper baked fish, and steamed crab. Plus, all your old favourites can be found here: sticky har gow, soupy vegetarian dumplings and pan-fried dumplings with lacey fried crunchy bits that will start turf wars at your table.

Time Out tip: Be sure to book in advance for a weekend sesh or risk being turned away as this is the go-to spot for many yum cha devotees.

Address: ​​222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $30 minimum charge per person.

What is it? As part of the Gold Leaf restaurant group, this Burwood branch is a safe haven for dim sum chasers who want efficient service and quality food in a spacious, family-friendly setting.

Why we love it: You'll find plenty of delicious classic dishes here such as sui mai, chicken feet and fried whitebait, and you can't go wrong with a mango pudding drizzled with condensed milk for dessert. But much of this Burwood establishment’s charm is in its buzzing, tall-ceiling dining room, filled with happily feasting families. Take along a big group and make a Sunday lunch out of it.

Time Out tip: If you’re caffeine sensitive, be careful about too many top-ups of your Chinese tea! 

Address: ​​155 Burwood Highway, Burwood East 3151

Expect to pay: From $10.80 per serve.

What is it? One of Chinatown’s most popular restaurants for yum cha and traditional Hong Kong-style morning tea with dim sum.

Why we love it: This bustling first-floor Cantonese restaurant is a touch more on the elegant side, and is normally packed for both lunch and dinner services due to demand for its seafood-forward dishes. Yum cha occurs daily, and alongside more traditional dishes there’s wu gok (fried taro dumplings) stuffed with a creamy chicken filling rather than the usual pork gravy, and golden lava buns (steamed buns filled with a sweet-savoury runny salted egg yolk custard). 

Time Out tip: Book on weekends or prepare to be herded like cattle among all the parked prams at the top of the stairs to wait for your window of opportunity.

Address: ​​154 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: From $13 per serve.

What is it? The OG Shark Fin Inn has been serving up traditional Cantonese food to Melburnians since the '80s. It does a daily yum cha service that doesn't require a booking, but weekends will see lines of people snaking out onto Little Bourke Street, ready to be ushered to a table. 

Why we love it: Noisy, popular and brimming with well-prepared Cantonese treats both savoury and sweet, this yum cha go-to has remained a fave on the scene for a reason. With so much to choose from, a two-hour sitting just flies by – and though prices may be a fair notch higher than were decades ago, you can be assured of excellent quality on every visit. 

Time Out tip: The har gow is beautifully sweet and bitey, but the real winner has to be the ngau yuk cheung fun (steamed beef rice noodles) that are so silky you won't be able to resist slurping them up.

Address: ​​50 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $25 minimum charge per person.

What is it? David Zhou’s aesthetically pleasing Chinese restaurant offers Shanghainese yum cha. 

Why we love it: Expect perfectly executed platefuls of dumplings, spring rolls, pork and prawn siu mai, veggie fried rice, pork buns and more at this suave Prahran gem. Sweet treats come in the form of banana fritters or white chocolate dumplings, and there’s an extensive selection of tea and wine to pair with your feast. And did we mention it was unlimited? It's a good idea to wear your stretchy pants. 

Time Out tip: With a vegan yum cha menu also on offer, this is a great spot for anyone with dietary needs.

Address: ​​4 Cecil Place, Prahran 3181

Expect to pay: $64 per person.

What is it? Another restaurant from Melbourne hospo legend David Zhou, Oriental Tea House offers a modern take on the traditional yum cha experience pairing sophisticated teas with elevated share plates. 

Why we love it: While there's no trolleys rolling around the sleek fit-out, you'll discover plenty of authentic and great-tasting Chinese snacks and larger dishes on the menu, plus a sweeping range of more than 60 types of teas to choose from. Opt for black, white, green, oolong, fruit or herbal.

Time Out tip: If you’re a fan of one of the teas you tried, you can take a box away with you and recreate the experience at home.

Address: ​​378 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: From $6.50 per serve.

What is it? The revamped Espy isn't short on new surprises for those who've left it a while since their last visit, but Mya Tiger happens to be our favourite. The first-floor restaurant boasts glorious vistas of the pier and bay, plus a funky range of cocktail tea pots and creatively plated Cantonese dishes to share with friends. 

Why we love it: Every Sunday, there's a fun yum cha set menu experience, where you can get a selection of starters and your choice of six menu items at just $60 a head. This may not be your traditional yum cha experience but it's boozy, bold and beautifully located on summer days when St Kilda's the place to be.

Time Out tip: From affordable express lunches to a weekly dumpling degustation, there are plenty of experiences to choose from at Mya Tiger.

Address: ​​11 The Esplanade, St Kilda 3182

Expect to pay: $60 per person.

What is it? A semi-formal restaurant located in Southbank’s Southgate complex, specialising in Chinese banquets and yum cha.

Why we love it: Red Emperor has been serving yum cha for several decades now, with all menu items made in-house to ensure freshness. You'll find all the yum cha favourites here, such as san choy bow, prawn spring rolls, Peking duck and pork belly. 

Time Out tip: Make sure you save a little room for the housemade almond cookies.

Address: ​​M10/3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank 3006

Expect to pay: From $11 per serve.

What is it? The Melbourne outpost of an internationally renowned Michelin-starred institution from Hong Kong. 

Why we love it: Tim Ho Wan's barbecue pork buns are worth the wait, no matter how long. These sweet-savoury, lard- and sugar-crusted buns are baked rather than steamed, and the featherweight pastry filled with a jammy barbecue pork interior makes good sense with the dusting of sweetness. More traditional dumplings come in the form of impressively translucent casings that contain a wealth of garlicky spinach and shrimp meat. The pan-fried turnip cake is a crowd-pleaser, as are the various variations of vermicelli rolls.

Time Out tip: This restaurant feels a fair bit more casual than others on this list, with rapid-fire service and QR table ordering. Fortunately, however, there’s no time limit – so you can snack, sip and chat with friends for as long as you’d like.

Address: ​​206 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: From $12 per serve.