Dumpling Social — Restaurant in District of Woden Valley

My first thoughts about this place is that it was endearingly cute yet slick and modern. The tea house style shelving along the back wall, and the honey-wood accents spread liberally throughout the space lends a nostalgic and quintessentially Chinese character to an otherwise very modern space. Much like the decor, the food here is also a delicate balance between fun innovations and impeccably done classics. Definitely make the Xiao Long Bao the first thing on your list! I would confidently call these the best you will find in Canberra. Personally I think these are better than the ones you will find at Din Tai Fung. I might sound like Zhang Yixing with the amount of times I’ll say balance in this review but truly these baos have nailed the umami and ginger combination that gives a melt in your mouth result with all the natural fragrance and sweetness the pork has to offer.

The wagyu cheeseburger spring rolls are an interesting concept and executed very well. I think it’s the acidity in the sweet and sour sauce that ties everything together. Wagyu was a good choice too, not because it’s pretentious or expensive but because the softness and richness of the meat compliment the oozing cheese and crunchy exterior without the beef being mealy or chewy.

The beef and beetroot dumplings were a surprise! The colours pop wonderfully and no, there isn’t much of a beetroot flavour so fret not if you’re not a beetroot fan! I must say I was really surprised at the texture of the filling. Beef is a difficult filling to master because of its tendency to dry out. Not only did this beef have the same softness and looseness of its pork colleagues, there was also a surprising crunch from the veg - I assumed this was wombok given the texture and flavour. A word of warning: since the spring rolls and Xiao Long Bao are flavour powerhouses, do have the beef dumplings first as they are comparatively milder in flavour or clean your palette. Otherwise, you may find these underwhelming! Vegetarians and Vegans will also find plentiful options at Dumpling Social! When I come back, I’ll be sure to give an review on more items.

If you’re a fan of funky fruity drinks, try out their (alcoholic) house made umeshu. Umeshu is a type of plum wine, think of ripe summer plums with a cider/vinegary tang and a strong sake style kickback. This will complement many of the rich umami flavours on show too. If they sold this house made umeshu, I’d definitely replace my Choya with it!

Try them out, and say hello! They’re new in town and they’ve only just soft launched 💕

Recommendations/ Approx Prices: House Made Umeshu - $10 Xiao Long Bao (4pc) - $11 Beef & Beetroot Dumplings - $12 Wagyu Cheeseburger...

11/10, mind-blowingly good food that'll have you licking your plate clean and using your dessert stomach as overflow to fit more in. We only ate from their limited soft opening menu but what we tried had us more than convinced we'll be regulars, and we're excited to see what they come up with next!

Amazing food and really friendly and helpful staff, it has the vibe of a relaxed, inner-city modern restaurant which is well lit and beautifully set out.

We got takeaway this time, but even after the car ride home and a slight reheat on some dishes, they all tasted amazing!

My top two dishes are the cumin lamb and scallion pancakes - if you can take spice and love rich, hearty and savoury food, these two pair for an amazing meal that you will definitely be back for again.

The jade prawn dumplings were amazing as well - packed with fresh ingredients in generous amounts, the crunch and slight sweetness of the water chestnuts matched with the chives and juicy prawns made these the perfect prawn dumplings.

The Xiao Long Bao was also fantastic, just make sure you have it while it's hot, and get all the soup contained within! I recommend having with a little dumpling vinegar and chilli oil if you have it at home.

Finally there's the duck fried rice - as soon as I saw it had mustard and broccoli in it I thought it was a write-off, but boy was I wrong. The pairing makes the dish creamy and crunchy with a light savoury flavour, and they were very generous with the duck. Highly recommend if you're curious to try something outside of the norm!

Hopefully I've convinced you to come give this place a try - I promise you...

I had the pleasure of dining at Dumpling Social on a recent date night, and our culinary journey was truly one to remember. This restaurant provides a broad selection of Entrees, Raw Plates, Dumplings, and Larger Plates, all served in ample portions that lend themselves perfectly to shared dining.

One of the standout dishes was undoubtedly the duck pancakes. Surprisingly, an impressive half duck was presented to us, which, despite requiring a request for carving, was a fantastic value for the price. This unexpected detail even added a touch of memorable quirkiness to our dining experience.

Admittedly, the raw plates seemed a touch overpriced when compared to the other offerings. However, this minor shortfall was more than compensated by the overall quality of food and service.

The staff members at Dumpling Social deserve a special mention. Their attentiveness and helpfulness significantly enhanced our dining experience. Coupled with the energized and lively atmosphere that grew progressively throughout our evening, it created an environment that was both comforting and invigorating.

Given my experience, I can confidently say that I will be returning to Dumpling Social. Whether you're looking for an intimate dinner date or a social gathering with friends, this place checks all the boxes. And did I mention the dumplings? You absolutely cannot miss...