Lucky Cat, Dumpling Bar & Lounge — Restaurant in Sydney

tldr; Many small issues that would lead to a 4 star review, but the extremely poor service unfortunately brings down to a 1 star.

This restaurant has many small flaws, which can be expected/partially excused as a new restaurant working out kinks. However, the lack of functional service at The Lucky Cat Dumpling Bar can not be so easily overlooked.

We (group of 3) arrived at The Lucky Cat at 7pm on a Wednesday. There were many tables empty, and while not dead, the restaurant was far from packed. Immediately it was unclear if we were to wait to be seated, or if we could seat ourselves. After receiving no acknowledgement about our arrival from wait staff, we sat ourselves at one of the empty tables.

We proceeded to the bar to order. This felt incongruent to the functionality of the restaurant, as the bar is small and to order from it would obstruct the main walkway between the kitchen and the tables.

Our first round of drinks and food was served in a reasonable amount of time, and were to the standard expected from the price point. The cocktails were nice - slightly more expensive than typical in Sydney but only by a couple of dollars, which we found excusable. The dumplings were decent, however the quality & quantity did not match the standard set by other similarly priced restaurants near the Coogee waterfront.

The scallop dumpling in particular did not meet the expectation for the price, the filling akin to a seafood nugget.

During this time, a member of the wait staff had come by to see if we needed any food/drinks. This felt strange as up until this point we were treated as if this was not a table service restaurant, and now were left wondering if we should have waited for table service initially even when no table service was in sight.

The table service disappeared again, so we ordered our second round of food and drinks from the bar once more. Our drinks were served promptly, and we drank our drinks as we waited for our food. And waited. We ordered more drinks sure that our food would soon arrive.

After finishing two round of drinks since ordering our food, we asked a staff member to see how much longer our food would be, and were told they would check. We received no response regarding our order. We waited. Approaching what felt like an hour since we last ordered (admittedly we weren't timing) estimating our order was placed around 8 and it was now after 9, we asked another member of staff to check on our order. Still no response. Finally a third member of staff came to check on us, to see if we needed any more drinks (table service resuming?) and we asked him to check.

He promptly disappeared, returning to tell us that our order was coming out right now, and that one of the two dumplings that we ordered had sold out. We, exhausted from this ordeal in just trying to get our food, decided just to keep the remaining 1 serve on our order, with him promising that they were coming out immediately.

'Right now' was approximately 10 minutes (about the time it takes to cook dumplings?) and our dumplings arrived. These dumplings did not live up to the price, or expectation that the hour of waiting had caused.

It was now 9.40pm and we were 1 of the only tables left in our section. We went to pay, splitting the bill into 2 payments. It was not until we left that I realised the addition of our two payments totalled more than the price listed on our bill. But by now I was done with this restaurant, not willing to return to haggle over dollars added to our bill.

Overall, this restaurant has many small problems, which by themselves would have barely affected my view on its overall quality. However, these issues together, and the inexcusable wait time has led me to feel as though this restaurant deserves a 1 star review. If the staff were so busy/overworked on a Wednesday, I would hate to have visited on a Friday night. As most of these issues could be solved with better training/more staff, maybe thats an avenue the restaurant could take to make The Lucky Cat a functioning restaurant, deserving of a...

I think I've found dumpling heaven in Coogee at the newly opened The Lucky Cat.

As a dim sum lover, I was curious to try the dumplings at this new kid on the block which offered something a bit different. The Lucky Cat has all of your traditional favourite dumplings plus some re-invented ones with a creative twist. I highly recommend ordering a few different dishes to share (which is what yum cha is all about) so you can try a bit of everything.

You can order a la carte from the menu or choose options such as the 2hr bottomless yum cha & bubbles package ($89) or a 4-course yum cha & glass of bubbles menu ($69). There is something mouth-watering for every foodie and dumpling lover. Whilst you relax and enjoy the smooth sounds of jazz (on Friday and Saturday nights) right on the beach while sipping on a craft beer or one of the many tempting cocktails such as the cherry blossom martini (which is what I had, it was beautiful in taste and presentation).

The venue has a sleek, sexy fit-out and décor, with the surrounding walls decked out with bright neon lights and not to forget, the waving lucky cats. There is a fully stocked bar stirring up the latest cocktail, the perfect accompanied with your food. There is also an upstairs dining section complete with it's own bar and an intimate terrace if you're after alfresco drinks and dining.

We tried the following delicious items off the a la carte menu (my top picks are indicated with an asterisk):

Pork, garlic and chive chilli wonton* - The meat inside of these wontons was juicy and well seasoned whilst the chilli infused broth it came in gave them a good fiery kick which I enjoyed.

Curry chicken dumplings* - When these came out of the steamer to our table, I could already smell the aromatic spices. The dumplings were full of flavour, you didn't need to dip them into any of the chilli sauces at all as they were so tasty on their own.

Red prawn seafood dumplings* - A signature dish here, these are no ordinary prawn dumplings! Firstly, the dumplings are presented in a vibrant pink pastry wrapper which already offers intrigue when presented at the table. The prawn inside the red dumpling pastry is encased in a tasty, spicy (curry) flavoured filling which amplified the taste of these dumplings.

Pan fried mixed veg dumplings* - I usually order vegetarian dumplings for the 'health' factor to balance out the meat heavy ones and so I didn't expect too much taste from these when our waitress recommended them. Boy, was I wrong. These dumplings have to be one of the tastiest veggie dumplings I've ever eaten. They were packed with not only mixed veggies but there are some glass noodles inside as well which provides an extra textural element and taste. They were also substantial in size, very filling.

Yellow scallop and prawn seafood dumplings - these dumplings are almost equally as good as the red prawn. Encased in a bright yellow pastry wrapper, there is a juicy scallop and prawn inside.

Shanghai soup pork dumplings - good, standard Xiao Long Bao dumplings and I prefer mine with a slightly thinner pastry skin. Pan fried pork dumplings - a tasty meat dumpling. Peking duck pancakes - they were slightly on the smaller side, but as we had so many other dishes to try, it was actually a good thing that these were on the smaller side.

Chicken and mushroom dim sum - a decent dumpling.

Bok choy in oyster sauce - needed some greens to balance out the rest of the dishes, this was tasty and well seasoned.

And for drinks: Cherry blossom martini - for a fun, sweet and girl cocktail, try this cocktail which is decorated with a scattering of pretty flowers. One that is picture-worthy.

Lychee lime fizz cocktail - if you're a lychee fan and don't like your cocktails too sweet, this is the one for you.

Whether it's a catch up with the girls or date night (or you really like waving lucky cats), put this place on your list of destinations to check out in Sydney.

Note: I dined as a guest of the venue. All views and opinions...

Lucky Cat – A Hidden Gem on Oxford Street

Lucky Cat offers a refined, lounge-style atmosphere with an intimate and dimly lit setting perfect for late-night indulgence. Known for its late night dumplings and expertly crafted cocktails served well into the evening, the venue strikes a fine balance between comfort and sophistication.

What truly sets Lucky Cat apart is its unique vibe. Every detail—from the plush interiors to the ambient lighting—comes together to create a warm, cosy, and upscale experience that feels both inviting and exclusive.

The food is consistently impressive. It’s an excellent opportunity to sample their menu while soaking in the venue’s relaxed energy.

Programming at Lucky Cat is thoughtfully curated throughout the week. Weekends bring the space to life with dance music events hosted by local promoters. A personal favourite is weekly Maniac Fridays—a free weekly event that combines electronic music, dumplings, cocktails, fun atmosphere, making it the perfect way to socialise.

Owned by a Sydney local who is often present at the venue, Lucky Cat is also notable for its warm and welcoming staff. The owner’s genuine interactions with patrons only add to the charm.

The recent move from Coogee to the vibrant Oxford Street precinct has made Lucky Cat more accessible to a wider audience, and in my opinion, it’s a fantastic addition to the area. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a stylish yet...