I am only here for a short week and my lady brought me here my first day. It was so good I'm back again. The Wagyu beef dumpings are the bomb. Those and a bowl of rice hit the spot twice! I'm looks forward to returning one more time before I leave Melbourne. read more

The dill dumplings were amazing! We also had the pork but the dill stuck out more. It was relatively quick after you order from scanning a QR code at your table. It is a small space so I would rank higher if the seating was better. But overall it was a great place to grab a snack! read more

What a totally wonderful place to eat. Despite the food was relatively cheap the quality and the taste was right up there with the best restaurants. Great simple food read more

Shandong Mama Mini - Bar - Chinese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Decor & Style: 4/5 The Pot stickers tasted very good, the reason not for the full 5 stars is because I felt the stickers were too doughy. There wasn't a good ratio of meat (insides) vs the wrapping. Overall I enjoyed it, the server was great (we had great conversations) and fun ambience. The place is small so it was a little crampy though. read more

Shandong Mama Mini - Chinese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Dumplings and beer. Truly a match made in heaven. ShanDong MaMa's famous dumplings + craft beer? Oh hells yeah. Coming here shortly after opening, I was a little disappointed to see that there's actually no beer here just yet - but they are set to have a liquor license soon. So for now, it's just me and a plate of dumplings. Looking for a small dumplings fix, I went for the Prawn, Black Fungus & Chives dumplings. They sure are tasty, mixed with pork mince for extra flavour. Unfortunately they're super tricky to eat and will always fall over after first bite. I eat mine in my little bowl of vinegar + chilli to avoid making a mess of myself. One thing that really stands out here in comparison to other dumpling houses is how lovely the service is! I believe 'MaMa' herself was there serving and was very sweet, taking a keen interest in her guest's enjoyment of their meals. Gorgeous. This place not called Mini for nothing, so don't come in a group. This is a solo or two person affair, ideal for lunch or a quick dumpling fix after work. There are SO many more dumplings on the menu I want to try, like the Mackerel Fish, Lamb and stewed beef buns. There's even a nod to Melbourne with a culture clash dumpling of sorts. Alas, I was here alone, committing foodultery, not having my dumpling fiend +1 here to try more...so it will have to wait until next time. Hopefully when the beer arrives! read more

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Yum, yum yum! This is a small place but delivers big on flavour. No nonsense street food. Situated in the laneways and well worth waiting for if you have 2. I went for the chicken dumplings. Highly recommended. read more

I had the Pork and Melbourne dumplings and they were fantastic!!! Staff is very nice.

Unpretentious very helpful waitstaff, who brought water and glasses for us first time visitors, and, guided us through menu choices. New items were posted on the wall. We had 2 noodle bowls and the steamed Melbourne dumplings- a lot to eat. Putting soy sauce in provided bowls for dipping the dumplings helped flavor the dumplings. Probably better to split a bowl of noodles and order a plate of dumplings. Sit in the chairs until they replace the booth seats to enjoy the food. read more

The little sister to Bourke St's Shandong, they only do fried here so that you're in and out as quick as you can say pass the soy sauce. Speaking of soy, you don't need any on mamas amazing dumplings. I got the fried pork to takeaway, and for $10.80 for 7 I think they work out a little pricey than the flagship, but as a quick easy meal to take home when I was exhausted, it hits the nail on the head. Fun Fact - I was wrapped to get a drawing of a pig on my takeaway box :) read more

Shandong Mama Mini - I'm guessing they're not chicken? - Chinese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Great little hole in the wall hidden in a tiny Melbourne Alley. The thing to eat here is the Mackerel dumplings. Sounds awful, but they are amazingly good. Love this place. read more

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A pleasant surprise to find this dumpling place. Cozy & warm feeling, perfect snacking place. read more

Shandong Mama Mini - Melbourne dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Truly, the zucchini dumplings were some of the best dumplings I've ever tasted in my entire life. Thee filling tasted so fresh, nicely crispy on the bottom with a nice, chewy dough. The cold sesame noodles were also really nice, especially with a generous spoonful of their chili oil. Very glad I stopped in, lots of good vegetarian options. read more

To be honest. I think these dumpling were the best I have ever had. Great value. Mixed with the chilli oil and soy. The only thing to say is wow. The cold and spicy sesame noodle is not something I would order but would definitely have it again. Highly recommended. read more

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Very very very cute little place in degraves street. They have delicious dumplings and a big variety of beers, ciders and juices. The staff is so kind and the music so lovely. I liked it very much! :) read more

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I love Melbourne and it's eateries hidden in little alley ways. Ive always loved Shandong Mama you really can't go wrong with that place and I feel the same about its little daughter, Shandong Mama Mini. The dumplings are as tasty as ever and sell for a very reasonable price. The venue itself is small but has enough room for you to sit and enjoy your delicacies with an ice cold beer. Service is really quick which is handy if you're wanting to grab a bite on your lunch break. read more

Just wandered by and had a good feeling about the food when I ogled over the dumplings others were smashing down! Luckily grabbed a quick seat with 3 other friends and WOW! Some of the better dumplings that I've had for sure! I was distracted by the good quality of the food that I forgot to take photos :( However, I would recommend others to go. Their basic pork and beef dumplings were good and I liked their Melbourne special dumplings too (chicken based). I would have opted to try the more adventurous dumplings with the black fungus and all but my other mates wanted something more approachable. Needless to say, while I found that they were quite nice, I was surprised at the style of the wrapper as it was mimicking a taco like fold where normally I was expecting more like a gyoza or fully sealed steamed dumpling style of closure. The spring onion pancakes were a bit pricey but very crispy and fully of good flavour. The tea eggs were subtle but very nice as well. While it's slightly more pricey than your hole in the wall dumpling place in Chinatown, they still did the job well. The downside is that there is barely any seating; probably 20 people max so just be prepared. The vinegar is also tasteless. Otherwise, looking forward to going to ShanDong Mama - The original! read more

In search of a temporary dumpling fave as Oriental Teahouse is renovating I decided to give this dumpling venue a go! Love the quaint laneway dining, the menu matched the kitchen size and it's a shame no wines on the drinks list! Good selection craft beers, I went for Kung Fu lager not a bad drop. I decided two entree dishes the Rachel Seafood and the prawn black fungus dumplings! I preferred the seafood dumplings over the prawn black fungus as they had mor flavours. I'd say overpriced for what you get and it's only a once off for me as I must say Oriental Teahouse is still my fave! A big thanks to my Yelp buddy for suggesting this place as she too is questioning the hype for this place! Still a must see for tourists. read more

Shandong Mama Mini - Name this song 'Everybody is ....... fighting' - Chinese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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I'm a big fan of the original ShanDong Mama off Bourke Street, so I was stoked to see this pocket sized version on the bustling Degreaves Laneway. Expect a streamlined menu and prompt service at this outpost: They're serving a few salads, some buns, and a selection of pan fried dumplings. I had a plate of crispy, juicy pork and cabbage goodies with a big steaming glass of flower tea. There isn't a lot of room here but its a perfect lunch spot if you're riding solo, or with a pal or two. You can get a filling, hot lunch at ShanDong Mama Mini for around 10 bucks. A good bet in this part of town. read more

This is our fav. spot in Melbourne. It's a small cosy place. Their fried dumplings are awesome Service is also very good read more

Went looking for an inexpensive lunch today, and found this dumplings place. I ordered a small fish dumplings serving to eat in. The dumplings are rectangular and they're fried. While the dumplings are fresh and OK, there were a few problems that I ran into. There was a large sign advertising their cold noodles, but these were not available. I should have received chilli sauce which is advertised as a special part of the dumplings order, but it didn't arrive. The guy grabbed me the soy sauce bottle instead. I decided to order a tea egg, which should be a slow cooked spiced dish. However, the only flavour I could detect was soy sauce. I also ordered the plum drink which was good. I was a bit hazy about the final price of my meal at the end, I just handed over the credit card and paid whatever it was. I'm not sure I would return, while the dumplings are OK, I just didn't feel comfortable in this place. read more

I love you mama! And I love your mini location. Down Degraves Lane between Flinders Lane and Collins. It's very small inside and feels very hipster, but it is in the hipster end of Degraves. I wouldn't come here with more then a group of 4 people, more suitable for two or just one. Here you can only get fried dumplings (nothing wrong with that) plus a selection of smaller items like lotus root chips, chicken wings, and pork buns. Dumplings flavours are the same as the original store. And they do dumplings and Aussie craft beer special for $20! Also, try the 8 treasures tea. read more

Zucchini dumplings for the win!!! Be sure to lather your dumplings in the holy trinity of soy sauce, vinegar and their homemade chilli oil for an even more sacred win! The spring onion pancakes are also good with aforementioned awesomesauce, as are the lotus root chips. Deliciously vegan-friendly :) :) :) read more

I have just experienced the BEST dumplings ever in Melbourne! The Rachel Seafood dumplings would have to be the best, juiciest tastiest dumplings you will ever experience. The Melbourne dumplings are a close second after that. And, unlike most dumpling places, the service is lovely and very friendly staff take care of your order. Amazing little secret in degraves street. read more

SDM Mini is my go to spot on Degraves. The dumplings are creative and always delicous and the beer offerings are good too. A great spot to pick up some laneway dumplings on the go. Some of the weirder dumplings on display here are the Melbourne and mackerel dumplings. Good to try, but not really my favorite. I have had lamb dumplings here, which were weird, but really. When people jet into town, I always stop here for a quick lunch when showing them the city. read more

Perfect place to get a bit of dumplings! We had two specials, which was a huge serve of dumplings each plus a drink of beer or cider ($20 each). The selection of drinks to choose from is wide. Add to this lovely service and such a cute setting - a little laneway off Flinders Lane. Will definitely return! read more

Tucked away in a little alley in Melbourne i almost walked straight past this venue until my husband grabbed me and showed me the menu. I'm always unsure with dumplings whether they are vegan, but straight away i saw they had vegan options. I've now been here twice and both times the food was delicious. It is a very small cafe, and not somewhere you would plan to have a long evening at, but definitely serves it purpose if you are looking for a quick bite to eat. It is very inexpensive and they even have some really decent craft beers for you to drink as well. I have had the vegan dumplings, the vegan red bean pancakes and also the lotus root chips. If you have not had the lotus root chips yet...you must. They are salty and sweet and crunchy and delicious. Will definitely be coming back here! read more

The dumplings were over seasoned, particularly with too much salt. The lotus root chips were also seasoned with too much salt, and lacked a dipping sauce of some sort (like wasabi mayonnaise for example). The dumplings were wrapped strangely, making them difficult to eat without the filling falling out. Staff were over attentive and didn't know their beer list. read more

The mackerel dumplings are delicious but the prawn and black fungas dumplings are to die for also try the hot lemon tea very soothing on a cold day, reasonably priced just a little uncomfortable in the seating arrangement, very pleasent service. read more

This restaurant is a little hard to locate. It's inside a mall near Bourke street or Swanston street. We had heard about it from lonely planet and friends who've been here. We found ShanDong MaMa mini when we were walking around in Swanston street. We weren't worried about it being a mini and not the normal one. It was pretty busy and packed for lunch around 12-30 and we got a shared table with another couple. It was mostly filled with locals and fewer tourists. We ordered King Prawn Dumplings and it was delicious and filling for 2 people. King Prawn looked like a special and was prominently focused in menu. It had flavors we'd never tasted before in dumplings/momos. We also tried the hot and sour soup but it was just OK. The idea of having only momos/dumplings for lunch was new to us, but dumplings are popular in many restaurants in Melbourne. We were probably the only table using chopsticks awkwardly - the dumplings are so big and keep falling from your chopsticks especially if you're not used to eating Chinese food with only chopsticks. This place is highly recommended if you want to understand why Melbourne is crazy about dumplings :) read more