HuTong

Definitely keep away if you want great Asian food. We went for lunch and the place was full of suits out for lunch. The waiter was very patronising. We ordered pan fried dumplings and the crispy dumpling skirt was disappointing. Usually the dumplings are flipped onto the plate so the crispy skirt stays crispy. Next we ordered noodles which i think they got from noodle box. Lastly, the fried rice was so white i don't think it's ever touched a wok. Definitely no Wok Hei (Wok Chi). It tastes like they added ingredients to boilded rice, not fried at all. Lǎowài's asian restaurant.

Good service and all the food came out one at a time so that was nice. Loved the Bao dumplings and the crab dim sum that is made to order. Everything was clean as well!

Absolutely disgusting dumplings and bad quality food. Ordered Xiao Long Bao, Wonton Chill Dumplings, Special Fried Rice, and Pork Pan Fried Dumpling. Stale, old, not fresh. Fried rice was hard, and seemed like it was precooked and reheated. Pan fried dumplings was thick, not crunchy, and had this weird thin brown flour coating under the base from cooking under its own steam, and fillings were horrible! This place had a good reputation for dumplings many years, but today I had the worst dumplings and fried rice served in a restaurant. It ruined out dinner experience, waste of time and money. Do yourselves a favour and skip this place.

My mate has been hyping this place up for quite some time now, so tonight was the night to finally try them. The restaurant looked nice and very busy even for a weeknight. It is located opposite Flower Drum in Chinatown CBD. I ordered their boiled dumplings, fried rice and also tried the mango pudding. The dumpling's outer layer was too thick, the fried rice was okay and I thought the dessert would be a custard but, it was more just mango jelly with some milk poured on top. One other thing I want to point out is the payment surcharge. Instead of letting the machine take out the surcharge depending on the card, the staff tried to put in a higher number manually! Thank god my mate was observant and pointed it out on the spot. I want to alert other customers to be mindful during payment

HuTong has been excellent and consistent at this same location for over a decade since I first visited. Their most popular dumplings such as their Xiao Long Bao, chilli oil wontons and pan fried dumplings are consistent crowd pleasers. Everytime I visit with friends or colleagues, they always vote for the chilli oil wontons as the best. The service is also very fast and the prices are very affordable for their calibre of Chinese food.

Food was nice and the vibe was good. It did get pretty noisy in there and so it was sometimes hard to hear the conversation. But still, I enjoyed the atmosphere. The menu is very difficult to read in terms of finding vegetarian options. They are not marked with an icon or located all together in one section. You have to literally read through every meal on the menu to find meat-free options. There are a lot of stairs up to the dining areas and I didn’t see a lift. So I wouldn’t recommend for people with mobility issues. The salt and pepper tofu was the highlight of the night. It was SO GOOD! I’d probably go back again just for that. The menu is definitely designed for sharing food, as opposed to having your own separate meals. I think this is a good place to go for dinner with a group of friends.

You can’t really go wrong with this cool great restaurant in the heart of Melbourne, even though it has three levels of seating it is advisable to book. Selection of dim sum is good, great dumplings and overall good food, decent sized servings and reasonable prices for the location. Closes early on a Sunday evening.

Some high and lows. We did not make a reservation but were able to get a table. They have the ground level for walk-ins, which was great but it’s just a small space so a lot of people were turned away - in a not so nice way. Food was great. They do give good servings so best to order in the conservative side but note that it is difficult to order again, they are not that attentive.

Not what is use to be. So very sad. Normally we eat here during our 8 days at least 3 times. But only went once this January. Last year our favorite server had changed to a different restaurant and now this year our favorite host, Patrick is no longer there. There is a new host that tries to act like the old one but he just isn't able to emulate correctly. He comes across to be very rude. Our wonderful Dumpling Lady is still there. Am not sure how long. The kitchen just didn't have the same buzz as it has over the last ten years. The Wontons in Hot Chili Oil are still fantastic. Dumpling Lady is the Winner. Service was rushed. Not very friendly. Probably won't go back next year. We are both very sad.

Tables are spread out on three floors vertically. Makes each area feel quaint and keeps the overall noise level down. Great place to have conversations with your table mates. Food was excellent. The two waiters on our floor worked as a team to bring out the food as ready so all arrived hot.

The shrimp dumplings were very fishy. Sadly, I was sick for the next 24 hours. The tables were sticky and greasy. The server had to unstick the plates that had been laid for new guests. I have to take some responsibility as when we were ordering my shirt stuck to the table. Cavet Emptor!

The standard here has dropped off a lot. The food was unremarkable and bland. I also don't think it was as fresh as it could have been. The dumplings weren't as hot as you would expect them to be if they were freshly cooked. The service was good from the 2 staff who looked after our table. My husband ended up in the toilet within 30 minutes of us arriving, no doubt from the MSG. And, each time some new diners arrived at the restaurant there was a god awful announcement in Chinese to alert the staff upstairs about the new diners arriving. It really made the ambience pretty average. This place is nowhere near as good as it once was. I'm not in a hurry to return.?

My friend recommended this place: it was nice to have a recommendation being a tourist in the city. It's been a week since coming here and I'm still queazy thinking about the pan fried pork dumplings. When you bite into them the oil feels like it explodes in your mouth. So gross. I had to try and drain them by cutting them and drying them with a napkin before being able to try and consume them. Based off the food we tried, I will not be coming back. Fried rice was edible but no flavor. Honestly the thought of ever having another dumpling makes me sick. And I used to love them. Ugh.

In A Nutshell: -Hutong Dumplings was okay. -Hot as hell inside, so hard to enjoy the food when you are sweating your kundangi off. -Service was mediocre. -Food was actually pretty decent which is why I rated this place 3 stars. -They need to dust/clean up some more if they consider themselves "the best" bc this isn't on the street. Overall, I was hoping for a 5 star experience, but it's a 3 star at best.

This little dumpling bar located down a side lane is melbournes worst kept secret. Once inside you get greeted by a gentleman at the door and then get led to one of 3 levels of this tiny but incredibly busy restaurant. We were promptly seated with menus already on the table. Once ready we ordered pork boiled dumpling and fried dumplings. Which were amazingly delicious but watch out the fried dumplings do tend to ooze out when eaten into. Then we had chicken laksa with a special fried rice. Delicious it had a bit of a kick to it but it was full of flavour. This place is amazing and it's definatley an atmosphere that you don't forget!

Our tour guide recommended this place and so did others say that this had the best dumplings in Melbourne. Ahh I don't think so. To me, they could have been the ones you find in the frozen food aisle at a supermarket and I probably couldn't tell. I liked that they had a huge selection of dumplings and the place was two stories, but this place has nothing on Din Tai Fung and I'm not even a big fan of Din Tai Fung. The dumplings were pretty standard. The shao long bao was the best in my opinion. Easy to eat and tasty. The crab meat one and the pork dumplings were a little bland without soy sauce. I didn't like the texture of the wrapping around the crab meat dumpling very much. Super chewy. I was expecting more for the "best dumplings in Melbourne," something really special, but I got normal and blah.

Recommended by local Chineses for dumplings and it was great. Had Shiao long boa and wonton in spicy sauce both were really good. Ask for black ink squid steamed chicken dumplings which is not on the menu. There are three level of this place and very popular. Definitely got my dumpling craving fixed here, wish I could have tried more.

Setup: random discovery of a highly rated spot The better: nice semi-formal space, good assortment of dumpling options The lesser: a bit pricey, dumplings were good but not mind blowing, spotty service, crazy busy at night - MAKE RSVP Observations: we tried to go at night and it was completely booked, made a res for the next day's lunch and got in and out without it getting busy

Traveling on business, my work buddies and I love finding dumplings in different cities. We arrived at 1:00 with a party of 10. They promptly greeted us with telling us the kitchen closes at 2:00, and restaurant closes at 3:00. We said, that was fine we can get our order in by then and out by close. Our waiter was short and rude to many of our party. Several had asked for general items you would receive in a dim sum house, and they were either ignored or told abruptly told "no"; rather than a common courtesy response. The food was okay. I expected to be blown away with a name like "dumping house", but far from it. The dumplings lacked flavor, and generally liking a bit more heat, their "chili paste" was weak and was told there was no Siracha or anything of that sort to make it better. If we make it back to Melbourne, this won't be a return stop.

Really excellent dumplings available here, beautifully made, with a real authentic flavour. We had the xiao long bao (juicy with a hint of sweetness), spicy dumplings (really flavourful) and the fried dumpling (delicious!). We also had some gan bian si ji dou, my favourite spicy bean dish, and it was amazing. And they have chilli and vinegar available on each table, which I love. They have a good range of drinks available. Lots of different wines to choose from, in a range of difference prices. We chose a nice NZ white and our waitress made sure our glasses were never empty. It's a busy place even on a weekday, so booking seems essential. It's a lively and loud place, with a high turn over, and well worth a visit. The staff are working flat out but do their best to help you as quickly as you can. Word of warning on the tea though, if you drink it, they keep refreshing and bringing back new pots ... before you know it they've charged you for 4 refills. However this is kind of negligible since the food in general is quite cheap!

This is a must if you're in Melbourne. This a assuming little joint blew my mind (or tastebuds rather). I ordered hot and sour soup, an assortment of dumplings and green veggies... WOW! I will be back

Don't be fooled by the name. Hutong dumpling bar is not a tiny establishment but a large restaurant spanning three levels with dim moodighting for fancy dates, exquisite cutlery, fancy dressed waiters, central air conditioning, white cotton tablecloths, and clean large bone china tea pots with fragrant jasmine tea (3 dollars only and free refills). Make sure you have a booking and if not when you get there book a table and expect to wait an hour at least but you'll definitely get a table after that hour is over. Then expect to be escorted to your table with the utmost military like executed efficiency where the guy downstairs walkie talkies the guy on the second floor who then hand signals you to go further up. On the third and Last floor, the waiter has been alerted to your arrival via 80s technology and says table for two to confirm. He seats you immediately on a table laid out with exquisite cutlery, menus and a drinks menu. There are small square tables for couples or groups of three/four. There are also circular tables with lazy Susan for large groups with a partial divider for some privacy. There is an expansive drinks menu with beer, wine, cider, spirits, tea and soft drinks. My mate and I opted for the jasmine tea. The food menu is also expansive with some photos and lots of dumplings, fried meat and seafood dishes, vegetarian dishes, rice and dessert. We ordered the chilli wonton, fried pork wontons, special fried rice and fried green beans with pork. Food arrived quickly. The chilli wonton was not spicy at all and was quite disappointing. The fried pork dumplings were not really fried as they lacked crispiness and were quite floury tasting. The special fried rice had a little bit of egg and those tiny fake prawns (not fresh at all). Didn't taste fresh and was quite bland. The fried green beans were nice but there was barely any pork. The service is great. The place is clean. But the food I believe is prepared for unseasoned Chinese food eaters. As such I have given this restaurant 3 stars. I've had better tasting Chinese food in china town and the little Asian restaurant around the corner. So Maybe a good place for large groups or for a date but not if you're looking for spicy or delicious Chinese food.

It had the interior nailed down to make it feel authentic and believable to dining at old school ancient Chinese food in the past but that's more or less where the excitement ends. The food was mediorce at best. The dumplings I ordered the skin was too thick. The meat was okay and flavorful but the skin/wrapping is very important too and it just wasn't done to what I was hoping for. The fried noodles was okay but little more on the oily side of things and meat pieces were kind of scarce. Noodles was slightly on the overcooked side. I initially wanted to try some other Chinese place that had huge lines and a long wait time but it was just too late to wait for that so we settled here which in hindsight was probably a mistake because we got mediocre Chinese food.

This place would be 2 stars objectively but raised to 3 on the sole basis of the excellent Xiao Long Bao. Ambiance: It's really nice inside, which makes it great for dates or just having a snazzy dinner. Customer Service: Not very good. They were pretty unattentive and would often get embarrassingly ignored many times. Feelsbadman.jpg. Also funnily enough, there were 2 2 person tables attached and they sat a wealthy looking married couple right next to us. Makes for a pretty awkward situation that was thankfully ((crisis averted)) when the couple asked to sit at a booth. Food: Honestly, really disappointing since I got so hyped up for this place. We had Vegetarian Fried Rice, Stir-Fried Shredded Potato w/ Capsicum, and Xiao Long Bao. The Vegetarian Fried Rice and the Stir-Fried Shredded Potato w/ Capsicum were both incredibly bland. Edible, but not something that's really enjoyable. The Xiao Long Bao however were DELICIOUS and the soup gushes in your mouth like liquid from the heavens. And by heaven I mean inside a Xiao Long Bao. --- I'd definitely come back again for those delicious Xiao Long Bao, but probably only order it for takeaway and skip the rest of the menu.

Outstanding dumps. Service, unlike many other dumpling places around town, is actually present, even if it borders on hovering at times with the clear decree on wait-staff to try and keep the tables turned over as quickly as possible. That said, I would still come here even if the wait-staff were jerks, because the dumplings are so good. For me it was the Xiao Long Bao that really sung. For my S.O. it was the Wontons with Spicy Sauce. We both enjoyed the Pan Fried Dumplings, even if they seemed a little dull by comparison to the other dump dishes. Wasn't sure what a turnip pastry was going to be like, but it was a very pleasant surprise, especially the quality of the pastry. The spring onion pancake looked a little different than expected but still was okay. Might hold off on them next time though to make room for more Xiao Long Baos!

While this is my first Yelp review here it by no means my first visit. Hutong is an old favourite. At one point I was a weekly lunch visitor. Why? If you like dumpling but have not yet been here then I simple say come try it. The quality is head and shoulders above all other dumpling restaurant in Melbourne. Shao-long Bao is their signature dish. Basically steamed pork dumpling with soup inside. DON'T drain the soup it's part of the experience. Wontons in hot chilli sauce. Make sure you try this dish last as the heat in it will destroy the taste of other things. These two plus Shredded Turnip Pastries are a must. There are lots and lots of other menu items but these are always part of my order. Tips: make a booking this place is popular! If your after a cheaper, easy to get into at short notice alternative try China Red, which is Hutongs sister / training? Restaurant. Quality is not as good but you'll find a lot of the same main event menu items.

Recommended by a fellow yelper for good dumplings with BYO option & really can't go wrong with dumplings & wine actually I'm not even sure it gets much better. Very busy place with a lot of hussle & bussle, we didn't make a booking & got there around 6pm & it was a bit of a push for a table the man could seat as but only if we left by 8, no problem at all but possibly book if you want a long session. We had chilli wontong dumplings, pan fried pork dumplings, steamed crab dumplings & steamed prawn dumplings. Simply delish. I was not sold on the wontong option as I don't do spice but best dish we had, so good we ordered another. Staff were friendly, effient & definitely knew how to work a busy place. Go there & get your dumpling on.

This place is great. Called up about 6.30 to book a table and was told only had a few seats available at the "take away" table. However when we arrive they were able to give us a table (as long as we were out within an hour). Very quick service at good price (slightly more than some others in the area - but still great value. Food was amazing. Try the crab dumplings!!

Modern interior with a behind glass view of the kitchen prep area. Great ambience and good service. The dumplings were good. This restaurant has many similarities to Din Ti Fung, my gold standard for dumpling restaurants. Favorites here were: Pan fried dumplings - Very good Wontons w/ Hot chili sauce - Very good Duck Meet Dumpling - Just Awesome Mushroom Prawn Dumpling - Excellent Silky Bean Curd Spring Roll - Didn't like this initially, thought it was too bland but it grows on you. Shao-long Bao - Prefer them a little larger, but still very good.

I wanted to come here since it was on one of those "must-try restaurants" lists for Melbourne and I was visiting from NY. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but it's a really solid Chinese restaurant. I didn't love the spicy wonton dumplings as much as I hoped, but I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food in the first place, so my opinion can't really be trusted there. I also ordered the dry chicken in hot chili, and though I still don't like spicy foods, I LOVED this dish. Even if you're not usually the biggest fan of fried foods or don't think it appeals to you, I would highly suggest you give it a chance. It was so good that I didn't even want to finish it so that I could bring it home to share with my boyfriend. I also got the soup dumplings which were fine, but nothing to tell your mother about. Food was great, and service was better. It's hard to strike the right balance of nice Chinese food (not the quick, super oily/unhealthy type) and good service at a reasonable price, but I think HuTong found the perfect balance. I really enjoyed dining here and don't regret going out of my way to make it in time for their lunch service.

This place isn't so popular for no reason. Hu Tong, set in a little alleyway just off china town, is currently the place to be. This 3-story restaurant specializes in 'xiao long bao'. This is a steamed dumpling, that has a thin skin, which holds a pocketful of soup and meat. This traditional shanghainese dumpling can be bought at most Asian restaurants-however its Hu Tong's version that you need to try. They've managed to incase a good amount of soup into these little buns, without it breaking and leaking out until it's in your mouth. The skin is also thin (unlike some places that try to overcompensate the leaking with a thicker skin), and the taste is perfect. The tanginess of the meat and soup with the mildness of the skin is just right. I'd suggest booking a table if you've got a group, as this place does get pretty packed.

This is one of those fancy Chinese places that doesn't look terribly Chinese but serves up pretty authentic Chinese food. By comparison with, shall we say, more 'real' Chinese restaurants, it's slightly pricier, but they don't skimp on the ingredients or the serving size, and the restaurant is quite a lovely one to be in. For some reason, as much as I want to be sat upstairs, I've only ever been sat downstairs. This might be due to never making a booking and simply turning up and expecting them to accommodate me and peeps. I'm not complaining though. Sitting downstairs means being able to see the chefs at work in their glass walled kitchen, looking like expert magicians doing card tricks, but instead of the ace of hearts, you get a whole lot of dumpling. The shao long bao, meat and soup filled dumplings, are a must, as are as many other dumplings as you think you can fit in your belly, which will be more than is healthy when you try these little taste bombs.

Food: had the xiao long bao (xlb) and the fish filet cooked in chili oil. Both were good. XLB skin is on the thick side. Fish filet in chili oil was good but could've been more spicy. This would be an average restaurant in San Gabriel Valley. Service: very poor. The pricing, branding and location of this place indicates you should expect decent service. But the service is sub-standard. Had to wait to get water upon getting seated and then even longer to place an order. We tried to get rid of our cash and coins since it was our last night in Australia. A server agreed to charge their $30 min on the card and accept cash and loose coins (about $4 of coins) for the rest. Including 3 Australian $1 coins. An older server (balding, skinny guy), came back and poured the coins on the table and said he doesn't want to take coins. I was fine with this but he was rude about it. When asking for a signature for the credit card receipt, he said "sign" in a condescending and demanding voice. I wouldn't recommend this place because of the service and the rude older, balding and skinny waiter. I hope he learns to treat people better after seeing this review.

So efficient is the service here that you may feel as though you're going through the motions with drill sergeants. Upon entering you will be notified of which level you will be dining on and sent up the stairs where you will be met by another drill sergeant (waiter) who has already been briefed and will show you to your seats. It may not sound enticing but trust me, the food is well worth the directions from the staff. Not only does this restaurant do some of the most delicious dumplings around, but it also has some excellent Szechuan and other spicy dishes. It's kind of like Shanghai Village but with a broader range of dishes and a little bit more expensive. Just be sure that you like chilli. This place won't pull any punches and you may need a few beers or litres of jasmine tea to wash down the spiciness that is laden in the food. Minced pork and eggplant and dumplings in chilli oil are just some of the best choices that will blast your taste buds and sinuses. Expect great quality Chinese food from Hu Tong Dumpling Bar and efficient (if a little rigid) service. Oh, and a fair amount of chilli.

Fantastic dumplings. Had the pork in chilli sauce. Simply delicious. Definitely recommended.

Good quality of food, large quantity, but expensive. Dumpling: Clean, fresh, but expensive. Limited choices. - if that's your goal, there are other places in the area .. more choices, cheaper, and the same quality. Meat: Clean, fresh, rich in flavour, big and thick pieces, but expensive. Service: Professional, fast, friendly. Environment: Noisy, seating can be uncomfortable, lack of privacy. *booking is needed especially at rush hours and weekend nights* Personally, I liked that the staff in the kitchen are old and the owner is welcoming people in and allocating seat for them. Maybe that's what behind the authenticity that people been talking about here? Do I recommend it .. yes, but it is not the best.

We assumed from the 4 star review that this place would be a good spot to hit up after a long bike tour around Melbourne. I always order the Hot & Sour Soup when dining at a Chinese restaurant. I wasn't even able to take more than a few bites before asking them to take it back. Hate to say this... But it is the absolute worst soup I have ever had. Tasted like they poured a pound of salt into the soup. Soooo disappointed with this experience. The dumplings and spring rolls were pretty good. Staff were not friendly and could careless that we were disappointed with the soup. I wouldn't recommend this place. Try another restaurant while in China Town.

I'm not sure if this place was just hyped up too much beforehand or if we went there on an off night or what but I thought Hutong was resoundingly A-OK compared to other nearby places. The cool part about the Chinese area of Melbourne is all the tiny hole in the wall places and while Hutong might *seem* like a tiny place in a random alley, it's a sprawling three-floor affair that seats a huge amount of people while somehow always having a wait? I don't get it. With a million other just as good (or better) dumpling places nearby, I'm really not sure what the fascination with Hutong is.

What a great way to start a night of bar hopping in Melbourne. Located in Chinatown, I have heard so much about Hutong and I just had to visit. A week prior, I had called every single day to try and book a spot....we were advised to rock up instead and were seated within 5 minutes at the top level. The service wasn't overly friendly but how efficient it was! We ordered 2 plates of shanghai pork dumplings, 2 wonton in chilli oil, 1 steamed vegetarian and 1 fried pork dumpling for 4 people. Overall it was $29 per person including a beer each which I thought was a good deal for dinner in the city. My favorite dish is the shanghai pork dumpling...if you eat pork please try it! Add some ginger, vinegar and you are all set. Oh, and you might want to take a bite, then pour the juice into your spoon so you don't burn yourself.

This was recommend to me as a good dinner and BYO place. Hutong are obviously known for their dumplings, so when you go here just order the dumplings (i almost made the mistake of ordering other things, but a friend corrected me) and Dumplings on dumplings with a side of dumplings it was. We have chill wonton dumplings (these are too die for, my favirote), Pork fried dumplins, Crab steamed, and Prawn steamed. They were all really delicious. The place is very cosy and nice, it was really busy and we managed to sneak into a table, but with a group you would have to make a booking. Very well priced with so much to offer.

They accommodated us on a Saturday night, even though they were full and we didn't have reservations. We told them that we had heard they had the BEST dumplings in the world (true story, we were told that). They took our phone number...we went down the block to Section 8 and by the time we finished our first beer, they called us and told us they had a table. I couldn't begin to name off all the things we tried. We had a group of 4 and basically ordered everything that interested us and shared it all. The menu is overwhelming, so we decided to at least restrict ourselves to items with the "favorite" stamp. My favorite thing was the #1 item, soup-filled dumplings. Omg I have been having dreams about them! Please order them. A couple of other stand-outs included the green beans and the spicy noodle soup we tried. We are going to try to pop back into this restaurant before leaving Melbourne. Maybe next time we will hit up Ding Dong Lounge afterward. Well done, indeed!

"What you're not a fan of dumplings?" Yes, I can read the disgust on your face as I tell you that I was 100% not on board the dumpling bus. I just could never muster the same excitement for these parcels as my peers. Whatever, you are! That was, until I dined at HuTong Dumpling Bar. I learnt the way of the Saho Long Boa dumpling, filled with hot soup. My tongue is still smarting from that lesson. Note: bite the top off and allow the dumpling to cool before slurping the soup from within. My friend took the liberty to order what we would eat while here and luckily all were on the first page of the menu. My face grimaced when she ordered the Wontons with Hot Chilli Sauce. It took me back to my visit to HuTong's sister restaurant earlier in the week where I managed to enjoy the chinese broccoli without spice. "Oh no, you know my stance on chilli, this is ridiculously not hot." she assured me. Thank goodness I trust her. They were delicious and their spice, bearable. With the first two dumplings this good, I was rethinking my stance on dumplings and starting to understand why people go GaGa for them. And then my mouth met the pan fried dumplings. Oh how I wanted to take the entire plate for myself. Soft on top, crispy on the bottom and filled with something altogether delicious. Hello, my name is Lani and I am dumpling convert.

Damn these soup dumplings (Xia Long Bao's) are the best! we were lucky to get a seat as we didn't have a reservation. Seriously good food and fast. Also you get the experience of walking down an ally way off any ally way.. which is a very Melbourne experience. I still like China Red for easy of ordering (with iPads) and they can handle my kids easier (more room), but when I'm out sans kids, this is where I'm heading. Only problem I have is now that I'm written this review, and relived the dumplings.. I want another serve. The struggle is real.

Was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. We arrived 15 min before closing. We called ahead and they had a table ready for us. I will day that the service was rushed and pressured but I can't be mad about that since the employees wanted to go home after a busy weekend of public holidays. I will say that buyer should beware based on some item costs. A pot of tea is charged per person at the table. Not by the pot. There were three of us so a pot of tea, which should be free in my opinion cost $9. Otherwise, the dumplings here are pretty darn good. Not the best I've ever had but worth the visit.

Make sure you book! Every time we have tried to get in without one, no matter what time of day or night, we haven't been able to get a table. This place is always pumping! Obviously the dumplings are fantastic! The dumplings in chillies are the BEST! Get them....now!

Go for any Dumpling dish! Fried Rice! Szechuan Soup! Yes :) You will enjoy! Get there early 1130hrs! They do reservations as well...

Don't get me wrong -- the dumplings at "Hu Tong" were delicious. We tried four different types and they all met our high standards: made by hand, all of the dumplings here were succulent and delicious. Similarly, the decor upstairs was very relaxed and beautiful. The bamboo scattered around the walls and comfy wooden chairs made it a lovely environment to be in, albeit the noise. However!: ~ Staff were ridiculously rude. Something you tend to just accept and put up with in Chinese restaurants, but this was borderline ridiculous. ~ Incredibly noisy environment for the overall small number of people occupying the upstairs room. ~ Entrees did not come out at the same time like we asked. ~ "Salt and pepper squid" does not equal "battered squid". Just no. I do not recommend you order this dish as it was horribly disappointing. Overall? Good dumplings. I'd probably come back here if I wanted to get takeaway and wanted dumplings. Otherwise? There are many better, competitively priced restaurants along the Chinatown strip.

Best dumplings I've had outside of China. I only stopped in for lunch. Sampled two of the dumplings: Pan fried and Sichuan. Both were perfectly prepared and had a beautiful presentation. The sauce on the Sichuan one was extremely flavorful - not too spicy but with a tiny kick. The dumplings are handmade on site. You can watch through them being prepared. At lunch it was a short time from order to arrival of the food I sat downstairs. There was constant attention to be sure I had what I needed. it is a delightful hidden away spot. Excellent for lunch or whenever you want really good dumplings.

Easily one of the best dumpling restaurants in Melbourne. Delicate flavors and a wide selection, including crab, to suit a variety of tastes. This place can get very busy, so come early or book ahead!

Very good, though more expensive than other dumpling places in the neighbourhood. But you get a great decor (much better than the one in South Yarra) and the food is good. You can get better dumplings elsewhere, but Hutong's other food is actually quite good. Personal favourite is the Sichuan calamari hotpot. Book early so you can be sure to get a table.

Woefully overrated. The food was bland and clearly was prepared before we even ordered (perhaps this is the price you pay for ordering the most popular items). Everything was room temperature, so the oils and animal fats were congealing and the wonton wrappers were drying out. I can't help but think this place takes no pride in their food. Avoid!

Went here for a work dinner the other night - so first, props to them for catering to a big bunch of rowdy overworked people! The dumplings here were great; really unique compared to other places in Melbourne and tasty too. For which it gets the extra star. Most of their mains were mediocre though (when I say mains, I mean all of the things that could be consumed with rice). Unfortunately for what it was, $40 or so per person was a bit of a rip off.

Sometimes it'll be cold and rainy and dreary in Melbourne. Sometimes you'll have a little bit too much fun at Ponyfish or Little Creatures or the Everleigh. On those occasions, the perfect remedy is a delicious steamed plate of soup dumplings, and Hutong is your pharmacy. It's slightly out of the way, but worth the little stroll. We scored the nice little table by the window, and stuffed our face with pan-fried dumplings and xiao long bao, all of which were delicious. Food: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5

Oh! There's plenty of dumplings places to choose from in the CBD, but after visiting Hutong for the first time last night, I'm definitely keen to go back. It's nice because it's good delicious dumplings AND a lovely atmosphere, unlike Shanghai and the other classic spots that are just a little tacky (but still perfect for BYO and big groups) Anyway. There's a pretty extensive array of main meals to choose from, but we stuck to the dumplings! Devoured our way through the Shao-Long Bao (delicious soupy dumplings which you eat with ginger. SO GOOD), the Wantons with Chili sauce (which they happily put less chili on for wussy me) and the boiled pork dumplings. Would have to say the Wantons were the winner for me! Had an endless supply of tea, and finished up with the banana fritter which was delicious albeit ridiculously phallic. (heh) Lovely, friendly service. Will be back fo sho!

This place is seriously over-rated. For the price of $20-45 per dish plus a second store in the classy Commercial Road, I believe the restuarant is trying to position itself into a mid to higher end market (eg not student and pensioners food). I'm expecting more. 1. menu looks very dodgy 2. the place is a bit dirty 3. too crowded - i paid my visit on a 25C night and apparently i was sweating my bum off and my man has sweat rashes after! Xiao Long bao is just so-so. I have had better in China Red (another dumpling place in china town). And I found most of the dishes a little bit way too salty?? Not sure if I'm being too picky here but i would have to say, I dont find the environment comfortable at all and that might be the reason why I dont find the food charming!

Two words: soup dumpling. The chilli dumplings also rock. But if you feel like you need to order more they do other things I guess. Like they can cook greens (in the standard Chinese greens way) and the prawn dumplings are pretty delicious. The vegetarian dumplings are also good although for 'pork dumpling purists' I don't think they are going to make them go back for a second (but i like them because veg is ok). If you feel like going a bit crazy they deep fry chicken wings and plate them up with a sheet load of garlic, chilli and peanuts. They also do a massive bowl of chilli chicken which can bring a small tear to the eye for those whom are lacking in chilli fitness. BYO tick. And they have a pretty good wine list in terms of dumpling restaurant standards. Service generally pretty good. Book or you will be walking disappointedly down the road (maybe try china red if this happens...).

Best dumpling place in Melbourne hands down! The Xiao Long Bao is a must but my absolute favourite are the Chili Wontons. They have just the right amount of spice to make you want to come back for more and more. I've also tried the fried fish (where you get an *entire* fried fish that fills up the plate) and the bean curd with spicy pork sauce. Oh Melbourne how I miss you. :(