Where to Find the Best Yum Cha in Melbourne

  • Family

It’s not called YUM cha for nothing! Who doesn’t love a delicious steamed dumpling and fragrant Chinese tea? For family dining, yum cha in Melbourne is a fantastic option - it combines great Chinese food with culture, colour, new flavours and, in most yum cha restaurants, the novelty of selecting delicious dishes from a trolley that rolls right up to your table.

Where to Find the Best Yum Cha in Melbourne

1. Oriental Teahouse

Yum cha Melbourne - Oriental Teahouse
Oriental Teahouse boasts two yum cha restaurants in Melbourne.


Oriental Teahouse began as a single restaurant many years ago in Chapel Street, South Yarra, and now boasts a second establishment, which just goes to show how popular this particular yum cha restaurant is to Melburnians.

Oriental Teahouse is all about bringing together modern eating and traditional food – and kids will feel right at home in their contemporary restaurants and love the extensive dumpling menu. A great option at Oriental Teahouse is to take advantage of their group menus. A family of four can dine for a total of $120, which includes nine different dishes. Yum Cha is served all day with the lunch service coming around on trolleys.

Location: 378 Little Collins St, Melbourne and 455 Chapel St, South Yarra

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2. Tim Ho Wan

Yum cha Melbourne - Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan is yum cha in Melbourne at it's finest (and most delicious!).


Michelin-starred and oh-so-popular, Tim Ho Wan is a must-visit yum cha in Melbourne.

Chefs Mak Kwai Pui and Leung Fai Keung are renowned for being masters of the Chinese dim sum – which might explain why they won the title of Best Restaurant in Asia in 2015. They use only the best ingredients to deliver outstanding yum cha to the discerning patrons of Melbourne - and they positively nail the Chinese pork buns.

Located on Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD (adjacent to Chinatown), Tim Ho Wan is hugely popular with families, especially on the weekends, for their excellent Yum Cha service. Yum cha is served all day from the menu. No trolleys at this one, but you receive a paper menu with images to tick off what you’d like, so the kids will enjoy choosing their own.

Location: 206 Bourke St, Melbourne

3. Spice Temple

Yum cha Melbourne - Dragon Boat
For yum cha in Melbourne from some of the best, you can't beat Spice Temple.


This well-established Chinese restaurant in Southbank serves excellent yum cha five days a week and is located inside Crown Melbourne, so you can't get much fancier than that!

Spice Temple is the place to go for upmarket yum cha thanks to its incredible menu from Neil Perry and modern interiors. Service is impeccable and the delicious oriental offerings are served a la carte from 6 to 9 pm during the week while they offer lunch service from 12 to 3 pm on weekends. 

Location: Crown Melbourne - 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

4. Westlake Restaurant

Yum cha Melbourne - Westlake Restaurant
A long-standing Chinese favourite in Melbourne.


West Lake is another long-standing Chinese favourite, super-popular with families. It is a large restaurant, with food served over two levels – and it can get very busy, which makes for a fun atmosphere.

This Chinese restaurant is spacious and renowned for serving up excellent yum cha in Melbourne off the trolley until 5 pm (you have to order off the menu at other times). West Lake is a great, authentic yum cha experience. It’s open seven days a week and open until really, really late.

Location: 189 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

5. New Shanghai Emporium

Yum cha Melbourne - New Shanghai
Enjoy fun and contemporary yum cha in Melbourne at New Shanghai.


New Shanghai is a fun and contemporary Chinese restaurant packed with colour and a fabulous atmosphere. 

This Yum Cha option is very popular with families due to its easy location in Melbourne’s busiest shopping areas.

One of the most memorable things about New Shanghai is their Dumpling Theatre. Families can actually sit and watch the experienced chefs preparing and cooking traditional Shanghai dumplings – great entertainment for little foodies. This is another yum cha service not served on trolleys; guests order off a paper menu.

Location: Emporium, Lonsdale St, Melbourne and Chadstone Shopping Centre

6. Red Emperor

Yum Cha melbourne - Red Emperor Melbourne
You simply can't beat the location of Red Emperor!


For the location, it’s pretty hard to top this. Red Emperor sits right on beautiful Southbank, overlooking the Yarra River, and its proximity to other attractions makes it a convenient stop for families who are in the city for the day.

It is elegant dining at Red Emperor, with white tablecloths and a stunning backdrop. The dumplings prepared here are made with the finest ingredients and are MSG-free. The yum cha service operates seven days a week, and you can order off trolleys for the lunch hours.

Location: Level 2, Southgate Restaurant & Shopping Precinct, Southbank

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