MOMO Dumpling Plus Tea
9 Clifton Street, Prahran
03 8597 1633
Chinese
$$
Food
- Crispy Tofu In Sour Spicy Sauce
- Grilled Pork Dumplings
- Grilled Vegetable Dumplings
- Xiao Long Bao
- Calamari And Basil In Three Cup Sauce
- Taiwanese Style Beef Noodle Soup
- Dandan Noodle Bowl
The Good
Liberally loaded in a huge stone bowl, we found some of the best Taiwanese Beef Noodles we’ve ever come across outside of Taiwan. Silky smooth, the noodles had just the right softness and borrowed flavour from the beautiful and aromatic broth. Loaded with beef flavour, the broth wasn’t overly thick nor oily, yet provided a pleasant aroma throughout. This was well complemented by generous slices of soft, tender beef that was slow braised to perfection, as well as soft and tender mushrooms that provided bursts of flavour and juiciness. Along with the fresh greens, this dish was both delicious yet healthy.
We also sampled the DanDan Noodles, which on this occasion, was a tone-downed version of the famous, extremely spicy noodles originating from Sichuan, China. The noodles were equally flawless, but this time they were complemented by an appetising mixture of mince pork and green beans. Stir fried to perfection, the mince was incredibly flavoursome and well marinated, exhibiting an aromatic yet not overly spicy kick. The beans provided a slight crunch, while the chunks of fresh okra held the dish together by giving it a crisp yet slimy texture.
Another highlight of the evening were the Grilled Dumplings. We sampled both the Vegetables and the Pork variety and weren’t disappointed by either. The chopped vegetables within were fresh and provided an interesting variation in textures. In contrast, the pork dumplings were exceptionally flavourful and juicy, with tender minced pork within. All wrapped in a slightly crispy and thin dumpling skin, needless to say these were downed rather quickly.
The Crispy Tofu in Sour Spicy Sauce was another highlight. Lightly batter and crispy, the crunchy outer of the tofu was doused in a chilli yet slightly sweet, savoury and sour sauce. The sauce provided much flavour, while the complexity in textures due to the frying of the tofu was quite appealing to our palate.
The Mediocre
While we enjoyed the Xiao Long Bao, we felt that the dish could’ve been improved. The skin was a tad too thick for our liking. However, the inner still remained incredibly juicy and tasty. Unfortunately, given that paper was not used at the bottom of the steamer, the majority of our dumplings stuck to the bamboo crate and were tragically torn apart as we tried to lift them out, which resulted in the spilling of much of the juices inside.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
It was overall a very tasty meal, and ranks amongst some of the best Asian cuisine served around Melbourne. As a newly launched eatery, Momo Dumpling Plus Tea provides the perfect combination of modern presentation with perfectly prepared, wholesome and authentic Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
The delicious food, coupled with generous serving sizes at an affordable price point, I’d definitely be back for more!
Penguineats would like to thank owner Chloe for inviting us to their newly launched restaurant at MOMO Dumpling Plus Tea.