North East China Family
302 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
0415728588
Dumplings
$
Food
- Pan-Fried Xiao Long Bao
- Special Yangzhou Fried Rice (with ham and egg)
The Good
I have never seen Pan-Fried Xiao Long Bao before, making it quite unique and interesting to try. The dumplings were very soupy and juicy, and had good flavour. The unique crispy base was certainly different and a welcome twist on a classic.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Special Yangzhou Fried Rice was sloppy and low effort. It had absolutely no wok hei, and the ham used was noticeably cheap. Lazily topped with basic peas, corn, etc., it simply wasn’t very flavourful. A complete letdown.
The Verdict
If you find yourself at North East China Family, stick strictly to the dumplings. The kitchen clearly knows how to innovate with dishes like the pan-fried Xiao Long Bao, but they seriously drop the ball on the wok basics. Save your appetite and your cash by skipping the fried rice entirely.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
No.