Happy Little Dumplings

This is one of my staple fast lunch or dinner options.
The hole-​in-​the-​wall location provides punters with family friendly seating of comfortable wooden slat seating with cushions over artificial turf.
The staff offer friendly and effervescent service with all of the bubbliness you would expect from those who are truly passionate about what they do for a living.
I always order 6 dumplings minimum, and I find that will sate my hunger. Too many times I’ve witnessed business people ordering two or three and known they would be scrounging around for something to top them up as you need a few of these guys.
My personal favourites are the chili duck (sweet, succulent duck mixed with the slight hint of a chili bite); prawn har gow (juicy whole prawns inside a sticky steamed dumpling case); Chinese mushroom (a delicate balance of herbs and mushroom) and pumpkin (an unlikely combination for a dumpling, but the smooth sweetness of the pumpkin mixed with spice is unbeatable!).
Stop in for lunch or dinner, with or without the family. The signature dumpling sauce should not be missed!

Happy dumplings, unhappy customer!
Dumplings are definitely very yummy, I’m actually a return customer. But before I always go at lunchtime and this is my first time go at dinner time and surprisingly very unpleasant experience.
So Friday night after work I decided to have few dumplings for dinner. There was queue approx. 3 people in front of me when I arrived. So I was aware might a bit short wait but fair enough I wasn’t even hungry (was 7:20pm).
So the girl took 10 mins served those customers in front of me (meanwhile I was actually start playing game on my mobile because I could see that she’s quite unorganised so again I prepared the service would be a bit slow).
Then finally my turn, so I order few dumplings and a pork bun. The girl said would be a short wait 10 mins and then she will call out my name when it’s ready, I was fine with that.
So then I sat down and continue playing my game. After 10 mins I start to notice those customers in front of me all been served after approx. 5 mins. I thought should not be too long as the girl told everyone would be 10 mins short wait and I’m getting hungry by that time.
Then 10 mins after even a lady came in after to me is having all her order preparing. I then stood up as I thought they are probly preparing mine at the same time so I was watching them. And then unfortunately they messed up the lady’s order, everything wasn’t quite right and I saw the girl and the owner running around trying very hard to get the order right and that was another 10 mins past. Finally the lady got her orders and left.
And I was left behind. After another 5 mins I started loosing my patience and thinking to ask a refund and at the same time the girl saw me. I wonder maybe she suddenly realised I’m waiting for my order too!!! So I think maybe she FINALLY noticed me and would PERHAPS start to prepare my order? And then I saw she put few dumplings in a container and they look like what I ordered so I thought that’s ok it’s finally my turn I should not get angry with them… and then she walked away… those dumplings are still sitting in the container, nobody has been called.
They are still walking around I couldn’t get anybody ‘s attention and then the other girl saw my unhappy face then asked for my name, and I say if my order has been forgotten can I please get a refund? Then she saw «MY» conatainer sitting there and looked at my order, then give them to me and looked at me in a very strange way like she’s saying: your order is here why do you need a refund for?
NO APOLOGISE AFTER 40 MINS WAIT AND WITH A VERY BAD ATTITUDE, VERY IMPRESSED.

Happy Little Dumplings has a tiny store front beside the Bulimba BlockBuster and behind a pair of auto-​dog wash stations. It is not visible from the main road, and seems to have achieved this atmosphere of being quietly nestled in the midst of the hubbub of the suburb centre.
The store has with very limited picnic-​style outdoor seating, complete with an astroturf lawn and a tee-​pee for the kiddies. Inside, the décor is a fusion of red, white and black cutie-​pie-​ness. I mean, what do you expect when the logo is a pair of smiling blushing buns and the establishment is called ‘Happy Little Dumplings’?
While Happy Little Dumplings offers more than just dumplings (I’ve heard their mango pancakes are delish), I wanted to see what they were making their name for themselves. Customers are invited to either pick and choose dumplings individually, or buy them as lots of 6.
We stepped up to the counter and asked for one of every dumpling they had in their gourmet range and a char siew bao (BBQ pork bun). Regrettably, they had already run out of the Chinese Chilli Duck Dumpling, so we asked for an extra pork belly dumpling. Each dumpling is AUD$ 3.50 and 6 dumplings is AUD$ 11.
While we were grabbing our order, another patron walked back into the shop to ask about their mango pancakes. The chef came out and apologised very sincerely that he was having trouble with the dough and couldn’t seem to get it right. I can definitely respect a kitchen with a chef like that.
So what about the food?
They have quite a variety of dumpling flavours on offer, so if you’re looking for something a little different, then Happy Little Dumplings might have something to spice up your tastebuds. Personally I am a bit of a dumpling traditionalist. I love my dumplings as plump as a piglet, fresh and juicy with a good balance between the pork and prawn in the filling. Our dumplings looked a little sad, possibly because it was close to the end of the day. I was a little taken aback by the flavours in the Chilli Chicken, which has basil. The SO particularly liked the BBQ pork bun (char siew bao) for its sweet chunky pork filling.
The other thing I love is that Happy Little Dumplings have 3 types of chilli sauces customers are welcome to help themselves to bring it up a notch. For those who are spice kings, I highly recommend the chilli with kaffir lime. The citrus hit is the bomb!

There was a fair bit of hype around Happy Little Dumplings, and the idea appealed to me. However it didn’t live up to my high expectations. Now I’ve eaten a few (scratch that — a lot) of dumplings in my time and my travels.
I found the dumplings (6 different ones) all sort of blended into being one indecipherable underwhelming dumpling. They talk a big game with their chili duck, or pork belly dumplings. However listing a larger number of classy trendy ingredients doesn’t translate into great dumplings. Possibly the opposite. The appeal of dumplings to me lies in their simplicity. Their delicious simplicity.
It was fairly expensive and unremarkable. I was left a tad hungry.
An honourable mention must go to the steamed pork bun, but even that was a bit pricey at $ 3. The Vietnamese rice paper rolls my friend had looked good though. But the place isn’t called «Happy Little Rice Paper Roll».

Happy Little Dumplings is by far one of my favourite places to take out of towners and also a great place to get a quick, cheap meal. For $ 11 you can get a sample of six different dumplings. There’s a whole list to choose from, so I usually leave it up to the person serving me! I usually always make room for a pork bun too. The dumplings are delicious and there’s always a great range of different dumplings to try and they also have a soy sauce station with a bunch of different dipping sauces that you can have with your dumplings. Love it!

Happy Little Dumplings is next to Blockbusters in Princess Street, just off the main drag of Oxford Street, Bulimba.
The Good — Great dumplings (pork belly — yum), lashings of dipping sauce, free jasmine tea
The Bad — Not bad really but its pricey and the location is between a dog-​wash and a car park.
The Ugly — I go on a Saturday lunch and the service is appalling. Couldn’t care less, unfriendly and grudging.
If it wasnt for the quality of the dumplings, I’d steer clear. I’d come in so much more often if I felt welcome.

What beautiful dumplings. Yummo!
We stopped in for some dumplings on a cold Saturday afternoon and we were warmed by the yummy dumplings we bought.
I recommend the Pumpkin or the Duck Chilli dumplings.
At $ 11 for 6 pieces this is great value. Unfortunately they were sold out of the Pork Buns, so we’ll be back again.
Well worth a try.

Set just off Bulimba’s main street, Oxford Street, this astro-​turfed nook is a spot to sit down, put your feet up and indulge in your dumpling delight. Run by Candice and Melita, there’s a definite «home-​style» feel to Happy Little Dumplings. There’s no ego or fuss — just damn good food.
A dumpling a day = happy tummies and happy soul is written on the wall of Happy Little Dumpling’s new home in Bulimba and for the most part this is true. My gluten intolerance and I came to a momentary ceasefire so that I could enjoy a night of dumplings but the morning after I’m hanging for their gluten free alternative. I have it on good authority that their chefs are working busily to offer a gluten free dumpling wrapper.
Enough about ME. You’re reading this wanting to know just how happy your tummy and soul can be eating at Happy Little Dumplings. Well, I’ll confidently tell you very happy. For some, I think you’ll be close to finding nirvana. From the pork belly dumpling to the prawn and coriander I cannot pick a favourite. These are parcels of happiness, steamed to perfection.
And while not technically a dumpling I must give unadulterated praise to the BBQ pork bun. I’m usually the first to decline a pork bun of any kind based on the fact they’re usually too starchy and the «bun» ends up sticking to the roof of your mouth like Clag glue. Or the bun to filling ratio is way off and you’re chomping at the bit asking where the heck the filling went. But not at Happy Little Dumpling. Not only have they managed to make a bun that is the perfect texture and not remotely resembling Clag glue, they’ve managed to hit the ultimate bun to filling ratio.
I’ll finish by telling you two words. Mango Pancake ($ 4.50 of eternal bliss).

No longer limited to weekend markets, Candice and Mellita from Happy Little Dumplings have opened a Yum Cha Bar in Oxford St, Bulimba. Open 7 days a week, come and share the dumpling addiction!
You can find their happy little place on the corner of Oxford and Princess Streets (behind Mugged Espresso). There’s plenty of seats on a little patch of astroturf and there’s a kids teepee and toys to entertain the little ones while you fill your tummy with delicious dumplings.
BBQ Pork buns are always a popular item — the soft, squishy white bun filled with saucy Char Siu BBQ Pork. They are only $ 3 and a very filling snack.
The dumplings are $ 2 each or any 6 for $ 11. They have a great range of flavours including Chicken/​Pork Siu Mai, Shanghai Pork, Pork & Chive, Chinese Chilli Duck, Prawn and Prawn & Coriander Har Gow, Pork Belly & Bok Choy and of course some vegetarian options, Tofu & Ginger, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin and Mushroom & Chinese Vegetable.
The dumplings are all hand-​made by the girls and their skilled chef. Candice’s aunty is a Brisbane Thai chef and perhaps it is this Thai influence that makes these dumplings the best in Brisbane, in my opinion.
There is also a dessert to finish off the meal — Mango Pancakes (crêpe with cream & mango). The Mango Pancakes are fantastic and have a massive following, and sell out quickly!
Complimentary Jasmin tea is available, or if you prefer, there is a range of sweet iced teas, soft drink and young coconut juice to quench your thirst.