Dumpling bar Steamed opens in Brisbane City
Just on a year ago, a couple of cross-cultured cowboys decided fresh Chinese jiaozi (pronounced j-ou-za) was a much-needed addition to the Brisbane food diet. Starting out with a market stall at the Jan Power’s Farmers Markets, Kevin and David have now expanded their steamed Chinese dumpling business to a permanent haunt in Brisbane City.
Appropriately dubbed Steamed, the weekday hole in the wall on Turbot Street is the perfect pit stop for a quick and healthy yet delicious lunch. Rolled right before your eyes, the fresh dumplings at Steamed are served straight from the bamboo basket they’re cooked in. Offering three mainstay dumplings and a rotating special, David and Kevin hand-make each delicate parcel themselves, boasting a speed of about 180 per hour.
Kevin created the Lovabull dumpling – a trio of red onion, ginger and minced beef, combined with various spices that lack English names –while his mum is behind the Zen dumpling: a vegan bundle of shitake mushroom, seasoned tofu, Chinese cabbage, carrot and ginger. And when you’re in the dumpling trade, you’ve got to have a pork option, so they’ve created a traditional Harbin Pork dumpling. Made with garden chives, ground pork and ginger, the 1000-year-old recipe from the cold town of Harbin in Northern China results in a succulent, juicy and flavourful parcel.
You can mix and match the different flavours and enjoy with a topping of roasted black bean and chilli oil at the long communal table in the middle of the shop, which was handcrafted from old doors discarded during the flood.
Steamed
95 Turbot Street, Brisbane City
Open: Monday to Friday 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
Cash only
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