Review Top Cafe Dumpling House - Auckland Central

Didn't realise that Top Cafe and Bos Dumplings (used to be in Morningside) were by the same team! No wonder the dumplings are great. Menu is a bit different from what I was used to eating at Bos, and gutted to see that the rolls won't be coming back (gonna miss that squid spring onion pancake roll, and beef roll). Juicy pork is still just as good. $15, for 9 dumplings - still reasonably priced. I hope you guys bring back the spicy beef side with coriander - that was one of my faves!

Let me tell you the chicken and the vegan dumplings were DELICIOUS 🤤

PSA: Top cafe has reopened and I was so happy I almost cried. The menu has been pared down a bit but all the important bits are still there. Like the dumplings and noodles. They also had Xiao long bao which is already on our list to try :)

The cafe is quite small, having a large table and side counters on the inside and a couple of smaller tables on the outside. You see the menu as you walk in written on the blackboard. There are quite a few options of flavours. You can see them hand make these dumplings. You order at the counter and then find a place to sit, either to wait for a takeaway or to dine. There is water in a fridge on the left side of the counter to help yourself with. I sat at the counters and there is chopsticks as well as condiments available for the dumplings, black vinegar, soy sauce or chili oil. When you get the dumplings you also get a bowl which you can mix your own dipping concoction. It took about 15 minutes to get the dumplings. The dumplings were juicy and tasty. Great crisp at the bottom and the pastry was the right thickness so it didn't get gluggy. Be aware that the tables were a bit sticky but not much of an issue when taking away. Nice, cheap meal hidden in the back streets of K Rd.

Incredibly delicious dumplings. We planned on trying this place just once but we are going to have to go there again! The juicy pork dumplings are incredible, I definitely recommend trying them. Noodles were way too spicy for me but the wrap and especially the bread around it are so good. If you go there you definitely have to try the spring onion pancake or the wrap, it's the same mind-blowing bread. Great experience!

More good dumplings. Wholesome. Tasty. Not oily. Stuffed full of what it says on the menu. And great value. Can’t speak for the rest of the menu but if the dumplings are anything to go by you’re in safe hands.

Great dumplings, the only way they should be eaten, steamed on top and crispy on the bottom. Chilli oil, soy, and vinegar. I recommend you go for 11 only. Order more only after you finish. Good portion size.

The dumplings here are SO GOOD. Have had the pork and chive and pork and coriander and both were so flavorful and juicy. Service has always been prompt and friendly.

Awesome Noodle Bowl I had. Comparable to other Pho noodle dishes I’ve had at other places, as far as flavor goes. Very filling.

Amazing cheap eats spot, we came across this absolute gem by accident. Totally out of the way off K road but absolutely worth it. Not a lot of seating but there was room for us and a great menu! Kind owners who are very helpful and make good suggestions. Thank you for a great dinner 😍❤️ 🥟 we ordered the pork dumplings, vegan dumplings, and vegetarian noodles, and the spring onion pancakes were a fantastic addition

The best dumpling place in Auckland. Friendly owner & staffs, with reasonable price. Best to preorder and have them take away; as their place is tiny and not many seats available. The dumplings are home made, they even grow their own herbs & veggies. A definite must try.

Amazing dumplings for all the family...great little hidden spot of K Road

Fried dumplings on a cold autumn night, just the best!. And totally going back for more. 😍👍🥟🤤

Have been there four times now and am picking some up tonight! So excited, they're always delicious and juicy! Would definitely recommend!

Awesome dumplings! $11 for 15 fat juicy dumplings. All he needs here is beer and I'd be here every day. :)))

Absolutely delicious! Had the vegan, pork & fennel, pork & chice and the shrimp and egg. So so yummy!!

Delicious. Very generous fillings and great range of flavours. We will be back!

I love dumplings and Top Cafe would have to be the best in Auckland. Big fat dumplings that don't cost much, can't go wrong! The spicy beef was amazing as well

Very nice dumplings. Good option for ingredients and nicely seasoned.

Took my friends here tonight. Really tasty food and great service. Will definetly be back. : )

Amazing! Plump juicy dumplings.. Decent portion sizes too :)

Best dumplings in New Zealand. Service is excellent and very friendly and acommodating. Also very unique in serving vegan dumplings now all my friends can come and enjoy dumplings!

best dumplings in the country

Tried the Lamb Cumin Roll for lunch (really a wrap) but amazing - well presented with some greens and full of favour - I want more...

Best dumpling I’ve ever eaten!! Highly recommend will definitely be coming back

Lone staff cannot communicate in English. I couldn't use Zomato Gold

The best dumplings I've had in Auckland. Very sad they no longer do Pork and Fennel flavour, as that was my personal favourite, but Pork and Coriander is a close second. If ever I'm having a sad day and need some dumplings to pick me up, these always bring a smile to my face. They're big, juicy, and filling. Guaranteed good time. (I've never eaten in before, though. I always takeaway)

Ordered through ubereats and this definitely is one of the best dumpling along k’rd. they were fresh and the steam dumpling really flavourful and juicy. super recommended!

These are the best dumplings I have ever had. So good I had to order a second round. Not only was there great service behind the counter, but i foolishly left my hat behind on a stool and Frank ran out after me to make sure I got it. Thanks Frank! I cannot reccomend this place highly enough.

The cafe is quite small, having a large table and side counters on the inside and a couple of smaller tables on the outside. You see the menu as you walk in written on the blackboard. There are quite a few options of flavours. You can see them hand make these dumplings.<br/><br/>You order at the counter and then find a place to sit, either to wait for a takeaway or to dine. There is water in a fridge on the left side of the counter to help yourself with. I sat at the counters and there is chopsticks as well as condiments available for the dumplings, black vinegar, soy sauce or chili oil. When you get the dumplings you also get a bowl which you can mix your own dipping concoction. <br/><br/>It took about 15 minutes to get the dumplings. The dumplings were juicy and tasty. Great crisp at the bottom and the pastry was the right thickness so it didn't get gluggy. <br/><br/>Be aware that the tables were a bit sticky but not much of an issue when taking away.<br/><br/>Nice, cheap meal hidden in the back streets of K Rd.

Came here on a freezing cold night and it certainly did not disappoint. The dumplings were a good size for the price and cooked perfectly, thank you so much! Easily the best dumplings in Auckland. :))))))

Friendly service and the Juicy Pork dumplings were absolutely delicious! Definitely recommend. Store is a bit small so better to do takeaway.

This is a small shop and not set up to dine in. However, the dumplings are amazing! So packed full of ingredients. My favourites are the vegan ones and also the egg and vegetable ones. Highly recommended!

The regular weekend visitors lol. Love the dumplings and location is also pretty chill as it is secluded from the main street. Perfect for weekend morning food cravings ❤️👌👌

On a cold wet night the take away dumplings were to die for - juicy , tasty, tender and plenty of filling , no cold drinks bar water apparently and was wet under foot in side which is a bit of a downer, so food a 5 but loses out on the shop space and lack of extras

Vegan dumplings were awesome. Cooked so the dumplings are crispy and chewy. Each dumpling is Very full of ingredients, only 1 thing I could say needs a touch up is the chilli oil could be spicier.

The best dumplings in Auckland. I have introduced many friends to this place as nowhere compares. Very small interior but we have been able to nab the only table that is 4 seater a few times now. ( there are 2 outdoor tables for 2 and a a few bar seats). A lot of people seem to go for takeaways rather than dine in anyway.The dumplings have plenty of flavour and are cooked to perfection. Then you add the 3 basic sauces which enhance them even more. My fave is the pork and fennel.

Top dumplings! Totally gunna make this a regular! Friendly as service and a tiny little space which makes you extra special you got in 😁👍🥟❤️

Just discovered the place. Amazing establishment, serves only dumplings and they are mastering it. 11 pieces of dumplings per order and they are big enough to fill you up real quickly. Beef and carrot dumplings were my choice which didnt make disappointed. Chili oil is super addictive there. That's one of those one of the kind places. Highly recommended.

Verrrrrrry good dumplings. Soo fresh and quality for very cheap price, I got pork and cabbage fried. Only negative is that they need sweet chilli sauce and a bit more seating. Other than that a very cute shop, they need more around auckland

I had the vegetarian dumplings and it was amazing. The texture brought by mushroom and see weed makes it really enjoyable to eat plus the flavour is on point. It sits in the bottom of the iron bank building hidden from the main street but it is definitely worth a visit. They are also listed in Uber eats :)

Very good dumplings ! There's no much variety but the flavour is amazing! The space is small but cozy and the employee was very friendly. Definitly recommend this place !

This is a small and unassuming establishment that only serves dumplings, eleven per order. They're large so two people could easily split an order as my wife and I did on our nibble through Auckland: coffee for tensies, french pastries for lunch, dumplings for twosies. The dumplings are served with three condiments: soy sauce, black vinegar, and a mild chili oil, all of which pair well but it was the chili oil that I found addictive.

Great steamy/fried dumps, really quite enjoyable and a riveting dining experience. <br/>However the opening hours that are displayed do not reflect those of which they serve the dumps within. For example, you will not be able to order cooked dumps between the times of 8pm and 9pm on a Saturday night.<br/>But saying that, dumps of the frozen kind are available during this time also.<br/>Overall delicious dumps that I highly recommend, but it is best to be cautious when ordering dumps closer to the closing time as you may be declined.<br/>

Small but nice place away from the confusion on K'Road. Took a while to get the food but because we were a lot of people asking at the same time. Very good dumplings in particular the egg and veggies.<br/>Cheap

Just placed my 15th order with these guys via Ubereats. This is my fav dumpling place! I've only ever ordered the pork and chive and these guys have never disappointed. Price is great, taste is great. It's a must try

The dumplings are so delicious😋👍 makes me feel like dancing💃💃💃💃💃 Finally, I've found the yum-yum dumpling in Auckland. 🎉🎉🎉. Also the spicy beef are very nice too. The price are very reasonable. Can't wait to try other dishes😋😋😋

Deliciously pan fried dumplings. Cute little place doesn't seat many people but was perfect for a lunch away from the main k road street. Ordered the pork and fennel, pork and Prawn, egg and chives. Was so tasty and succulent. Some pretty good dumplings I've had in awhile. Cheers

Slightly average place. Was really disappointed with what I was expecting. They had the dumpling machine out front which took away the mystery of how dumplings are made. Walked in to a empty cafe yet the tables were still slightly dirty and the condiments nearly empty if not you had to scrape to get the last of the chilli oil out. <br/>Got the egg, chive and shrimp dumplings. More chives than anything else. Dumplings weren't tight and packed so when you ate into them, the hot steam will burn your mouth and take away any taste buds you had left to taste the rest of them. Service was happy enough but very basic. Take your money and sit down. Wouldn't come again out of choice.

I heard this was the best dumpling place in Auckland. Glad to know there are honest people out there!! One word to describe: BEAUTIFUL. 2 more to add: MUST TRY...!! Now I need to go and stack up on some frozen ones caus these babies are amazing! 😊

I have been wanting to try this place for ages! Finally got myself a takeaway of their pan fried pork and chives dumplings. I was not disappointed! These babies are big and juicy! The wrappers are nice and thin with a little crispy bits on the bottom. The fillings are jam packed with real pork and chives. <br/>I love the ginger flavour that comes through, it was just right and not over powering. <br/><br/>I can't wait to try everything in the menu!!

The name says it all! Top cafe and it sure is at the very top of our list now if we ever want to have dumplings! 🔝👌🏼<br/><br/>My husband, 2 children and myself dined here for a late lunch and I must add that our 2 and a half year old son is a super fussy eater! <br/><br/>The place is fairly small but it wasn't too busy when we had arrived at around 3pm, so we scored a table. We loved how the place was nicely furnished, very simple but with a good sense of decor at the same time! The menu was not complicated and just perfect with choices that will suit everyone.<br/><br/>We have had a fair amount of traditional Chinese dumplings in our lifetime and have even helped make some, so we have a pretty good idea of the art of making a perfect dumpling. <br/><br/>We got 3 kinds of the dumplings : pork & chives, pork chives egg & shrimp and Beef & carrot. Total cost was $35 which is very reasonable! When they arrived they looked amazing! Once tasted, they were soft but crispy, very juicy, perfectly seasoned and has a VERY GENEROUS scoop of filling. Very flavourful, amazingly gorgeous and oh SO tasty. We demolished them all and my 2 year old had about 6 (which is a lot for his little tummy 😋) and his favourite were the beef and carrot! We loved them all and my husband particularly liked the pork chives egg and shrimp, I liked them all equally! <br/><br/>Staff were extremely friendly and also helpful. My husband had asked what the best way to have the sauces with the dumplings as there were three choices: chilli oil, soy sauce and vinegar. The man told us that if we feel like it needs more seasoning then add soy sauce otherwise just the vinegar and chilli oil which were a great pair! <br/><br/>A must visit if you love dumplings.

Heard amazing things about here and was excited to finally go. The place is much smaller than I expected but is charming & cozy. The menu is limited - only really a handful of things to choose from and the dumplings are on par with what you'd expect from Balmoral. Fairly priced (especially for the area) but nothing incredible. Could do with a bit of contrast flavour wise - the meat is wonderful but a bit bland.

Went here last night with a group of 4. First time here and were very happy. Ordered the pork and fennel as well as the pork and corriander. Both were delicious. The owner was very friendly and chatty. He also gave us a free sample of beef that melted in you mouth!! Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

Fantastic homemade dumplings - the best I've had in Auckland, friendly service, value for money. A better drink selection would be preferable, but it's all about the dumplings here...and they shine!

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of dumplings at top cafe. I originally thought it was a bit pricey but found that it was completely justified. We ordered the pork and fennel as well as the pork and cabbage. Both had beautifully thin and crispy pastry and a very generous amount of filling.

Juxtaposition. The cafe that is not actually a cafe. Funky appeal but low brow presentation. Sexy venue but sleazy location. Friendly service but disinterested staff. Certainly a hidden gem, and great dumplings my amateur dining friends, but we had an unusually long wait and presentation was a slight letdown - what about traditional bamboo steamers? I love the Ironbank building, and sitting outside on one of Auckland's most primal streets makes for an amusing interlude, definitely recommend if you feel like a dumpling lunch, but maybe order ahead!

Firstly I must admit I'm dumpling mad! After rave reviews from the office I thought it was about time I checked this place out for myself and WOW was I impressed.<br/><br/>Right from the purchasing of quality organic ingredients to the care put into the creation of the food, right down to the packing this place is awesome, which completely reflects in the end product - the dumpling, as it is amazing !!!<br/><br/>Delicate dumpling rapper, a super tasty and moist filling, with a little bit of "soup" served with a handmade chilli, soy, ginger and sesame dipping sauce that is made in house. Nothing more I can say then YUM!!! <br/><br/>I had the pork and fennel which was $13 for 12 good sized dumplings. I managed to eat 8, but didn't really need to!!<br/><br/>I will definitely be back! Look forward to trying all the other flavours. <br/><br/>

A hidden gem of a place. Friendly staff and the dumplings are made fresh onsite. The fillings are generous. The dumplings were cooked near perfectly. Definitely worth a try if you are in the area. For the price. It's hard to beat.

Great little hidden gem that makes you feel like it's just waiting for you. The staff are extremely friendly and the chilli soy sauce is AMAZING. Over a week ago my partner and I stumbled over this place while out and thought we would give it a go. First visit was mouthwatering, a party in your mouth & mostly extremely adorable. After such an amazing first visit we tried a second time just the other night and sadly were disappointed. The undercooked dumplings left us with stomach cramps, toilet visits and wasted food. Overall a great place but maybe we had bad batch. Won't be returning in a hurry.. The last day has definitely not been a party in our household (if you know what I mean) :)

Excellent dumplings for a great price. Minimalist outlet with some seating but wonderful for takeaways. Dumplings taste awesome and they have a good array of options. Cooked just right where the juices gush on the bite. I'm a sucker for the pork & fennel!<br/>Take away frozen if you wanna cook at home later!!!<br/>¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Wow,This is really the best dumplings in Auckland. Go check them out. Tiny little place, excellent service. Best for take away's. If you take frozen dumplings, you get an extra 5 for the same price so you can make it yourself at home.

Delicious,juicy dumplings. Tried several flavours and they were all incredible. Clean and tidy place with very friendly service. Will definitely be back again and may even buy some to take home for my freezer. Good value too!

By far far far the best dumplings I have ever eaten....anywhere!...the people are Uber friendly. It's just a cool wee place to visit. Value for money?...yep!

Great eatery with dumplings only. Modern atmosphere, great food, humble service. Go there early because dumplings sold out pretty quickly. Definitely recommended.

I have never tasted dumplings as great as the ones at Top Cafe. Seriously, do not hesitate to go in and order Frank's divine beauties. I must say the Pork and Coriander dumplings are my personal favourite and go so well with the soy and vinegar sauce. I didn't think 15 dumplings would fill me up (don't judge) but boyyyy was I wrong. Another reason I keep coming back is because these dumplings don't lack filling, like most places do. Another thing I love about this place is the colouring book they have available, talk about therapeutic. The staff are amazingly friendly and put a lot of love in their food, which is why I can't stay away.

probably the best dumplings you can get in nz! thats the best i've ever get. <br/>dine in or takeaway, hot or frozen ,you choose.<br/>much better than the dumpling restaurant on dominion rd.

Amazing dumplings, go check them out. Best I've had (ever). Nicely steamed and moist on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside, perfect. They burst perfectly when bit into.<br/> <br/>I was sceptical if we'd ordered enough but they are solid sized. Will be back very soon.

The BEST dumplings in Auckland Central, I'm still dreaming about them. If you're a dumpling lover you have to try them. A small cosy interior and completely unpretentious. They offer a simple menu of just dumplings, but they do them right. <br/><br/>They're fat little suckers and cooked to order, steamed then lightly fried. We tried the classic pork + chives. So good, you get a nice amount of juice with every bite. From $11 for 15, it's enough to fill a big eater, and you'll need to share if you've got a small appetite. They also sell them frozen to take home in packs of 20. <br/><br/>We got ours cooked but takeaway and they pop a generous container of soy chilli sauce in, it was the perfect amount for the serve. Annoying when the ratio's aren't right and you're left with a few sad sauceless dumplings at the end.<br/><br/>Service was friendly and fast. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavours. A must try!

I mean it no Eden noodle dumplings let's make that clear but bloody mean pan fried options. Pork and cabbage went off and we also got beef n carrot but tbh that was not the hero of the dish. Cute lil set up and the guy brought over some complimentary cucumber salad for us. They seemed to be out of quite a few flavours tho? Anyway 2 types definitely enough between 2. Yea I kno what I said..but u can thank me now lol

These dumplings are delicious! The place itself has great ambiance and run by friendly peeps. They have the option of eating in or takeaway and provide a takeaway container of soya sauce and chill if you so like. Overall the best dumplings in Auckland city to be had!

Used to be a regular here, even when Top Cafe was located at the old place. The dumplings are amazing, and a $11 plate is big enough to serve two people. Recommend their coriander dumpling and their juicy pork dumpling.

A few friends and I were looking for an easy reasonable eat in town. These dumplings are incredible - best in town. We tried the new vegan dumplings and they were perfect.

Some of the best dumplings in the Auckland! After returning from living in Asia, its been hard to find an amazing dumpling place here. After moving a few minutes away, the new place Top Cafe have is even more accommodating. The Pork/Cabbage dumplings are a favorite; thinnish dumpling skin with ample meat! Great steamed or fried. Will definitely come back here. Well worth a visit for every dumpling fan!