Shanghai Street

Forget the plane ticket to China. That queue snaking down James Street? Totally justified. Perth’s dumpling devotees happily wait it out for this spot’s elite, unapologetically authentic comfort food. Steaming bamboo baskets of fresh xiaolongbao—delicate wrappers giving way to rich, savory soup. A fiercely good house chilli oil that elevates everything it touches. The braised beef noodle soup hits hard on chilly days—deep, warming broth packed with tender meat and perfectly chewy strands. Throw in massive, table-filling portions of fried rice, crispy fried pork, and wildly inventive bites like sticky rice shui mai or salted egg dumplings. Fast, bustling, and brilliantly efficient. Grab a table, order the peanut and sesame wontons, and dig in.