Oriental Teahouse, South Yarra: Handmade Dumplings and House-Blended Teas on Chapel Street

In Shanghai, the saying goes, teahouses are where life happens. They are loud, bustling places filled with aroma, conversation and laughter, where people come together over a pot of tea. At 455 Chapel Street, South Yarra, Oriental Teahouse brings that spirit to Melbourne. Inspired by the timeless traditions of Shanghai's tea houses, it describes itself as very much a tea house for Melbourne, and for more than 20 years it has been welcoming diners with warmth, sound and flavour.

From one bag to a Chapel Street institution

The story begins with owner David Zhou. With a background in herbal medicine, David first came to Melbourne from Shanghai as a traveller with very little and one bag of belongings. He soon found a home in the city and, in the 1990s, opened a quaint teashop on Chapel Street selling quality Chinese teas and his own signature blends, each with its own beneficial purpose.

The South Yarra Teahouse opened in 2003, and the business says it was one of the first restaurants in Melbourne to introduce yum cha served with tea. Since then Oriental Teahouse has opened in the Melbourne CBD and in Brunswick for takeaway, but the Chapel Street venue remains a staple spot for locals and tourists alike.

Teas blended by the founder

Tea is still at the heart of the restaurant. Each signature blend is hand-crafted by David, who has dedicated his life to understanding the holistic properties of different teas. One of his favourites, the Relaxing Tea, is a blend of liquorice root, wolfberry, peppermint, red dates and ginseng, created to cool down and bring balance to the body. Signature house-blended teas rotate daily in the heart of the venue for tea tasting, alongside around 20 hot and cold brews on the menu.

In the Shanghai tradition, the tea is poured equally into each cup, symbolising equality for everyone at the table. It is a small ritual that sets the tone for a shared meal.

Dumplings made by masters

Dim sum, or dian xin, translates as "touch of the heart", and Oriental Teahouse calls its dumplings authentic and delicious parcels of joy. They are handmade with care by dumpling masters who, the business says, have more than 100 years of experience between them. The menu has all the classics, such as har gow and shu mai, alongside more playful dishes like chilli wagyu beef dumplings in "magic" chilli oil and white chocolate tang yuan with coconut and peanut praline.

A few house favourites are XO prawn and scallop dumplings, roast duck dumplings with plum sauce, and ginger prawn dumplings. On special days such as Mother's Day and Lunar New Year, traditional yum cha trolleys roam the venue with more than 40 dishes. Teapot cocktails and a curated list of local and international wines complete the table.

Celebrations and functions

Oriental Teahouse is a popular place for a celebration. From intimate gatherings to bigger parties, the team helps groups find food and drink packages to suit, and an on-site function coordinator takes care of the details. The signature teas can also be ordered for delivery at home or in the office, and the venue runs regular midweek specials, which are listed on its website.

Visit Oriental Teahouse

Find Oriental Teahouse at 455 Chapel Street, South Yarra. To book a table or plan a function, call the South Yarra venue or email chapel@orientalteahouse.com.au.

Contact

Oriental Teahouse South Yarra
455 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141
Phone: (03) 9826 0169
Email: chapel@orientalteahouse.com.au
Website: orientalteahouse.com.au
Hours: See website for current opening hours

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