Mrs Bun & Dumplings dishes out a variety of steamed buns, handmade dumplings and Chinese noodle dishes - and you will be delighted to know that they are priced affordably with sizable portions.
They have recently opened their third outlet in Three Kings, and among the interesting offerings on the menu are Tianjin-style breakfast dishes, lamb offal stew and jianbing.
One of its signature steamed buns is the Goubùli-style bāozi originating from Tianjin. Founded in 1858, Goubùli is one of China's longest-established brands, and each bun is traditionally made with eighteen folds.
They are filled with a mixture of ground pork, pork fat, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, ginger, salt, and cold water, which creates a savoury broth as the buns steam.
Once steamed and fully cooked, the goubùli bāozi are served hot.
Carlos Cheung, the local MP for Mt Roskill, is a fan of these dumplings and wrote in a post: “Their Goubùli steamed bun is a must-try - don’t miss it!”
Owner Sarah said her mother Yu Chao Ying, was a culinary tutor at Goubùli, and is one of the “highest qualified” there.
“My mother has always been so passionate about what she does, so when we moved here, it was only natural that we opened a business that would allow her to continue doing what she loves,” Sarah said.
“Our brand, Mrs Bun & Dumpling, which we opened in 2018, is actually a tribute to her. I sort of hired her after she retired so that she can help me, so it’s a win-win for both of us.”
Sarah said her mother continues to be actively involved with the business, especially in the training of new chefs and in quality control.
“Our food is very traditional Tianjin-flavoured, and the biggest difference between our handmade dumplings and buns is the skin, which is thinner and at the same time more fluffy and pillowy in texture,” she said.
“We make fresh buns and dumplings daily, and some of our chefs have decades of experience in making these authentic Chinese buns and dumplings.
The eatery offers great value for money with fried dumplings and pan-fried bun sets priced from just $9.80, and noodle dishes from $12.80.
Tianjin breakfast menu includes the double egg jian bing Chinese pancake ($9), deep fried youtiao dough sticks ($3), congee ($4) and handmade sesame pancake ($3.50).
Mrs Bun & Dumpling was first established in 2018 by Sarah and her husband, Wallace, who were originally from Tianjin.
Since then, they have set up a central kitchen and their second branch - Mrs Bun & Dumpling Express - in Henderson. They opened their third branch in Three Kings in August this year.
Their most popular handmade dumpling is the the pork mince, prawns & chives, Sarah said. Handmade steamed buns has flavours ranging from braised pork belly and chives, spicy beef with Sichuan pepper and vegan options filled with spicy enoki mushrooms & tofu, mushrooms & bokchoi and sweet red beans.
Diners can dig into the smooth skin filled with juicy pork in steaming hot broth wonton soup with egg ($12.80) or with Sichuan-style sauce ($12.80).
Add some vinegar and chilli for a better experience, and free self-serve soup of the day to balance the meal.
The pan-fried dumplings is served with a crisp golden-brown exterior with juicy fillings that also pop in the mouth.
If noodles are your thing, menu options range from hand-made Liangpi noodle salad, black bean gravy Zhajiangmian noodles and stir-fried noodles with a choice of vegetarian, chicken or a combination with prawn and chicken.
If value is what you’re after, one option is the Hunger Box - where you get 6 pan-fried buns, 15 pork & cabbage dumplings, 3 vegetarian spring rolls, 1 pork belly slider, a large scoop of chips and two canned drinks for $39.80.
Mrs Bun & Dumplings
540D Mt Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland
Tel: +64 9 6882696
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (7 days)
Online order: mrsbunanddumpling.co.nz
***This article is written in partnership with Mrs Bun & Dumpling. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
