Din Tai Fung

The atmosphere may be charged, the service swift and gracious, but the main cause for queuing are the freshly steamed, piping hot, hand-made dumplings. Try soupy xiao long bao (porky Shanghai-style dumplings), prawn-and-pork shao mai (which look like mini volcanoes) and springy veg and pork steamed buns. Other fare is worth trying, too: drunken chicken, deboned and marinated in Chinese rice wine, sliced and served cold; thick, creamy sesame-flavoured dan dan noodle soup; and rich braised beef noodle soup. For dessert, try fried 'bread rolls': crunchy outside and thick, sweet red bean inside. Also at Westfield Sydney and The Star casino, Pyrmont.