Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday: 8.00am – 4.00pm
Friday: 8.00am – 6.00pm
The South Melbourne Market is one of Australia’s oldest, commencing operation in 1867. It is a very popular destination for Melbournians, offering a great range of fresh seafood, meat, fruits and vegetables. Stalls abound, selling everything from clothing and homewares, to foodstuffs and mobile phone accessories. One of the most famous stalls in this foodie hotspot is the one simply known as South Melbourne Market Dim Sims & Spring Rolls. Like the American Donut van in Victoria Market, the dimmie stall is a Melbourne institution, being in existence since 1949. As shown in the above picture, people travel from everywhere to queue for the stall’s bill of fare.
For those who are not familiar with the dim sim, it is a Chinese-inspired meat dumpling style snack that is sold in fish and chip and takeaway shops everywhere in Australia. It was made popular by William Wing Young, the father of Melbourne celebrity chef, Elizabeth Chong. Mr Young used to peddle the meaty treats at football games to compete with the meat pie. These days they are usually made by Marathon foods, or otherwise they are home-made, like the ones in South Melbourne.
Dimmies can be steamed or fried, and both varieties are proudly offered at this venerable institution. Ordering is a little Soup Nazi-ish – be sure to know which type you want, how many, and in separate bags or all in the same bag. Pay your cash; dimmies are $1.20 each. You must keep the line moving! After getting your little brown bag of treasures, help yourself to soy sauce or fiery chilli sauce, but keep the line clear!
It ain’t pretty and you’ll be guaranteed to make a tremendous mess whilst eating, particularly if they’re steamed and doused in soy and chilli sauce, like ours. Long time fans know to bring your own fork and napkins; otherwise you can avail yourself to washrooms that are just around the corner from the stall.
But my God, the taste! I hold in my hand a cricket-ball sized parcel of flavour, a combination of pork, mystery meat, cabbage and spices, all deliciously encased in perfectly steamed dumpling skin. The chilli sauce was a great accompaniment but go easy as it is so spicy it will make your lips tingle! If you are game, the stall sells bottles of this fiery condiment, as well as soy sauce. Also for sale are take-home frozen dim sims and spring rolls.
The original owner, Mr Ken Cheng, sadly passed away late 2006, but his legacy (and secret receipe) lives on through the Cheng family, who are keeping this institution well and truly alive.
thought i had better correct the spelling / punctuation…
i drove many miles to get some today from the south market. i have loved them for many years, but must say i was most disapointed today. not the familiar peppery tasting grey ish colour filling, it was almost brown with a slight orange colour and none of the familiar taste that i drove so far to get re-acqainted. the taste was odd and filling was dry.. i bought 2 fried and two steamed. again i say, i was most disapointed 18/11/09
3rd time lucky
john
November 18th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
thought i had better correct the spelling / punctuation…
i drove many miles to get some today from the south market. i have loved them for many years, but must say i was most disappointed today. not the familiar peppery tasting grey ish colour filling, it was almost brown with a slight orange colour and none of the familiar taste that i drove so far to get re-acqainted. the taste was odd and filling was dry.. i bought 2 fried and two steamed. again i say, i was most disappointed 18/11/09
FULL OF MSG _ ALMOST DIED!!!!
The boys and i ate some of these yummy ‘Dimmies’ on Easter Sunday. And Joels comment was they were delicious, and i must admit i thought they were fantastic myself.
Yummy….. Yum….. Yummo !!!!
not as good as they were before.
does anyone know how much protien % and cabbage % there is in them ?
Oh my goodness love these dim sims and spring rolls!! Does anyone know if they are sold in Sydney? I moved here 5 years ago and I miss them soooo much!!! Yummmm
Hello from the U.K I miss the south melbourne dimmy, l think it would do great over here ? Looking to get a recipe and found you guys . Trying to cook some up hope they turn out ok ?
The dimmies’ quality died with the original maker in 2006.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/market-loses-its-dim-sim-master/2006/09/22/1158431902575.html
I think the dimmy is still as good as it was 20 years ago ? Hope he went to the wright shop ?
Hi
The boss has asked me to put together some Dim Sims for the cafe in Shanghai (talk about taking coals to Newcastle)… Usually they are made with pork mince, cabbage, shallots, egg, light soy, sesame oil and pepper I think. Will play with this and amuse the hell out of my Chinese chefs I am sure….
Is there anything else that would make them similar to the original that I used to have when i was a kid growing up in Melbourne…?
Would appreciate the assistance..
Leigh
where else are sth melb dimmies for sale? jeff
you can buy them at a noodle shop in Tarniet (werribee) next to Sims shopping center corner Shaw & Tarniet rd.. cheers
Hi!
I lived in Melbourne some 12 years ago, and still dream of dimmies!! I wondered if anyone knows of a supplier in the UK? I have tried Southern Cross Deli, and the Australian shop, but they no longer stock them. I simply can’t believe there isn’t anywhere in this country that doesn’t have them! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
you can find them at Crackerjacks Take Away, Creswick Victoria *nom nom nom*
I have required a supply of these dimmies for years now. Without doubt they have changed not only in size but flavour since the original owner died. They are still better than any other dim sim on the market but lack some flavour compared to the original. They are sold in Werribee at Foodbiz next to the cemetery, they are frozen.
disappointing too salty, peppery and mushy….. Supermaket brands such as Marathon just as good in my view … or Chien Wah (no longer available?)
they were better 10 years ago … but still no where near the best dim sims (no longer available) from a Chinese restaurant in Echuca in the 70s