29 Nine 99 Yum Cha & Tea House in New South Wales

"This is always a favourite for us. We travel over from Mudgee 4-5 times a year and recommend it to the guests of our BnB. Good fresh food. Simple menu. Friendly service. The building is a quirky old hotel with extra seating out the back in a separate building or yard. We always grab a few extra fresh dumpling for home as well. This won’t disappoint. Can get busy on weekends so u might want to book ahead just in case. This is freshly made steamed Yum Cha. I notice a few people ask for something fried. But there aren’t other cooked options."

"Review from an ABC - this is yum cha as a set menu - chefs choice only. Ie no trolleys of food. Only dumplings and bao here. Seems like they make the dumpling fresh and the flavours are unique too. No other foods like chicken feet and cakes here. Food is great here. The wait not so much. Highly recommend booking in advance if possible. There is a good range of ceramics and tea on the menu. I would come back here if we were in the area. Highly recommend the zhong zhi and the lotus seed bun. Flavour is perfect."

"Amazing! The dumplings are high quality and wonderful flavour combinations. Personal favourite was pork with fennel, but the vegetatrian options were equally delicious. Enjoyed lunch in the garden, but you can also sit inside if you prefer the shade."

"We’re flying down back roads at 100kmph heading to a dumpling lunch in Rylstone. The town is somewhere between Lithgow and Mudgee, closest neighbour Kandos. Its streets are lined with historic buildings made using blocks hewn from sandstone. The oddly named 29 nine 99 - Yum Cha and Tea House is no exception: it occupies one end of the former Bridge Hotel, a heritage-listed pub which opened in 1871. It’s an incongruous place for a Chinese dumpling and tea house, but here we are, sitting on the verandah sipping oolong tie guan yin, watching the odd car pass by on the quiet main drag. I’ll give it to Na Lan, not only does she pleat up a beautiful array of hand-made dumplings, she’s also solved how best to eat them! Unlike Sydney restaurants where you have to buy dumplings by the plate, here you pick the number of dumplings you wish to eat—we chose ten ($36.80)—and ten different ones arrive in arrangements of three or four. The price also includes tea—I chose dan chong, a semi-fermented oolong tea that aids digestion—and a savoury or dessert bun to finish. Of the dumplings I was most impressed with the flavoursome prawn, garlic and spinach, and the unusual turmeric-heavy chicken, coriander and carrot. Crescent-shaped BBQ duck dumplings were another winner. The finishing pork bun, its interior rich and syrupy with shiitake mushrooms, was another standout, eclipsing my lotus leaf wrap. If you’re not into tea, a short list of wines lets you road test the locals. Keeping it in Rylstone, the De Beaurepaire La Comptess Chardonnay ($46) is an affable and well-priced daytime dumpling companion wine. We spent $130 all up including a tip and would return if we found ourselves near Rylstone."

"Guys please dont miss this exotic dumpling restaurant in a magnificent small town. Unexpected flavours and dish. They guided us on what to order according to our taste buds. Love you all. All three of us who dined enjoyed the melting flavour of dumpling and selection of sauce available. Deserts extravaganza was great. Its like the dishes talk to you on every bite. Loved it and the ambience was great. Heritage at its best!!"

"Enjoyed our dim sum delights today. Thankyou to the chef and team for a very enjoyable brunch. We recommend this tucked away tea garden for a unique and relaxing experience."

"My brother in law recommended this place. Apparently people come from town to eat here. Fantastic food. Great variety. Great atmosphere. Would totally recommend."

"This cosy restaurant has the nicest dumplings I have ever eaten! Home cooked to perfection! The owner is just lovely and she’s so friendly. The atmosphere is very relaxing featuring old world charm."