Canberra’s first ever cheeseburger dumplings available at Momoda

If you are craving something a little bit different for dinner, something that will leave you curious and inspired, then look no further than Momoda.

This Chinese eatery fuses traditional Asian flavours with popular Western delights to create one heck of a hybrid menu.

Front-of-House manager, Irean says that Momoda is simply a place where people can experience traditional food in very unconventional ways. From items such as pulled duck to cheeseburger dumplings, the menu at Momoda will transport you to a modern China, one with a trendy, Western twist.

Irean uses Momoda’s signature fried rice as an example:

“Our signature fried is very different from traditional fried rice that you may know. It is more of a risotto style. It includes baby corn, and then we have shitake mushroom, beans, shallots, and fermented olives. These are all the things you can taste inside. It’s a vegetarian dish with caviar on top. We are very proud of that.”

Momoda prides itself on a menu that is unlike other Chinese eateries in Canberra. Take the pulled duck and kangaroo spring roles for example:

“The pulled duck is interesting and is something that has only just launched. Previously we used roast duck, but roast duck is everywhere, and a lot of people use pulled pork, and so we tried to do something with both. The bun is also a milk bun. But for those seeking dairy-free options, we actually do it with the lotus leaf bun.

“Then we have the kangaroo spring rolls, it’s different and everyone loves it. It’s a must-try. If you eat meat you definitely will order that. I mean you have that [authentic] kangaroo taste but it’s delicate and balanced.”

One of the reasons Momoda is turning heads in the Capital is due to its diversity. Momoda offers a large selection of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

“We try to cater to people with dietary requirements. Like the Cauliflower San Choy Bowl is a very interesting dish. It is actually vegetarian and gluten-free as well. Everyone loves it. It’s kind of meaty with the cauliflower and the satay sauce made with peanuts. It’s very interesting and people always think ‘seriously this is vegetarian?’”

This saucy cauliflower creation is indeed a little ‘different’ and not heavy on the stomach at all even though it is deep-fried. It’s bound to be a crowd pleaser for both veggie and non-veggie lovers.

But perhaps Momoda’s most delicate items are the cheeseburger dumplings. With a soft traditional dough on the outside encapsulating that cheesy goodness on the inside, it brings a new meaning to the word ‘fusion’.

Irean says that people get particularly surprised by these curious little balls of dough.

“[People] come in and try the dumplings and are shocked that they taste just like cheeseburgers! I always say, ‘what did you expect, a cheeseburger dumpling that doesn’t taste like cheeseburgers or one that does?’”

Combining those traditional Asian flavours that we love into Western delights that we are familiar with is Momoda’s signature. This also includes late night bar snacks on Friday and Saturday nights served after 10 pm. They mirror snacks that people would traditionally order at any bar in Canberra and include the cheeseburger dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, noodles and fried rice.

It’s a simple equation that Irean says Momoda loves to solve,

“A lot of people go for drinks and then they get hungry and they go somewhere to find some food. So, we want to cater to that [in one place]. You go to a bar late at night and you will be offered maybe chicken wings and hot chips. So, we try to offer that but in a different way.”

Opening Hours: Momoda is open Monday through to Wednesday for lunch from 12 pm – 2:30 pm and for dinner from 5 pm – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday from 12 pm – late, and Saturdays 12 pm – 3 pm for lunch and 5 pm – 12 am for dinner.

Address: Ground Floor – Melbourne Building, 39-47 Northbourne Ave.

Find out more by visiting the website, or follow Momoda on Facebook and Instagram.