By ANNA USHER

One of the lower north shore’s most well-known Asian restaurants has announced its shock closure after just three years.

Mr Yip, the popular dumpling house run by owner and chef Kirk Yip, will serve its renowned Yum Cha dishes for the last time on September 28.

The news was announced on social media, where Mr Yip thanked the community for its patronage since 2022.

“It’s time to say goodbye to everyone,” the statement read, “We are deeply thankful to the colleagues, friends, customers and family members who lent us a hand during difficult times.

“Your kindness has carried us through many challenges.”

Uncompromising freshness and local ingredients have been the secret to Mr Yip’s success, along with an extensive menu offering a long list of dumplings and traditional Chinese-style dishes.

As news of the closure spread, social media was peppered with tributes from loyal local customers.

“What in the name of God? This is such sad news,” regular customers Aaron Di Pietro and Aimee Peters wrote on Facebook.

“The Xiao Long Bao is the best in Sydney, so where will we go now?” another said.

“Such sad news. Mr Yip is our favourite in Neutral Bay. All the best for whatever your next adventure is,” another wrote.

An experienced dumpling master, Yip spent 10 years cooking in Hong Kong, then Singapore, before coming to Australia, where he worked at Lotus Dining before opening his Neutral Bay eatery.

In a final message to the community, he said the closure was due to family reasons.

“Sunday, September 28, will be our last day of service,” Mr Yip said.

“Until then, we will continue to prepare every meal with care and dedication, and we warmly invite you to visit us once again.”

If you would like to book a table, please send a message to Mr Yip’s team on 0422 949 251.