The Momo World:
The first up on the list is The Momo World. While the name may evoke images of roller coasters and a sweaty person dressed as a dumpling, Momo World is a counter-service restaurant in Chicago’s University Village that offers some of the city’s finest momos. It is not feasible to make a decision that will result in disappointment when it comes to momos.
The options range from the straightforward steamed or fried to the smokey tandoori momos with a crunchy pan-fried wrapper. There are variants with fillings like pork, chicken, vegetable, and fish, and depending on how the momos are baked, they can either have a gratifying chewy, or crispy feel. Although the space inside is somewhat limited, you are welcome to come with friends and create your own personalized momo tasting.
Lao Peng You:
This BYOB Chinese restaurant in the Ukrainian Village seems like a party at your friend’s studio apartment because of its size, the frequency with which it is crowded, and the loud music that blasts over the speakers. However, instead of an old bag of Chex Mix, you get amazing dumplings. We really enjoy the pork with chives or the mushroom dish that has a lot of umami in it.
They are served afloat in a fragrant, spicy, and sour soup that the sensitive wrapper is able to soak up, and they are sprinkled with sesame seeds and a generous amount of cilantro for added freshness. Due to the fact that they only produce a limited quantity each day, going for lunch is the greatest method to increase the likelihood that you will be able to secure any for yourself.
Dolo Restaurant & Bar:
While the restaurant’s traditional dim sum dishes are excellent, it is the restaurant’s creative dumplings that compel us to return to this posh Chinatown location. The first item on the menu that you absolutely have to get is fried shrimp and leek dumplings. These dumplings have the appearance of miniature replicas of the flying saucers that the government doesn’t want you to know to exist.
They feature a thin and crispy wrapper, and the inside is stuffed with bits of fish that have a salty flavor. In addition, the large chunks of shrimp that are included in our second favorite dish, the shrimp and corn dumplings, are a highlight for us. The maize and carrot filling contributes some sweetness to the overall profile, which is complemented by the delicate wrapper that has just a hint of crispiness.
Monteverde:
The pasta at Monteverde is considered by many to be among the very finest in the city. And their ravioli, which consists of a single huge pasta pocket filled with a runny egg yolk in the middle, is not an exception. But apart from the actual pasta, what makes it fascinating is the fact that it swings through stages like an adolescent who has recently become obsessed with Manic Panic.
Since of this, one time you might find it topped with truffles, and the next time you might find it covered with pomegranate seeds because the seasons govern what will be served with it. In either case, this spaghetti chameleon is an absolute must-order item at any restaurant.
Jibek JoluIf:
The last on the list is Jibek JoluIf. If you were to receive one dollar for each Kyrgyz restaurant in Chicago, you would only end up with a total of two dollars because, as far as we are aware, there are only two of these businesses. However, we are firm believers that quality should take precedence over the number, and this Lincoln Square sit-down restaurant with a cozy decor resembling a yurt serves dumplings that make us want to form a fan club.
We recommend the many, which is the size of a hacky sack, or the fried vareniki, which are loaded with mashed potatoes and are perfect for sharing with a large party. In addition to that, they offer a wonderful beef pelmeni appetizer that is covered with garlicky sour cream that may be shared, but you will probably want to keep it all to yourself.