Helmand Restaurant

The 19 Best Dumplings In Chicago

"Two things are crucial to a dumpling success in life—the quality of its wrapper and its filling. But there’s another part of the equation that can help it transcend from being a dumpling to the dumpling: sauce. And the mantu from Albany Park Afghan spot, Helmand, fully understands this. They have a delicate wrapper and a peppery beef filling, but it’s the sauces that make them a mandatory addition to every order. They’re covered in a perfectly complementary combination of spicy tomato and cool mint yogurt sauce, and you’ll want to make good use of the table bread to wipe up whatever’s left even after the dumplings are long gone." - john ringor