Dumpling Night at et al. Tulsa

Dumpling making is ingrained in my blood. The skill has been passed down for generations within my family line. What’s even more ingrained in our souls is dumpling eating. From chicken and shrimp dumplings to the new vegetable dumplings on our family menu after my dad became vegan, my family's diet consists of 30% dumplings. This past Thanksgiving, instead of the traditional meal you see in most American households, my mother’s side of the family decided to make wontons together.

There’s something about coming together around a table, carefully spooning filling into wrappers, folding each packet of edible gold into perfection, that makes a dumpling so much more satisfying than any other dish. However, this task takes time and skill. As we approach the winter season, I am in search of a restaurant that will provide a similar “homemade” factor for days I don’t feel like making dumplings myself.

On a rainy Wednesday night, I attended et al.’s weekly pop-up, Dumpling Night, at Foolish Things Coffee Downtown alongside two of the most experienced dumpling connoisseurs I know - my brother and my dad. As we tasted selected dishes off the Dumpling Night menu, I rated each dish based on price and taste.