Formosa (Iowa City, IA)

When in Iowa, you obviously have to get sushi. I mean it does boarder the Mississippi, so you know it's going to be good. Whenever, you go get sushi, dumplings have to accompany it. It is a classic combination like peanut butter and jelly. 

Now Iowa, has already far and away surpassed everything I have thought. These dumplings did the same thing. I know again with the steamed, but beggars can't be choosers. The sauce was good, again your classic midwestern soy sauce combo (TM). The dumplings were spot on no complaints, the filling was nice, the size was perfect. Throw in the tropical Iowa weather and eating outside, and these dumplings knocked it out of the park. 

Iowa was a perfect 2 for 2 in the dumpling category, which is surprising granted that all four Iowans I know haven't even heard of them before. 

4.2 out of 5

Eric 

Final verdict if you are from the East Coast and have a spare 15 hours lying around and you want to experience a cool town known not just for their dumplings, it pains me to say this but Iowa City is pretty dope.

Dumpling Darling (Iowa City, IA)

I was feeling the urge to get back to dumpling basics, and with Tyuck already eating dumplings in Asia, there was only one place left for me to look. Someplace warm, a place where the beer flows like wine; where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Iowa City. 

So that's what I did. I treked out 15 hours to the land where some say dumplings were invented. I arrived in Iowa City pleasantly surprised with the surroundings. It was a cool, laid back kind of college town, a lot more going for it than just corn.

So I hopped into Dumpling Darling. This is nice low key little joint. I went traditional steamed. I know, I know fried dumplings are our bread and butter, but I had to get a pork filling so these guys were it.

The sauce was a classic midwest style soy sauce. I have no idea if that is a real thing so I am just going to roll with it. Dumplings were pretty good, I'll admit my expectations were not super high on anything Iowa, but I was mistaken. They were a solid dumpling that I would throw against anything from Chinatown in the city (New York City for anyone from the midwest reading who is wondering what I am talking about). 

Well done, Iowa. 

4.0 out of 5

Eric 

P.S. They might have been higher if I didn't leave Iowa without getting a "Not everything is flat in Iowa" shirt. Major mess up on my part. I should have been better. I'm sorry.