Introduction to QXY Dumplings
WICKER PARK — QXY Dumplings, a Chinatown mainstay that’s become incredibly popular among Chicagoans and visitors alike over the past decade, is expanding to Wicker Park. Construction is underway on the restaurant’s second full-service location at 2018 W. Division St. QXY also runs a dumpling stand at the Time Out Market in the West Loop.
The Concept and Menu
The new location will in many ways be an expansion of the Chinatown restaurant at 2002 S. Wentworth Ave., but with a slowed-down pace and more refined vibe, general manager Jesse Li said in an interview Thursday. The Chinatown location will remain open. QXY has become known in Chicago for its boiled, steamed and pan-fried dumplings, with fillings like lamb and coriander, shrimp, pork and leek and wagyu beef and onion. The restaurant also stocks a wide range of teas and sells dumplings to-go, both freshly cooked and frozen.
The Meaning Behind QXY
QXY stands for Qing Xiang Yuan. Qing translates to “green,” while Xiang means “good food” and Yuan refers to a quaint place, according to its website.
Wine Pairings
In Wicker Park, Li said he plans on replicating much of QXY’s menu, but with a few additions — notably wine. He said he’s consulting with sommeliers to build a wine list and offer specific pairings with the restaurant’s famous dumplings. “It’s still QXY with dumplings, but we want to integrate it with wines,” Li said. “In the entire United States, there’s no wine dumpling pairing [restaurant].”
QXY Dumplings, 2002 S Wentworth Ave #103, in Chinatown. Credit: Quinn Myers/Block Club Chicago
History and Expansion
QXY started in 2014 in the Richland Center food court on Wentworth Avenue near Archer Avenue before moving upstairs to a standalone space the following year. It’s since become a destination for traditional Chinese dumplings. QXY opened a stand last year at the Time Out Market but management continued looking for another permanent location, Li said. He came across the building at 2018 W. Division St., previously El Bagel Cafe, and thought it would be a good fit for a North Side outpost.
Challenges and Opening Timeline
Li said the restaurant would ideally open in September or October. But that timeline may be delayed because of President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China, which has led to massive tariffs on many goods. That includes bamboo, which is a problem for Li as he tries to import dumpling steamers, furniture and decor and other bamboo products to Chicago to give the new restaurant an authentic feel. “Even the lamps we have right now are bamboo,” he said. “It’s a challenge.”
Pricing and Services
While Li may add some new menu items at the new location that could fetch higher prices than those at QXY’s Chinatown restaurant, all the dumpling prices will stay the same, he said. The new restaurant is larger than the original and will have five or six additional tables. It will also offer takeout, and unlike QXY in Chinatown it will have space to do delivery through third-party apps like Grubhub, DoorDash and others. “Over here, we don’t do the third party at all. We have to focus on the dining here. Over there, when it slows down, we can do the third party,” Li said.
Conclusion
QXY is the latest business to open or announce plans to open on the Division Street corridor between Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village. It’s located next door to tasting menu spot Valhalla. Down the street, a sushi restaurant is taking over the former Fifty/50 sports bar.
FAQs
- Q: What does QXY stand for?
A: QXY stands for Qing Xiang Yuan, where Qing translates to “green,” Xiang means “good food” and Yuan refers to a quaint place. - Q: What is unique about the Wicker Park location?
A: The Wicker Park location will offer wine pairings with its dumplings, a first in the United States. - Q: Will the Chinatown location remain open?
A: Yes, the Chinatown location will remain open. - Q: What is the expected opening timeline for the Wicker Park location?
A: The restaurant would ideally open in September or October, but this may be delayed due to the trade war with China. - Q: Will the menu prices change at the new location?
A: The dumpling prices will stay the same, but some new menu items might be added at higher prices.
