Ramen is Overpriced, over-salted, overrated. (Gyoza is good and my wife loves the katsu curry, however).

It had been awhile since we have visited Paper Crane, but it never disappoints. I am a creature of habit, so I was a bit nervous when I saw the menu had changed. Luckily I knew I couldn't go wrong so I closely reviewed the options and landed on the Maepo Tofu. My husband decided to go with the Kimchi ramen. We went with a tried and true woodear mushroom appetizer which never disappoints. The bonus of this appetizer is any leftovers just get added to the ramen I didn't finish for leftovers at home. Cheers yet again to Paper Crane for delivery on amazing food for a long overdue date night! read more

See all

The best chicken curry rice bowl I have ever had. Service is always great but the curry was amazing.

We enjoyed lunch at this beautiful restaurant. We both tried ramen bowls- one chicken and one vegetable. Both were delicious and filling. One of the owners was our server and was very friendly and asked if we had questions. We will be back to try the cocktails in the speakeasy bar soon! read more

See all

This is the best ramen place I have ever been to. Service? Great. Ramen? Phenomenal. Even has a cutie little lounge for a date night if you just want drinks! Obsessed is an understatement. read more

Paper Crane - Negi Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Yummy food, great ambience. The server was really attentive and informative. Excited to come back and try more! read more

Paper Crane - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I discovered this spot through Midwest Living; the food lived up to the recommendation. The appetizer game was the highlight: the gyoza were tasty, and the kimchi cucumbers were so good we ordered a second round. While the tuna tataki was decent, the table consensus was that it was just okay. For mains, the steak special was served at a perfect medium-rare, and the chicken ramen was flavorful; however, after tasting the pork broth, I would likely switch to that on a return visit. The That Green Gentleman cocktail was smoky and boozy: I suggest asking for the lounge cocktail menu early since it was not offered initially. The space is trendy and modern, though the seating is a bit incongruous: we were a group of four at a communal table next to another family. For a full-service restaurant, it felt more like a layout for a counter-service spot. Our server was pleasant, though it was occasionally difficult to catch them during busier stretches. Overall, it was a yummy experience and worth the visit. read more

Been to Paper Crane twice now and in total got the tonkatsu ramen, gyoza, Tori skewers, Kimchi ramen, and Mazesoba. The dumplings were soft with pork filling and the perfect crispy, light skirt! That little sauce on the side was a delightful savory and salty combo. Tonkatsu broth was flavorful, decent amount of noodles, and soft pork belly fast paced place with fast service⁣! The first time I went it just opened which was busy and sat pretty close to my neighbor. The second time I sat outside and was much quieter and also not as hoppin since several months into opening. My favorite ramen so far is tonkatsu but the Mazesoba was a good switch during the summer and had wonderful flavor and the creamy egg blended with the noodles. I'd definitely come back again to keep trying broths but will probably have to order extra pork belly if it doesn't come with it because I love it! read more

See all

There's a place less than a year that is full of Japanese customs down to the presentation of authentic dishes such as "Chashu Bowl" (Steamed Rice, Japanese Mustard Greens, Roasted Pork Belly and other strips of tasty vegetables) as well as "Tonkatsu" (Pork Belly in a Rich Soupy Sauce full of Noodles El Dente) and a Milk Bun for dessert that was beyond delicious. The Wok Master brought all the Japanese flavors to life. My wait staff -- Sophia -- explained the details of every dish as well as offering small trivia about the restaurant that made you appreciate the exquisite food touches, seating and decor if you are an amateur to this culture. A side room is made for small interactive gatherings from slide seminars-- musical settees or a gathering of friends. This place is an upscale affair that takes you on a trip to Japan without leaving your home base. read more

See all

SO AWESOME! A Negroni inspired cocktail was delicious, the kimchi ramen had everything awesome about tonkotsu plus yummy ramen was everything I could ever ask for. Yay paper crane! read more

Paper Crane - Kimchi ramen - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Big city atmosphere, top notch food, fabulous staff-- Paper Crane has it all. I popped over on a cold Thursday night right when they opened (they don't take reservations) and was seated right away, looking into the kitchen. Our server was very knowledgeable and didn't hesitate to give recommendations. The food came out as it was prepared and everything from the pork goyza to the simple salad, the Tonkotsu Shio to the Chicken Katsu Curry was DIVINE. I can't get over how perfectly cooked the chicken katsu was and how absolutely comforting it was. The goyza was also a star for me, that spicy soy was perfect. Additionally, the sake menu was on point. Seating is limited, so big groups may have to wait. Parking is always hit or miss on the North Side. Pricing seemed on par. The attention to detail at Paper Crane is amazing. (I loved the ceramic paper crane on every place setting. But it gave me 'The Bear' vibes when in the last season they brought in 'The Computer' to determine how to cut costs. I feel he'd ask why waste money on them? But that Carmy would insist.) But guys, A LOUNGE lives here. It gives mad speakeasy vibes with dimmed lights, dreamy crane wallpaper, limited modern seating-- all hidden behind a red velvet curtain. It features a different food menu than the dining room as well as a robust drink menu. I ordered the For the Graham cocktail and was not disappointed. Our server was fab, too. Overall, Paper Crane is a welcomed addition to IC and I can't wait to go again! read more

See all

We went on a double couple dinner date. We were seated at a long table with other diners. Tiny dining room but relatively quiet and very comfortable and beautiful. Started with the mushroom tempura. It was delicious (think morels - not bar food breaded mushrooms). It was very salty though. Next, my hubs and I ordered tonkatsu shio. It was PERFECTION! Creamy and delicious! Huge portions! I have enough for two more meals leftover. Our friends chose mazesoba and a cold noodle dish I can't remember. They both enjoyed them very much! My husband decided to order the milk bun dessert. It was cold and delightful and the nuts were perfect. The service was exceptional. Attentive without being cloying. We'll definitely be back! read more

Worst Ramen Ever--Chef Belongs in Jail! We went to Paper Crane Ramen to try their food... huge mistake! First off, there's no parking, so you might as well just park at home and start walking now. When we finally got inside, the waitress looked like she just woke up from a nap she did not want to wake up from. No smile, no energy, and definitely no "How's your food?" (Probably because she already knew the answer: bad). Now, let's talk about this so-called ramen. Cold noodles, salty broth, and ingredients that looked like they had given up on life. The egg? Oh boy. It was so raw, I swear it was about to hatch. I didn't know I signed up for a surprise pet chicken with my meal. And for this disaster? They charge crazy high prices! If I wanted to throw money away, I'd rather launch it off a bridge--it would be more fun and less disappointing. Honestly, the chef back there should be arrested for food crimes. Maybe even put on a government watchlist. Do yourself a favor--save your money, eat instant noodle at home (trust me, it's much better than their ramen) and spare your taste buds from this tragedy. read more

Paper Crane - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

What a delicious addition to Iowa City's restaurant scene. This cozy yet trendy spot opened just in time for Iowa's chilly weather... and I can't wait to try more from their menu. We came here early on a Friday night for dinner and were seated right away at the counter facing the windows. I love the attention to detail in the decor. From the ceramic paper cranes in each spoon to the wood paneling that gives the feel of actually dining inside an origami masterpiece. My date and I both ordered the Tantanmen noodles (I see "sichuan," I order it) but I think I'll try the Tonkatsu noodles next time. I wasn't a huge fan of the texture of the mince. This is nit-picky, but I wish the soy egg had been split in half. It was difficult to eat whole without using extra utensils. I docked a star due to some service issues. Our server had a hard time explaining the sake options, which came off as trying to upsell. When the soups came to the counter, another server spilled some on my leg, which was pretty uncomfortable. But I understand accidents happen. I'm very excited to return to Paper Crane. There are many items on the menu (that are less susceptible to spillage) that I'd like to try! read more

See all

Stopped in for lunch the day after Christmas. Everything was delicious, we started with edamame, had a kimchi "sample", then on to the creamy pork ramen, dumplings and chicken curry. EVERYTHING was delicious! read more

Amazing food. Coming from Los Angeles where ramen places are abundant, this place would compete with any of them. Really happy to have this comfort food here in Iowa City. read more

Birthday cake charge fee = $5, no birthday treat special but they have candles you can use....lounge seating is awkward and the upstairs noise was insane. ALSO, they were out of so many flavors and food items at 6PM ON A WEDNESDAY.......how does this happen?? Like??? The place was not busy when we went, so how was everything out? From the terrible seating, horrid lighting, to the weird pricing and fees....I'll stand with my first review! read more

My husband and I LOVE this place! Nothing better than a warm, savory bowl of ramen on a cold iowa city night. The ramen bowls are huge and so filling. The flavors are super authentic and rich. The inside feels so cool and modern. I haven't been to any place like this in Iowa City thus far. Everyone was so kind and we usually get sat pretty immediately unless it's like a Friday night at 5pm lol I also love that you can see the chefs looking over the counter. This place is a date night staple for us! read more

See all

Paper crane did it again! Haven't been here in about 6 months since they last opened. We booked a reservation through Resy but they were pretty open on a Thursday night. The only con is the hostess tried to sit us right next to a giant party which we quickly asked if we could please be sat at a different spot. She agreed to let us sit near the kitchen where we could see the chefs cook which was cool! We were disappointed to see the ramen we ordered last time was gone, but we got the gyoza, karage sliders and their tonkotsu with extra spicy. It was delicious. The tonkotsu was very rich but delicious! The gyoza has that nice crispy layer so you know it's good. Karage sliders were better than the plain karage we had last time. Highly recommend for some good food and good time! We want to check out the speakeasy next time. Ambiance in the restaurant part is cool and has red background lighting. read more

See all

Best Ramen spot in Iowa City. Sweet and simple and the service is top notch. A little pricy that comes with high end ingredients and an amazing atmosphere. read more

Paper Crane - Ramen with chicken cutlet and soy egg - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I want to preface this with saying that I've spent a considerable amount of time in Japan. I was excited to finally have a place that has okonomiyaki and it was decent. However, the rest of the food my spouse and I got (karaage, chicken katsu curry, kimchi noodles and the milk bun dessert) is basically extremely overpriced food court-style food in Japan. In that regard I'd say it's somewhat authentic, but just funny when considering the price and vibe/location. It was fine, I just wouldn't go out of my way to go back. read more

yummy food and wonderful service. Just the designated ramen spot that Iowa city needs! Tried the Tonkatsu, shoyu ramen, tantanmen and they are all delicious. we will be back! read more

See all

If food quality was the only consideration this place would definitely get 5 stars. I had the Tantanmen which was the perfect blend of spicy and savory. My girlfriend had the tonkotsu and the pork belly was delicious. This dish was heartier and savory. For an app we got the okonomiyaki. Sweet and salty goodness. Only complaint with the food is the dish had a little to much sauce. The ingredients were stars on their own and a little overpowered by the sauce. Industry Baby 5/5 Negroni 4/5 Tantanmen 5/5 Tonkotsu 5/5 Okonomiyaki 4/5 Now the reason I can't give it 5 stars, the restaurant is very crowded. When we got drinks in the lounge before, the people on both sides were so closely packed in it was a little uncomfortable. Then we went to the main dining area and my girlfriend was sat in a the corner with nothing to look at but me or the walls. And the majority of the seats were like that. They either had long tables where you would be sat right next to strangers or stuck in a weird corner like we were. They also played music that didn't fit the vibe. They only had cold sake. They did do well with the paper crane theme. They had crane chopstick holders and origami cranes. I think they will figure out how to deliver a better experience but it's a newer place and they aren't quite there yet. read more

See all

Food was excellent. I had the Tantanmen with extra noodles. Very good. I'd order again. Daughter loves the wood ear mushroom salad and the milk buns for dessert. Overall good stuff that you will enjoy. Can get quite busy so expect a wait. Have a sake at the bar.....crew is very friendly and helpful. read more

First time. Ordered tokonsu shia. The noodles were very good, the broth very bland. My ramen was not very hot, which we could tell by the server carrying the bowls bare handed. Service was sufficient and our server was good at answering questions. The music was far too loud, and the bench seating lends itself to noisiness. If you want to converse while eating, try somewhere else. Wine in a can? No thanks read more

Best ramen in area! Wonderful service! Communal table takes some getting used to -- might want to go in the off hours.

I have had really good food experience with paper crane last few weeks when I heard it was open as a new Japanese restaurant. I got some paper napkins and paper cranes when I finished my meal and no staff tell me it is not okay to get paper napkins and paper cranes. Then one time I went into the restaurant the manager told me I was STEAL their PAPER napkins and paper cranes from them. And for treat me impolitely they also said they had the video camera. I told them I need to talk with the owner, but the manager refused. It is totally a 100% bias, I was mistreated as a theft without any fair notice once I get napkins from the desk. They questioning my dignity without communication. The manager is impolite, and the staff is unwelcome for me. It was a disaster to experience this unfair treatment from a good food restaurant. It is unworthy to go anymore. Also the meat in the pork noodle ramen is becoming less than before. I don't think it worth the price of it. Comparing with other restaurants' service, it is terrible. The manager and the owner told me they READ my comment here so they reject to serve me. It is totally arrogant and disrespectful to treat a customer who doesn't know their untold rules of the restaurant, and this service is terribly unprofessional. read more

The food was great and the decor was cool. The staff were equally great. .