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    Paper Crane

    4.2 (28 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

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    PAPER CRANE ATMOSPHERE

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    Impressive win!
    Cathy C.

    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!

    Negi Shoyu
    Nicole S.

    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.

    Melissa L.

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

    Kimchi ramen
    Meredith L.

    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!

    Tankotsu Shio
    MaryAnn S.

    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.

    Kimchi ramen
    Celie K.

    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!

    Simple Salad
    Jenni H.

    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!

    Tom Z.

    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.

    Alexandra O.

    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!

    Zafyre S.

    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!

    Menu
    Jacquelyn M.

    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.

    Ramen with chicken cutlet and soy egg
    Emin D.

    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.

    Cailing L.

    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!

    My girlfriends seat in the corner

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    2 months ago

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

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    5 months ago

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    3 days ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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

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    Ask the Community - Paper Crane

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    Paper Crane - ramen - Updated May 2026

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