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Taste of Iowa City returns with new players, sustained quality
Here are a few new things to try downtown
Aug. 29, 2025 1:34 pm, Updated: Sep. 2, 2025 3:23 pm
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IOWA CITY — Each year, the paradox of choice is on full display in the seat of Johnson County as one of the Iowa City Downtown District’s annual signature events convenes.
This year, 42 restaurants in the downtown and Northside neighborhoods showed up for Taste of Iowa City on Aug. 27.
It’s like going to Costco on Saturday, except the food is usually good and can’t be purchased in bulk.
If you’re looking for quality over quantity, here’s what caught my eye this year.
1. Gyoza and Fried Rice by Paper Crane
These were two separate items, but I’ll be evaluating them as one given how they interacted together.
Tender dough with primped al dente edges are held together as gracefully as the free paper cranes they were handing out. The edges are not dried out and crunchy, as gyoza and pot stickers are often prone to.
Inside, pigs do fly as the soft pork takes flight on the wings of cabbage and sweet soy sauce. Sweet and salty play pingpong, bouncing between the wings.
The fried rice is well cooked with not just hints of egg, but entire chunks so large that I thought they were pieces of chicken. I can’t remember the last time I saw that.
The fried rice is mixed with sweet corn, and in Iowa, I’m reticent to say that I’m not usually a fan of sweet corn. But here, it complements the flight crew, alongside edamame.
By now, it’s no secret that Paper Crane has impressed me on multiple occasions. I’m here to confirm that their streak continues — and that kind of consistency is so important for restaurants.
2. Smoked Peach Salad by Pullman Bar & Diner
Peaches & Herb are back for a farewell tour before summer draws to a close.
This dish was simply listed by its ingredients: smoked peach, heirloom tomato, pickled snack peppers, burrata and croutons from Local Crumb bread. I’m going to call it a delightfully elevated fruit salad — one made, for once, without marshmallows and grapes.
A few bites of this satiates my stomach, satisfies my sweet tooth and appeases my salty tooth in a multisensory experience that is virtually guilt-free.
That’s unusual.
3. Peach Shaken Iced Tea by Kindred
While we’re at it, let’s get the other peachy winner out of the way.
A thick peach base is put into a cocktail shaker and shaken into a froth before the cup is poured.
A buoyant aroma is followed by a big bounce of jasmine in the first sip, putting a pep in my step. The drink is balanced, aromatic and light. The perfect refreshment in its category.
And considering the market for beverages at Taste of Iowa City, it’s an effervescent standout — a personality that’s aloof and distinct.
4. Dubai Strawberries by Tspoons Cafe and Treats
Thanks to viral TikTok videos and social media trends, we cannot escape the Dubai pistachio trend sweeping chocolate bars, fruit cups and other sweets across the nation.
But if you’re going to indulge in the trend, this is a good option.
Juicy strawberries, a semi-dark chocolate and a crunchy, crushed pistachio paste are all held together by a marriage of near opposites.
The pistachios are crunchy, salty and add a nice accent to the chocolate and strawberries. The flavor from the nuts isn’t overwhelming, either.
This presents in lovely colors, in contrast to some of the local creations I’ve seen from vendors trying to capitalize on the trend.
5. Fainting Cow Slider by Iowa Chop House
A hearty appearance in a petite burger.
Robust beef is introduced by a peppery, Sriracha aioli that doesn’t come off too strong. With a name like “Fainting Cow,” I was expecting more, but I’m not mad at it.
The beef is well seasoned and the bun is buttered and toasted. These details matter in a type of food that is a dime a dozen.
Jalapeno adds a little crunch and kicks it up a notch as you get familiar with everyone.
Overall, it gives the vibes of a welcoming but not overstimulating backyard barbecue — some parts familiar, some parts relatively new.
I still think the Wilder’s sliders from last year edge this out, but it’s a decent option to have.
6. Muffuletta by Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar
Served warm, each bite of Ciabatta delivers pieces of an Italian fusion with roots in New Orleans.
Olive tapenade lines it with salty bites slightly soaked by the soft bread, giving staccato accents to the thinly sliced salami and cheese.
Further in, the cheese takes a more dominant role. The bread wipes the sweat off the salami’s greasy brow.
It’s relatively basic in comparison to other options nearby, like the Italiano sandwich from Baroncini. But it’s still decent.
7. Southern Style Pierogi by The Dandy Lion
It’s a new take on pierogies with chicken, mashes potatoes and corn inside deep-fried dough.
The shell is crispy and golden, with a soft bite underneath an audible crunch. The flavor is comfortable and familiar, no matter your geographic origins.
But there are a couple things holding this back from being ideal.
The gravy had a strange greenish and grayish hue to it. I ate this at the beginning of Taste of Iowa City, and the gravy was already cold and congealed. It took a lot of stirring to bring it to life enough for me to sample.
The flavor inside was average to good, but the ingredients inside weren’t distinct from one another. I didn’t taste much chicken — mostly mashed potatoes and a couple kernels of corn.
Better luck next year.
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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