10/31/2026
Celebrating two years of Paper Crane.
A restaurant is never just one person's vision. It's the people who bring it to life, the teamwork behind every service, and the relationships that help an idea grow into something real.
As Paper Crane celebrates its second anniversary, we're grateful for the entire team whose hard work, creativity, and care have shaped these first two years. We also want to share the story of how Paper Crane came to be, beginning with Chef Ed and an idea that grew into something much bigger.
MEET ED
Born in Iowa City in 1997 and raised in Malaysia, Ed grew up surrounded by food and the role it plays in bringing people together. He began cooking at 15 or 16, and after returning to Iowa City in 2015, worked in local kitchens at Jimmy Jack’s and Pullman.
In April 2021, Ed joined The Webster’s opening kitchen team, where he met Sam and Riene. Through the challenges of opening a new restaurant, he found not only room to grow as a cook, but a team willing to teach, challenge, and support him.
By late 2021, Ed had an idea: a ramen pop-up. He brought it to Sam, and what began as a small experiment grew into a series of pop-ups in 2022 and 2023. That idea eventually became Paper Crane, which opened in late October 2024.
Two years later, we're celebrating the journey, the team behind it, and everything still to come.
