WednesdayJuly 30, 2025

Iowa City’s only Pakistani restaurant serves big flavors

By: Annie Smith Barkalow|September 8, 2023
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    • Fawad Nawaz, owner of Hot & Roll, stands at his counter. Hot & Roll is the only Pakistani restaurant in Iowa City. CREDIT ANNIE BARKALOW

    Hot & Roll may be the best-kept secret in Iowa City.

    Nestled unobtrusively in a non-descript strip mall within a former Chinese restaurant is the city’s only Pakistani restaurant, a small establishment that serves big flavors.

    “Everybody loves it – they give me five stars. They say this is the best restaurant they have ever had,” said Fawad Nawaz, owner of Hot & Roll.

    …

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