The Search for Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Begins

CLIVE, Iowa — The hunt for Iowa’s top breaded pork tenderloin is officially underway.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has opened nominations for the 2026 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest, inviting both restaurant owners and sandwich enthusiasts to take part in the annual tradition. Nominations run from April 15 through June 1.

The contest celebrates one of Iowa’s most iconic menu items while giving restaurants across the state a chance to gain recognition—and a potential boost in business.

Residents are encouraged to nominate their favorite tenderloin, while restaurants serving standout sandwiches are urged to rally customer support.

“We encouraged all our social media followers to vote for us. That alone created a lot of engagement and excitement with our customers,” said Kalyn Durr, co-owner of Hometown Heroes in Grinnell, the 2025 contest winner. “Once we made the judging, we did what we do best – we tried to put out a consistently great tenderloin sandwich for each and every order. The results were incredible — after we won our pork tenderloin sales increased by 20 times.”

According to IPPA, restaurants that actively promote their participation often see noticeable increases in traffic and sales.

“Restaurants that embrace this contest and encourage their customers to nominate them can see a real impact,” said Denise Wiley, chair of the Restaurant & Foodservice Committee at Iowa Pork. “We’ve had past finalists report major increases in traffic and tenderloin sales. This is a great opportunity to showcase what makes your place special.”

Each person may submit one nomination. Those whose selections advance in the contest will be entered into a drawing for a $100 prize.

To qualify, restaurants must serve hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches as a regular menu item and be open to the public year-round.

After nominations close, IPPA will select the top 40 restaurants statewide, including the top five from each of its eight districts. Anonymous judges will then visit each location, scoring entries based on pork quality, flavor, appearance and overall experience.

The top five finalists will be announced in October during National Pork Month. The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque and statewide recognition, while the runner-up will earn $250 and a plaque.

Beyond the competition, organizers say the contest highlights Iowa’s deep connection to pork production and supports local businesses.

Each year, thousands of nominations are submitted, helping drive attention—and customers—to participating restaurants.

Recent winners include:

• 2025 — Hometown Heroes, Grinnell
• 2024 — Dairy Sweet, Dunlap
• 2023 — Cliff’s Place, Manning
• 2022 — Lid’s Bar & Grill, Waukon
• 2021 — Victoria Station, Harlan

Those interested in nominating a restaurant can visit IowaPork.org for more information.

With nominations now open, Iowans once again have the chance to decide which tenderloin rises above the rest.