Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest: 14 past winners to try
Iowa’s Best Pork Tenderloin Contest has been held annually since 2003, and you can check out these 14 winning restaurants that are still open today.
Each year, the Iowa Pork Producers Association sets out to find the best breaded pork tenderloin in the state, and the organization brings locals along for the ride. If you don’t know, everyday Iowans are able to nominate their favorite restaurants, which then go through rounds of voting until one establishment comes out on top. (Just note that the winner is chosen the following year, so the 2024 winner was announced in 2025 and so on.) And really, why wouldn’t this be a tradition? Iowa’s home to some of the best farms in the country, and with so much good produce and livestock nurtured here, it only makes sense that the meals that follow are exceptional, too.
The annual Best Pork Tenderloin Contest puts a giant spotlight on the winning restaurant, but sadly, not every past winner has remained in business. Many winning establishments have closed since the contest’s origins in 2003, including 2004 winner Suburban Restaurant from Ames, 2013 winner River Rock Café from Mt. Pleasant, and 2021 winner Victoria Station from Harlan. Luckily, though, 14 past winners still serve up mouth-wateringly crunchy and flavorful tenderloins today. Here’s where they are, so you can get your taste buds on some seriously good eats.
1. Darrell’s Place (2003)
Address: 4010 1st St, Hamlin, IA 50117
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Darrell’s Place was the first restaurant to ever be crowned as the king of the pork tenderloin. The Hamlin fixture earned the title in 2003 and is still open today, serving up plate after plate, especially after winning the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. It’s not a new restaurant by any means, though. Darrell’s Place has been frying succulent pieces of pork since 1980, and its hype only continues to grow. You may just need to try this inaugural winner for yourself.
2. Dairy Sweet (2005 & 2024)
Address: 118 Iowa Ave, Dunlap, IA 51529
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Dairy Sweet is the only two-time winner of the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest, being not only one of the first few winners but also the most recent at the time of writing. Dairy Sweet’s tenderloin is visibly crunchy and juicy, striking a perfect balance without becoming dried out, which is no easy feat. Plus, it’s a perfect hangout spot with its myriad ice cream options. You can’t go wrong with dinner and dessert!
3. Larsen’s Pub (2007)
Address: 4206 Main St, Elk Horn, IA 51531
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Larsen’s Pub is a beloved spot for Elk Horn locals, known for its vibrant, colorful chairs in varying colors—and, of course, a to-die-for pork sandwich. Larsen’s Pub won the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest in 2007, which gave it even more notoriety. It’s definitely one to watch out for, but if you’re planning on trying it for yourself, note the restaurant’s limited hours and plan accordingly. You’ll be glad you did.
4. Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe (2009)
Address: 304 W 2nd St, Prairie City, IA 50228
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
The 2009 winner of the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest was none other than Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, a staple eatery in Prairie City. Like Dairy Sweet, Goldie’s is a perfect one-stop shop for a tenderloin sandwich and a sweet treat, with options ranging from slushies to sundaes and pineapple upside-down cake-themed twisters. Just note that the kitchen closes one hour earlier than the restaurant—at 8:30 p.m.—each day, so head there earlier than later if you’re planning on testing the pork.
5. Gramma’s Kitchen (2011)
Address: 3408 N Plainview Rd, Walcott, IA 52773
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
A name like Gramma’s Kitchen immediately sounds comforting, and you’ll surely feel cozy and cared-for when you bite into this restaurant’s pork tenderloin that took the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest by storm in 2011. That down-home vibe extends to the rest of the menu, too. You can find corned beef, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon roll pancakes, meat-packed skillets, and more. With each bite, you’ll feel like your very own grandma cooked for you.
6. Breitbach’s Country Dining (2012)
Address: 563 Balltown Rd, Sherrill, IA 52073
Hours: Thursday: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Dinner and ice cream not your vibe? Don’t freit—Breitbach’s Country Dining in Sherrill offers a different option: dinner and wine. Breitbach’s won the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest in 2012, and since then, it’s expanded its wine portfolio in big ways. You can sip glasses of myriad varieties, and with such gorgeous views of the Mississippi River close by as well, you’re in for a night bursting with beautiful buzz here.
7. The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill (2014)
Address: 113 W Walnut St, Ogden, IA 50212
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
As the 2014 winner of the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest, The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill certainly lives up to its name. The restaurant was founded in 2011 and claimed the tenderloin crown just three years later. If you want to taste the lucky pork that brought that dream to fruition, hit the Lincoln Highway and get to Ogden ASAP. (And if you’re not a pork fan, check out the burgers made with local beef—they have a lot of fans, too.)
8. Belmond Drive-In (2015)
Address: 215 River Ave S, Belmond, IA 50421
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Having won the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest in 2015, Belmond Drive-In can officially celebrate a decade of the title, and it’s well-earned. The food at Belmond Drive-In is always fresh, and the tenderloins are perfectly golden and crispy, never looking burnt or soggy. If you want to visit and eat like a local, don’t sleep on the Corn Nuggets. They’re a delightful side dish or appetizer to enjoy with the tenderloin.
9. Grid Iron Grill & Sports Bar (2017)
Address: 1121 E 2nd St, Webster City, IA 50595
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
As far as the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest is concerned, Grid Iron Grill & Sports Bar has Webster City’s premier piece of pork, giving the restaurant the title in 2017. This grill has been stuffing succulent pork between buns since 2008, and it also offers perfectly seared steaks for those who prefer beef. It’s also part of the Tenderloin Trail, which you can follow if you want to taste some of the state’s greatest pork dishes.
10. Three C’s Diner (2018)
Address: 300 9th St, Corning, IA 50841
Hours: Tuesday: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5 p.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
If we had to guess what the Cs in Three C’s Diner stand for, we’d guess “charming” for its simple but effective decor, “celebrated” because it’s loved by the Corning community, and “crown” because it earned the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest title in 2018. This communal love and precise quality is found in spades in the diner’s reviews. For example, one reviewer wrote on Facebook, “I have tasted quite a few [breaded pork tenderloins] in my 65 yrs and this is my ABSOLUTE favorite!”
11. The Pub at the Pinicon (2019)
Address: 2205 S Linn Ave, New Hampton, IA 50659
Hours: Thursday-Saturday: 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
The Pub at the Pinicon is one of the more recent Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest winners, having been bestowed the title in 2019. The pork and beef at the restaurant are both locally sourced, and the pub has been cooking them the same delicious ways for more than six decades, making The Pub at the Pinicon a fixture in the local community. You don’t have to be a local to enjoy this tenderloin, though; you just need an open heart and stomach. Oh, and you need to make sure you get there during the pub’s hours, which are a little more limited than some of the other restaurants on this list.
12. PrairieMoon On Main (2020)
Address: 103 E Main St, Prairieburg, IA 52219
Hours: Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
PrairieMoon on Main is indeed on Main St. and easy to find—and that’s a darn good thing since it has one of the best tenderloins in the state. The recipient of the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest title in 2020, PrairieMoon is known for its friendliness in addition to its food, making it one of the loveliest places to eat in the area. If that weren’t enough, PrairieMoon hosts local singers and musicians sometimes. Live music and pork tenderloin? Sign us all the way up.
13. Lid’s Bar & Grill (2022)
Address: 1350 9th St SW, Waukon, IA 52172
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon is another of the newer Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest winners, having won the annual food championship in 2022. At Lid’s Bar & Grill, you’ll find homestyle food that you might find at a family barbecue or your grandma cooking throughout the week. It’s full of stick-to-your-ribs delicacies that fill your stomach and soul alike. In addition to top-tier tenderloins, you can order slices of peach pie, juicy hamburgers, fried shrimp, hash browns, and more. Yum!
14. Cliff’s Place (2023)
Address: 417 Main St, Manning, IA 51455
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Last but certainly not least is Cliff’s Place, the 2023 winner of the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest that’s been doing its thing—and well—since 1976. It just goes to show that recognition might not always come quickly, but it will always find its way to you when you’re doing exceptional work! This Manning institution hand-breads its tenderloins and cooks them until they’re just perfect before sandwiching them between beautifully soft buns. All we’ll say is this is one you really won’t want to miss.
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