Calling all Iowa pork lovers — have you nominated YOUR favorite pork tenderloin sandwich yet?
The deadline to submit nominations for Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest is quickly approaching, and restaurants across the state are hoping to earn bragging rights as the home of Iowa’s top tenderloin for 2026.
The contest celebrates one of Iowa’s most iconic pork dishes while helping shine a spotlight on local restaurants, small towns, and destinations that continue to serve up some of the best pork meals in the Midwest. Best of all, nominations are completely free to submit.
To qualify, nominated pork tenderloins must come from a restaurant that operates year-round with regular business hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments, and catering businesses are not eligible for the competition. Organizers also remind fans that nominations submitted through email or social media will not be counted.
Nominate HERE or go to the Iowa Pork website.
The 2025 Iowa’s Best Pork Tenderloin champion was Hometown Heroes in Grinnell, Iowa, earning statewide recognition and drawing pork lovers from across the region.
The Top Five restaurants for 2025 included:
1st Place – Hometown Heroes
2nd Place – The 1854
Dexfield Diner & Pub
Sugar’s Lounge & Diner
Walker’s
The annual contest not only highlights Iowa’s pork industry but also helps promote rural communities, family-owned restaurants, and local tourism across the state. A top finish can quickly put a restaurant and hometown on the map as a must-visit foodie destination for travelers searching for the ultimate Iowa pork tenderloin experience.
Iowa pork fans are encouraged to get their favorite restaurant nominated before time runs out and help showcase the restaurants serving one of the state’s most famous pork traditions.
