Cast Your Vote for the 2025 Best Tenderloin in Iowa [GALLERY]

If you have a favorite breaded pork tenderloin from an Iowa restaurant, it's time to get them a little recognition! Nominations are officially open for the 2025 Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest from the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

How to Nominate an Iowa Restaurant

Every year since 2003, the Iowa Pork Producers have made it their mission to find the very best Iowa tenderloin. But, they can't do that without nominations! From April 17th through June 1st, you can nominate your favorite local restaurant HERE. That link is the ONLY way to nominate a restaurant. Email and social media nominations don't count.

Before you send in your pick, here are some of the rules from the Iowa Pork Producers:

• "Nominated tenderloins must be from a restaurant that is typically open year-round with regular hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments, and catering businesses are not eligible."
• "Breaded pork tenderloins can be either bread crumb style or battered and fried" (pork fritters are not allowed)
• Individuals can only send in ONE nomination each year

There is a drop down menu of previously nominated restaurants on the nomination page, but you can write-in a restaurant if you don't see it on the list.

When Will They Choose a 2025 Winner?

After the nomination period ends, the top five restaurants with the most nominations from each of the eight districts will be compiled into the Top 40. IPPA members and affiliates all over the state are then tasked with visiting the restaurants and judging the tenderloins, eventually narrowing it down to the top FIVE. The top five from the 2024 contest include:

• Dairy Sweet, Dunlap
• Ruby’s Pub and Grill, Stuart
• Bronson Bar, Bronson
• The Blind Pig, Monticello
• The Market at the Tap, Monticello

All of the 2025 winners will be revealed during the month of October, which is National Pork Month.

What Iowa Restaurants Have Won in the Past?

Here's a look at all of the previous winners of Iowa's Best Tenderloin Contest that are still open for business:

• 2003 - Darrell’s Place, Hamlin
• 2005 - Dairy Sweet, Dunlap (under new management)
• 2007 - Larsen’s Pub, Elk Horn
• 2009 - Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Prairie City
• 2011 - Gramma’s Kitchen, Walcott
• 2012 - Breitbach’s Country Dining, Balltown
• 2014 - The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill, Ogden
• 2015 - Belmond Drive-In, Belmond
• 2017 - Grid Iron Grill & Sports Bar, Webster City
• 2018 - Three C’s Diner, Corning
• 2019 - The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton
• 2020 - PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg
• 2022 - Lid’s Bar & Grill, Waukon
• 2023 - Cliff’s Place, Manning
• 2024 - Dairy Sweet, Dunlap

Which Iowa restaurant will you be nominating in 2025? Let us know in the comments or by sending us a message on our station app!