CLIVE, IOWA (April 17, 2025) — Is the breaded pork tenderloin your go-to when eating out? If so, it’s that time of year again and we need your help to uncover the 2025 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin! The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is on the hunt for the tastiest, juiciest, most mouthwatering breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in the state.
Nominations for the 23rd annual Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest are officially open from April 17 to June 1, and you can throw your favorite restaurant into the ring. Whether it's a small-town café or a local go-to spot, now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve.
Each person can nominate one restaurant, and if your pick takes the crown, you could win $100 just for showing your love! New restaurants pop up around the state all the time, each with their own take on the breaded pork tenderloin. So, tell us, do you have one you’re loyal to or do you have a newfound love?
“Restaurants should definitely be paying attention to this contest and encouraging nominations from their customers if they haven’t in the past”, says Denise Wiley, chairwoman of the Restaurant and Foodservice Committee at Iowa Pork. “Testimonials from past restaurant winners and even Top Five qualifiers have proven Iowans’ love for breaded pork tenderloins and have reported selling five to ten times more tenderloins than their average.”
The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is a quintessential Iowa dish, enjoyed by Iowans and visitors alike. It's an extremely popular item on the menu in small-town diners and restaurants across the state.
Iowa leads the nation in pork production, and this contest is a fun, flavorful way to celebrate both culinary pride and local agriculture.
Here’s How It Works:
To qualify, a restaurant must serve hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches as a regular menu item and have consistent, year-round hours that are open to the public. Sorry, no food trucks, seasonal spots, or catering-only businesses are eligible.
After the nomination period, IPPA will narrow entries down to the top 40 restaurants, including the top five from each of its eight districts. Then, undercover judges will hit the road to taste and score the finalists based on pork quality, flavor, appearance, and overall deliciousness.
The top five will be revealed in October during National Pork Month, and the winner will snag $500, a plaque, and some serious bragging rights. The runner-up gets $250 and a plaque, too!
Just how big is this thing?
In 2023 alone, more than 9,000 nominations came in for 774 different restaurants. So yeah — this contest is a pretty big deal.
Recent Winners:
- 2024 — Dairy Sweet in Dunlap
- 2023 — Cliff’s Place in Manning
- 2022 — Lid's Bar & Grill in Waukon
- 2021 — Victoria Station in Harlan, which has since closed
- 2020 — PrairieMoon On Main in Prairieburg
Click here for the full list of past winners dating back to 2003. IPPA also invites food lovers to conquer the Iowa Tenderloin Trail by June 1 and win a T-shirt.
About the Iowa Pork Producers Association
The mission of the Iowa Pork Producers Association is promoting, educating, and providing a leading voice for a sustainable, socially-responsible, and globally-competitive pork industry.
