One of These Restaurants Has the Best Pork Tenderloin in Iowa

It's one of the most exciting, as well as one of the most delicious, food-based contests the state of Iowa has: the Iowa Pork Producers Association's Best Pork Tenderloin Contest.

Per The Des Moines Register, the Iowa Pork Producers Association has been doing this since 2003. Each year, they honor a restaurant serving the best breaded pork tenderloin in the state. All the way back in 2003, Darrell's Place in Hamlin, IA won named in the first contest.

Fast forward 21 years later, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association's contest is still growing strong, and there's a new crop of five finalists this year once more.

There are some requirements in order for a restaurant's pork tenderloin to qualify for a nomination:

Pork tenderloins must be hand-breaded or battered
The restaurant serving the pork tenderloin must be open all year long
The restaurant serving the pork tenderloin must have it on the menu as a regular item
No food trucks
No concession stands
No seasonal eateries
No catering businesses

Iowa Pork Producers Association judges select the nominees based on the taste and quality of the pork, physical characteristics, and presentation. From there, a panel of three judges head out to the five finalist restaurants to select the first and second-place winners.

Below are the 2023 finalists for best pork tenderloin in Iowa:

While I've never been to any of these restaurants, oddly enough, I got tangentially familiar with ToJo's Bar & Grill in Jamaica, IA last month when I did a story on the stories behind strange town names in Iowa. Now, it's official: ToJo's Bar & Grill put the town of Jamaica, IA on the map!

Last year, the Iowa Pork Producers Association crowned Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon as the winner. In 2021, Victoria Station in Harlan was named the restaurant with the best pork tenderloin. However, multiple websites report that Victoria Station has since closed.

Back in 2010, Happy's Place in Dubuque was nominated and eventually went on to take second place in the competition behind Buck’s Bar & Grill in Mitchellville (which has also since closed)

Read more about the best pork tenderloins in the state of Iowa on The Des Moines Register, and stay up to date with the Iowa Pork Producers Association's 2023 contest via their website.

ALSO CHECK OUT A CREATIVE NEW NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS (NIL) DEAL THE IOWA PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION STRUCK WITH IOWA STATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS.