The 2026 Finalists Have Been Announced For Iowa’s Best Pork Tenderloin

Happy National Pork Month!

Now that October has arrived, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is kicking off National Pork Month with a BIG announcement... we now know the five finalists in Iowa's BEST Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest for 2026!

The Top 5

Today (October 2nd), the IPPA revealed the top five restaurants that serve the best breaded pork tenderloins in the state of Iowa. Those five restaurants (in alphabetical order) are:

• Friend’s Hide-A-Way, Underwood

Friend’s Hide-A-Way via Facebook

• Landmark Grill and Grind, Williamsburg

Landmark Grill and Grind via Facebook

• Sasquatch Jacks, Waverly

Sasquatch Jacks via Facebook

• Tin Roost, North Liberty

Tin Roost via Facebook

• Wasted Grain Bar & Grill, Carroll

Wasted Grain Bar & Grill via Facebook

How it Works

Every spring, Iowans are asked to send in nominations for the local restaurants that serve their favorite breaded pork tenderloins. After the nomination period is over, the votes are tallied, and the long list of nominees is narrowed down to 40 (the top five from each of the 8 IPPA districts). Those 40 restaurants are then widdled down to just five, and a panel of judges spend the month of September traveling around to taste them all. The finalists and the winners are always announced during National Pork Month, aka "Porktober."

The Facebook post from the IPPA doesn't give a specific date when the 2026 winner will be revealed, it simply says that it will "be announced later this month." You can follow their Facebook page HERE for the latest updates.

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2025 Winners

If you're wondering about last year winners, here are the top 5 restaurants chosen in 2025:

• WINNER - Hometown Heroes, Grinnell
• RUNNER-UP - The 1854, Gilbertville
• Dexfield Diner & Pub, Redfield
• Sugar's Lounge & Diner, Council Bluffs
• Walker’s, Salix

Here are photos of all of Iowa's Best Pork Tenderloin winners (that are still open) since the contest began back in 2003:

READ MORE: Iowa Tenderloin Named One of the Best Sandwiches in America