Iowa's 5 best tenderloins of 2022 have been announced. See which restaurants made the cut

Susan Stapleton
Des Moines Register

Who has the best breaded pork tenderloin in Iowa? The Iowa Pork Producers Association is on a mission to find out, releasing five finalists for the annual award. For the past 20 years, the pork producers searched across the state for the best breaded pork tenderloin, a variation on the schnitzel that's served on a bun.

This year, five restaurants across the state compete for the title.

In Corydon, Ludlow’s Steakhouse at 112 E. Jefferson St., made the list. In Massena, Main Street Bar & Grill at 111 Main St., competes.

In St. Olaf, the St. Olaf Tavern, 106 S. Main St., is up for the title.

In Van Meter, 5th Quarter Bar & Grill, 420 Mill St., is the closest restaurant to the Des Moines metro on the list.

And in Waukon, Lid’s Bar & Grill, 1350 Ninth St. SW, rounds out the list.

The breaded pork tenderloin at St. Olaf Tavern in St. Olaf, Iowa, is one of five finalists across the state.

“Even after 20 years, we continue to discover new variations of the classic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich,” said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing and programs director, in a news release. “Some are thick. Some are thin. You’ll also find a diversity of seasonings, textures, and flavors. That all makes selecting a winner incredibly challenging.”

More:Yes, Iowans love pork tenderloin sandwiches. Here are 20 of the best in the Des Moines metro

The contest started in the spring with fans nominating 449 restaurants from across the state with 4,812 votes. Over the summer, judges tried out 40 contenders, five in eight districts across the state, to narrow down the finalists to the five restaurants with the most votes.

A few caveats the association considers: The pork tenderloins must be hand-breaded or battered. The restaurant also must be open all year long and feature the breaded pork tenderloin on the menu as a regular item.

Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries, and catering businesses are not eligible.

The judges winnowed down the choices based on pork taste and quality, physical characteristics, and presentation.A panel of three judges head out to the five finalist restaurants to select the first- and second-place winners, announced later this month.

The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner to display, and statewide publicity. The runner-up wins $250 and a plaque from pork producers.

Winners from the past five years include Victoria Station in Harlan in 2021; PrairieMoon on Main in Prairieburg in 2020; The Pub at the Pinicon in New Hampton in 2019; Three C’s Diner in Corning in 2018; Grid Iron Grill & Sports Bar in Webster City in 2017.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on FacebookTwitter or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.