CARROLL, Iowa —
We have a winner!
The annual Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest has concluded and a restaurant has been crowned. This year’s winner is Wasted Grain in Carroll.
Previous video above: 5 finalists named in Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest
“This year’s winning sandwich started as a memory,” the Iowa Pork Producers Association announcement reads. “Co-owner Cory Handlos remembers eating tenderloins at Darrell’s Place in Hamlin, a famous diner that won IPPA’s inaugural tenderloin contest in 2003. For Handlos, it set the standard. Now, more than two decades later, the tenderloin it inspired has earned the same title.”
Hearst Owned
The breaded tenderloin from Wasted Grain in Carroll.
Wasted Grain beat runner-up Friends Hide-A-Way in Underwood, along with three other finalists.
Wasted Grain is located at 1235 Plaza Drive in Carroll. You can find more information about the restaurant here.
Iowa’s Best Tenderloin contest winners2003: Darrell’s Place, Hamlin2004: Suburban Restaurant, Ames (permanently closed)2005: Dairy Sweet, Dunlap2006: The Town House Supper Club, Wellsburg (permanently closed)2007: Larsen’s Pub, Elk Horn2008: Augusta Restaurant, Oxford (permanently closed)2009: Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Prairie City2010: Buck’s Bar & Grill, Mitchellville (permanently closed)2011: Gramma’s Kitchen, Walcott2012: Breitbach’s Country Dining, Balltown2013: River Rock Café, Mt. Pleasant (permanently closed)2014: The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill, Ogden2015: Belmond Drive-In, Belmond2016: Nick’s, Des Moines (permanently closed)2017: Grid Iron Sports Bar and Grill, Webster City2018: Three C’s Diner, Corning2019: The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton2020: PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg2021: Victoria Station, Harlan (permanently closed)2022: Lid’s Bar & Grill, Waukon2023: Cliff’s Place, Manning2024: Dairy Sweet, Dunlap2025: Hometown Heroes, Grinnell2026: Wasted Grain, Carroll
Dining and Cooking