DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Pork Producers released the 2025 finalists for its Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest on Wednesday.

The list includes a central Iowa favorite that has gone through some tough times recently. In February of 2024, fire ravaged the Dexfield Diner and Pub in Redfield. The restaurant has been operating out of a temporary location at 1119 Thomas Street since.

Mystery diners evaluated the 40-top nominated restaurants to score the tenderloins and narrow the field to five finalists:

• The 1854 — Gilbertville
• Dexfield Diner & Pub — Redfield
• Hometown Heroes — Grinnell
• Sugar’s Lounge & Diner — Council Bluffs
• Walker’s — Salix

A panel of three judges will sample each finalist’s tenderloin in order to choose first and second place. The winner gets $500, a plaque, a banner, and statewide publicity. The runner-up will get $250 and a plaque.

The winner will be announced later this month as part of “Porktober.”