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Grinnell restaurant wins Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin contest

Grinnell restaurant wins Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin contest
WE HAVE SOME PRETTY DELICIOUS BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. WE’VE JUST LEARNED WHO HAS IOWA’S BEST BREADED PORK TENDERLOIN OF 2025. THE WINNER WAS JUST ANNOUNCED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO. THANK YOU FOR THE DRUMROLL, ALEX. THE IOWA PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION CROWNED HOMETOWN HEROES OF GRINNELL AS THE WINNER. THEY’LL NOW GET A PLAQUE AND OUTDOOR BANNER AND $500. THAT’S LOCATED ON MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN GRINNELL. OWNER PAUL DYER SAYS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS BLOWN THEM AWAY. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS
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Updated: 6:59 AM CDT Oct 17, 2025
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Grinnell restaurant wins Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin contest
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Updated: 6:59 AM CDT Oct 17, 2025
Editorial Standards
The judges have spoken and the pick is in. Hometown Heroes is this year's winner of Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest.The Iowa Pork Producers Association made the announcement Friday morning, celebrating the "sports-grill-style restaurant is a gathering spot for community, good food and local pride," located at 908 Main Street in Grinnell.Paul and Kalyn Durr, along with partners Shannon and Todd Reding, opened Hometown Heroes in 2019. According to a news release, Paul serves as executive chef and director of operations, with Kalyn overseeing marketing. Alex Phillips is the general manager handling day-to-day operations. The restaurant is part of the Prairie Hospitality Group, which also owns Prairie Canary, a farm-to-table establishment in Grinnell.Phil Carey, a retired chef and culinary instructor and one of the judges in the 2025 contest, said Hometown Heroes was among the first judged.“We agreed that this one would be hard to beat," he said. "The pork was tender and juicy; it was evenly pounded and well-seasoned ... the pork was the star of the show. It was made complete by being served hot on a toasted bun. It’s a great sandwich."Business is already booming for Hometown Heroes since being named a finalist in the contest. “We’ve sold so many tenderloins since the contest started, it’s been incredible,” Paul Durr said. “Our staff has worked so hard, and the community support has just blown us away. We’re so proud to win this award.”Hours at the restaurant are 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Hometown Heroes earned a $500, a plaque, a banner, statewide publicity and bragging rights that often send tenderloin sales soaring. Runner-up The 1854 received $250 and a plaque.Other finalists included: Dexfield Diner & Pub in Redfield Sugar’s Lounge & Diner in Council BluffsWalker’s in Salix» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from vlogIowa'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, GrinnellSource: Iowa Pork Producers Association

The judges have spoken and the pick is in.

Hometown Heroes is this year's winner of Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest.

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The Iowa Pork Producers Association made the announcement Friday morning, celebrating the "sports-grill-style restaurant is a gathering spot for community, good food and local pride," located at 908 Main Street in Grinnell.

Paul and Kalyn Durr, along with partners Shannon and Todd Reding, opened Hometown Heroes in 2019. According to a news release, Paul serves as executive chef and director of operations, with Kalyn overseeing marketing. Alex Phillips is the general manager handling day-to-day operations. The restaurant is part of the Prairie Hospitality Group, which also owns Prairie Canary, a farm-to-table establishment in Grinnell.

Phil Carey, a retired chef and culinary instructor and one of the judges in the 2025 contest, said Hometown Heroes was among the first judged.

“We agreed that this one would be hard to beat," he said. "The pork was tender and juicy; it was evenly pounded and well-seasoned ... the pork was the star of the show. It was made complete by being served hot on a toasted bun. It’s a great sandwich."

Business is already booming for Hometown Heroes since being named a finalist in the contest.

“We’ve sold so many tenderloins since the contest started, it’s been incredible,” Paul Durr said. “Our staff has worked so hard, and the community support has just blown us away. We’re so proud to win this award.”

Hours at the restaurant are 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Hometown Heroes earned a $500, a plaque, a banner, statewide publicity and bragging rights that often send tenderloin sales soaring. Runner-up received $250 and a plaque.

Other finalists included:

  • Dexfield Diner & Pub in Redfield
  • Sugar’s Lounge & Diner in Council Bluffs
  • Walker’s in Salix

» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: |

Get the latest headlines from vlog

Iowa's Best Tenderloin Contest winners

  • 2003: Darrell's Place, Hamlin
  • 2004: Suburban Restaurant, Ames (permanently closed)
  • 2005: Dairy Sweet, Dunlap
  • 2006: The Town House Supper Club, Wellsburg (permanently closed)
  • 2007: Larsen's Pub, Elk Horn
  • 2008: Augusta Restaurant, Oxford (permanently closed)
  • 2009: Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe, Prairie City
  • 2010: Buck's Bar & Grill, Mitchellville (permanently closed)
  • 2011: Gramma's Kitchen, Walcott
  • 2012: Breitbach’s Country Dining, Balltown
  • 2013: River Rock Café, Mt. Pleasant (permanently closed)
  • 2014: The Lucky Pig Pub & Grill, Ogden
  • 2015: Belmond Drive-In, Belmond
  • 2016: Nick’s, Des Moines (permanently closed)
  • 2017: Grid Iron Sports Bar and Grill, Webster City
  • 2018: Three C’s Diner, Corning
  • 2019: The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton
  • 2020: PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg
  • 2021: Victoria Station, Harlan (permanently closed)
  • 2022: Lid’s Bar & Grill, Waukon
  • 2023: Cliff's Place, Manning
  • 2024: Dairy Sweet, Dunlap
  • 2025: Hometown Heroes, Grinnell

Source: Iowa Pork Producers Association

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