As the unofficial state sandwich of Iowa, the breaded pork tenderloin has a bit of a cult following here in Iowa. We sifted through the breadcrumbs and rounded up the best tenderloins in Greater Des Moines, as voted by locals. Love me tender, indeed.
*All of our Des Best lists are crowdsourced and voted by locals.*
Old School Stalwarts
Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop
Considered the Godfather of Des Moines tenderloin joints, Smitty’s has been serving up over 3,000 tenderloins a week since 1952. It’s become destination dining for visiting out-of-town journalists during Caucus season, and in 2019, People Magazine named it the best sandwich in Iowa. Pair an impossibly thin (and huge) tenderloin with their hand-breaded onion rings and you’ve got the quintessential Iowa tenderloin experience.
Kelly’s Little Nipper
Around in some iteration since 1908, Kelly’s Little Nipper has served at various times as a general store, a brothel, and a bar. Currently one of the best townie bars in Des Moines, it serves up a delightful tenderloin with thick and crunchy breading and perfectly moist and tender meat. It pairs well with a can of your grandpa’s favorite beer.
B&B Grocery
Fun, deep-fried fact: you’ll find some of the best tenderloins in mom-and-pop grocery stores. Family owned and operated since 1922, B&B is a tiny grocery store and butcher shop whose big break came after being featured on Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods”. You’re not here for the ambiance, you’re here for the “killer sandwiches” that go straight from the butcher block to the deep fat fryer in a single process.
Brick Street Market
Located inside of the Fareway grocery store in Bondurant, Brick Street Market & Café offers not just one of the best tenderloins in the state, but one of the best sandwiches, period. It won the prestigious Iowa Pork Producers award for best tenderloin in Greater Des Moines and was runner-up for best in the state in 2014. They offer half versions for smaller appetites, and if you can’t wait until lunch, there’s even a breakfast tenderloin, smothered in gravy and served with eggs and hashbrowns.
Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe
If you’re in the mood for a real slice of Americana (and homemade pie), head east to Prairie City to Goldie’s, which looks like it came straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Named Best Tenderloin in Iowa by USA Today in 2019, Goldie’s tenderloin is of the thicker variety, which allows the meat to retain its tenderness. For those who like to live on the edge, they have the Magg Combo (tenderloin and cheeseburger), Mingo Special (tenderloin topped with sausage and cheese) and a variety of unique monthly specials. Follow it up with some soft-serve ice cream and a trip to the nearby Neal Smith Wildlife refuge, where the buffalo roam, quite literally.
Nite Hawk Bar & Grill
A favorite of cyclists thanks to its convenient location backing up to the High Trestle Trail, Nite Hawk Bar & Grill in Slater is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon on the patio with a cold beverage and Iowa’s favorite sandwich. Pair with a stop at the nearby Flat Tire Lounge and you’ll be unofficially initiated into the High Trestle cool kids club.
Z’s Eatery and Draught House
There are many reasons to explore charming Indianola, but chief among them is the tenderloin at Z’s, which itself is worth the road trip. Dipped in a Busch Light beer batter and then a seasoned panko crust, it’s hard to imagine anything getting more Iowan. Unless of course you get an extra side of ranch for your fries.
Smokey D’s
Smokey D’s has won plenty of accolades for their award-winning BBQ, but it’s time that someone shouted about their underrated tenderloin as well. The regular tenderloin is all well and good, but we’re here to let you in on a secret: the jalapeno tenderloin is the best thing you didn’t know you needed in your life. With diced jalapenos in the breading and topped with jalapeno jack cheddar and fried jalapenos, this tenderloin is all the fire emojis.
New School Upstarts
Centro
Contrary to popular belief, not all the best tenderloins are served in dive bars and grocery stores. Take Centro, one of the nicest restaurants in town, which also serves one of the most interesting tenderloins in town. The Kill-Bill Pork Tenderloin (“The Five-Pointed Palm Exploding Heart Sandwich”) – yes, that’s the full name – is a Niman Ranch tenderloin topped with ham, bacon, pepper jack cheese, sunny-side-up egg, red onion, and garlic mayo on a toasted ciabatta bun. See, tenderloins can clean up nicely. It tastes like a million bucks!
Iowa Taproom
Not only does the popular Iowa Taproom serve a killer tenderloin (add jalapenos for extra kick), but also tenderloin strips called “tenderlings,” served with honey mustard. Really one of those “why didn’t I think of this first?” scenarios. Pair them with one of the 100+ Iowa craft beers on tap, and you’ll feel like you’ve discovered a whole new world.
Lua
The buzzy Sherman Hill brewery is best known for their “push-pop” sour beers, but their food is cut above the rest and that starts with their tenderloin, which is a menu staple amongst some of their rotating fare. Dubbed the Flatty Monster, you can taste the TLC they put into these. Don’t let the brewery moniker fool you…this is food worth shouting about, even if you don’t order a beer (but really, you should do that too).
Angry Goldfish
Another favorite of local tenderloin connoisseur, Angry Goldfish ups the ante by serving a tenderloin breaded with sriracha seasoned goldfish crackers. (Insert head exploding emoji.) There’s a reason this comfortable neighborhood joint often makes the shortlist of “Where is your favorite place to eat in Des Moines?” and the tenderloin is it.
Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ and Brew
It should come as no surprise that arguably the best BBQ joint in the state knows what they’re doing when it comes to pork. The Double Wide is just as you picture it, breaded and fried to perfection, extra bun optional. Pair it with their cheesy potatoes (and a trip to Ledges State Park) and you’ve got a one-way ticket to carb nirvana.
Trailside Tap
This Ankeny fave has a Tenderloin Thursday special with stone ground mustard aioli, bread and butter pickles and a Scenic Route Bakery sesame bun. Comes with a knife stuck in the top for the photo op, but you might devour this so quickly you’ll forget to get a pic for the ‘Gram.
The Station on Ingersoll
What are you doing for dinner on Tuesday? If the answer isn’t “going to The Station for Tenderloin Tuesday”, we’d just politely ask that you gaze longingly at the photo below and reconsider. The pork is locally sourced fresh that day and served on a soft onion kaiser bun with bottomless fries. So, we ask you again; what are you doing for dinner on Tuesday?
