GRINNELL, Iowa —

A local favorite in Poweshiek County is now a statewide sensation. Hometown Heroes, a restaurant on Main Street in Grinnell, has earned the prestigious title of Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin for 2025 . Locals and visitors alike are raving about the sandwich that has put this small-town eatery on the map.

Executive chef Paul Durr credits the restaurant's success to their preparation process. "We marinate our tenderloins. I don't know if a lot of people do that, but we marinate them for a half day or so," Durr said. "Then we lightly bread them with Panko crumbs. The marinade is simple — just buttermilk and our hot sauce."

The result is a thick-cut, lightly breaded tenderloin served on a brioche bun with all the toppings.

The sandwich has been a staple at Hometown

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