Ask anyone who grew up in Illinois about the best tenderloin they ever had, and the answer usually points to a corner tavern in a small town. These are the places where the sandwich hangs off the bun, the booths have seen a few decades, and the bartender probably knows your uncle.
The seven spots below range from a village of about 130 people to a historic crossroads in Lake County. Some are known for pizza, some for burgers made with local beef, and one claims a spot in state history.
What they all share is a working kitchen, a hometown crowd, and a fried pork tenderloin that keeps people coming back. If your grandparents ever talked about a Friday night at the local tap, this list might sound familiar.
Save it for your next road trip, or pass it along to the person in your family who still judges every tenderloin by size.
1. Smitty’s Bar & Grill, Leonore, IL
Leonore has roughly 130 residents, which makes it one of the smallest towns on this list by a wide margin. Even so, it has a bar and grill with a reputation for one very large sandwich.
Smitty’s Bar & Grill sits at 308 Gary St in this LaSalle County farming community. The kitchen is known for massive pork tenderloin sandwiches, and wings and onion rings round out the comfort food side of the menu.
There is also a salad bar, which is a nice surprise in a town this size. Families are welcome too, with high chairs and a kids’ menu on hand.
Plan around the schedule. The grill is closed Mondays, open 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and wraps up at 5 PM on Sunday.
Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday lunch is the calmer choice. Parking is free and usually easy to find.
2. Tilleys Tavern, Mt Olive, IL
Route 66 travelers know Mount Olive as a quiet stop in Macoupin County, and Tilleys Tavern gives them a reason to park. The historic tavern sits at 303 E Main St in a town of about 2,000 people.
The menu leans hard into Illinois comfort food. Pork tenderloin is a featured item, and so is the Hamburger Horseshoe, a nod to the open-faced plate that central and southern Illinois diners grew up with.
Stuffed mushrooms, burgers, wings, and seasoned fries fill in the rest. Late-night food is also available, which matters in a small town.
Hours run long here. The tavern is open 11 AM to midnight most days, stays open until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday, and closes on Tuesdays.
Live music shows up on the calendar, and there is outdoor seating plus free Wi-Fi. Monday and Friday evenings tend to be the busiest stretches of the week.
3. Raiders’s Tap, Walnut, IL
Hand-cut and hand-battered are the two words that matter most at this Main Street tap. Raider’s Tap in Walnut prepares its pork tenderloins from scratch, and they come out crispy and cooked just right.
The family-owned bar and grill also makes hand-tossed pizzas, which are some of the most popular items on the menu. Chicken strips, a specialty burger, tacos, fish, and homemade desserts round things out.
Walnut is a farming village in Bureau County with about 1,300 residents. The tap at 112 S Main St fits the town well, with counter and table service, curbside pickup, and a kids’ menu.
Dogs are allowed inside and out, which is not something every tavern can say. A private dining room is available for groups.
The hours take a little study. Weekend mornings start at 6 AM on Saturday and Sunday, while Tuesday and Wednesday open at 3 PM, and the tap is closed Mondays.
4. Small Town Saloon, Elizabeth, IL
The name says it all, and it is accurate. Elizabeth has fewer than 700 residents and sits in the rolling hills of Jo Daviess County, one of the prettiest drives in northwest Illinois.
Small Town Saloon at 111 N Main St is best known for burgers made with locally raised beef. The Woodbine Burger is a menu highlight, and onion rings are a popular side.
The pork tenderloin sandwich holds its own here too, and it is a solid pick for anyone who skips the burger. The bar stays clean, and the staff keep orders moving even when the room fills up.
Live music takes place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. Reservations are not accepted, so Friday evening, the busiest time, can mean a short wait.
The saloon is closed Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 11 AM the rest of the week and runs until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
5. Flo’s on Pulaski, Peru, IL
Any menu that lists a dish called the Pizzaloin deserves attention. Flo’s on Pulaski in Peru takes its tenderloin seriously enough to build variations around it.
The headliner is Our Famous Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, and the kitchen also serves BBQ ribs, garlic parmesan fries, and a chicken strip basket. Chicken or Cod Oscar adds a slightly fancier option for a hometown spot.
Save room for the turtle cheesecake. It is one of the featured desserts.
Peru is an Illinois River town in LaSalle County with an industrial past. Flo’s sits at 1309 Pulaski St, with a full bar and bar games on site.
Doors open at 10:30 AM Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 8 PM most nights and 9 PM Thursday through Saturday. Thursday afternoon into evening is the busiest window, and delivery and takeout are both available.
6. Billy’s Tap, Canton, IL
Wednesday is the night to know about at Billy’s Tap. That is build-a-burger night, and it ranks among the busiest evenings of the week.
Canton is a Fulton County town of about 13,000 with deep farming and factory roots. Billy’s sits at 172 E Elm St in a modern ranch-style setting with a patio out back.
Burgers are the signature, including the Bella Burger, and fried pickle chips are a popular starter. The pork tenderloin sandwich deserves its own mention because it is mostly meat, not pounded paper thin, and fits the bun.
That balance makes it a good choice for anyone who wants a tenderloin they can actually pick up. Sports fans will find plenty of screens, and live music appears on the schedule.
Billy’s is open every day, from 11 AM to 1 AM Monday through Saturday and until 11 PM on Sunday. Reservations are not taken.
7. The Village Tavern, Long Grove, IL
Grandparents in Lake County may have stories about this one, and so might their grandparents. The Village Tavern in Long Grove is widely known as the oldest continuously operating tavern in Illinois.
The setting matches that history. Inside, the room has wood trim and a fireplace, and Long Grove itself is a village known for keeping its 19th-century crossroads character.
The menu sticks with classic American food. The Friday Fish Fry and cheeseburger are highlights, and the pork tenderloin sandwich is a steady favorite with regulars.
Live music, outdoor seating, and a dog-friendly patio add to the appeal. A kids’ menu and high chairs make it easy for multiple generations to share a table.
Find it at 135 Old McHenry Rd. The tavern is closed Tuesdays, opens at 11:30 AM other days, and gets busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, so reservations help.
It makes a fitting final stop, since a visit here connects a modern lunch to a long stretch of Illinois history.
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