Does anyone have more fun at the Iowa State Fair than the folks behind JR’s SouthPork Ranch? The permanent restaurant on the fairgrounds offers plenty of fun at its booth on Rock Island Avenue.
Co-owner Brooks Reynolds, along with Carey and Corey Hansen of Greek House Chefs, who cater to sororities nationwide and also happen to own Hansen’s Manhattan Deli on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, purchased the former Diamond Jack’s in 2020. After an extensive renovation that included a new kitchen, the location opened in 2021.
They’ve decorated it to the rafters, with a wink and a nod to “Dallas,” the long-running TV drama about a family of oil tycoons headed by JR Ewing. At SouthPork, J and R stand for Jody and Rennie, Reynolds’ parents. Reynolds also hosts the Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest, which celebrates all things pork. Really fun.
Cheeky pigs wearing hats and rhinestones stand in front of an LED sign with a quote from Dolly Parton: “It’s hard to be a diamond in a world full of rhinestones.” A chandelier and a goat wearing a sombrero hang from the ceiling.
At SouthPork, a play on the setting of “Dallas” – Southfork Ranch – guests will find everything from Bloody Marys and monkey bread in the morning to bacon mac and cheese with pickles and sidewinder fries for lunch and dinner.
Chefs Heith Sheeley and Sarah Strong-Tuttle develop the novel dishes served at the stand and use group chats to explore new food ideas.
What to Order at JR’s SouthPork Ranch at the Iowa State Fair
Two-foot-long lobster roll, $100: OK, you don’t have to order this super-long lobster roll – with mayo and dill or drenched in melted butter. You can get it as a 12-inch roll for $58 or a 6-inch roll for $31. All come on a brioche bun.
Loose L’Roy, $11: This classic ground meat sandwich comes to the fair in the form of the Loose L’Roy. The SouthPork team uses a blend of ground pork and beef from Brewer Meat (“just down the street from us.”) with special spices that are smoked outside in the giant smoker, Strong-Tuttle said. In fact, she also made the mustard herself and used pepper plantains from her garden for the kick.
“We serve it with a mustard I came up with one year when I had an obscene amount of banana peppers in my garden,” she said.
Chicken Sandwiches, $13, add spreads, add $2: Sure, it’s a crispy chicken sandwich, but the real deal is the spreads you get as toppings for an extra $2. A lobster rangoon with some sweet chili and soy gives the sandwich a sticky sweetness. The house pimento takes it down south with a blend of creamy, tangy and sharp cheddar cheese with just a hint of sweetness from pimento peppers. The Maytag blue cheese gives the sandwich that spicy and hot flavor. For an extra kick, add Nashville Hot Sauce. You’ll want to try all three.
AE Party Balls, three for $10: This partnership with the local dairy purveyor brings the nostalgic favorite AE Party Dip together with hash browns and potato chips for a walkable meal. You can order additional Party Dip for $1.
Two-foot Connecticut-style lobster roll, $100: This year, the staff at SouthPork took the lobster roll and made a Connecticut version of the restaurant’s already famous lobster roll. The Connecticut version involves dipping the lobster meat in clarified butter and serving it on a brioche bun. It’s also available on a 6-inch roll for $31 or a footlong roll for $58.
After some criticism on social media about the cost, it should be noted that most catering orders are for a large, two-foot lobster roll. If the Iowa State Fair vendor doesn’t have a dish listed and approved by the fair, they can’t sell it, so the two-foot version is on the menu in case people want to order it and share.
The menu at JR’s SouthPork Ranch.
More: 2 chefs from Des Moines taste and rate 6 dishes from the 2024 Iowa State Fair. Here is their opinion:
Did you know?
The restaurant sources its lobster from Maine. If there is any lobster left after the fair, check out the Manhattan Deli’s Facebook page. The restaurant serves lobster rolls as a specialty after the fair. But be quick. There is often a line before the restaurant opens and last year it sold out on the first day.
Where to Find JR’s SouthPork Ranch at the Iowa State Fair
Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds, west of the Livestock Pavilion on Rock Island Avenue, Des Moines
Contact: jrsouthporkranch.com/
Susan Stapleton is entertainment editor and restaurant reporter for the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Þjórsárdaluror Instagram, or message her at [email protected].
