Tenderloin and Horseshoe Sandwich Trail
The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is a Midwest favorite and Unforgettable Forgottonia serves up a trail of the tastiest you can find anywhere.
Some say that the sandwich was invented in the Czech neighborhoods of Cedar Rapids, but evidence suggests the sandwich was created in 1904 by a pushcart operator named Nicholas Freinstein in Huntington, Indiana to bring the German Wiener schnitzel to the masses.
Now, what’s a Horseshoe you ask? Only one of the most audaciously delicious sandwiches you’ll ever see. Starting with thick-sliced toasted Texas bread, it’s stacked with your choice of meat and piled high with mounds of French fries, lattice fries or tater tots, then all of that is smothered in rich cheese sauce. Hungry yet? Do yourself a favor, hope on the “trail” and experience the most mouth-watering open-faced sandwich you’ll ever eat!
The origin of the Horseshoe sandwich goes back to 1928, Joseph Schweska the chef at the Leland Hotel in Springfield, IL went to his wife Elizabeth for help coming up with recipe for a new lunch item to serve at the hotel. Elizabeth suggested making an open-faced sandwich dish that included a Welsh rarebit sauce. Joseph was inspired to make the horseshoe with the toast representing an anvil, the cuts of ham as a horseshoe, French fries as nails, and the cheese sauce as the glue holding it all together. And voila! A gastronomic tradition was born.
1. Jackson Street Pub
Image: The gastronomic masterpiece, horseshoe sandwich from the Jackson Street Pub.
The Jackson Street Pub, a local Macomb favorite for decades, serves breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, juicy burgers, crispy haystack onion rings, ice cold beer and their famous open-face Horseshoe sandwiches.
2. Sports Corner @ 124
Macomb‘s locally-owned Sports Corner offers a tasty, smaller version of the famous Horseshoe sandwich, as well as wraps, appetizers and a huge selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks.
3. Z's Breakfast & Lunch
With great daily specials and outdoor seating, Z’s Breakfast & Lunch serves tenderloins and everything else, from hash & eggs to gyros and fries, hot open-faced sandwiches to jumbo fried shrimp.
4. Hometown Cafe
The Hometown Café is open every day serving up breaded pork tenderloins. They also feature All You Can Eat menus, including Fried Chicken on Thursdays, Catfish Strips on Fridays, and Pasta on Saturdays.
5. Michelle's Countryside Cafe
At Michelle’s Countryside Cafe, don't be surprised to see Michelle, (who is cook, server, and busser) hand-pounding and breading pork tenderloins between frying your eggs and her famous thick-cut bacon.
6. Jenny Wren Club
For more than 70 years Bushnell‘s Jenny Wren Club has been legendary night spot. is a no nonsense good-time and don’t forget their GREAT food featuring our region’s very own Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich!
7. Tink's Cafe
You can’t go wrong at Tink’s in Blandinsville. Classic Tenderloins, Horseshoes, Country Fried steak, fresh juicy burgers, pan-fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and fresh baked pizza.
8. Highway Family Restaurant
Highway Family has tasty American breakfast and dinner favorites - including pork tenderloins - they also offer cuisines as diverse as Italian, Asian, Mexican and Mediterranean, all equally delicious.
9. The Full Scoop
(Loose-meat sandwich shown) Picked as one of McDonough County‘s “Best Of The Best” in 2022, The Full Scoop in Colchester is an Ice Cream, Coffee & Sandwich Shop with a variety of scratch made fast foods. Their menu includes mouth watering regional favorites such as breaded pork tenderloin, loose meat sandwiches, and the open-faced Horseshoe sandwich.
10. Adair Cafe
Though the tenderloin sandwich has it’s origins in nearby eastern Iowa, few deliver one better than the village of Adair‘s Adair Cafe. But be careful, because when this hand pounded, crispy breaded, deep-fried pork delight is served traditionally, with mustard, pickle and onion on a grill-top toasted bun, it just might change your life.
11. Dairy Den
The newly-opened Dairy Den in Bushnell, IL offers dozens of ice cream flavors, burgers, fries, shakes and the best Pork T’s in town (they’re a stop on our Tenderloin Trail).
12. Spoonies Bar & Grill
Stop in for a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich larger than your face at Spoonies Bar & Grill in London, IL – you won't regret it! They're loved for their great food and honest prices by locals throughout the region.
13. Club 41
Don't skip Club 41 – a hometown favorite home to "The World's Best Onion Rings" and a pork tenderloin sandwich that'll make your taste buds sing.
14. Twisted Sisters Bar & Grill
Drink, eat and relax with a full belly at Twisted Sisters Bar & Grill, a cozy restaurant with a casual vibe and massive burger, sandwich, and specialty pork tenderloin menu.
15. JaM Diner
JaM Diner is a casual cafe located in the cozy downtown of Industry, IL. Open for breakfast, lunch and home cooked dinners, this friendly eatery is hard to beat. JaM Diner (formerly The Lunch Box Café) also features regional favorites open-faced Horseshoe and Pork T sandwiches.
Don't miss their TOP SECRET OFF-MENU ITEM: The Tenderizza! The Tenderizza, a breaded pork tenderloin that acts as a pizza crust, in which one can choose the toppings of their choice, is served only if you call in advance (about 20-30 mins) and ask them to prepare it for you. An epic concoction that must be tasted!
