The Iowa Pork Tent gets a makeover with a new patio and grill for the 2023 Iowa State Fair

If you want to find Sen. Chuck Grassley at the Iowa State Fair, you can check at the Iowa Pork Tent, the home of the pork chop on a stick from the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Last year he said it was one of the dishes he had to eat when he attended.

In fact, politicians and regular folks alike will stand in line for the simple dish. The food stand at the corner of East Grand Avenue and East 34^th Street on the Fairgrounds attracts long lines of fairgoers and typically sells between 5,000 and 6,000 pork chops every day of the Fair.

This summer, the Iowa Pork Tent gets a makeover. Previously, the dining area sat under a tent. This summer, it will have a roof over it.

More: Who has the best pulled pork sandwich in Iowa? This little restaurant in Marshalltown

“Fairgoers can expect to enjoy the same delicious Iowa pork they’re used to in the new Iowa Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair, with spacious seating in a family-friendly environment,” said Hannah Spurr, consumer outreach director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “The dining area will be able to accommodate the same number of guests, but it will be much more open and comfortable.”

That's not the only change. The grill moves to the east side of the stand, still very visible to fairgoers.

“Visible outdoor grilling will remain a feature of the new pork tent, so everyone can see and smell those fresh chops coming off the grill,” Spurr said.

The Iowa Pork Tent also lands a new outdoor patio overlooking Grand Avenue, plus a bigger kitchen that “will allow for more flexibility to implement new menu ideas for the future,” Spurr said.

Also on the way, a new walk-in cooler that is larger to house all of the pork producer’s meat products in one place as well as offer an opportunity for new items.

Last year, the pork producers introduced the Pork Picnic in a Cup with layers of barbecue pulled pork, baked beans, creamy coleslaw, corn chips and a drizzle of barbecue sauce, garnished with brown sugar pork belly.

More on the Iowa State Fair

• Comedian Jeff Dunham, rockers The Black Keys added to the Iowa State Fair lineup this summer

• Who's coming to the Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2023? Here's the lineup so far

• What Iowa celebrities like Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Chuck Grassley and more eat at the Iowa State Fair

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See what the Iowa Pork Tent has in store for the 2023 Iowa State Fair