Winning a prestigious contest can be a game-changer for any business. For JJ’s Tavern + Grill in Ankeny, earning the title of Iowa’s Best Burger in 2024 did more than boost their reputation – it significantly impacted their bottom line, attracted out-of-state customers and ignited community engagement.

JJ’s award-winning burger lineup features eight smash burger selections, including three popular options – JJ’s Smash Burger, the Brock Curdy Burger and the Jalapeño Cheddar Burger. Each smash burger can be a single patty or double. JJ’s Smash Burger is a classic burger with tavern sauce, gooey American cheese, and fresh lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles. The Brock Curdy Burger is named for San Francisco 49ers quarterback and former Iowa State player Brock Purdy. The burger features BBQ sauce, ranch, American cheese, cheese curds, pulled pork and bacon. The Jalapeño Cheddar Burger is topped with tavern sauce, cheddar, bacon and jalapenos.

The restaurant, owned by Rick and Lilia Romero, opened on Black Friday, Nov. 29, 2023. From the moment they secured a spot in Iowa’s Best Burger Top 10 rankings, their business saw a rapid transformation.

“Before making the Top 10, we were selling a modest 42 burgers per day,” Rick Romero explains. “After being crowned Iowa’s Best Burger in May, sales skyrocketed to 250 burgers a day – a 495% increase. Smash patties saw an even greater leap, from 55 per day to 472, a 758% jump. This surge in...