6 Delicious and Inventive Ways Phoenix Does Nachos
By: Brian Garrido
Nachos are not just a convenience food served at a twenty-four, seven day a week store, with stale chips and slathered in a gooey orange “cheese” sauce. Rather, the Tex-Mex dish has a real history, starting with the ordinary tortilla chip. Originating from the Mexican state of Oaxaca centuries ago, they are baked tortillas – which are then broken apart, creating flat, crunchy “bread” for scooping. Jump ahead to the 20th century and, as the story goes, in 1943, a gentleman by the name of Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, broke a few of the baked tortillas and covered them with queso melted in an oven. He then topped his creation with jalapeños and served it to a group of weary female travelers who were shopping in Piedras Negras, a Mexican town near the Texas border. Hence, “nachos” were born.
It is the custom of many creative chefs to take a vintage food, preferably one that’s reminiscent of their youth, and make it their own. Luckily, Phoenix has many imaginative cooks who present different culinary takes on the Tex-Mex staple. As the days get warmer and longer, there’s nothing like sitting al fresco, with a frosty glass of something, and a bunch of smothered-cheesy crunchiness.
Diego Pops
As far as Scottsdale trendy eateries go, this is “da-bomb”. It’s a unique fusion of a mid-century American diner and old-school Mexican for the millennial generation, decorated in aqua neon lights, red patent leather booths, and tables covered in linoleum set in an adobe setting. The Brussels Sprouts Nachos are a distinctive twist on the favorite. Lightly charred Brussels sprout leaves, along with Oaxacan string and Mexican street corn-off-the-cob (tossed in Parmesan), with a garlic beet crema, Fresno chiles and pickled onions are served over housemade chips on a stainless steel tray and paper for easy pick-up. Order with a Sno-cone margarita. Talk about a childhood dream come true.
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4338 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480.970.1007
The Clever Koi
The three owners at The Clever Koi are clever indeed. Co-owner/ chef Jared Porter fries up thin rice paper-like totopos as the base for his ingenious Asian nachos. A healthy portion of diced ahi tuna with wasabi tossed avocado (guacamole), aioli and sesame seeds is crumbled over the top. It’s a refreshing and lighter way of having your chips and eating it too. They are the perfect bar eats for a hot summer day. Pair with one of co-owner/ mixologist Joshua James libations like the Paloma, made with Blanco Tequila, grapefruit, Maldon salt and soda – or sip one of the carefully chosen chilled sakes. As you are seated, tell the front of the house manager, and third owner Nick Campisano, AZLatinos sent you. He will greet you with some authentic Southwestern hospitality.
4236 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ, 85012
602.222.3474
Mucho Macho Tacos
At this over-the-counter hipster taco house, eaters will find tater tots covered with cheese, roasted meat and house made pico de gallo. If there was ever an eating love letter to one’s childhood, this might be it. As far as the nachos go, there aren’t any chips per se, but these crisped-up spud pillows are dripping in cheddar and Monterey. It doesn’t come with the protein, but get the meat anyway. It’s just an extra two bucks, and you can wash it down with a delicious horchata.
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5341 North 7th Avenue (corner of Missouri)
Phoenix, AZ 85013
602.277.8226 (TACO)
Los Favoritos
Created in 2001, and with a dozen locations throughout the Valley of the Sun, Los Favoritos is definitely a Phoenician’s must-try. It’s understandable as Los Favoritos’ growth is because the food isn’t really complex so much as it’s inexpensive and yummy. At the family-owned, low-key restaurants, eaters will find a new dish to idolize called carne asada fries. Think of everything a neighborhood place would put on fried corn and put them on fried potatoes. Melting cheese. Guacamole. Sour cream. Onions. Chopped carne asada. Black olives. You’re welcome.
1879 West Apache Trail
Apache Junction, AZ 85220
480.982.1860
Locations in Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and San Tan Valley.
The Tilted Kilt
The term breast-aurant was used to describe the Tilted Kilt, which is essentially a sports bar with loud masculine screams whenever someone throws or kicks a ball. The wait staff is mostly women wearing a couple of plaid triangles for a top and scarf used as a skirt. It’s not for a first date or for a family outing, unless you want to explain the getup to the kiddies. But if you can stomach all the exposed flesh, order the Irish Nachos – which are delicious and made with freshly made potato chips, blanketed in cheese, and topped with ground beef, guacamole, sour cream and salsa. The piping hot, just-fried spud slivers are really worth trying.
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660 West Warner Road
Tempe, AZ 85254
480 592 0102
Locations in Peoria, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe and downtown Phoenix.
AZ88
Since 1988, AZ88 has been serving sophisticated bar food with their drinks in an urban setting. For example, the St. Petersburg Potatoes are a healthy serving of house potato chips crowned with heaps of sour cream, cream cheese, Scottish salmon, cucumbers and red onion. It’s arguably a better place for a first date than the Tilted Kilt. With sculptural awnings and an atmosphere that, the restaurant has long been a favorite of the Valley of the Sun’s fashionable set. After almost two decades, AZ88 is still a sublime and deliciously quintessential experience.
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7353 Scottsdale Mall at Civic Center Park
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480 994 5579
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