Polydish city guide
Best Nachos in Chicago
“Created in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, nachos are layers of tortilla chips, cheese, and whatever toppings you want.”
What the real thing tastes like
Nachos are a Tex-Mex dish consisting of tortilla chips or totopos covered with cheese or chile con queso, as well as a variety of other toppings and garnishes, often including meats (such as ground beef or grilled chicken), vegetables (such as chili peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives), and condiments such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream. At its most basic form, nachos may consist of merely chips covered with melted cheese (usually cheddar or American cheese), or cheese sauce and served as an appetizer or snack, while other versions are substantial enough to serve as a main course. The dish was created by, and named after, Mexican restaurateur Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, who created it in 1943 for American customers at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.
0 voices, one story
Nachos are the Tex-Mex answer to the question: what if you layered tortilla chips with melted cheese and let people build their own plate? Born in 1943 when Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya created them for American customers at a Piedras Negras restaurant, they've stayed refreshingly simple at their core—just chips and cheese sauce—while also welcoming grilled chicken, ground beef, jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream to the party. Depending on what you add, nachos shift seamlessly from bar-snack to full meal.
Order it here when it has
- versatile—appetizer or main course
- simple foundation with endless variations
- rooted in a specific origin story
Walk away when you see
Restaurant-level rankings for Chicago land as the Polydish review engine processes this city's reviews. Explore the dish itself while you wait —
Nachos on Polydish →