The World’s Best Nachos

The only thing that could drag me outside after a night of drinking with co-workers and other debauch activities involving nipple biting and kitchen dancing is nachos.

I like to think I’m a connoisseur of nachos.
They’re the perfect food: greasy, delicious and they cover just about every food group. The ultimate hangover cure.

But so many restaurants just do it wrong. They fail to layer the toppings properly, so all the nachos at the bottom get ignored. There’s never enough cheese. The nachos are soggy. And won’t someone PLEASE think of the sauce?

I’ve tried them all, folks. But nothing rivals Mustang Sally’s Flaming Skillet nachos. And fortunately (unfortunate for my arse) they’re just a five minute walk away on George Street, the perfect location for post-clubbing drunkards.

Nachos

Just look at them. I mean really look at them. They have pickles. And corn. And sometimes, when I’m feeling truly adventurous, I’ll add red cabbage. CABBAGE.

Their cheese to nacho ratio is outstanding, absolutely brilliant. In fact, sometimes there’s too much topping and not even nachos. I know, I’m speechless too.

The nachos are prepared and served up right in front of you, so you get to pick any topping you like. I do mean any topping, you can throw some beans on that shit if you’d like. Then you pick a sauce, the best one (in my opinion) being Sally’s Secret Sauce. I have no idea what’s in this mysterious sauce, but if I had to guess it’d be fairy dust and rainbow glitter.

Their key move is to put down a layer of nachos, toppings, and then more nachos and more toppings. Voila, the most colourful, perfectly distributed platter of nachos you will ever see in your life for just $14.

Where have you found excellent nachos?

  • January 31 2010

    Look good. Did you order them to go, or did they send your drunk arse homeward?

    • February 02 2010

      Oh no, I ordered them post-drinking! One time I fell down in the line-up and dragged a chip rack on top of me. Then the servers refused to feed me. Epic.

  • January 31 2010
    Sabina

    Nachos – one of my favorite meals/snacks/treats/rewards/necessisities too. Do you have the Chili’s chain of restaurants up there? They have the best nachos ever, in my opinion.

    (and the nachos in that photo look spectacular)

    • February 02 2010

      Nope, I’ve never been to Chili’s! But that sounds like a challenge to me. ;)

  • January 31 2010

    Pickles on nachos? Hmm…. I could do that.

  • January 31 2010

    Nachos are awesome just awesome. Now you can’t add corn, cabbage and is that olives eww to your nachos. You need beans and bacon and beautiful capsicum sauce. Dammit I so want nachos right now….

    • February 02 2010

      Don’t knock it ’til you try it!! If you make it here, I’ll take you.

  • February 01 2010

    Now you are making me hungry! LOL!

    We have found it almost impossible to find any decent Mexican food on our open ended, family world tour. OK, we did find an amazing & authentic (but expensive as everything had to be imported) Mex restaurant in Santorini of all places (with killer caldera views to boot), but mostly we have to make our own.

    Luckily we get as many free avocados that we want just out side our door in the “campo” while wintering in Spain, so that helps. ;)

    • February 02 2010

      Are the Spanish into nachos at all? Y’know, I don’t think I’ve ever tried real Spanish food…and btw, Santorini is one of my dream destinations!

      • February 04 2010

        You GOTTA try real Spanish food. The best thing about it is that it’s endless — they just keep bringing out small plates of delicious god knows what.

  • February 01 2010

    Lol only you could pull off an entire post on nachos! Talk about finesse! Seriously though, I know what it’s like to get a shit plate of nachos. You feel violated, and you just know the nacho chips feel the same way, they had the potential to come out beautiful, instead some cook or recipe ruined them. It’s not right.

    I’ll be sure to look these up though when I make it to the Newf, that picture makes me moist all over. Must be that fairy dust and rainbow glitter. haha

    • February 02 2010

      Hahahaha, thanks! You must definitely try these babies. I hate when restaurant owners get all cheap with the cheese and stuff. Wtf?

  • February 01 2010

    Damn that looks good. Nachos were a main staple of my diet back in college, but none ever looked this good. They’re the ultimate hangover-preventer too.

    • February 02 2010

      YES! One time, after the bar, I placed my nachos on the table and went to use the bathroom. When I came back…they were face down on the floor. I ate them anyway. They were that good.

  • February 01 2010

    that cheese to nacho ratio is stellar. but corn, pickles, and CABBAGE? that worries me.

    • February 02 2010

      I can pretty much guarantee you that the cabbage is a fantastic touch.

  • February 01 2010

    Layering and cheese are the most important parts of nacho making. When, oh when, will this become apparent to the nacho makers?

    • February 02 2010

      SERIOUSLY! Cheap is not the way to go, people!

  • February 01 2010

    Oh baby

  • February 01 2010

    I haven’t tried them yet, but across the street from my hotel Whitch’s Rock Surf Camp has a restaurant that serves Nachos As Big As Your Ass. I can see the sign from where I’m sitting now….

    Image courtesy the Goog:
    http://www.lindsayfincher.com/gallery/d/17394-1/costa_rica_wrsc_17.JPG

    • February 02 2010

      OMFG. That is AMAZING. Can I steal this pic?

      • February 03 2010

        I got it from google image search… I can take one of my own and send it to you when I get a chance.

  • February 01 2010

    Forgot to mention, that’s in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

  • February 01 2010
    maggie

    dear lord those look yummy. i need to move downtown. there is no form of hangover food a 5 minute walk from my house. unless i count marie’s.

    i have a vague recollection of having had very good nachos in ottawa, but i can’t recall where… Never found any in guelph that didn’t have a dissapointing amount of toppings/cheese-less chips :(

    • February 02 2010

      Oh man, you really don’t live in a good hangover spot, sad. Isn’t there a fish n’ chips place nearby?

      • February 02 2010
        maggie

        if there is, i am unaware of it’s existence :o
        the mall is about a 15 minute walk… i’ve been in desperate enough need to do that in the summer, but not when it’s so cold :(

  • February 01 2010
    Heather

    mmm, I can’t remember the last time I had mustangs nachos…now I’m fiending for them some fierce. damn you !! next weekend, me + you+ drunkeness= hangover nacho date. deals ?

  • February 01 2010

    OMG, no more food talk, seriously! LOL

    • February 02 2010

      This is just the beginning, muahaha.

  • February 02 2010

    Who knew you could miss nachos so much?? I almost didn’t want to look at your picture there, all that’s missing on that picture is some HOT salsa and guacamole!!!

    That brings back memories from my best nacho plate EVER, on a local pub by the open fire in Hanmer Springs.. I would swap a 3-course gourmet meal any day for that nacho-plate…

    • February 02 2010

      Y’know, they don’t serve guacamole at Mustang’s…I’m feeling a little…deceived.

  • February 02 2010

    Oh how I would kill for some good nachos here in SK.

    • February 02 2010

      Hahaha, I guess they’re impossible to find?

  • February 02 2010

    Best Nachos… some hole in the wall place on Duval Street in Key West, after a long night. I am sure its on a bank statement somewhere! Those look amazing.

    • February 02 2010

      Nachos really are perfect after a long night, eh? Now I’m hungry.

  • February 02 2010

    If only cheese didn’t hurt my little Asian tummy. :( I can’t eat loads of cheese, but a few nachos over light beer, I can do. Especially in the summertime. Heavenly.

    • February 03 2010

      Ugh, that image just sent me swooning…sigh!

  • February 02 2010

    Candice, darling – you know I LOVE you and agree with you on almost everything … but PICKLES? ON NACHOS? I … I don’t know, honey.

    • February 03 2010

      I LOVE that you overlooked the red cabbage and attacked the pickles, TRY IT!!

  • February 03 2010
    Lottie

    the sallys secret sauce is a mixture of ranch and bbq, i found this out one night when i was drunken slur flirting with one of the grill masters!.. damn i love that place.

    • February 03 2010

      DAMMIT! The mystery is over. Remember fur-coat lady?

  • February 04 2010

    I love nachos, but 100% agree with you – they have to be made exactly right. For me, normally it’s the mom-and-pop shops that do them right. The big chains are too worried about mass production…

    • February 07 2010

      Seems to be the case! Everyone skimping on the ingredients. Tsk tsk.

  • February 04 2010

    There is a place just down the street from me in Buenos Aires that has nachos and when I describe them, they will sound disgusting, but they are delicious. They use a wine sauce. White wine. Like a fondue. Buenos Aires has some atrocious nachos – the ones at the movies might as well just be served with hot milk on the side. But the fake Mexican nachos on the corner – well you’ve probably never had anything like them, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. And if you’re willing to go for the cabbage (hmmmm…..) you might need to try some Mexi-French fondue nachos one day.

    • February 07 2010

      Hahahaha, “Mexi-French fondue nachos.” I’m totally not opposed to wine-covered nachos, sounds like an infusion of my two favorite things, yes?

  • February 07 2010

    pickles and corn on nachos? no thanks.

    • February 07 2010

      I will buy you a plate, and you shall love it.

  • February 07 2010

    Very funny! :D

  • February 07 2010

    Delicious! I love how you can write a whole post about nachos.

    • February 07 2010

      Oh man, I could rant about nachos for hours. Don’t get me started!

  • February 15 2010

    Those nachos do look pretty good, Candice. I totally agree about how most places do it wrong. They tend to just pile it all together with out concern for the cohesion. Then, when the recipient tries to mix up the ingredients, it turns into a tablewide disaster often ending in broken dreams and friendships.

    Don’t fuck with bad nachos.

    b / TBD

    • February 15 2010

      FINALLY, someone who gets me!!

  • February 18 2010

    Those look SO good. And you’re right – there is never ever ever EVER enough cheese!!

    • February 19 2010

      Seriously!! What is so hard to understand about the concept?!

  • December 04 2011
    Sammy

    Don’t get into fights, why don’t you guys just have Doritos with melten cheese? it’s better, DUH!

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