National Nachos Day: Houston's Top Nachos

HOUSTON, TX — No one really knows the exact date when nachos were first created, but nobody in Texas really cares do they? They were first dished up by Ignaci “Nacho” Anaya in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, just across the Texas border from Eagle Pass. Today is National Nachos Day just like every Nov. 6, and before listing the best nachos in Houston, here's a little bit about them.

Nachos can be made plain and simple or elaborately as desired for an appetizer, full meal or quick snack. You can choose an abundance of toppings to create loaded nachos, super nachos or nachos supreme. Along with corn tortilla chips, toppings may include (but aren't limited to): refried beans, ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, seafood, shredded cheese, jalapeno peppers, green pepper, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, onion, sour cream and guacamole. Queso can be substituted for shredded cheese.

There are chicken and beef fajita nachos, shrimp and crab nachos and even, gasp, vegetarian nachos. They can be eaten with a fork or your fingers. They can be served on a plate, in a basket, a bowl or even inside a plastic baseball helmet at the ballpark.

Per legend, "Nacho" Anaya worked as a maître d at a restaurant in Piedras Negras, where some wives of U.S. military men stationed in Eagle Pass crossed the border for a day of shopping. They arrived at the restaurant for a late dinner, only to find it had just closed. "Nacho" went to see what he could scrape up in the kitchen, which was tortilla and cheese. He cut the tortillas into triangles, topped them with shredded cheddar cheese and quickly heated them. Anaya then added sliced jalapeno peppers and served them to the ladies.

When the ladies asked the name of the dish, he simply replied: "Nacho’s especiales." Word spread and the easy treat can be found in just about every Mexican restaurant and many American food establishments and appetizer menus. If you have one tonight, raise a chip to honor "Nacho" Anaya for his invention circa 1943.

But enough of chatting about nachos, here are places around Houston who have the best reviews on their nachos via perusal of yelp.com.

And the top nachos are:

• Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe, 1511 Airline Dr • The Heights
• Alma Latina, 2203 N Shepherd Dr • The Heights
• Habanera And the Guero, 9902 Gulf Fwy • Hobby area, Houston
• Caliente, 790 W Sam Houston Pkwy • Houston
• Chacho’s Mexican Restaurant, 6006 Westheimer Rd • Galleria/Uptown
• Georgee’s Baja Grill, 6031 Hwy 6 N • Houston
• The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Blvd • Houston
• Pistolero’s, 1517 Westheimer Rd • Houston
• Guadalajara Mexican Grille & Bar, 2925 Southwest Fwy • Upper Kirby
• Luchi & Joey’s, 14005 Memorial Dr • Energy Corridor/Houston

Top image: Two workers put the finishing touches on nachos as Ninety Nine Restaurants in Billerica, Massachusetts set a new world record by creating the Guinness World Records World's Largest Nachos, weighing in at 3,999 lbs on October 1, 2011 in Billerica, Massachusetts. (Photo by Gail Oskin/Getty Images for Ninety Nine Restaurants)