The Mexican snack that originated in Coahuila and ended up conquering the world
It’s crispy, has melted cheese, a touch of spice, and is the life of any stadium or movie theater in the world. How do you prepare your favorite nachos?
Although many believe it’s an American invention, the reality is that the most famous snack on the planet and the second most consumed food during the Super Bowl was born in northern Mexico, specifically in Coahuila.
The story takes us back to 1943. The setting was the Club Victoria, a restaurant located inside a hotel on the border of Piedras Negras, according to an article in Larousse Cocina.
One afternoon, after hours, a group of American women (wives of soldiers from Fort Duncan military base in Texas) arrived at the restaurant looking for something to eat after a day of shopping.
Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya García, the manager, was alone and without any kitchen staff.
Faced with the urgency of serving them, Don Nacho improvised with what he had on hand; he took a handful of tortilla chips, covered them with Colby cheese (a Wisconsin cheese similar to cheddar), added slices of pickled jalapeño peppers, and put the dish in the oven until it was melted and bubbly.
The result was a resounding success. When the customers asked him what the delicious dish was called, Don Nacho humbly replied, “Nacho’s Special.” The rest is history.
Although they originated in Mexico, their massive internationalization came decades later.
In 1976, Texan entrepreneur Frank Liberto revolutionized the concept by creating a processed cheese sauce that didn’t require an oven. This allowed for the ultra-fast sale of nachos from carts inside stadiums and movie theaters.
The impact was enormous. By 1979, at Texas Rangers games, nachos had completely overtaken popcorn: 531,000 orders were sold compared to only 92,000 for popcorn.
The business model was so efficient that they could serve up to 1,600 orders per hour, solidifying nachos as the king of entertainment snacks.
If you’re a true nacho fan, you should know that every year, during the second week of October, the Nacho Festival is held in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.
This festival is a showcase where chefs and enthusiasts compete with the most creative versions of this dish.
In 2025, the thirtieth edition of this festival took place, during which the world’s largest nacho was prepared, measuring 6.05 meters on each side.
In addition, there are several dates to celebrate them globally, with October 21 being one of the most recognized as International Nacho Day.
Source: elsiglodetorreon
