National Nachos Day 🧀

Overview

National Nachos Day, celebrated annually on November 6th, is a festive occasion dedicated to honoring the beloved Mexican-inspired dish. It encourages enthusiasts to indulge in the crispy tortilla chips generously topped with melted cheese, jalapeños, and a wide array of other savory ingredients, commemorating its humble yet delicious origins.

Origin and story

Nachos were invented in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, a maître d' at the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

The dish was originally called "Nachos especiales" (Nacho's Specials) after its creator.

Quick facts

• DateNovember 6
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

Nachos exist because a chef went missing at exactly the wrong moment — the dish was pure improvisation, not a planned recipe.

Meet the maître d' who invented them

In 1943, Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya was working at the Victory Club near the Texas border in Piedras Negras, Mexico, when a group of U.S. Army wives arrived and the cook was nowhere to be found — Anaya went into the kitchen himself, cut fried tortillas into triangles, and topped them with shredded cheese and pickled jalapeños.

Know how the name stuck

"Nacho" is a nickname derived from Ignacio, and the Victory Club's owner was so taken with the dish that he put it on the menu as "Nacho's Especiales," cementing the inventor's name onto the food itself.

Read the fuller history

Helpful resources:

• Ignacio Anaya García: The Genius Who Invented Nachos (Mental Floss)

Did you know?

Piedras Negras still holds a three-day Nacho Fest every October around the 21st, celebrated as the International Day of the Nacho in the dish's actual birthplace.

Fun facts

• Nachos were invented in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, a maître d' at the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.
• The dish was originally called "Nachos especiales" (Nacho's Specials) after its creator.
• The largest plate of nachos ever made weighed 4,766 pounds (2,161 kg) and was assembled in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2017.

Sources and attribution

Ignacio Anaya García: The Genius Who Invented Nachos (Mental Floss)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Nachos Day?

It is observed on November 6 each year.

What is National Nachos Day?

National Nachos Day, celebrated annually on November 6th, is a festive occasion dedicated to honoring the beloved Mexican-inspired dish. It encourages enthusiasts to indulge in the crispy tortilla chips generously topped with melted cheese, jalapeños, and a wide array of other savory ingredients, commemorating its humble yet delicious origins.

How do people celebrate National Nachos Day?

Make a plate of nachos and thank Ignacio 'Nacho' Anaya, who improvised the dish in 1943 at a Mexican border-town restaurant after the chef went missing and a group of customers needed feeding.

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