Can we take a moment to appreciate the simple beauty of nachos? In their most basic form, they’re an artful balance of crunchy, salty tortilla chips and creamy queso. As you approach gourmet territory, however, they morph into artful concoctions laden with everything from pulled pork to Andouille sausage to braised short rib. Either way, they’re always delectable, satisfying, and surprisingly versatile. The region’s authentic Mexican restaurants, fusion concepts, and farm-to-table establishments all contribute their own unique takes on the classic. Whether you enjoy them as a shared appetizer with friends, a late-night treat with a pal, or all on your own, you can’t go wrong with nachos in the Valley.
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La Charla
New Paltz
You can never go wrong with nachos from an authentic Mexican restaurant. La Charla serves its nachos with all the classic toppings: melted cheese, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, sour cream, and your choice of meat. The restaurant even drizzles its homemade avocado sauce on top to seal the deal. Some other experiences that La Charla offers are a margarita happy hour on Friday and Saturday nights and a picture with a giant sombrero on your birthday!
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Casa del Sol
Nyack
In Rockland County, Nyack’s iconic Casa del Sol features a truly unique nacho experience that delivers on Cajun spice. Black beans, Monterey jack cheese, jalapenos, fresh guacamole, and sour cream are par for the course. However, after topping a plate of crispy tortilla chips with Andouille sausage, chipotle shrimp, or grilled skirt steak, it’s nigh unto impossible to go back to “basic” nachos after that.
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Dulce Cielo MX
Beacon
If you’ve never been inside Beacon’s Hudson Valley Food Hall, then you are in for a treat. In this cafeteria-style destination, you’ll smell Dulce Cielo’s food before you see it. This authentic Mexican street food-style hotspot offers delicious flavors in conveniently sized packages, including its take on Nacho Supreme. Of course, the eatery caters to a variety of eating preferences with its vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Make sure you take a look around the food hall before you settle down with your delicious nachos in case anything else strikes your fancy while you’re there.
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El Loco Mexican Café
Albany
This Albany hotspot has its fair share of crave-worthy nachos. Depending on current hunger levels, visitors can attack either the Nachos Classicos or Nachos Fantasticos, the latter which is a multi-layered behemoth of cheese, crispy tortilla, salsas roja and verde, and a slew of other south-of-the-border accoutrements. Though beef, turkey, and tofu are all worthy options for a protein topper, there’s something extra-special about chorizo. These fantastic platters only showcase a modicum of El Loco’s true prowess, so make a point to spend considerable time perusing the expansive menu.
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Fresco Tortillas
Poughkeepsie
Located in an oddly triangular space at the heart of Poughkeepsie’s Arlington district, Fresco is a hole-in-the-wall haven for top-notch nachos. There are four ways to upgrade these nachos. Meat eaters can go for the Tex-Mex chili, chicken, or steak styles. For something really special and fully vegetarian, the chili tofu plate is the way to go. Made with homemade chips, bean curd tofu chili, melted cheese, black beans, and tomato, the veg-friendly portion will satisfy your stomach.
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Pueblo Viejo
Carmel
If you like options when it comes to nachos, then Pueblo Viejo is the right place for you. The menu has two different nachos offered on the appetizer menu, as well as two options on the specials menu. With four different choices, you’ll find combinations of tostadas and mixed vegetables and traditional nachos with carnitas or chorizo. Pair your choice with a drink from the extensive cocktail menu, featuring a multitude of fruity options in fun glasses. Make sure to ask for tajin on the rim!
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Mexicali Blue
Wappingers Falls
What’s the ultimate mood cure? We think it might be a giant frozen margarita paired with a giant heap of Mexicali Blue nachos. Heed your server’s inevitable warning—the Nachos Supreme platter is positively massive, so diners may want to bring backup. Loaded with bright Monterey jack cheese, marmalade onions, refried beans, spicy jalapenos, fresh pico de gallo, and guacamole, the Supreme without meat is a feat to finish. Top this mountain off with grilled steak or chicken, chili, pulled pork, baked barbecue brisket, or pork pernil for a party-style platter that’s best enjoyed with friends.
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Ole Savannah
Kingston
Want an extra kick to your chips? Go for the crunchy, chewy, saucy goodness found in the barbecue nachos at Ole Savannah. The dish, which is technically an appetizer but works well as a main, relies on crispy corn chips as a base. As for toppers, feast your eyes (and your stomach) on the flavorful medley of barbecue pulled pork, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, jalapenos, green onions, and sour cream. Ole Savannah specializes in southern fare, so expect big things from the succulent pork, then wash the whole affair down with bourbon or Hudson Valley craft beer.
Super Nacho
Goshen
How could one forget about a restaurant that has “nacho” in the name? There is no misnomer or hyperbole surrounding the Goshen eatery; the nachos are truly super. Order them as a side from the “Mas Nachos” menu, which offers chicken, frijol, carne molida, suadero, al pastor, and chorizo as options for toppers. The Los Super Nachos appetizer combines three of those proteins for a well-rounded dish. However, there’s also a menu for those hungry for something bolder. The Bistec Señor Nacho puts a helping of fried corn tortillas, pico de gallo, and queso fresco alongside a 12 oz grilled New York strip steak for a protein-packed meal.
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Terrapin
Rhinebeck
To say that Terrapin’s Josh Kroner-led kitchen is versatile would be an understatement. Diners visiting this Rhinebeck institution dig into fresh rigatoni, sweet-and-savory duck quesadillas, and succulent burgers made from Hudson Valley beef. So, it’s no surprise that Terrapin excels with cheesy nachos, of which it has three varieties from which diners can choose. The original dish hits the spot as an appetizer with simple staples like cheddar, black bean sauce, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and jalapenos, along with toppings like Tex-Mex beef, chicken, or pork-green chili stew. If you are searching for nachos of a certain quality, Kroner is here to give that to you.
Related: 10 Places to Get Ridiculously Good Ramen in the Hudson Valley
