I had a curiosity after I ate the most amazing twist on nachos dish while having dinner at Black + Blue last month. The unique and delicious Steak House Nachos were the inspiration that got my creative juices flowing. I was curious about how some of the ethnic eateries around the city would prepare Nachos in their style of cooking. I challenged several restaurants and their chefs to create a version in their ethnic or cooking style.

Note: These Nachos dishes are not on the regular menu at many of these restaurants, some will feature their dish on their menu as a special.

Here are the tasty results of my quest, in no particular order:

1) Black + Blue

Steak House Nachos

Style: Steakhouse

On the Plate: house spiced potato chips, bacon, cheddar cheese, steak chili

Garnish: n/a

My Take: Top marks go to chef Jason Labahn for creating this awesome play on nachos. Think meat and potatoes, this was a clever twist to marrying amazing flavours of the steak and the chili together with house-made potato chips.

Cost: $14

On the regular menu: Yes

Chef: Jason Labahn

Location: Black + Blue, 1032 Alberni Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @glowbal_group #gcblackandblue

Web: www.glowbalgroup.com/blackblue

 

2) House Guest

New Delhi Double Down Butter Chicken Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos

Style: Eclectic, Comfort Food

On the Plate: – butter chicken, braised beef Shortrib, bacon lardons, 6 cheese blend, tomato & cilantro, green onion & jalapeño, butter chicken cheese sauce, raita crema, roti & blue corn chips

Garnish: Kachumber Salsa, Masala Guacamole

My Take: Top marks go to chef Kayla Dahliwall and owners Justin & Matti for taking my challenge so seriously, it was the most creative on all levels from the presentation of their custom created menu board to the made from scratch nachos and all the other ingredients in the dish. Chef Kayla added an Indian twist that was outstanding in taste and creativity.

Cost: $18

On the regular menu: No

Chef:  Kayla Dhaliwall

Location: 332 Water Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @housexguest

Web: http://housexguest.com/

 

3) Cento Notti 

Italian Nachos

Style: Twisted Italian

On the Plate: – house-made pasta “nachos”, Bolognese, ricotta/asiago béchamel, house-made pancetta, cannelloni bean puree, basil, parsley, olive oil, red peppers

Garnish: salsa verde, mascarpone crème fraiche, stewed tomato salsa

My Take: Top marks go to Chef Paul Marshall for thinking outside of the box and creating dried pasta cut into tortilla chip shapes and then adding all the ingredients that’s Italian.

Cost: unknown

On the regular menu: No

Chef:  Paul Marshall

Location: 350 Davie Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @centonotti

Web: http://centonotti.com/

 

4) YEW Restaurant 

Lobster Nachos

Style: Seafood

On the Plate: – lobster, house-made corn chips, avocado, queso fresco, creme fraiche

Garnish: n/a

My Take: Kudos to Chef Ned Bell for creating this dish for their participation at the Vintners Brunch at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and thanks to him tweeting for my noticing this dish. As this is a bar snack it is meant for one person to eat rather than for sharing, these nachos pear well with the Painted Rock Wine Chardonnay or other Chardonnay that may be available on their wine list.

Cost: $15

On the regular menu: Yes

Chef:  Ned Bell

Location: 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @fsvancouver #YEWyvr

Web: http://www.yewrestaurant.com/

 

5) Bob Like Thai Food

Thai Nachos

Style: Northern Thai

On The Plate: Shrimp chips, green papaya, onion, lemongrass, cucumber, lime juice, tamarind sauce, palm sugar, peanut sauce, chili, cilantro

Garnish: n/a

My Take: After researching the origin of nachos, chef/owner Tai Keattivanichvily told me he wanted to create this dish as if it would be served in Thailand, therefore top marks go to his outside of the box thinking to use shrimp chips instead of tortilla chips and peanut sauce instead of cheese.

Cost: unknown

On the regular menu: No

Chef: Tai Keattivanichvily

Location: Bob Likes Thai Food , 3755 Main Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @boblikethaifood

Web: www.boblikesthaifood.com/

 

6) Annatoli Souvlaki

Greek Nachos

Style: Greek

On The Plate: Greek meatballs (beef), onions, tomatoes, peppers, kalamata olives, greek feta cheese, saganaki cheese, blue tortilla chips

Garnish:  tzatziki sauce

My Take: Kudos to Alexi Makris one of the owners for adding a Greek twist with 2 different cheeses (all sheep cheese) along with their house-made meatballs making this a delicious play on nachos.

Cost: unknown

On the regular menu: No

Chef: Alexi Makris

Location: Annatoli Souvlaki, 5 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Twitter: @AnatoliSouvlaki

Web: http://www.anatolisouvlaki.com/

 

7) Dunn’s Famous

Smoked Meat Nachos

Style: Montreal Deli

On The Plate: 4oz of smoked meat, banana peppers, green onions, black olives, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, red peppers

Garnish:  Served with sour cream and salsa

My Take: It is the smoked meat that makes this dish and it is a must for sharing.

Cost: $19.98

On the regular menu: Yes

Chef: unknown

Location: Dunn’s Famous, 827 Seymour Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @DunnsFamousBC

Web: http://www.dunnsfamousbc.com/restaurant/

 

8 )  Suika

Japanese Nachos

Style: Japanese Izakaya

On The Plate: Tortilla chips, spicy ground pork sauce, cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheese

Garnish:  Dried shrimp sour cream and Japanese Salsa with Shiso

My Take: It is well presented, the sauce is flavourful and not too spicy, the garnishes are what makes this a standout dish.

Cost: unknown

On the regular menu: No

Chef: Makato Kimoto

Location: Suika, 1626 West Broadway, Vancouver

Twitter: @SUIKA_IZAKAYA

Web: http://suika-snackbar.com/

 

9) Earls Restaurants

Tuna Poke Nachos

Style: Social/Comfort Food

On The Plate: crisp togarashi wontons, tuna, cucumber, avocado and tomato poke, spicy mango coulis, sliced serranos, crushed macadamia nuts

Garnish: n/a

My Take: I loved the wontons in this dish, the Ocean Wise-certified Albacore Tuna Poke Nachos is a twist on the pub classic featuring crisp togarashi wontons and spicy mango coulis, plus a dose of Hawaiian sensibility (cue crushed macadamia nuts).

Cost: $11.50

On the regular menu: Yes

Chef: Reuben Major

Location: Multiple Locations

Twitter: @earlsrestaurant

Web: http://www.earls.ca/

 

10) Mahony & Sons

Cheddar Jack Nachos

Style: Irish Pub

On The Plate: house-made tortilla chips, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, pico de gallo salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

Garnish:  n/a

My Take: The house-made tortilla chips is what makes this nachos dish unique, it is also one that you are going to want to share.

Cost: $21.90

On the regular menu: Yes

Chef: Paul Nguyen

Location: Mahony & Sons, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver

Twitter: @MahonyAndSons

Web: www.mahonyandsons.com

 

If you would like to order one of more of these Nacho dishes that do not have them on their regular menus, contact each restaurant individually or tweet them to encourage the restaurants to add the dish to their menus.

By: Richard Wolak