Unexpected Chain Restaurants That Have Really Good Nachos

The classic bar appetizer nachos are often wrongly assumed to be an American invention. The ballpark and movie theater staple was actually invented in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya in 1940. As often is the case, necessity was the mother of invention. The story is that a group of American women came to the Victory Club restaurant when it was not technically open. Nacho, who was the maître d'hôtel at the time, saved the day by whipping up a simple dish of fried corn tortilla chips, Colby cheese, and slices of pickled jalapeños baked together in the oven — and the rest is history.

Nachos are a classic happy hour choice because they are social; You typically share the bounty and eat with your hands. They pair perfectly with your beverage of choice from a mocktail to an IPA. It's easy to customize nachos to fit your culinary preferences with additions of meat or even tofu. You feel satiated and happy after consuming nachos with friends.

It's a given that nachos are a staple at Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants, but here are 12 popular chain restaurants that you might not expect to have good nachos.

Some things just seem like they belong together: peanut butter and jelly, pie and ice cream, or nachos and beer. For the latter, head to Miller's Ale House where the dynamic duo pair perfectly together.

These nachos are not normal-sized; in fact, they're mega. They come loaded with roasted chile spiced chicken as their protein. The cheeses of choice are Monterey Jack and cheddar complemented by pico de gallo and scallions. To finish this nacho masterpiece, garlic-lime crema is drizzled on top. Because that is not enough, there is also guacamole, sour cream, and jalapeños. Let's not forget the bowl of white queso for dipping. All of this costs just $17.99 at our local Miller's.

Alexis N. ordered the nachos and was pleasantly surprised by her experience at Miller's. "The chicken on the nachos was very tasty and all the toppings were very good," she wrote on Yelp. She did not expect a "sports bar type place" to be this satisfying.

Nachos are the perfect game day food and because of this, they can be found as a mainstay in major sporting arenas. When you cannot make it to the stadium or field for the big day, the next best place is a sports bar so Twin Peaks has got you covered when you want to watch the big game and eat some delicious nachos. 

The nachos are not simply one layer but instead double stacked, and there is no upcharge for adding meat like at some other establishments. You can choose between smoked chicken, brisket, or pulled pork. The cheese choice is also unique as the dish includes chipotle queso in addition to cheddar. The restaurant also tops it all off with house-made avocado smash.

"The BBQ pulled pork nachos are great, and a steal for less than $10 and a massive serving," wrote Jon L. on Tripadvisor.

Ruby Tuesday has a reputation for its quality burgers and salad bar. This American chain of restaurants has a few surprises up its sleeve as well, one of which is its nachos, especially if you love barbecue sauce. And really, who doesn't?

In this appetizer, crispy tortilla chips are loaded with mouth-watering barbecue chicken. It also features black beans instead of the more common pinto. The toppings are drizzled with additional barbecue sauce to add extra flavor. The result is a divine marriage of savory gooey cheese and sweet and tangy sauce. Combining sweet and savory amplifies both flavors and makes Ruby Tuesday's nachos even more delectable. This large crowd-pleasing appetizer only costs $13.99 in our area, so it is a great deal.

Ruby Tuesdays are mainly found on the East Coast of the United States so if you find yourself in that area, drop by for some nachos with a barbecue twist. There will be no regrets.

Sometimes you need to let loose and play some arcade games. Classics such as air hockey, Dance Dance Revolution, and ski-ball are great ways to relieve some stress. Plus they are just plain fun. What would make an arcade even more fun? Nachos.

Dave and Buster's nachos are a great option for gaming enthusiasts. You can grab a platter to share among friends in between playing or pre-game. The nachos come with ancho chile chicken and are made creamier with ancho lime crema. Another fun feature is the grilled poblano, which is a mild chile that might not pack a ton of heat but makes up for it in flavor. You cannot beat the price point for these Grande Cantina Nachos which go for $14.50 by us.

Miguel S. went here for a fun date night and had the best time. "I had these delicious chicken nachos," his Yelp review recalls. "The sauce that they put on the chicken nachos was so delicious. And it had a little spicy kick to it. The chicken nachos have chicken, avocado, sour cream, jalapeños, cheese, and chips. What a great combination!"

Beer is delicious and all but it is not the only thing happening at BJ's. You can probably guess at this point that the restaurant has nachos too.

These ones are loaded and customizable which makes them super fun. The base is tortilla chips, jalapeños, housemade sriracha queso, melted jack cheese, and cheddar cheese accompanied by guacamole, sour cream, fire-roasted salsa, and pico de gallo.

This is where things get interesting. They can stay plain which is a great vegetarian option or you can choose between Piranha Pale Ale chili or grilled chicken. For an extra charge, you can upgrade and add tri-tip if you like your nachos with beef.

"Served in a large pizza pan. They include melted shredded cheese AND cheese sauce, chili, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, and loads of pickled jalapeños. The best nachos I've had anywhere in a long time," enthused one Tripadvisor user.

The name O'Charley's sounds Irish, and Irish people tend to be known for their stews, creamy soups, potatoes, whiskey, and beer. This establishment is actually Southern and prides itself on its big comfort classics such as fried chicken. So while the name might be confusing, the bottom line is the chain's nachos are pretty comforting after all.

These are the only nachos on this list that come topped with chicken tenders, which this establishment just happens to be known for. One skeptical Yelp user even doubted the hype but quickly realized his mistake. "My girlfriend and I both said, 'it's just chicken tenders, how good can they possibly be?'" Famous last words. "We were both surprised," he confessed.

This dish combines two comfort foods and creates a super yummy one. Another special attribute is the special smokey honey barbeque sauce which is drizzled on top. Nachos and chicken fingers together in one dish is not something to be missed.

Chili is Tex-Mex cuisine, meaning it was perfected in that border-hugging region comprising Texas and Mexico, benefitting from elements of both cuisines. There's also a strong barbecue culture and history in Texas and Mexico. Famous Dave's, a chain of traditional barbecue restaurants, pulls from all these different culinary traditions to make a truly exciting nacho plate. It's a viable entry among its regular fare and would be an exceptional entry on the menu of a Mexican-style restaurant chain.

A platter of Famous Dave's BBQ Nachos Appetizer can easily serve one or two people because it's loaded with toppings and accessories. The dish starts with a standard base of tortilla chips, cheddar cheese, tomato, and lettuce, but then it gets more interesting. Where other restaurants might use pinto beans, Famous Dave's piles on Wilbur Beans, its in-house sweet-and-savory barbecue beans side dish. Then comes a generous helping of Famous Dave's chili, its signature Rich & Sassy barbecue sauce, jalapeño slices, and a seasoned sour cream concoction. That would be plenty of chili and barbecue representation, but then customers get a choice of what slow-cooked barbecued meat they want on their BBQ Nachos Appetizer: Texas-style beef brisket, chopped pork, or pulled chicken.