Search for the best Nachos in Canberra City

And Machiatto’s was solely responsible for the demise of the FIRST Gypsy bar (the one on the bus interchange).
I dunno what was responsible for the demise of the one that opened over King O’Malleys…

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Just strolled over to Zamberos for a chicken coriander salsa and garlic sauce burrito.

Great food and staff as usual.

Have to agree with caf. I’m not a big fan of Mexican food but Malibu Mex do deserve special mention.

I will never understand why people still go to Babars and how there are 3 of them in Canberra! (probably more but I don’t want to know about them).

Back in the day, La Grange used to have the best nachos ever. $5 and a jug of water. Music to a students ears. (actually free beer would have been music…)

and my homemade nachos were fab last night. thanks for asking 🙂

There’s a great mexican place in the atrium of the south-west corner of the Manuka shops. They do a mean mexican-style soft tortilla taco.

Special mention to Malibu Mex in Bodalla for inventing the Steak Burrito.

The best Mexican I have had in a long time was in Wagga, strangely.
Sure, its a bit of a distance to travel to get some nachos if you’re hungry, but if you’re there seek it out.

I have to say, after reading this thread and looking through the Zambrero website, there is no Mexican food in Canberra. Even the Americanized version of Mexican looks dodgy. Maybe I should open a tortilla factory.

I found something like a pubic hair in my lemon tart at Babars on the weekend. Disgusting.

http://www.zambrero.com/

who’s rubbish idea was it to put sour cream on nachos? Guacamole will do thank you very much.

Ha ha I remember the doghouse! but my memories of it are blury (possibly alcohol related) Checkers at belco is still going stron. Montezumas is closed on london circuit and is closed in Woden now so no more Monte’s in Canberra.. which I dont think will be missed cos their beef tasted like tuna!!

The little Zambrero store in Braddon kicks arse! (try asking for broken chips in your burrito with salsa verde and the corriander salsa) I think its going to be the next great Canberra institution, is it a franchise or just a one of store?

Talking about the new Barbars, why is it that when there a/c broke down, they would not place water on hte table or offer ice in the drinks?

OT

@MelonHead:

I guess the nature of Civic changed over time.

I remember places such as the Doghouse on Lonsdale Street at the Caltex (I think it was an Ampol in those days). That was a Canberra institution.

Dolly’s at the ANU may still be around… There was also a food van known as Ralph’s at the BP in Woden (Melrose Drive). Not sure if Checkers at Belconnen is still going.

Often being the “designated driver” meant that I learnt what actually tasted good and I tended to stick to favourites.

Nachos are never complete without beans AND meat AND sour cream AND guacamole.

The only place I ever got all of the above was that little redback cafe under the hippo – and I think they’re gone now. Maybe. If not, hurry for tasty goodness!

And Machiatto’s was solely responsible for the demise of the FIRST Gypsy bar (the one on the bus interchange).

I dunno what was responsible for the demise of the one that opened over King O’Malleys…

Montezumas moved out of london Circuit a while ago – they consolidated the two venues as one place in Woden. Still do fishbowl margeritas, though!

Machiatto’s was solely responsible for the demise of the Gypsy Bar. I would never be seen dead inside the place.

ugh nachos are … well gross.. but then I don’t think i’ve ever had mexica out that can beat an old el paso taco kit. nothing’s eve4r fresh, always overpirced… and even if you are plastered on coronas or similar, you’ll be left wanting for more food and find it even more overpriced. meh

Nachos at most bars etc in the US are horrible. A pile of doritos or similar, a sprinkle of sliced jalapenos, and then someone’s gone over it and squirted that liquid orange cheese all over it! Ugh.
Nachos Grande are more like what we’re used to here, with a pile of spiced beef or refried beans, and all the trimmings.

err.. Montezumas on London Circuit..

They must havce a small oven. When I was a chef we had a huge fan forced gas jobbie that probably weighted about a ton. Just before “service” I would crank it to its max (280-ish) and we would be opening that door every 5 minutes to put stuff in/take it out….Salmon steaks, beef cuts, stuff like that.. never had a temp problem… I can see how it would be frustrating getting the call 1 hour later to say that your nachos were soggy though…maybe that was a catalyst to ceasing…

Thanks for clarifying that denzy!

I remember getting nachos there after a late mixed netball game on Wednesdays.
Back then they were still doing the nachos in the oven and were pretty damn good.

I didn’t realise they stopped doing that, since I moved a suburb further north and it isn’t as convenient as it used to be. (Lived in Haig Tower, so it was across the road!)

Ahah I can sort out the nacho story at Zambrero atleast! Zambrero is fab, have been going since the braddon store opened and used to get the nachos that used to go under the oven and were for my money the best nachos you could find in Canberra.

The owner of the store said that when the store gets really busy(like everydamn lunch time these days!) that they didnt have the time to keep putting nachos in the oven for 5 minutes at a time, too many people had to wait. He was also disapointed that so many people kept eating the nachos like an hour after they were made and complained that they were soggy… it was kinda cute he got so worked up about this point, almost like the burrito nazi! Anyway he promptly removed the nachos from the menu for the above reasons and called them chips and dips to be a side for tacos and burritos (which rule supreme!)

Although we cant get nachos there anymore I was pleased that they opened up another store in the city (next to pancake parlour), and there was a whole new range of hot sauces that they make out of fresh chillies themselves!

My fav burrito: grilled Chicken, rice, pinto beans, corriander and corn salsa, spanish onion, sour cream, no cheese, some jalapeno sauce and some chipotle sauce and an extra squeeze of lime! YUM!!

So moral of the story, although Zambrero is hands down the king of mexican food in Canberra, dont go there looking for nachos or you might get a… “No nachos for you!.. come back 3 years!!”

PS I dont know why the Tango drink has been ommited from the city store, gotta get that tang!!

JR you remember Dangerous Dan the Taco Man! I used to do the odd shift at that servo. They were awesome burritos. I wonder what happened to The Tampico Hut and the Jilly’s Hot Dog Diner at the other end of the site?

i am so going to have to have homemade nachos for dinner now 🙂

don’t know if they still offer it but you keep a cheap good plate of nachos at transit bar for about $5-6

But anything tastes good at 3am after a few drinks… Why do you think those pizza places only open at night? If they were open during the day people would actually realise that it tastes like shit.

Many years ago there used to be a food van on Bunda Street (sort of where Subway is these days). From memory it was called “The Tampico Hut” – they did the most awesome nachos you could get anywhere in Canberra at 3 am in the morning!

I’m not a big nachos fan anyway. Too hard to eat. You take one chip and its got half the topping hanging off it, then at the end you’re left with plain chips! Whatever meal you eat, always save the best mouthful for last – you can’t do that with nachos.

^ oh and its also quite good… heaps of guac, sour cream, cheese etc

PJ O’Reilly’s in the city also does buffalo or vegetarian nachos, and you get a huge amount. I believe a small one is only $7 and you probably won’t be able to eat it all.

Wouldn’t have a clue who is the best but I can point the finger at Goodberry’s Erindale (and possibly any Goodberry’s) for being the worst! Try $8.95 for the corn chips alone and then $1 for every topping you want – cheese $1, chilly meat sauce $1, sour cream $1, guacamole $1 etc etc. Ends up being one expensive plate of nachos considering how cheap a dish it really is.

I wholeheartedly endorse Zambreros for tacos & burritos

but like somebody else said, avoid it between 12-1 lunchtime

I had a bad experience at the new babars on the weekend too. Was served a warm milkshake (ergh) and the most tasteless chicken sandwich ever.

Zambreros is great too! Just make sure if you go for lunch you avoid the peak. You could be waiting a while

It’s the same as the place that’s just opened up underneath Sultans (aka the old Quatro). I rate most of their food but the nachos aren’t the greatest. You get chips and cheese for a price, and then three dip things for it for an additional surcharge… it’s just not the piled up steaming hot mince & beans all over a kg of corn chips that I usually expect from nachos. You do, however, only live once.

lisagrace, no Zambrero’s is still very much open. Best burrito’s in town too. You won’t be disappointed! It’s also located in the civic bus interchange – the old quatro bar.

Will have to take the short walk up to Braddon to see if that place is still there, someone at work thinks its closed…

And yes I could make my own Nachos and make them exactly as I like them, however we want to go and have lunch at a cafe and pay someone else to do it, but hopefully without forgetting the guacamole and without burning the chips!

Any more recommendations people?

Traditionally, the late night tradies nachos were the best….or maybe just seemed like the best…..

Consider making the corn chips too. Diego’s White Corn Tortillas are available in Woolies and a few Coles around town. A light brush with oil and grilled or baked and you end up with the best base for tostadas or (broken up) for nachos.

Supabarn sells decent corn sgips, but you have to make sure you get the unsalted ones.

Fruit shop outside supabarn Civic has great corn chips.

I also reckon if you’re after good nachos just make them yourself, they aren’t difficult:

corn chips
good tasty or cheddar cheese
guacamole (just chop the hell out of couple of chillies, coriander, 2 tomatoes, i red onion, lime juice, 3 avocados and salt to taste)
salsa (blend or chop tomatoes, red onion, coriander, lime juice salt pepper)

cover corn chips with cheese and place in oven at 180 degrees, melt cheese and heap sauces on top, add some sour cream and some jalapeños if you want.

thick, plain corn chips suitable for making nachos?

Lyneham supermarket and Campbell supermarket have them. A number of other locals would as well I suspect.

While we’re on the subject, does anyone know where you can buy the thick, plain corn chips suitable for making nachos? Coles and Woolies only seem to stock Dorito’s and CC’s these days.

I believe you are talking about Zamberos – across the road from Debarcle.
Look for the sliding door.

Great tortilla wraps – have not had nachos there.

Yeah, my wife got nachos a lot from that place at the end of that street. Not sure if it’s still open, it was often empty.

I heard about a great hole in the wall mexican place in Braddon near debacle – haven’t found it yet though. Might be worth a try.