In what year did Ignacio Anaya create nachos?

Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya created nachos in 1943, according to the traditional origin story.

Anaya was working at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, when a group of American customers reportedly arrived and wanted something to eat. With the regular cook unavailable or the kitchen nearing closing time, Anaya used fried pieces of corn tortilla, added cheese and jalapeño slices, and heated the combination. When asked what the dish was called, he reportedly named it “Nacho’s Special,” using his nickname.

The recipe spread from Piedras Negras into Texas and the wider American Southwest. Anaya later opened his own restaurant, and an early printed version of the recipe appeared in a 1954 cookbook. Modern nachos often feature meat, beans, salsa, sour cream, or cheese sauce, but the earliest version was much simpler. Historical accounts differ on some details, including the restaurant name and Anaya’s precise job, while the commonly accepted creation year remains 1943.