Who is credited with inventing nachos in 1943?

Ignacio Anaya is credited with inventing nachos in 1943.

Anaya was a maître d’ at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, just across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. According to the commonly repeated account, a group of U.S. military wives arrived after the kitchen had closed. Anaya improvised a snack from tortilla pieces, cheese, and sliced jalapeños, then baked it briefly.

He reportedly called the creation “Nacho’s especiales,” using his nickname, Nacho, derived from Ignacio. The dish later spread across the border and became a major Tex-Mex staple.

Modern nachos can include meat, beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and many other toppings. The original version was considerably simpler. The invention story is widely accepted, although later commercial versions and claims helped turn nachos into an international stadium and restaurant food.