Updated May 26, 2022. When you’re craving ooey, gooey cheese, there are few options that hit the spot like a plate of nachos. And when it comes to NoVA’s offerings, we aren’t talking about your run of the mill plate of chips and cheese. From totchos to cauliflower nachos, these four restaurants are elevating the classic munchie dish.
Vim & Victor
For: Pretending nachos are healthy
At Vim & Victor in The St. James sports and entertainment complex in Springfield, you’ll find no less than four types of nachos on chef Spike Mendelsohn’s menu. Options include the sweet potato nachos topped with pickled cranberries and brie sauce, or spicy chicken nachos made with crispy plantains and a mango-pineapple salsa. But it’s the cauliflower nachos that have people raving. This addictive plate of tortilla chips is capped with roasted cauliflower, radishes, pickled chiles, pomegranate, crema, cilantro, and a cheesy sauce. 6805 Industrial Rd., Springfield
Taco Bamba
For: Mushroom Monday
There’s a reason chefs use mushrooms for meatless dishes—they carry so much richness and umami flavor, you hardly miss the protein. At Taco Bamba in Vienna, the fungi fundido nachos are a stack of tortilla chips smothered in chipotle portobellos, salsa, cotija cheese, crema, and pepitas. The mushrooms pack a slow, sneaky spice that builds, and pickled shallot adds an acidic bite. Grilled corn freshly shaved from the cob in pretty chunks provides an extra bit of crunch. 164 Maple Ave. W., Vienna
Salt
For: Evoking your Hawaiian holiday
It’s not nachos without cheese, you say? Let’s not quibble, we say. There’s room for every type of nacho under the sun. Imagine you’re dining beachside in Hawaii when ordering the tuna tartare nachos at Salt in Rosslyn. This layering of wonton chips, wasabi-avocado crema, pickled ginger cream, dried seaweed, diced raw tuna, and tobiko channels the light and bright vibe of a bowl of Hawaiian poke. 1201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Galaxy Hut
For: Golden-fried DIY
OK, the totchos at Galaxy Hut aren’t exactly fancy, but they do have a dedicated following—and a twist, as you might have gathered from the name. Tater tots fill in for tortilla chips here, serving as the foundation for cheese and any of the toppings from the “list of stuff” section of the menu, including beyond meat sausage, tempeh bacon, vegan grilled chicken, chipotle aioli, and avocado, among many other options. Totchos are also available at the bar’s sister spot in Falls Church, Spacebar. 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
This post originally appeared in our March 2020 issue. For more crave-worthy content, subscribe to our weekly Food newsletter.
