If you like dishes that are outside the box, then the Plantain Nachos from multi-regional Mexican restaurant El Barrio are for you. Crispy plantain chips are topped with shredded pork, pickled jalapeños, dried poblano chilies, cotija (a crumbly Mexican cheese) and lime crema (a super zesty, tangy cream). Customers love it, saying it’s unique and delicious.

Tipped as a "vegan favorite", the Nachos Libre nachos at mostly plant-based restaurant Jack Sprat come with a twist. Corn tortilla chips are layered with taco "meat" made with chopped mushrooms and walnuts, topped with avocado purée, scallions, radish, pico de gallo (fresh salsa), and spicy serrano peppers to make a hearty and spicy dish with a conscience.

The "JT" Nachos, smothered in chorizo queso, refried beans, guacamole and crema, are a top choice at casual taqueria Just Tacos and More. The presentation is really beautiful and the topping-to-chip ratio is perfect, according to customers. Some people also like to add steak, shrimp, chicken tinga (a tomato-ey chicken) or carnitas (braised pork).

The Fold is a taco joint based inside a 1960s auto repair and gas station and it serves some killer nachos. They’re loaded with black beans, pico de gallo (fresh salsa), scallions, cilantro, crema and the best queso customers say they've ever tasted. Carnivores might be interested in adding bison, chicken, chorizo, pork, shrimp or steak. During the summer, it’s a lovely spot for outdoor dining.

As one of LA's oldest restaurants, Gus’s BBQ is where you’ll find the best nachos in the Golden State. The rich and cheesy dish features succulent pulled pork in a barbecue sauce, along with a four-cheese sauce, baked beans, smoked mozzarella and Monterey Jack, while chopped tomatoes, red onion, pickled jalapeños and guacamole keep it fresh. It has two more locations in Claremont and Porter Ranch.

Although it’s mainly known for its street tacos, food-truck-turned-bricks-and-mortar joint La Loteria Taqueria offers a dish called Solo Nachos that’s worth a look. It features a tasty combination of pepper jack, Cheddar and nacho cheese, pickled jalapeños, pinto beans and pico de gallo for sharpness, plus a refreshing sour cream. Just add chicken, carne asada (grilled steak) or camarones (shrimp) to make it a meal.

Neighborhood rotisserie joint El Pollo Guapo offers some of the cheesiest, sauciest nachos around. Guapo Nachos is laden with pollo con queso (chicken in a cheese sauce), queso fresco (white fresh cheese), sriracha aioli, garlic aioli, sweetcorn and pico de gallo. If you don’t live nearby then you can find it at one of the restaurant’s other locations in the state: Glastonbury and Wethersfield.

Order the nachos at cool brewpub Stitch House Brewery and you’ll be served an extra-large skillet drowned in beer cheese, Cheddar, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, sour cream and scallions. You can add chicken, pulled pork or chili for an extra cost of $4-$5 (£3-£4). It’s the perfect partner to an afternoon of beer tasting.

Nachos with a difference – the Pastrami Nachos at Kush by Stephens spans cultures by loading tortilla chips with Cheddar, pico de gallo, sour cream and the restaurant's signature hand-sliced pastrami. The lively Jewish-themed joint from Miami restaurant group Kush Hospitality also serves up killer cocktails, including the OG Blueberry Kush, which is packed with Midnight Blue Moonshine, blueberries, basil and orgeat (a sweet syrup). 

Indecisive people will struggle with the nachos at family-owned site Taco Cantina because there’s so much choice. Are you in the mood for salmon, chipotle shrimp, fried chicken, asada (grilled meat) or pulled pork? Do you want single or double protein? Will you be adding guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo? Don’t worry too much though as whatever you choose is sure to taste fresh and be affordable.

This is the spot to head to if you’re looking to combine great nachos with a night out. Shorefyre's two locations serve Mauna Kea Nachos, which keep it simple with melted cheese, jalapeños, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. However, you can add meat such as chicken, kalua pork (a smoked, shredded meat) and steak, as well as avocado and red bell peppers, for an extra cost. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is always fun and the cocktails are strong.

The hottest happy hour in town can be found at The Matador, a Mexican restaurant and bar with a smattering of outposts across the state. Every day from 4pm-6pm and from 10pm until close, you can get Grande Nachos loaded with Cheddar, Monterey Jack, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro and lime crema for $6 (£4.89).

Not a dish for the faint-hearted, the Roasted Sprouted Nachos from industrial-style venue Broken Barrel Bar load oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, sliced radishes, a jalapeño-Cheddar sauce, salsa and sour cream over tortilla chips. The unusual combination goes down a treat with customers who praise its size, the amount of sauce that’s used, and the fact the chips manage to stay crunchy. You can add brisket, pulled pork and grilled or crispy chicken to the mix too.  

It might be called The Tamale Place, but visitors in the know order the Steak Nachos when they’re here. The fresh, thick chips are the perfect vehicle to deliver your toppings of choice, which are anything from red and green salsa to jalapeños and guacamole. Be aware that the small size is actually a big portion. Veggie Nachos are available too. 

For the days when you’re really hungry, popular brunch spot Mullets is the place to be. Its Brisket Nachos with tomato, lettuce, onions, jalapeños, banana pepper and cheese are large enough to feed six people. The restaurant also has an outdoor patio with amazing views of downtown to gaze at while you work your way through the ginormous dish. If you're visiting pre-lunch, the restaurant is known for its breakfast nachos too, packed with scrambled eggs, onions, sausage, bacon and jalapeños.

Avocado fans will love the nachos from casual canteen La Fuente Mexican Street Food. Tortilla chips are loaded with your choice of meat, from steak and barbacoa (barbecued beef) to pulled pork and flavorful chicken tinga. Then, you add fresh toppings such as rice, beans, queso fresco and homemade guacamole. Trust us when we say they’re generous with their portions.

At burger and seafood joint Mussel and Burger Bar, the nachos are a divisive dish. It takes regular potato chips (not tortilla chips) and loads them with toppings including tender and flavorful braised beef short rib, guacamole, pico de gallo, black bean purée, Monterey Jack cheese, pickled jalapeños, sour cream and a cheese dip. Whatever your opinion, it’s definitely not boring.

Rum cocktail and Caribbean food heaven The Rum House also happens to serve seriously good nachos. Named "Damn Good Nachos", it's a plate of tortilla chips layered sky-high with pulled pork, black beans, jalapeños, tomatoes, red onion, lime crema, cilantro and melted cheese. Best of all... one portion will easily feed two.

Fans of Taco Escobarr – a Mexican restaurant where the music is always playing, the Margaritas are always flowing and the bartenders are friendly – confirm the nachos here are the best in the state. It has two dishes to choose from: El Nino's Nachos, with queso, pickled jalapeños, scallions, radish, pico de gallo, cilantro, crema, queso fresco and guacamole; and El Jefe's Nachos, with chips, cabbage, onion radish, pico de gallo and scallions. 

The signature starter at homey pub The Outpost American Tavern is its 10 Can Nachos. Every ingredient in the dish is made in-house, including the fried flour tortilla chips which get topped with pinto beans, pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, chorizo, queso, sour cream, cilantro, scallions and more. It's then assembled inside a tin can so that it stands up tall (which is how it got its name).

The phrase "loaded nachos" is given new meaning at Orale Mexican Grill, a fun and friendly counter service restaurant. For example, if you order the Steak Nachos to take away, the tortillas will be so laden with refried beans, pico de gallo, cheese, crema, jalapeños and guacamole that you won’t be able to close the box. We certainly aren’t complaining. Chicken and shrimp options are available too. 

This tri-level taqueria is loved for its Jalisco-style dishes, hailing from its owners’ hometown in western Mexico. A particular favorite is the meat and vegetarian botanas, which translates as “appetizers” or “small snacks”. It’s basically corn tortilla chips smothered with beans, melted cheese, tomato, avocado, onions, green peppers and jalapeño peppers. Customers can’t get enough.

The star dish at Nacho’s Mexican Grill is, of course, nachos. They’re topped with queso, beans, sour cream, lettuce, pico de gallo, jalapeños and guacamole. Extra toppings such as asada, barbacoa (meat that has been slowly cooked with seasonings), chicken tinga and chorizo are optional. Everything is fresh and good quality, but the steak option has received standout reviews.

Loaded with your choice of smoked chicken, brisket or pulled pork – plus queso, beans, pico de gallo, jalapeños, pickled onions, a sweet barbecue sauce and sour cream – it’s no surprise that the BBQ Nachos from award-winning barbecue joint The Pig & Pint are adored by customers. Recent patrons say they’ve never not left happy after ordering this dish.

You don't need to drive out to the big cities for amazing nachos. The tasty Nachos Supreme from Mama Loca's Cafe & Cantina are loaded with your choice of chicken or beef, topped with beans, queso, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, onions and a big helping of jalapeños. Customers say the portion sizes won't disappoint either. 

These Taco Bell-esque loaded nachos – topped with cheese sauce, pepper jack, Cheddar, black beans, pico de gallo, olives, jalapeños, ground beef and fire-roasted salsa – are big enough to serve four-to-five people. Find the dish at The Club Tavern & Grill, a sleek sports bar where the locals congregate to catch a game. Add a side of guacamole for $2. 

Many people’s favorite place to get their Mexican fix in Nebraska is Javi’s Tacos, a laidback joint that has been around for more than 20 years. It’s topped with meat (chicken or birria), really good queso, and your choice of garnishes like radishes, sweetcorn salsa, onion, cilantro, lettuce and sour cream. Some people ask for "Javi's Way", which means all of the above.

Everybody knows that the place to go for gourmet nachos is local nacho chain Nacho Daddy as it has a variety of deluxe flavors such as lobster, crab and Thai chicken. However, the Filet Mignon Nachos, topped with refried beans, cheese, a selection of salsas and guacamole is the resounding fan favorite. We challenge you to pull out a dry chip that isn’t smothered in queso and salsa.

An exceptionally garlicky, decadent dish, the Famous Chicken & Garlic Nachos from Hermanos Cocina Mexicana are made with hand-cut yellow or blue corn tortillas, which are fried and then loaded with chicken, cheese, jalapeños and garlic dressing. You can also build your own, but why mess with a winning combination.

Aesthetically pleasing taqueria Tacoria Mexican Street Kitchen, which has eight locations throughout the state, is the ultimate spot for vegan nachos in New Jersey. Its Viva La Nachos takes hand-cut tortillas and loads them with black beans, salsa, cheese, crema and marinated peppers, then you add a protein like fried avocado, Beyond Tacoriza (which is vegan chorizo) or delicious, charred Brussels sprouts in chipotle sauce.

The Nacho Mama Platter from Casa Taco has been named the best in the city by multiple customers. This huge dish keeps it fresh and simple with cheese, pinto beans, queso, lettuce and tomatoes. There's also the loaded version, which adds ground beef, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeños to the dish. The food is next-level and the owners are super friendly.

At this trendy Mexican bar, the La Contenta Nachos sell like hotcakes. The dish is popular because the thick tortilla chips don’t become soggy despite the many layers of stretchy pepper jack, Cheddar and Oaxaca cheese on top. Gourmet garnishes include black beans, pico de gallo, avocado sauce and sour cream. The servers are also said to be really nice.

The beautiful Times Nachos take thick tortilla chips and decorate them with fresh jalapeños, cilantro, Cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole, and customers love to request juicy chicken tinga on top – although barbacoa (chopped pork) is also available. It’s no surprise that a few patrons were upset when it pretended it was discontinuing the dish on April Fool's Day. Despite that, the crowds still draw in to get their nacho fix on its beautiful rooftop patio.

You wouldn’t expect an Irish pub to be home to the best nachos in North Dakota, however the Irish Nachos from Blarney Stone Pub win customers over every time. In an Irish twist, the dish features waffle fries instead of tortilla chips and a choice between seasoned beef and chicken, plus melted Cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, tomatoes, jalapeños, scallions and salsa. It also has two locations in South Dakota.

If you’re only just finding out about wonton nachos, then you’ve been missing out. This epic dish, featuring fresh wonton chips, juicy carnitas (which means "little meats"), creamy queso, tangy Korean BBQ sauce, housemade kimchi, cotija (an aged Mexican cheese), fresh radish, jalapeños and cilantro, makes us want to book a flight to Ohio. The fusion dish can be found at Copper & Flame, a bar with 68 self-pour drafts.

The Sheet Pan Nachos from Ted’s Tacos and Cantina – a fun taqueria with a great happy hour – are so good that they inspire repeat visits. The dish is topped with shredded cheese, queso, pico de gallo, pinto beans, sour cream, guacamole, Southwest sauce and your choice of protein – choose from ground beef, shredded chicken or pork, fajita chicken and grilled veggies. As one dish is large enough to feed two people, customers think it’s a great deal.

Bringing East Los Angeles to Portland, relatively new Papi Chulo’s is known for its housemade, spicy birria stew (a traditional Mexican dish). However, its nachos loaded with fresh pico de gallo, jalapeños, pinto beans and a Mexican cheese blend are not to be missed. You can also get shrimp, veggie, pork, steak or chicken added. It makes for a great sharing dish.

The best nachos and Margaritas in Philadelphia, according to customers, can be found at Rosy’s Taco Bar – a busy and contemporary Mexican restaurant in the city center. Going for quality over quantity, it’s not the biggest portion in the world, but it’s covered in delicious chihuahua (a soft, white Mexican cheese), Monterey Jack, refried beans, sour cream, tomato, pickled red onion and jalapeños.

The cozy Brick Alley Pub, which has walls crammed with historic artifacts, is famous for its nacho platters. House-fried corn tortillas are served covered in a carpet of Cheddar and Monterey Jack. You can get marinated chicken, eight-hour slow-cooked beef brisket and guacamole added for an extra cost.

At cheap and cheerful Nacho Hippo, there’s eight mouth-watering nacho dishes on offer, plus the option to build your own. There's the !# (Bleep) Hole, with jerk chicken and mango salsa, and the Bangin' Shrimp option, but the fan favorite is Hungry Hippo, which is loaded with taco beef, shredded chicken, blended cheese, queso, black olives, cilantro, shredded lettuce and pico de gallo.

At this Irish pub, complete with Victorian-era features like a copper ceiling and stained-glass windows, you’ll feel like you’ve crossed the Atlantic to Dublin. The giveaway that you’re actually still in Sioux Falls is the incredible nachos. Kettle chips are topped with both sirloin and chicken, plus shredded pepper jack, Cheddar, pico de gallo and sour cream. The dish gets all-round good reviews.

When you have a nacho craving in Memphis, head to Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos, a chilled diner with locations in Midtown and Downtown. The dish is heavy on the salad, loading tortilla chips with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, carrots, cilantro, jalapeños, sour cream, chipotle and cheese, and it always hits the spot for its customers. If you're looking to add more protein, spicy shrimp and chicken tinga are the favorites, but there's also pork and steak.

Visitors to Vamonos, a colorful Tex-Mex restaurant that gets its inspiration from classic Texan ranch meals, are always impressed by the Nachos Ignacio. The large dish features crispy tortillas, ground beef, refried beans, Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese, and pickled jalapeños. You can be sure every chip comes fully loaded with fresh sauce and flavorful toppings.

At smart, fine dining restaurant Lake Effect, the nachos are oven baked in a tin can to keep them assembled straight. Expect tons of Cheddar, black beans, pickled jalapeños, tomato, salsa verde, scallions, guacamole and sour cream. You can swap the cheese for vegan cheese or add pulled pork or flank steak depending on your preference. Customers say they’re to die for and the best they’ve ever eaten.

Customers at chic American restaurant The Gryphon can’t get enough of the Sweet Potato Nachos. Made with sweet potato chips loaded with black beans, fresh jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, sour cream and green tomato salsa, it feels healthy and fresh – a far cry from the greasy, game day staple sometimes offered up by places. You can add chicken or pork to the dish. 

Peloton Station is, in its own words, “a cycle-centric tavern and bike kitchen”. Whether you’re stopping in for some food mid-way through a cycle, need to get your bike fixed or just fancy seeing what it’s all about, we guarantee you’ll enjoy its pulled chicken nachos with black beans, shishito peppers, cotija, queso, guacamole and pico de gallo.

At bustling establishment Some Random Bar, the Crab Nachos cause quite a stir. The decadent dish is citrus flavored and rich, served dripping in Cheddar sauce, grilled onion, avocado, sour cream, cilantro pesto, Aleppo pepper and lime. Every mouthful is saucy, crunchy and full of crab, what more could you ask for?

For Tex-Mex fans in West Virginia, street food and cocktail joint Black Sheep Burrito and Brews is a must-visit. Its nachos are made with fresh tortilla chips, housemade chili, queso, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo and lime-sriracha crema. You can also add grilled steak, chicken, chorizo or pulled pork. Customers say it’s nachos are the best they’ve ever eaten.

For outdoor dining and Caribbean-inspired dishes, check out San Pedro Café in Hudson. Even its much-loved Duck Nachos have a tropical twist with sweet mango salsa, spicy lemon habanero aioli, pico de gallo and stretchy mozzarella loaded between chips. They are also second to none, according to satisfied patrons. The restaurant also offers Chicken Nachos and Roasted Tomato and Sweetcorn Nachos. 

The Bueno Nachos from charming, old-fashioned Mexican restaurant Merry Piglets come highly recommended. Corn chips are topped with a blend of cheeses, mashed pinto beans, onion, tomato, fresh jalapeños, black olives, sour cream and guacamole to create a tasty dish that is as big as it is full of flavor. Add shredded beef, chicken or pork if you want just that little bit extra.

Now find out where to get the best taco in every state