The final spot on this all too brief Mexican crawl was just around the corner on Washington Avenue. Plaza Garabaldi’s red neon beckoned us inward.

Despite some serious food consumption at Blue Corn, with a taco course at Prima Pizza, we were able to order another round of margaritas, and these nachos.

El Softbal Reina isn’t a crema fan, so that accounts for the half and half appearance. Yeah, that’s also another round of tacos there too.

I am pretty sure that we ordered the nachos mixtos, which come with refried beans, ground beef, shredded chicken breast, chorizo, crema, cheese, shredded lettuce and pico de gallo.

Do I remember specifics about these nachos? Not really. But we ate them all, and that’s got to count for something. Plaza Garabaldi also has a sneaky good tequila selection that I spied behind the bar. I don’t think that they’re pouring Don Julio in their house margarita, but it’s back there.

4/5 pickled jalapeños – eat these with friends at the end of a fun night.

Nachos Mixtos – $8

Plaza Garabaldi
935 Washington Avenue

Next stop was just down 9th Street and across Washington Avenue. I had heard of the “pizza place that is really a taqueria”, and now it was time to check it out.

True to its description, Prima Pizza served up a variety of tacos, but no nachos. I’m also not really sure where they cook the pizza, but the menu online is pretty comprehensive.

El Dentista Loco chooses to remain anonymous, but this BYO spot is pretty sweet. I hear it heats up after last call, and stays open until 4 am, but Nachojawn keeps reasonable hours these days.

We went with some pastor and asada tacos.

And pressed onward into the night.

Blue Corn is a step above your classic taquerias – it was packed on the Saturday night that we were there. The menu was extensive with a lot of good looking seafood options but we had to go off menu for the arrachera nachos.

These were pretty awesome – I can’t give you an official description but you can just look at them. They’re the real deal.

Blue Corn also has a full bar, which we took advantage of. You know it’s a good meal when your booze costs more than the food.

 These are the sopecitos. Also dope.
Arrachera nachos – $?? (Things got a little hazy)

4.71/5 pickled jalapeños – eat these to treat yourself for being a good person.

Blue Corn

940 S. 9th Street

Here in Philadelphia the Italian Market has been transformed into a Italian/Mexican/Chinese/Vietnamese thoroughfare, although on a Saturday morning it doesn’t look too different than in Rocky’s training run in Rocky II.

  
One change in the last decade is the explosion of new taquerias and restaurants in the area. Nachojawn took the opportunity to go out with El Softbal Rey, El Dentista Loco and their better halves one Saturday night for a three-stop dinner featuring three very different experiences all within a block of each other.

First stop, up tomorrow was Blue Corn.

Anyone who’s seen the new movie in the Rocky franchise is familiar with the scene where Adonis’s love interest Bianca introduces him to the Philly cheesesteak, and also a bit of Philly linguistics.

The Metro asks today if jawn is the new “yo”.

I thought the first use of jawn in the film was a bit forced, but the conversation at Max’s got the point across.

And Creed was great.

The subject of a special Gold Cup report, Justino Jimenez has sold the eponymous Los Jimenez Mexican Cocin at Sixth Street and Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia, as Michael Klein of philly.com breaks the news today.

All is not lost however, as Jimenez has taken over Logan Square Pizza, behind the Franklin Institute. and rebranded it Logan Square Pizza and Cocina.

You’ll be able to get Jimenez’s al pastor, in taco form or as a pizza topping. And you can bet that Nachojawn will be making a stop soon.

Taco John’s stores across Northwest Iowa are holding a fundraiser for Special Olympians.

The restaurants plan to donate a portion of the money from each Nachos Navidad order between now and Christmas to benefit the Special Olympics.

No comment on the nacho quality, as pictured below.

Nachos are not a particular fancy food in my estimation, but they are susceptible to the scourge of the upcharge. A $10 nacho dish can become $15 by the time you “add steak”, or $20 after you add shrimp, tax and tip.

The nacho is meant to be an accessible dish. Give me a reasonable price, protein included, on your menu.