Checked out Jose Garces’ new joint up by the Art Museum. Buena Onda is a little confused about whether is’s fast-casual or a little bit more. Dinner for 2 adults and 2 kids clocked in at $60++. Granted the adults did have a margarita each, but that’s still pricey for food that you order at a register and wait for at your table with a number.

But let’s get to the actual goods:

I’m a fan of the “pizza plate” nacho style. Spread out the chips, you’re not getting a lot of wasted chip space. Garces loves his radishes, but the real star of this one are the nopales. Those are what look like green peppers, but are actually part of the cactus. I’m pretty sure that they come from the paddle looking ones.

Anyway, really good nachos. Better than the tacos. $9

4.55 pickled jalapeños – Eat these and then go next door to Pizzeria Vetri for a rotolo

Buena Onda
1901 Callowhill Street
(215) 302-3530

Look, this is a nacho blog. At some point I might have to expand to tacos too, but look at the title. NachoJawn. Which is a shame because these nachos are probably the worst looking things that I saw come out of Mexico at the Bourse, an authentic taqueria in the middle of a garbage food court.

I didn’t like the shredded lettuce, the nacho cheez, or the ice cream scoop of sour cream on top. Also, there wasn’t that much of it. You’ve got your standard chopped tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, and that’s about it. The homemade salsas are great, and the other stuff that I saw coming out of the kitchen looked like the real deal. it was tough to not order the tacos al pastor or tamales, but I made a commitment when I picked nachos. For better or worse.

2.3/5 pickled jalapeños – go for the tacos. But go, they looked great in what is the middle of a lunch wasteland.

Nachos – $6.50 (maybe, I didn’t keep a receipt)

Mexico & Latin Fare at the Bourse
The Bourse – 5th and Chestnut

So these were the second set of nachos that my friend and I had one night, which might account for my lack of enthusiasm about them. The first plate was at Sancho Pistola’s whose review is coming up in a week. These nachos, at Sidecar, advertise melted queso caribe and chihuahua cheese, to go with housemade chorizo, black beans, and a pineapple tomatillo salsa. All sounds great, right?

I’m not sure what was missing in these nachos. In fact, it’s bothering me so much that I might just go eat them tonight. Huh, maybe that means that I liked them more than I thought I did. This is hurting my brain. I need some nachos.

4.2/5 pickled jalapeños – definitely eat these at happy hour, when they’re $7

Sidecar Bar & Grille
2201 Christian Street
215-732-3429

Nachos with pork or chorizo – $10 ($7 at happy hour, or I think the pork ones are $7 all day Sunday)

Really good effort behind these nachos – Going local with the Walt Wit white cheddar sauce made with the Philadelphia Brewing Company’s witbier, fresno chiles, and some solid pulled pork.

City Tap House Nachos

I just can’t get behind that Love Stout BBQ sauce on nachos. BBQ sauce on nachos is maybe even behind BBQ sauce on pizza. I’m sure it has its proponents, but it’s too much sweetness for me. The heat from the chiles wasn’t enough to balance it out. Also, at $15, maybe the most expensive nachos in the city.

Overall, a tasty plate of nachos. 4/5 pickled jalapeños. Eat this while having a bunch of beers.

City Tap House
3925 Walnut Street
215-662-0105

Pulled Pork Nachos – $15