So I’ve done some more nacho tasting over the past couple of weeks and would love to share with you what I’ve found…including THE BEST NACHOS IN PORTLAND!

The nachos at the Alberta Street Public House are nothing to get too excited about. They use very average round yellow corn tortilla chips, no guacamole, light application of sour cream, and they charged extra to have black beans on them. I’d rate them a 5 out of 10 – only getting as good as a 5 because I was there during happy hour which meant they were half-price. The most redeeming part of my nacho experience is that I was able to share them with my most dynamite cousin, Ashleigh, and enjoy them while I watch Ehren Ebbage give a wonderful solo acoustic performance. It was also good to see the Northwest Noise boys in attendance too.

In other nacho experiences, I was recently in Cannon Beach with my beautiful wife, enjoying an extended weekend of R and R and in celebration of Jeana’s recent graduation from Lewis & Clark Law and subsequent completion of the Oregon Law Bar exam. And after three years of school, I must say, it’s really nice to have her back! Anyhow, one night we went to a fun place called The Lumberyard Bar and Grill and enjoyed some tasty micros with a ginormous plate of nachos. These nachos were really good. A heaping tall plate, complete with multiple layers of cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños (only ate a few of those)… I rate The Lumberyard‘s nachos an 8 out of 10. The biggest thing holding them back was not having any beans on them. I even asked about it and the waitress explained that she too thinks they’d be much better with beans. In any event, I highly recommend these nachos. $8.95

Last, but certainly not least, I returned once again to Casa del Matador on Sunday, where Jeana and I shared a plate of their Texas-sized Nachos for lunch. I simply cannot say enough about these nachos. Seriously – I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night calling out for them – which sorta freaks Jeana out. These are hands-down the BEST nachos in all of Portland and I hereby challenge anyone to find a better plate of chips, cheese and goodness anywhere else.

They have delicious hand-made light corn tortilla chips, with layers upon layers of some phenomenal cheddar cheese throughout (I took a photo).You can have them with chicken, steak or just beans – the bartender said the steak is to die for.

I ordered the veggie version with black beans only, and they always include a healthy dose of pico de gallo, cilantro, green onions, a big scoop of their special cilantro sour cream and an equally big scoop of guacamole. Mmmm…..I’m getting hungry just writing this! And for gluttons like me, they’ll even bring you a regular basket of chips and salsa (complimentary) to supplement things.

The only downside to these nachos is the puddle of cheese grease that surprises you on the bottom of the plate when you’re finished. These nachos get a perfect 10 out of 10 and I highly recommend you give them a try. Only $7.95 ($4 during happy hour), these are definitely Portland’s best nachos, no doubt! The Matador is located in Northwest Portland on the corner of NW 23rd and Quimby.