I’ve grown up surfing at Southern California’s beaches, and after a long morning navigating the waves, nothing tastes better than this OC local’s favorite — Dwight’s Strips and Cheese — in Huntington Beach, California.

These are basically cold nachos with taco sauce. They are a favorite surfer snack here in Southern California, and I must admit, they’re pretty tasty. They sort of remind me of the cheese quesadilla from Napoleon Dynamite.

Dwight’s famous cheese strips were invented in the 1950s by Dwight Clapp, who was looking for a sauce that was both sweet and savory. He originally just served the tortilla chips with the sauce, but later added grated cheddar cheese and chili as an optional topping.
Watch my Strips and Cheese Video
If you find yourself in Orange County, be sure to stop by the snack stand and give them a try in person. But if you aren’t able to make it, we have the recipe below!
Dwight’s Strips and Cheese
Recipe by Jason Hill – CookingSessions.comIngredients
- 28 oz canned tomato puree
- 2 1/2 tb white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp Frank's red hot sauce
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Puree the hot sauce ingredients together.
- Serve with tortilla chips topped with shredded cheddar cheese.