Tostilocos is a delicious & fun snack made with Tostitos tortilla chips topped with layers of cucumber, jicama, Japanese-style peanuts, tamarindo candy, chamoy, hot sauce, lime juice and more!
Fun Tostilocos
Tostilocos, literally “crazy chips”, started as a Tijuana street-food invention in the late 1990s and has since exploded across Mexico and the U.S., popping up in juice bars, stadiums, and corner stands.
Think of it as nachos, but way more exciting: crunchy bag of Tostitos loaded with fresh cucumber and jícama, chewy tamarindo candy, salty Japanese peanuts, tangy chamoy and hot sauce, all brightened with lime juice and Tajín. It’s a mix of textures and flavors: fresh, spicy, sweet, sour, and salty that come together in every bite!
What makes Tostilocos so fun is that it’s totally customizable. No official rules, just your creativity in a bag. Want mango? Go for it. Prefer cueritos (pickled pork skins)? Add as many as you like! This isn’t just a snack, it’s a party you build yourself.
🩷 xoxo, Ana
**This post was originally published on Oct. 2020. It has been updated to be more helpful.
Tostilocos Ingredients
Now let’s talk about the most common & popular ingredients to present Tostilocos. See below for other “variations”.
You can make a single serving in the bag of tortilla chips or prepare a large serving platter (nacho style) for a group of people. I guarantee your guests will love to try something so different and fun!
- The bag of chips – Buy your favorite tostitos; they can be either be plain, lime or salsa verde flavor.
- Vegetables: chopped cucumbers, jícama, carrots, corn.
- The Mexican candy: rielito (tamarind candy) and/ or dried spicy mango.
- cueritos (pickled pork skins).
- Japanese-style peanuts – If you can’t find these, you can add regular or spicy peanuts.
- Homemade Chamoy or store bought
- Valentina hot sauce – Cholula will work too.
- Fresh lime Juice
Variations
I asked my family in Mexico to see what are their favorite ingredients to top Tostitos with and this is what they said.
- Japanese-style peanuts, chopped hot dogs, cucumbers, lime juice, salsas: valentina or huichol, chamoy, & clamato.
- Tostielotes: Tostitos topped with Mexican Street Corn (a very popular version).
- Chopped mango, jicama, any tamarind candy, lime juice and lots of chamoy.
- Tostinachos (or nacholocos): shredded beef like birria or barbacoa topped with melted yellow cheese, grated Oaxaca cheese and jalapeños.
- Add corn, melted yellow cheese, grated Oaxaca cheese, jalapeños and Mexican crema.
- Add pork rinds.
As you can see, the variations are endless! Just top your tortilla chips with whatever you like and I bet they will be amazing!
How to make Tostilocos
Serving presentation options:
- Option 1: Cut a bag of Tostitos length wise at the top. Leave the chips inside
- Option 2: Spread the Tostitos chips on large serving platter, tray or baking dish.
Add the layers:
- Top with a layer of cucumber, jicama, mango and your favorite topping
- Sprinkle the Japanese peanuts, rielito (tamarind candy) and churritos if using any.
- Drizzle with Chamoy, Valentina hot sauce and lime juice.
Featured comment
This was absolutely loco for sure! I had never heard of tostilocos before, so thank you for introducing me to it! This was definitely a party on my taste buds with all the different layers and textures, so yummy, so fun ? ~Kristie
More Mexican Snacks to Try:
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Serving presentation
Option 1: Cut a bag of Tostitos length wise and leave the chips inside
Option 2: Spread the Tostitos chips on large serving platter, tray or baking dish.
Add the layers
Top with a layer of cucumber, jicama, mango and other of your favorite topping
Sprinkle the Japanese peanuts, tamarind candy and churritos if using any.
Drizzle with Chamoy, Valentina hot sauce, chili-lime seasoning (homemade or Tajin) and lime juice.
Variations
- Japanese-style peanuts, chopped hot dogs, cucumbers, lime juice, salsas: valentina or huichol, chamoy, & clamato.
- Tostielotes: Tostitos topped with Mexican Street Corn (a very popular version).
- Chopped mango, jicama, any tamarind candy, lime juice and lots of chamoy.
- Tostinachos (or nacholocos): shredded beef like birria or barbacoa topped with melted yellow cheese, grated Oaxaca cheese and jalapeños.
- Add corn, melted yellow cheese, grated Oaxaca cheese, jalapeños and Mexican crema.
- Add pork rinds.
Serving: 1out of 6 | Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 281mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g
Frequently Asked Questions:
You pronounce it “toe-stee-low·kowz”. Now say it fast! 😀
Yes! These Tostilocos are vegan as the fruit, nuts & other toppings don’t contain any animal products. Other variations might but if you stick to the original ingredients, Tostilocos will be 100% Vegan!
The original version is loaded with fruits, tortilla chips and Mexican candies. While it’s not totally healthy, they’re not too bad if eaten in moderation.
Where were Tostilocos invented?
You know how we Mexicans are, give us a basic ingredient and we’ll turn it into an extraordinary one! Adding layers of unimaginable flavors is our thing and this is how the history of Tostilocos began.
Their origin started in Tijuana Mexico by Javier Rodríguez, who created this recipe in the 1990s. Since then, this Mexican snack became very popular and has won him several culinary awards.
Even Sabritas (Tostitos’ main brand) has recognized Tostilocos as an official snack! These days you can find this delicious snack at most Mexican snack restaurants and being sold by street food vendors.
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