For decades Santiago has been characterized as a city with a diverse selection of typical and international Chilean food, probably because it is the capital of a country open to the world and always willing to integrate tastes and habits from other latitudes. That is why we can say that tourists who visit Chile and want to eat well in Santiago will not only find local flavors but also influences from abroad that fuse with the food produced in this tasty Southern land.   [caption id="attachment_13879" align="aligncenter" width="675"]chile-local-food Santiago is characterized for being a city with a wide and diverse selection of typical and international food / Photo: Chile Travel[/caption]
  Next, a selection of restaurants that we recommend both for their quality and for their attention, and also for their prices.

The Central Market

Main access through San Pablo corner General Mackena, Santiago Before moving on to international flavors, we are going to talk about what is strictly Chilean, and what better way than to begin with what this land lavishes in: fish and seafood. The Central Market is literally an agglomeration of shops, mainly fishmongers and restaurants, inside a historic building in downtown Santiago. Speaking specifically about restaurants, there are several types, so the tourist will have to shop around and check offers. But patience, the waiters and hosts will be very insistent and everyone will want you to enter their premises. So take it with humor and enjoy this experience that is pure folklore. Recommended: Generally, the restaurants in the central square are excellent (for example, Donde Augusto) but those in the corridors are cheaper. Wherever you choose to sit, you can taste from the simplest and most popular, such as a fried hake with a side dish or a seafood paella. Now, if your palate is more sophisticated, you can also order baked sole or prawns, conger broth, crab cake, sea urchin empanadas or oysters, barnacles and some other starters such as parmesan machas (Bivalvia) or shrimp al pil-pil, Patagonian spider crab, and the most sought-after of all: crazy with mayonnaise. Simply delectable. Approximate budget: from 6.50 to 16 USD per person depending on the place, the dish, and the cover charge.   [caption id="attachment_13882" align="aligncenter" width="675"]mercado-central-santiago The Central Market of Chile was inaugurated in 1872 and was declared a Historical Monument 12 years later / Photo: Tem que ir[/caption]
 

Le Petit Bernard

José Miguel de la Barra 455, Santiago Located in the heart of the Barrio Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Neighborhood), Le Petit Bernard is a very classic small bistro. The food is not cheap, but it is authentically French, and whoever is looking for this kind of flavor in Santiago will definitely not regret it. The menu changes with some regularity, so we recommend a dish that stays in time, the filet with Aligot, a steak accompanied by a puree mixed with cheese and spices really exquisite and very representative of French cuisine. Be careful, only attend at night. Approximate budget: from 15 USD per person.   [caption id="attachment_13883" align="aligncenter" width="675"]le-petit-bernard If you are looking for authentic French food, restaurant Le Petit Bernard is the ideal place for you / Photo: Le Petit Bernard[/caption]
 

Cocina Brava

Rancagua 395, Providencia Located in the emerging Barrio Italia (Italian Neighborhood), the Cocina Brava is an excellent alternative for those looking for local food with a signature touch. We especially recommend the pork ribs accompanied by rustic puree, a delight! There is also a table with different cuts of meat that might seem like a to appetizer to share, but the truth is that it is very abundant and can perfectly be a basic alternative. The service is excellent and the place has a menu from Monday to Friday. The prices of the dishes are very convenient, especially considering the privileged location of the place, the quality of the ingredients and the abundance of the portions. And the desserts! That is a separate story. You can not stop trying the ice cream bathed in caramel, a real party on the palate. Approximate budget: from 15 USD per person.   [caption id="attachment_13884" align="aligncenter" width="675"]santiago-cocina-brava The signature cuisine fused with local dishes make Cocina Brava a must-see place in your visit to Santiago / Photo: Facebook Cocina Brava[/caption]
 

Meze

Manuel Montt 270, Providencia Meze is the only Turkish restaurant in Santiago de Chile and it has been very successful recently, not only for its exquisite food but also for the interest that Ottoman culture has generated among Chileans from Turkish soap operas that have caused a fury. The owners of Meze (a Chilean-Turkish couple) have taken care to respect the most traditional recipes of this land that is the gateway to the Middle East, where the ingredients that stand out are the lamb, the fish, the grains and several vegetarian options. We especially recommend saksuka (eggplant and zucchini), humus karisic (hummus with shrimp), and kazu tandir (lamb feta with pita bread). In general, it is a spicy meal, but the place has alternative options for diners with sensitive palates or who suffer from allergies. If you go on a Friday night, you can also listen to live Turkish music and enjoy the performance of a traditional dancer. The drinks menu is also very varied and has natural juices, the typical ayran (a yogurt-based drink), Turkish lemonade and typical alcoholic drinks such as raki, an anise-based distillate. Approximate budget: from USD 20 per person.   [caption id="attachment_13885" align="aligncenter" width="675"]meze-restaurant Delight in the aromas and flavors of Ottoman cuisine at the only Turkish restaurant in Santiago: Meze / Photo: Meze[/caption]
 

Swagat

Blas Cañas 473, Santiago This restaurant is located in the middle of an area where many apartment buildings have been built and there is not quite a varied gastronomic selection nearby. Even so, we decided to recommend it in this article for one simple reason: Swagat is undoubtedly the best Indian food restaurant in Santiago and also the most convenient prices. If any of you traveled to India or tasted this food in a Diaspora location in countries like England, you will quickly realize the purity of Swagat's recipes, which offer flavors that transport us to the depths of that millenary culture. Do you need any advice when ordering? The classic chicken tikka masala or the butter chicken accompanied by garlic or sesame bread and Indian rice with coriander chutney. Absolutely delicious! Another element that adds to the praise for this restaurant is the fact that it has a menu at lunchtime and also delivery service from Monday to Sunday, for those who are staying in the most central area of ​​Santiago. Approximate budget: from 10 USD per person.   [caption id="attachment_13887" align="aligncenter" width="675"]swagat-restaurant If you're craving Indian food, you should visit Swagat, where you'll get the best balance between quantity-quality-price / Photo: Facebook Swagat[/caption]
 

El Huerto

Orrego Luco 54, Providencia El Huerto is one of the first vegetarian restaurants (it has more than twenty years of history) and to this day it is still one of the best in Chile. It is a place that has won international awards and as many nominations, as well as being the subject of articles in renowned media such as the New York Times. Perhaps its greatest quality is the originality of its dishes, which have their own stamp and have set trends within the cuisine of Santiago. In recent years, it has also added an important amount of vegan dishes to the menu, anticipating even the explosion of the naturist and animal culture within the youngest layers of the population. El Huerto is a restaurant that already has a captive audience, and is especially requested at lunchtime, because of and despite all its laurels and awards, it retains a great virtue that is its menu, which is renewed weekly. If you need a recommendation, we suggest the artichoke cake, a real waterfall of pleasure, as well as the "New Mexico" dish, an exquisite stuffed wheat quesadilla and a black bean burrito plus roasted vegetables covered with diabla sauce, poblano rice, guacamole, chopped lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo. Approximate budget: from USD 12 per person.   [caption id="attachment_13888" align="aligncenter" width="675"]huerto-restaurant The 100% vegetarian menu at El Huerto is renewed every week, surprising its guests / Photo: El Huerto[/caption]
 

Pulperí­a Santa Elvira (Hidden kitchen)

Matta neighborhood (secret address) This is the info for the experts, since Pulpería Santa Elvira only attends to reservations, with a password at night, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. With this simple introduction, one could imagine that it is a highly exclusive restaurant with exorbitant prices. But the opposite happens, it is an excellent alternative to eat well in Santiago and at a good price. Located in a beautifully restored house in the emerging Barrio Matta, one of its particularities is that it serves a unique menu, which means that diners already know what they are going to taste at the time of booking. The menus of Pulpería Santa Elvira (which includes an appetizer, a main course, and dessert) can be classified as fusion food based on local ingredients. In fact, all the food prepared here are supplied by small producers and these vary according to the season of the year. If you are lucky, you will also enjoy the best live music, which almost always accompanies the evenings. Really highly recommended. Travel tip: If you want to know more details about this place, find them on their Facebook page. Approximate budget: from USD 20 per person.   [caption id="attachment_13889" align="aligncenter" width="675"]santa-elvira-restaurant The Santa Elvira Store is one of the best-kept secrets in Santiago / Photo: La Tercera[/caption]
  Discover the Chilean charm through all your senses. Especially prepare your palate to live a diverse gastronomic experience and take advantage of your trip to tour the city with the best tours and activities in Santiago of Daytours4u!
By: Brian Gray, Chilean anthropologist and muralist specializing in urban visual culture