ExploFood · South America
What to eat in Chile
Five dishes to try in Chile, the most typical first.
Five dishes to try in Chile
Pastel de choclo
Beef, chicken, olive and egg baked under a sweet corn crust.
How to have it: A summer dish (January to March) when corn is in season; served in a clay bowl.
Empanada de pino
Baked pastry filled with minced beef, onion, egg and an olive.
How to have it: Eaten everywhere around Fiestas Patrias in September; bakeries sell them daily.
Completo
Hot dog loaded with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise.
How to have it: Order an 'italiano' (avocado, tomato, mayo) at a fuente de soda with a draft beer.
Cazuela
Clear broth with a piece of beef or chicken, potato, squash and corn.
How to have it: A home-style lunch dish, especially in winter; often on the set menu (menú del día).
Curanto
Shellfish, meat and potato breads cooked over hot stones in a pit.
How to have it: A Chiloé island tradition; restaurants in Castro and Dalcahue serve a pot version (curanto en olla).
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Questions
What food is Chile famous for?
Pastel de choclo (beef, chicken, olive and egg baked under a sweet corn crust) comes first on our list, followed by Empanada de pino, Completo, Cazuela and Curanto.
What is the national dish of Chile?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Chile is Pastel de choclo: beef, chicken, olive and egg baked under a sweet corn crust. A summer dish (January to March) when corn is in season; served in a clay bowl.
Which dishes in Chile are vegetarian?
None of the five dishes on this page is vegetarian as usually made. Ask locally: many places have meat-free versions.
What street food should I try in Chile?
Empanada de pino (baked pastry filled with minced beef, onion, egg and an olive) and Completo (hot dog loaded with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Chile
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.