ExploFood · South America
What to eat in Uruguay
Five dishes to try in Uruguay, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Uruguay
Asado
Beef cuts and sausages slow-grilled over wood embers.
How to have it: Head to a parrilla such as Mercado del Puerto in Montevideo; order tira de asado and chorizo.
Chivito
Steak sandwich stacked with ham, cheese, egg, bacon and salad.
How to have it: Huge and filling; often comes 'al plato' with fries, so one can feed two.
Milanesa
Thin breaded and fried beef or chicken cutlet.
How to have it: An everyday lunch; order it 'napolitana' with ham, cheese and tomato on top.
Chajá
Sponge cake layered with meringue, cream, dulce de leche and peaches.
How to have it: Created in Paysandú; bakeries across the country sell it by the slice.
Mate
Bitter yerba mate tea sipped through a metal straw from a gourd.
How to have it: Uruguayans carry a thermos everywhere; if offered, drink it all and pass it back.
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Questions
What food is Uruguay famous for?
Asado (beef cuts and sausages slow-grilled over wood embers) comes first on our list, followed by Chivito, Milanesa, Chajá and Mate.
What is the national dish of Uruguay?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Uruguay is Asado: beef cuts and sausages slow-grilled over wood embers. Head to a parrilla such as Mercado del Puerto in Montevideo; order tira de asado and chorizo.
Which dishes in Uruguay are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Chajá and Mate. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Uruguay?
Chivito (steak sandwich stacked with ham, cheese, egg, bacon and salad).
What do people drink in Uruguay?
Mate: bitter yerba mate tea sipped through a metal straw from a gourd.
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 Uruguay
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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.