Metropolitana de Santiago is the central Chilean region built around the capital, Santiago, a city of about seven million set in a valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range. Beyond the capital it holds the Cajon del Maipo canyon, the pottery town of Pomaire, the Maipo Valley vineyards and the Andean ski centres of Farellones, La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado.
Chilean cooking in the Santiago region draws on the Pacific coast, the Central Valley farms and the Andes. Staples include pastel de choclo (corn and beef casserole), empanadas de pino, cazuela soups, congrio (conger eel) caldillo, and sandwiches such as the lomito and Barros Luco. The Maipo valley wine country sits next to the city, so Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are at almost every table. At the high end, endemic-ingredient tasting menus place the city on world restaurant lists.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Metropolitana de Santiago.
Pastel de choclo
Baked corn crust over minced beef, chicken, egg and olive, served in a clay dish
Where to try: Galindo / Confitería Torres / Pomaire restaurants
Price: CLP 9,000-14,000 (~USD 10-15)
Empanada de pino
Baked pastry filled with minced beef, onion, egg and olive
Where to try: Pomaire / Los Secretos de Anita / La Piojera
Price: CLP 2,500-5,000 (~USD 3-5)
Caldillo de congrio
Light conger eel soup with potato, onion and cream, made famous by Pablo Neruda's ode
Where to try: Mercado Central restaurants
Price: CLP 12,000-18,000 (~USD 13-19)
Lomito completo
Slow-roasted pork sandwich with avocado, sauerkraut and mayonnaise
Where to try: Fuente Alemana
Price: CLP 6,500-9,000 (~USD 7-10)
Terremoto
Pipeño wine, pineapple ice cream and grenadine, a Santiago bar classic
Where to try: La Piojera / El Hoyo
Price: CLP 3,500-5,500 (~USD 4-6)
Barros Luco
Thin beef steak with melted cheese on a toasted bun
Where to try: Confitería Torres
Price: CLP 7,000-10,000 (~USD 7-11)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Chilean
Food tours & tastings in Metropolitana de Santiago
Eat your way through Metropolitana de Santiago with a guide.
Browse food experiences in Metropolitana de SantiagoWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Completo
Hot dog loaded with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise, sold at stands and late-night counters
Find it at: Centro and Bellavista counters
Sopaipillas
Fried pumpkin dough discs, served with pebre or as sopaipillas pasadas in sweet chancaca syrup in rainy weather
Find it at: Street carts across the centre
Mote con huesillo
Chilled drink of dried peach and wheat kernels, sold in summer
Find it at: Parque Forestal and Mercado Central
Chorrillana
Fries topped with beef strips, fried egg and onion, shared among groups
Find it at: La Piojera / Bellavista bars
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercado Central
Santiago's historic iron-framed market for fish and seafood, with restaurants inside (San Pablo 967)
Hours: Daily, approx 7AM-5PM; confirm
La Vega Central
Large fruit, vegetable and spice market across the Mapocho river (Antonia López de Bello 743)
Hours: Daily, early morning to afternoon; busiest before noon
Mercado Tirso de Molina
Neighbourhood produce and food market near La Vega, used by local cooks
Hours: Daily, mornings are best
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is the main meal, around 1PM-3PM; many kitchens close between lunch and 7PM-8PM dinner
Chilean dinner starts late, often 8:30PM-10PM; arrive before 8PM for fewer queues
A 10% tip (propina) is suggested on the bill; it is voluntary but customary
Set lunch menus from CLP 8,000-12,000 (~USD 9-13) are the best-value meal on weekdays
Ask for 'pebre' on the side; it is the standard fresh salsa with bread
- Vegetarian
- Growing options; El Huerto is fully vegetarian and most Providencia and Vitacura restaurants list vegetarian plates
- Vegan
- Available in Providencia, Lastarria and Barrio Italia; traditional Chilean restaurants rarely have them
- Gluten free
- Ask for 'sin gluten'; restaurants in Vitacura and Providencia are most familiar with celiac requests
- Halal
- Very limited; few certified restaurants in the city
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CLP 6,000-12,000 (~USD 6-13) per meal | Set lunch menus, sandwiches at Fuente Alemana, empanadas and completos |
| Mid-range | CLP 18,000-35,000 (~USD 19-37) per meal | Traditional restaurants in Bellavista, Lastarria and Providencia with wine |
| Upscale | CLP 80,000+ (~USD 86+) per meal | Tasting-menu restaurants such as Boragó, with pairings |