Cuisine 101: 7 Delicious Chilean Dishes

Freshness and variety are the hallmarks of Chilean food culture, thanks in large part to its unique geography and climatic diversity. The sheer length of <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/latin-america/chile">Chile’s</a> Pacific coastline ensures a wide variety of fresh seafood: the country’s waters are home to several unique species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae.Sunshine, mountains and coastal breezes contribute to the growth of a wide range of fruits, vegetables and agricultural products. The roots of the country’s cuisine stem from a combination of various indigenous dishes, Spanish influences and the availability of local ingredients. Later influences came from other European food cultures (most notably, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/europe/germany">Germany</a>, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/europe/italy">Italy</a> and <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/europe/france">France</a>).Chileans love meat and when it comes to beef, they prefer to eat the locally-produced, grass-fed variety. Chilean cattle are generally raised in small herds and are typically fed a diet of mineral-rich prairie grass rather than corn; the combination produces leaner, albeit tougher beef due to the lower fat-content.<h2>Traditional Chilean Dishes</h2>The endless list of traditional dishes in Chile is as varied and unique as the country itself. Be sure to try at least a few!<h4>Empanada</h4>Popular throughout <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/latin-america">Latin America</a>, Chilean empanadas tend to be a bit on the larger side. The pastry is made by stuffing a circle of dough with filling to form a half-moon with crimped edges. In Chile there are three basic varieties: empanada de mariscos (seafood), empanada de queso (cheese), and — by far the most popular and traditional — the empanada de pino (a mixture of ground beef, onions, raisins, black olives and hard-boiled egg). The name comes from the verb empanar, meaning to coat or wrap in bread.

<h4>Pastel de Choclo</h4>One of the most loved comfort foods in Chile, pastel de choclo is a dish made of choclo (ground sweet corn), beef, chicken, onions, black olives and hard-boiled eggs, covered with a corn dough crust and baked, typically in an earthenware bowl known as a paila.

<h4>Curanto</h4>Curanto is a traditional food of the Chiloe Archipelago that is popular in southern Chile. Archaeologists who found a 6,000-year-old curanto dish in Puento Quilo say it may be one of the oldest food dishes in the world. Curanto consists of shellfish, fish, cuts of beef, chorizo, potatoes, vegetables and chapaleles, a dumpling made from boiled potatoes and flour. Quantities are not fixed; the idea being that there should be a bit of everything. It is eaten with a type of bread known as milacao.

Traditionally, the dish is cooked in a hole that has been dug in the ground to create a deep underground stone oven. Once the stones are hot enough, the ingredients are mixed with seasonal herbs and wrapped in nalca leaves (Chilean rhubarb). The food is then covered with wet sacks, dirt and chunks of grass, creating a giant pressure-cooker effect. Curanto can also be cooked using modern methods: in a large stew pot or pressure cooker.<h4>Humitas</h4>Humitas originated as an indigenous dish and are made from fresh ground corn, sweet basil, butter or lard, onion and paprika. The mixture is wrapped in corn husks and tied with string or strips of corn husk, then baked or boiled. Chilean humitas can be savoury, sweet, or sweet and sour.

<h4>Caldillo de Congrio</h4>Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda immortalized this classic Chilean coastal soup in his ode, Oda al Caldillo de Congrio. The hearty mixture combines conger (a type of eel), potato, carrots, cilantro, onion, garlic and cream and is served with marinated, boiled or fried conger.<h4>Paila Marina</h4>This traditional seafood soup or light stew is usually served in an earthenware bowl. It typically consists of various fish and shellfish in a base of shellfish stock, with herbs and spices such as paprika and parsley.<h4>Manjar</h4>Manjar is the Chilean term for a confection considered to be similar or the same as dulce de leche, a deliciously sweet treat made by slowly heating sweetened milk until it caramelizes. In Chile, manjar is typically eaten like a spread or used on cakes, ice cream and cookies. &nbsp;

Delight your tastebuds south of the equator on <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/small-group/chile-wine-country-biking">small group</a> or <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/chile-bespoke">bespoke Chilean adventure</a>. The country offers an incredible array of active adventures and culinary delights (not to mention some interesting wines) to suit every taste.

Discover Chilean cuisine—from fresh seafood and Andean specialties to traditional dishes, regional wines, and the culinary influences that define Chile’s food culture.

Chilean Cuisine Guide | Traditional Foods & Regional Flavours of Chile

Chile

Between the towering Andes and the Pacific Ocean along South America’s southwestern coast, Chile provides the perfect setting for adventure. Whether you explore the rolling hills of wine country by bike or tackle the rugged peaks of Patagonia through thrilling rafting and hiking expeditions, Chile promises an array of exhilarating experiences. It's a place that, no matter how many times you visit, always feels fresh, new and alive with adventure.

 Alive with adventure

Cycle Patagonia's Torres del Paine, walk wine country and the Atacama on small group or private bespoke trips through Chile, with estancia stays since 1970.

Chile Bike & Walking Tours | Butterfield & Robinson

Want sumptuous meals, world-class wines, old-world charm and zero jet lag? Bienvenido a Chile. Here, quiet roads through the countryside open up into epic ocean views along the spectacular coast. Picnics, barrel tastings and a cooking demo from one of the country’s top chefs reveal a culinary culture worth savouring. And the futuristic Vina Vik inspires all kinds of awe.

Exceptional Wines

One-of-a-kind Hotels

Breathtaking Landscapes

Wedged deliciously between the Andes and the Pacific, Chile’s wine country pairs adventure with a splash (or two) of vino. Pedal scenic countryside roads with Pacific panoramas and indulge in dreamy picnics, barrel tastings and chef-led culinary wizardry. We've convinced our winemaking friends to spill their secrets, so bring your thirst for adventure, your refined palate... and maybe stretchy pants.

A country of opposites

Experience the rhythm of Chile

Want sumptuous meals, world-class wines, old-world charm and zero jet lag? Bienvenido a Chile. Here, quiet roads through the countryside open up into epic ocean views along the spectacular coast. Picnics, barrel tastings and a cooking demo form one of the country’s top chefs reveal a culinary culture worth savouring. And the futuristic Vina Vik inspires all kinds of awe.

Spend 6 nights cycling Chile's world-class wine valleys in a small group. Casablanca Coast estates, private vineyard tastings and Pacific Ocean views on

Chile Wine Country Bike Tour: Casablanca Valley & Coastal Vineyard Estates

Geographically narrow, culturally robust; welcome to Chile! Dominated by the Andes and the Pacific on a strip of land that runs up South America’s southwestern coast, Chile boasts a mix of European and Indigenous influences that imbue the country with an old-world charm. The Mediterranean-like climate in the southern wine valleys has propelled its oenological offerings to international acclaim; and nowhere is this more evident than during your time at the Viña Vik, recently named one of the world’s best new hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine, and the Casa Bouchon, a luxury hacienda-style property set amid the vineyards of the Maule Valley.

Active Adventure

Great Bikes, Great Rides

Unique Gastronomy

From desert to glacier and vineyard to volcano, Chile is adventure in widescreen—with a splash of world-class wine in between. Hike Patagonia’s jaw-dropping peaks, raft the Futaleufú or bike through rolling vines before kicking back under the star-packed sky. With bold landscapes, bolder flavours and lodges to match, Chile doesn’t just impress—it impresses upon you.

Reasons to believe

Hike, bike and stargaze across Chile on a tailor-made itinerary. Atacama desert nights, Andean trails and award-winning vineyards most visitors never reach.

Chile Private Tours: Atacama Nights, Andean Trails & Award-Winning Wines

Off the Beaten Path

Local Connections

Patagonia is where adventure whispers—loudly. Think jagged peaks, gaucho trails and silences big enough to get lost in. Hike past glaciers, watch condors cruise overhead and feel the edge of the world beneath your boots. Then hit Buenos Aires or Santiago for a tango-fuelled culture fix. Wild, vast and utterly unforgettable, this place is equal parts thrilling and humbling.

Hike Torres del Paine, ride the Patagonian steppe and watch glaciers calve into Beagle Channel fjords. A tailor-made Patagonia itinerary, built for you.

Cuisine 101: 7 Delicious Chilean Dishes

By Dane Tredway

Chile

Company

Essentials

Connect