Where to Find the Best Budget-Friendly Eats in Santiago, Chile This Summer?

When in Chile, you always end up spending some time in Santiago for flight transfers. This time, I went in and out a few times and tried a few places, mostly in the eastern part of the city, except for one Chinese restaurant [doge].

🍽️ DonDoh Santiago (see picture 5️⃣ for the ambiance)
The overall service and English proficiency were quite good, which is a plus. I ordered grilled shrimp (picture 1️⃣), and it was good that they were deveined. Although I originally wanted to order the catch of the day, I was told there was no catch, which was a bit disappointing.

.. The brisket ramen (picture 2️⃣) was also pretty good; the broth and meat were well-prepared, though the noodles were a bit too hard for me. The dumplings (picture 3️⃣) were presented very fancily, and the filling was quite generous. Picture 4️⃣ shows the complimentary snacks. Overall, I was satisfied.

🍽️ La Mar
They have a QR code menu, but orders are still taken manually. The grilled octopus leg (picture 6️⃣) was nice, and there was a local fish soup (though the broth was not really drinkable), and the fish was a bit tough. The individually ordered grilled fish was quite good, and the mashed potatoes on the side were surprisingly delicious. However, the overall flavoring was not as suitable for a Chinese palate as the Japanese-South American fusion cuisine.

🍽️ Osaka (see picture 🔟 for the ambiance)
This is another well-known Latin American-Japanese fusion restaurant. There was a slight language barrier with English, not as smooth as at DonDoh. I ordered Passion Shrimp (picture 7️⃣), which I would call sweet and sour shrimp balls (instantly reminded me of Hong Kong) [cute R].

The Pisco Ribs (picture 8️⃣) were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a very fragrant seasoning. The Mariscos Al Fuego (picture 9️⃣) is a must-order dish, a small platter of grilled seafood. I missed capturing the moment it was flamed… It included scallops, shrimp, octopus, etc., and you could taste the freshness and sweetness of the seafood.

All three dishes were consistently good.

These three restaurants are actually on the same street, and you can make reservations online. Each meal cost around 50,000-60,000 pesos… By the way, staying at the NH Collection on this street was a wise choice [doge].

Picture 11 shows 🍽️ Elephant Coffee. I don’t have much experience with coffee in Santiago, but I’ve heard it’s easy to get a bad cup here. The latte at this place was quite good, and it was very pleasant to sit outside in the afternoon breeze and enjoy the coffee. The environment in the eastern part of the city is quite nice.

Lastly, tucked away upstairs near the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce by the train station, you’ll find Wenzhou Restaurant. The setting is a bit on the rustic side, and they typically serve a Chinese buffet. However, if you’re in the mood for something more personalized, feel free to ask the owner for the menu to order some stir-fried dishes.

The flavors are decent, but what really stands out is the generous portion size—three people found it challenging to finish just three dishes (picture 12). If you’re craving authentic Chinese cuisine and prefer something other than Sichuan or Hunan, this place is definitely worth a visit.