Every Chilean has a short list of favorite restaurants. These are places you have probably never heard of nor will you see advertised anywhere.
The Chilean equivalent of a hole in the wall restaurant is known as a picada.
Picadas are known for great food, not being famous, not advertising, having cheap food, and being a favorite place to go.
Many picadas don’t look like much from the outside but it is the food inside the establishment that counts. For example, here is the front of Donde el Guaton, a great picada in Santiago:
If you want some good food, ask any Chilean for their favorite picada. Make sure to ask for some good directions, or better yet, have them take you so you not only know how to get there but also know what to order.
