Best Empanada de Pino
in Santiago

Verdict: Consistently voted as having the "Best Empanada" in the city by critics; they use high-quality hand-cut beef (picar de cuchillo) rather than ground meat, which provides a superior texture and keeps the filling incredibly juicy. — various (Las Condes / Vitacura)

Queue: Multiple locations in the high-end residential districts.

Go: 1:00 PM on a Sunday; the favorite of Santiago's upscale families.

Price: $$

Dietary:

Verdict: Known for its exceptionally light and flaky dough; they use a higher-than-average lard content in the crust, which makes the empanada incredibly flavorful and gives it a distinct "home-baked" aroma. — various (Providencia / Las Condes)

Queue: Located in major residential and commercial corridors.

Go: 12:30 PM; a historic bakery that is a city landmark for traditional baking.

Price: $$

Dietary:

Verdict: As the name suggests, it is built for speed; the waiters are famous for shouting orders and the hot dogs appear almost instantly. It is a quintessential part of the downtown office-worker culture. — Centro Histórico

Queue: Extremely high turnover; you eat and leave in 10 minutes.

Go: 12:30 PM; a historic standing-room-only spot in the heart of the city's pedestrian district.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Their empanadas are notorious for their size and weight; one is a full meal. They are baked throughout the day, ensuring you almost always get one that is still warm from the oven. — various (Las Condes / Vitacura)

Queue: Multiple locations in the city's safe, middle-class districts.

Go: 1:00 PM on a Sunday; a premier bakery chain that is a staple for local families.

Price: $$

Dietary:

Verdict: Famous for the "juiciness" of their pino; they use a traditional ratio of onions to meat that creates a rich, savory gravy inside the turnover, which is the hallmark of a great empanada. — various (Maipu)

Queue: A humble and very unpretentious neighborhood bakery.

Go: 12:30 PM; a legendary "local secret" with a massive following in the West.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Known for their strict adherence to the traditional recipe; their pino is cooked for hours to ensure the onions are completely translucent and sweet, preventing the "heavy" feeling that poor-quality empanadas can cause. — various (Providencia)

Queue: Located in a busy residential and commercial part of Providencia.

Go: 1:30 PM; a popular neighborhood favorite with a very traditional menu.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Their empanadas are characterized by a very thin and crispy dough that allows the flavors of the filling to shine; it is the choice for those who find traditional empanada dough too bready. — various (Vitacura)

Queue: Located in the city's most exclusive residential district.

Go: 12:30 PM; a high-end traditional bakery known for its quality and consistency.

Price: $$

Dietary:

Verdict: Offers a more refined and technically perfect empanada; they use premium cuts of beef and artisanal olives, providing a "fine-dining" version of the humble snack. — various (Vitacura)

Queue: Located in the city's premier gastronomic and fashion district.

Go: 1:30 PM; a modern "gourmet" take on traditional Chilean food.

Price: $$$

Dietary:

Verdict: A favorite for local office workers; their empanadas are fast, affordable, and have a very traditional, "spicy" pino that is heavy on the paprika and cumin. — various (Centro)

Queue: A time-capsule establishment in the heart of the city.

Go: 12:30 PM; a historic neighborhood bakery with a very loyal local base.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: San Camilo is a Santiago institution; while mass-produced, their empanadas are the "default" for millions of Limeños and offer a very consistent, reliable flavor profile. — various (Ubiquitous)

Queue: The city's most famous and oldest bakery chain.

Go: 1:00 PM for a quick and very affordable snack.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Known for their experimental approach to dough; they use ancient grains and long fermentation, resulting in an empanada that is easier to digest and has a much more complex flavor. — Providencia

Queue: Located in a quiet part of Providencia.

Go: 1:30 PM; a trendy and high-quality artisanal bakery.

Price: $$

Dietary:

Verdict: Famous for its exceptionally large " raisins"—they use premium, locally sourced dried fruits that provide a spectacular burst of sweetness against the salty beef and olives. — various (Ñuñoa)

Queue: Located in the heart of the trendy Ñuñoa district.

Go: 12:30 PM; a popular neighborhood favorite with a circular counter.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: A favorite for those arriving or leaving the city; their empanadas are notoriously "heavy" and "satisfying," perfect for long bus or train journeys. — Estación Central

Queue: A traditional, unpretentious "pulperia" with high-quality baking.

Go: 11:30 AM; a legendary neighborhood landmark near the train station.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: While standardized, Castaño empanadas are reliable and always available; they are the best option for a traveler who needs a safe and fast meal in an unfamiliar neighborhood. — various (Ubiquitous)

Queue: The largest and most ubiquitous bakery chain in Chile.

Go: 1:00 PM for a fast and very accessible lunch.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Known for its exceptionally "peppery" pino; they use a unique blend of local chilies that gives the empanada a subtle heat that lingers without being overwhelming. — various (La Florida)

Queue: Located in a busy commercial corridor.

Go: 12:30 PM; a popular choice in the residential zones of the South.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Offers a "raw" and very affordable market experience; their empanadas are pulled directly from wood-fired ovens that are visible from the street. — various (Centro)

Queue: Located on one of the city's main pedestrian streets.

Go: 1:30 PM; a traditional, high-turnover food stall in the historic center.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: This is where the city’s working class eats; look for the "Empanadas de Pino" stalls where the turnovers are served on plastic plates with a side of "pebre" (Chilean salsa). — Recoleta

Queue: Located just across the river from the Mercado Central.

Go: 12:30 PM; the second-floor food court is a hub for authentic local food.

Price: $

Dietary:

Verdict: Their empanadas are kept fresh and warm in ceramic pots, allowing you to sample them alongside other Chilean classics in a single sitting without committing to a full-sized turnover. — various (Providencia)

Queue: Popular with large groups and office workers.

Go: 1:00 PM; massive and high-quality buffet featuring dozens of dishes.

Price: $$

Dietary: