Where can you find Chilean food in Miami? Try these restaurants and bakeries
Nestled between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, Chile has one of the most peculiar geographical shapes in the world, and its culinary delicacies are just as unique.
Thanks to the cultural heritage of thousands of Spanish, Italian, German and French immigrants who arrived in the Andean country in the 19th century, Chileans create some of the tastiest dishes in Latin America.
Although it is easier to get ropa vieja than bistec a lo pobre in Miami, Chilean cuisine can be found in South Florida, if you know where to look.
Acceso Miami rounded up some of best spots to get authentic Chilean dishes in the Magic City.
Pamela’s Restaurant
Pamela Canales won over her neighbors when she began selling homemade Chilean empanadas from her house in 1979. Now the acclaimed cook has her own restaurant that is four in one: market, bakery, cafeteria and, of course, a full service Chilean restaurant.
Don’t miss the original meat empanadas stuffed with onions, olives, boiled egg and raisins. The menu also has pastel de choclo (corn pie), steak, chicken or pork a lo pobre. The restaurant is open early so that you can start your day on the right foot after cafecito with fresh Chilean alfajores.
8469 SW 40th St., Miami; 305-225-6365; http://pamelasrestaurante.com; open 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sundays
Sabores Chilenos
For more than 25 years this restaurant has satiated the nostalgia of Chileans living in South Florida with a wide variety of empanadas, sandwiches and desserts at affordable prices.
If you have a soft spot for Chilean wines, you can find gems that you won’t find anywhere else. Be sure to try one of their unique teas or their famous lucuma ice cream.
10760 W Flagler St., Miami; 305-554-4484 or https://www.saboreschilenos.com; open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily
Viva Chile Lindo Restaurant & Bar
The trip to Davie is well worth it to enjoy the authentic food that Viva Chile Lindo has to offer.
The restaurant has two bars in a spacious establishment where on Saturday nights the party lights up with live music. Start dinner with a good pisco before browsing the menu that includes classics such as pastel de choclo, bistec a lo pobre, chorrillana and stuffed avocado.
4950 S State Rd. 7, Davie; 954-327-2888 or https://vivachilelindo.net; open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 am. Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday to Wednesday
Las Casitas Grill
The Pacific Ocean merges with the Caribbean Sea in this corner of Miami. Las Casitas Grill teamed up with Limón y Cilantro restaurant to create a distinctive menu that includes dishes from Puerto Rican, Dominican and Chilean cuisine.
Starting on Jan. 4, chacareros and parrilladas will be served alongside a good mofongo or a delicious mangú.
7380 W 20th Ave. Hialeah; 786-512-6885 or http://lascasitasgrillfl.com; 8 a.m. - 5 pm. Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday
Chilean Desserts
Postres Chilenos is a pastry shop that makes a variety of cakes and sweets from a private home in Broward, with delicacies that will transport you to the southern cone of Latin America. Among the most popular are the pastel de selva negra, milhojas con dulce de leche, crema chantilly with merengue and milhojas cake with crema de lúcuma. Orders are made by phone.
Broward area only; 754-242-4383 or https://www.facebook.com/Lacosinadeandy
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
