25 Best Restaurants in The Lake District, Chile

This is a good place to eat barbecue, steaks, and chicken (and just that, as it's meat-only here). The design intrigues as well, resembling a galpón, which means "barn" in English. There are not a lot of good dining options in Osorno, but this is probably the best.

On the outskirts of town near the lake, this stellar restaurant serves exceptional steaks. The menu has good and generous barbecue plates (including wild boar, goat, and lamb); there is a nice variety of seafood and pasta dishes, too. Desserts like homemade ice cream and tiramisu are worth the extra splurge. Service, which includes the involvement of the owner, is also friendly and prompt.

This riverfront institution is constantly packed with locals, which is always a good sign that you've come to the right restaurant. The Argentine owner Teodoro Poulsen serves beef and chicken in delicious Argentine parrilla style. Though the restaurant bills itself as the king of steak, you might consider the chicken (milanesa de pollo) instead. To do it right, order a bottle of wine from their excellent wine list to accompany your meal.

You may not want to eat anywhere else in Pucón after sampling the varied, well-prepared dishes at this centrally located cafe. The fresh pasta, made in-house, is rich and soft; the pizzas are out of this world. Slow-cooked ribs, salmon and shrimp risotto, and beef fillet in a strawberry and Merlot wine sauce round out the menu.

Midway between Puerto Octay and Frutillar, this countryside restaurant next to the lake has an all-you-can-eat buffet, with dishes that combine German and local Chiloé gastronomy. One of the most noteworthy options on the menu is carne de jabali, or wild boar meat. But the entire menu is worthy, including homemade integral bread, organic fruits and vegetables, and other meat and chicken dishes done up with regional flavors like quinoa and merquen, plus a plethora of cakes and desserts. You are likely to be stuffed to the gills upon leaving. Reserve your table ahead of time on weekends.

The gourmet meals at Se Cocina, made with fresh local ingredients from the organic garden on-site, are excellent, but it's worth coming here for the experience alone. The food is prepared right in front of you at the open kitchen, which is next to the dining room tables. There are big windows with views out to the green hills and the lake, and the fireplace roars in winter. The stoves, one of which is a 1932 brick oven, are constantly in operation. Don't miss the exceptional microbrews made here.

This solar-powered, creative restaurant features fresh and organic ingredients. Breakfasts include homemade yogurt, free-range eggs, and Italian coffee, while lunch and dinner present everything from oversize empanadas and sandwiches to meat, fish, and pasta. You'll also find a few dishes from other places, like gnocchi stuffed with chickpeas and feta cheese. Vegetarians come here for the great salads and vegan plates too.

This wonderful café and restaurant is dessert heaven, with assorted pastries baked fresh every day, chocolates galore, and an excellent selection of ice cream. The restaurant also has a varied menu of sandwiches, pizza, and more, and an extensive wine list. In summer, sit at one of the tables outside on the sidewalk. 

Nestled on a steep hill in a nondescript neighborhood, the decor here is no frills, but the view of the city is spectacular and the food is some of the best in Puerto Montt. They offer daily set menus for 12,000 pesos, including an appetizer, drink, and dessert. The gourmet fare changes daily, but like its namesake, its almost always somewhat spicy, and includes meat, fish, and seafood options.

One of the German clubs that dot the Lake District, Alemán serves up ample portions alongside prompt service. This is the perfect spot to try Germanic pork and sauerkraut dishes. Open every day, most regulars opt for one of their four or five rotating prix-fixe menus often featuring steak and salmon with soup, salad, and dessert. Don't forget the küchen cake.

If you need a change of pace from the ubiquitous seafood in Puerto Montt, this is a great option. Roast-beef plates, roasted ribs, chicken, and steaks are all great. Service is friendly, but be aware that it is normally packed on weekends.

Good, quality pizza is the specialty at Gustoso. You must pay more for premium styles, but if you appreciate a slowly fermented, thin-crust pizza with quality Italian cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and all manner of healthy toppings like arugula, then you'll leave happy. They also serve pasta dishes.

Serving excellent Peruvian food, this restaurant founded by the Valerio family has become so popular that they've opened five locations in Temuco. Try the pisco sour with a ceviche or lomo saltado como Dios manda ("stir-fried beef as God intended"). 

Argentina claims to prepare the best parrillada, or grilled beef, but here's evidence that Uruguayans are no second best. Watch the beef cuts turn slowly over the wood fire at the entrance. Wood, rather than charcoal, is the key, says the owner, Emiliano Villanil, a transplant from Punta del Este. The product is a wonderfully smoked, natural taste, accented with a hint of spice in the mild chimichurri (a tangy steak sauce), and portions are big.

For quality steaks, this is the top spot in town. Start it all off with a pisco sour and sopaipillas, a sort of sweet fried bread, before moving on to the bife chorizo or lomo vetado—both are tasty cuts of meat. They are now located in a spiffy, bigger space with some outdoor seating. Their service is attentive and the portions just right. The menu has a variety of other dishes, but the main draw is the parrilla-style grilled meats.

Popular with wealthy professionals, this upscale modern steak house is known for its huge, delicious cuts of beef, abundant salads, and the best papas fritas (French fries) in Temuco. Although most Chilean restaurants douse any kind of meat with a creamy sauce, this is one of the few exceptions; the entrées are served without anything but the simplest of seasonings.

The menu at this local favorite has diverse offerings, but it is the colorful, exquisitely prepared fish and shellfish that deserve your close attention. They also have a special kids' menu.

Louisiana Cajun cooking in southern Chile is far from common, but this place pulls it off and has become a must-stop on the tourist trail. Excellent meats and seafood with a spicy, Cajun twist populate the extensive menu, like filete Mardi Gras or red curry shrimp. As noteworthy as the food, the service and ambience contribute positively to the whole experience.

If traveling by car near Ensenada, make sure to swing by this classic stop between 4 pm to 8 pm, when they serve onces, a sort of Chilean teatime. For 14,000 pesos, you're served great küchen, cake, bread, cheese, salami, Nescafe coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and more. A panoramic view of the volcanoes and lake provides the backdrop. There is also a mini zoo with animals such as llamas and guanaco, a tennis court, and private lakeside beach. Eight well-equipped cabins are available if you want to stay overnight. In summer, onces are served every day, but the rest of the year only on weekends and holidays.

The excellent pizza here is cooked in a wood-fired oven, making for exquisite crust. A host of great toppings is exactly the way Italy meant a pizza to be. Combine with a fresh tossed salad and a local microbrew beer and you can't go wrong. In summer, take a seat outside if you can.

Get a table with an incredible view of the lake during the day if you can, and prepare to enjoy mouthwatering homemade bread and a delicious pisco sour. Then, go for one of their huge steaks, pork chops, or short ribs, along with the homemade French fries. If possible, and that's a big if, leave room for the spectacular desserts.

If you love a great steak house, and even if you don't (they also have fish and vegetarian options), this is the place to go in Futrono. In addition to the good food, there's a wide, impressive view of the lake and mountains: reserve a table on their terrace to appreciate it even further.

A mom and pop–type restaurant you won't soon forget, this simply adorned restaurant makes you feel right at home. Seemingly everything on their varied, unique Chilean menu, from seafood to beef to chicken, looks and tastes delicious. The place is often packed, so making a reservation is advised.

As befits the name, Peruvian cuisine reigns supreme at this restaurant with rustic wooden tables. Try the ají de gallina (hen stew with cheese, milk, and peppers), ceviche, or the splendid saltado nikkei, a Japanese-style dish of fish, shrimp, squid, and stir-fried vegetables. You can dine on the porch, a nice option for a pleasant summer night—and take advantage of the two-for-one pisco sours nightly until 9 pm.