Food & Drink in the Lake District
The lake district has a unique culinary culture thanks to German immigration: In addition to Chilean classics, you'll find cakes, streusel, pork knuckle, and craft beer — a fusion found nowhere else in the world.
Regional Specialties
- Cakes (Küchen): German immigrants brought their baking tradition — apple strudel, Black Forest cake, streusel cake, and nut cake can be found in every bakery in the region. Especially good in Frutillar, Valdivia, and Puerto Varas
- Chochoca: Milcao dough (potato dough) wrapped around a wooden spit and baked over an open fire — a Mapuche tradition that lives on in the lake district
- Curanto al Hoyo: The Chiloé version of Curanto — cooked in an earth oven. Shellfish, meat, potato dough, covered with Nalca leaves. A communal ritual that takes hours
- Mermeladas: Jams made from wild berries — Murta (wild strawberry), Calafate, Maqui (Chilean berry with extremely high antioxidant content). Best found at farmers' markets
- Salmon: Chile is the world's second-largest salmon producer after Norway. It is farmed in aquaculture in the region's lakes and fjords — it doesn't get fresher than this. Grilled salmon from 10,000 CLP in local restaurants
Restaurants in Pucón
Trawen · O'Higgins 311 — Mapuche-inspired cuisine: Piñon risotto, wild boar, quinoa. Pucón's best restaurant. 12,000–22,000 CLP.
¡École! · General Urrutia 592 — French-Chilean bistro cuisine. Crêpes, quiches, and Chilean dishes. 8,000–15,000 CLP.
Mama's & Tapas · Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 597 — Huge wood-fired pizzas and tapas with Andes view. Pizza from 9,000 CLP.
Restaurants in Puerto Varas
La Olla · Ruta 5, km 1009 — Regional cuisine with Osorno Volcano view. Salmon in all variations, Cordero. 12,000–20,000 CLP.
Casa Valdés · Santa Rosa 040 — Renovated German settler house. Chilean-German fusion, excellent wine. 15,000–25,000 CLP.
Cervecería Kunstmann (Branch) · Klenner 299 — Craft beer and hearty cuisine. Pork knuckle 14,000 CLP, beer tasting 8,000 CLP.