If there’s one flavor that cannot be missed in September, it’s the empanadas. Discover the best ones in Santiago to fully enjoy the 2025 Fiestas Patrias.

Tasting and choosing the best empanada can be a delicious, long, and perhaps costly task. However, a contest does it for all Santiago locals and those visiting from afar to the capital of Chile, delivering a reliable ranking full of flavor. During these Fiestas Patrias 2025, the list becomes the best compass for those seeking to enjoy the most Chilean bite of all: the pino empanada, that classic that unites tradition, memory, and celebration in every bite.

It was the Hotel Plaza San Francisco that transformed last Saturday, August 30 into the epicenter of one of the most awaited traditions for lovers of Chilean gastronomy: the 22nd edition of the competition that crowns the Best Pino Empanada of Greater Santiago.

The event, organized by the Circle of Gastronomic and Wine Critics of Chile, together with Gato, Típico Chileno, and VSPT Wine Group, gathered more than 70 empanadas anonymously purchased from bakeries, bread shops, and pastry shops across the Metropolitan Region. All were subjected to a blind tasting, where everything was evaluated, from the dough to the pino filling’s cooking, including the quality of the ingredients and the faithfulness to the traditional recipe.

According to La Tercera, the jury was made up of renowned critics and figures from the culinary world: Alejandro Mery, Loreto Gatica, Luis Campos, Macarena Achurra, Pilar Hurtado, and Darío Córdova, along with chef Álvaro Barrientos, cook and communicator Heinz Wuth, journalist Patricio Durán, and the Hotel Plaza San Francisco’s own chef, Sabina González.

After a day of rigorous tasting, the long-awaited verdict arrived, with an undisputed top 3.

Don Guille: the two-time champion of República neighborhood

For the second consecutive year, the modest spot Don Guille, on Gorbea Street, once again conquered first place. At first glance, it may go unnoticed: just a few banners advertise its empanadas at $2,500 ($ Chilean pesos). However, inside, magic happens.

With fifteen years of experience, its empanadas stand out for being generous, with a juicy pino and soft, wrapped in a golden dough that is both firm and tender. A recipe that has established them as the ultimate hidden gem of Santiago.

Address: Gorbea 2554, Santiago Centro | Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00–20:30; Saturday, 10:00–18:30 | Orders: +569 42379217 / +569 44853627

Sazón: tradition with a homemade touch in Vitacura

Second place went to Sazón, a spot specializing in prepared dishes and catering. Its empanadas, priced at $2,800, stand out for their golden dough mottled with dark spots that evoke a homemade feel.
They are large, tasty, and consistent, made fresh daily in the shop itself. However, it’s best to order in advance since their popularity grows year after year.

Address: Av. Vitacura 7130, Vitacura | Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–19:00; Sunday, 10:30–14:00 | Orders: +562 22478072 / +569 98293320

Rosalía: half a century of history in Lo Barnechea

Third place goes to a classic: Rosalía, winner in 2017, 2018, and 2022, which maintains a family tradition spanning nearly 50 years. Founded by Rosalía Vega, today her daughters Cristina and Yannet continue the artisanal recipe that the public so deeply appreciates.

Here, the dough is made by hand, without machines altering the texture. The pino is prepared a day in advance, with beef chuck, hand-chopped onion, Azapa olives, hard-boiled egg, and golden raisins. Each empanada costs $3,300, a price that reflects the artisanal work and impeccable quality that characterize it.

Address: Pastor Fernández 15521, Lo Barnechea | Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–16:00 | Orders: +562 23215933 / +569 92720491

The rest of the 2025 ranking

The contest also recognized other bakeries and bread shops that stand out for their flavor and tradition. The list includes their locations and the price of the pino empanada:

  • La Temucana (Peñalolén – $3,200)

  • Las Hermanas (Las Condes – $3,300)

  • Bendición Emporio (San Joaquín – $2,000)

  • Holz (Las Condes – $2,090)

  • Prem de Bokato (Providencia – $3,300)

  • Empanadas Paula A (Las Condes – $3,180)

  • Betty (La Reina – $3,200)

  • San Camilo (Santiago Centro – $2,490)

  • Cardamomo’s (Ñuñoa – $3,100)

  • Pan y Miel (Ñuñoa – $2,950)

  • Ña Matea (Recoleta – $3,100)

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