Fuente Alemana

This was the perfect place to introduce oneself with Chilean cuisine. The lomitos melted in your mouth. It's mind-boggling that the slices of pork were cut so thinly and perfectly boiled. The meat wasn't overcooked and it retained a sweet flavor that wasn't too porky. All the sandwiches came with a heaping scoop of their housemade mayo, true to their culture. The Italiano is on the heavier side, with guac and a slice of tomato to cut through the richness. If you're looking for a bit more acidity to cut through the richness of the meat/mayo, then the completo with sauerkraut and tomato paste was perfection.

Despite the accolades, this place is unpretentious. You walk in and go up to the bar to place your order. Service is quick and very sanitary. They operate like a well-oiled machine. When you look around, you'll see many locals eating there for a quick lunch break. You also get a great sense of how warm Chilean people are. Strangers just sharing a meal at the bar, but look like they're having conversations with a friend that they haven't seen in a while. The food and atmosphere really gave me a peak into the Chilean soul.