Restaurant El Galeón - Mercado Central — Restaurant in Santiago

Anyone who eats here has only themselves to blame! Both the service and the food were simply terrible. After three waiters approached us and guided us into the restaurant, we were seated and left waiting for 20 minutes before we could even place an order. When we finally ordered, the food arrived suspiciously quickly, and we were shocked. The food was inedible and honestly disgusting. We had a risotto, a mixed seafood platter, a mixed salad and fish and chips. The risotto consisted of old rice, milk, and way too much cheese. The seafood platter was baked with bad cheese. The salad was dry and everything but fresh. Overall, the food had absolutely no flavor. They didn’t even use salt while cooking. Don’t waste your money here. We sent the food back almost untouched. Not even an apology was offered. This is a...

Unforgettable King Crab Experience!

This was one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had. The king crab was incredible—fresh, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. I really enjoyed picking out the crab myself, taking photos and videos, and walking it back to the boiling pot. It made the whole experience feel personal and fun. The staff were friendly and even cut the crab open for me, which was a great touch. The Pinot Noir I had alongside it was smooth and paired perfectly.

What truly stood out was the hospitality—the owner personally walked us outside and made sure we got safely into our Uber, which I appreciated since the area around the market isn’t the most welcoming. That kind of care made the experience feel even more special....

Santiago's central market is one of those impressive 19th century iron and glass structures with a lofty windowed roof. Definitely visit to see the vast variety of seafood on offer in Chile, many of them unique to here. And if you're hungry, don't hesitate to try El Galeon. The food is traditionally prepared rather than sophisticated, but the freshness wins the day. I had the especial galeon, a delightful mix of grilled fish and shellfish. My wife had a simply prepared grilled swordfish she declared perfect. The menu is huge, probably offering everything available in the market. The pisco sours are tasty and the wine is reasonably price. The staff is friendly and omnipresent. Definitely a fun spot to take a break and enjoy the fishy ambiance...