Mercado Central de Chillán

Mercado Central de Chillán

Chillán, Chile

The covered market in the center of Chillán, ground zero for longaniza in Chile. Dozens of vendors sell raw longaniza by the kilo, and several cocinerías (market kitchens) inside grill them to order. The quality varies stall to stall, but the best vendors use pork from nearby farms and grind it on-site. Go in the morning when the coils are fresh. Order a longaniza plate with ensalada chilena and a glass of vino pipeño from the barrel.

Click to activate map

Sausages served here

Longaniza Chilena

Longaniza Chilena

Ñuble, Chile

Chile's go-to fresh pork sausage, seasoned with ají de color (Chilean paprika), cumin, garlic, and oregano. Some makers add merkén, a smoked chili from the Mapuche tradition, for extra heat. The grind is coarse, the casing thin, and the links either coiled into spirals or strung out long. Every asado in Chile starts with longaniza on the grill, split lengthwise and charred until the fat crackles. The sausage shows up on street carts stuffed into marraqueta bread with pebre, the cilantro-onion-chili salsa that goes on everything.

freshporkgrilled