Elkika Ilmeneau
Hernando de Aguirre 47
About
Elkika Ilmeneau is a Santiago classic, catering to a hundred or so people at a time who want to sit outside (though they also have indoor seating) and eat a giant, messy, German-inspired sandwich and washing it down with one of the local popular brews on tap, or even one of the newer microbrews. Elkika (as most people call it) is just steps from the Tobalaba metro, and is busy most warm afternoons and evenings at all the outside tables, and in the winter, most (but not all) patrons choose to sit inside. People tend to choose from a variety of large Chilean sandwiches served on hamburger-type buns, with plentiful avocado, mayonnaise, and the old Chilean standard of cooked string beans. Veggie options are available, as are plates of french fries and large steaks. However, the restaurant is really more of a bar and sandwich shop, and while the food is good, it's the convenience, low prices and large number of people that go there that make it a Santiago favorite. You can expect to spend less than US $10 a person to leave Elkika fully satisfied, if not a bit inebriated. For that price, expect a meal-sized sandwich, some fries (ordered separately) and a beer or two. The atmosphere is very lively, and the service very quick.
