El Hoyo Restaurant, emblematic of Chilean gastronomy, is now Marca Chile
Reputation, competitiveness and the use of the Chile Brand to reach international markets. These are some of the advantages of being part of the Made By Chileans Program of the Fundación Imagen de Chile, aimed at products, services or people that positively promote the country's image in the world and which already has more than 3000 licensees.
September 16, 2025.
In this line, El Hoyo Restaurant, one of the most renowned gastronomic establishments in Chile, joined the initiative in the middle of September, Chilean month. Among the attributes that most stand out in this place are the typical dishes and a setting faithful to the Chilean culture and identity, which attracts not only residents of the country, but also tourists from all over the world.
"Belonging to this program is super important, because we are one of the iconic brands that seek to raise the national culture and I believe that together with Marca Chile we can do more and better things," said José Vallejos, partner of the restaurant.
Aarón Valdebenito, also a partner of El Hoyo, said: "For us it is very important to carry the Chile Brand. We wanted to bring to the forefront the traditional and typical of Chile, fusing it with gastronomy, so that those who come experience a trip to the past. Therefore, it is very important for us to belong and represent the image of Chile in the best way.
More than 110 years of service
Founded by Benjamín Valenzuela in 1912 in the Estación Central district of Santiago, El Hoyo began as a pork products warehouse. Later, it began selling food products and, thanks to the quality of its gastronomy, it quickly achieved fame, becoming a point of reference for those who lived in the Chilean capital at that time.
From then on, the prestige and the number of illustrious visitors to the restaurant grew. From artists and food critics to tourists from all over the world. Without going any further, Anthony Bourdain, the renowned American chef and television presenter, visited the restaurant in 2010 for his program "No Reservations". During his visit, he praised traditional dishes such as braised tongue and arrollado, highlighting the authenticity of the local Chilean cuisine.
Today, the culinary establishment is located at Condell 818, Providencia, Santiago, and despite not being the original physical location, its owners ensure that the quality of their preparations is maintained. "For us, bringing Chilean culture to a dish is a challenge, it is a constant search to understand the food, from the seasonings, the raw materials, the sizes, etc. The validity of El Hoyo responds to people's need to return to the food of yesteryear and we hope to keep it for another 100 years. Today the market moves very fast, but what remains is the identity, going back to the roots", said Aarón Valdebenito.
