The story
In 1946, at El Mejillón Bar in the beach resort of Punta del Este, a woman from northern Argentina is said to have asked owner Antonio Carbonaro for a sandwich of chivito, the roast kid goat popular back home. He had no goat, so he grilled a thin beef steak instead, tucked it into a bun with ham and other toppings, and kept the name. The sandwich grew taller over the years, gaining mozzarella, bacon, eggs, tomato, olives and mayonnaise, and it is often served with fries or as a plated chivito al plato. Uruguayans now call it their national dish.
Also known as chivito uruguayo, chivito canadiense, chivito al plato.
On the Meridish menu
Chivito was the street food course on menu No. 25 on October 25, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
A steak sandwich piled with ham, cheese, egg, bacon and salad. A beach-resort bar owner invented it in 1946 when a customer asked for young goat he didn't have.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
