The story
In the 1920s Eduardo Bahamondes, a Chilean businessman, saw hot dogs on a trip to the United States and brought the idea home to Santiago. At his Quick Lunch Bahamondes, a soda fountain in the Portal Fernández Concha arcade by the Plaza de Armas, the plain American version failed to win people over, so he piled on local favourites such as tomato and avocado. The loaded result, named completo for 'the works', caught on in soda fountains across Santiago. Today the most popular version is the italiano, topped with tomato, mashed avocado and mayonnaise in the colours of the Italian flag.
Also known as completo italiano, Chilean hot dog, italiano.
On the Meridish menu
Completo was the street food course on menu No. 10 on October 10, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
A hot dog smothered in avocado, tomato and mayonnaise. A businessman brought the idea home from the USA in the 1920s and served it at his soda fountain in this capital.
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.
