Goeman

For aficionados of Japanese cuisine, Goeman is as close to authentic Japanese as you’ll find in Santiago. Don’t be deceived thinking you’ll find some trendy sushi bar offering high-priced cocktails and Japanese-fusion that bear little resemblance to anything you’d actually find in Japan. That’s not Goeman. Goeman is instead, humble and simple. Although the décor is plain, the restaurant is clean and comfortable and service is typically very good with an informative and amiable crew of waiters.

What you will find in lieu of that trendy sushi-bar is a restaurant serving as close to authentic Japanese cuisine as you can get using local ingredients.

Although the teishoku sashimi combination tray, the functional Japanese equivalent of a prix-fixe menu, is a good way to experience a variety of small Japanese dishes, with that combo-tray you’ll be missing all of the better items Goeman has to offer.

We recommend the Shabu-Shabu (a Japanese hotpot) accompanied by a plate of wagyu tataki (Japanese beef carpaccio), the Sukiyaki, or a hot bowl of ramen noodles in a steaming broth. For starters or for late-night snacks try some of the smaller plates (the potstickers, pork chashu (braised pork belly) or the chicken karaage (fried chicken with dipping sauce).

The sushi and sashimi are also excellent and always utilize fresh fish. Be forewarned, the sushi-chef at Goeman serves the sashimi in rather thick 2 cm (or more) slices. If you want thinner slices (similar to what’s served with nigiri) you should specify your preference when ordering.

All this authenticity comes at a price. Goeman is a bit expensive for a place that forgot to hire an interior designer. But considering it’s about the only viable option in Santiago for Japanese cuisine that isn’t dressed in Peruvian Nikkei clothing, the price is not surprising.

Goeman isn’t trendy. Goeman isn’t fusion. There’s no high-energy vibe that you might find at one of the trendier sushi spots in town, like Naoki.

But if a really satisfying Japanese meal in unpretentious surroundings is what you’re looking for, Goeman is the best, if not the only choice in Santiago.