Practical
How to Order a Steak in Chile
The doneness scale in Chile uses different terms than you might expect. Here's your cheat sheet.
The doneness scale
Rare
Poco hecho
POH-koh EH-choh
Medium Rare / Medium
Al punto
ahl POON-toh
Medium Well
Punto pasado
POON-toh pah-SAH-doh
Well Done
Hecho
EH-choh
Very Well Done
Bien cocido
bee-EN koh-SEE-doh
Pro tip
"Al punto" in Chile runs closer to medium than medium-rare. If you want a true medium-rare with a warm pink center, say "al punto, pero más jugoso" — meaning juicier. The waiter will know exactly what you mean.