BUENOS AIRES CUISINE

Buenos Aires is a vibrant, cultural capital city and this is totally represented in its food. You can order the juiciest of steaks, the most highly caffeinated tea, succulent salads, and the sweetest of desserts. Whether you have a sweet tooth, an Italian cuisine lover, or are a raging carnivore, this incredible city's diverse food scene has something to please all palates. Here are some must- try delights on your visit to Buenos Aires.

Argentinian beef

Asado

Ok let’s start with the elephant in the room, The Asado is Argentina´s signature cuisine that originates from the gaucho culture and traditionally features a wide selection of grilled meats, mainly beef, which Argentina of course, is renowned for. The meat is cooked on a special brick-built grill called la parrilla, and the fire can either be made with charcoal (carbon) or wood leña) which is more typical for the countryside parrilla called “Asado Criollo”, which refers to a more rustic, traditional style of barbecue.

Asado Argentino

Bife de Chorizo

Argentina is of course world-renowned for beef and its asado from the gaucho culture. Bife de Chorizo is the king of meat cuts in Buenos Aires.  This “sirloin steak” is enormous and juicy and will take up most of your plate, with some fat around the edges for a little extra flavour. A popular way to try this carnivorous delight is at a Tango show, washed down with some wonderful Argentinian wine.

Bife de Chorizo

Empanadas

This Argentine snack, appetizer, or meal, is an Argentinian mainstay throughout the country and even more so in Buenos Aires. The pasty-like empanada is a plump bread pocket, full of meat, vegetables, or cheese. Highly addictive, they wash down perfectly with an ice-cold beer. Popular fillings include beef, chicken, cheese and onion, humita (corn), or chorizo. Empanadas are represented in the Buenos Aires gastronomic scene and new flavours and fillings have emerged such as aloo gobi or vegan coconut curry versions! If you prefer the traditional flavours, make a visit to El Gauchito where all types of Argentinian culture are represented, as the name suggests.

Empanadas

Mate

Everyone in Buenos Aires drinks Yerba Mate. Mate can pretty much be found in the DNA of Argentinians, and this caffeine filled herbal tea gives its drinkers is the reason why Buenos Aires is known for late-night nightlife. A loose-leaf tea, mate is generally drunk from a traditional pod type cup through a metal straw with a filter at one end. People drink it on their own, but it is also passed around in a group. For a smoky, bold mate, drink the Cruz de Malta variety.

 Yerba Mate

Dulce de leche

Argentine desserts are not complete without dulce de leche.  This gooey caramel paste that tastes like toffee, takes over your taste buds in a sugary bliss-like way. This delicious sweet is made by heating sweetened condensed milk, dulce de leche can be eaten solo with only a spoon, or made into ice cream, stuffed inside churros, found in the middle of alfajores, or used as a glue to hold cakes together. This dessert is found everywhere in Argentina and one of the most available brands is the San Ignacio Dulce de Leche, found all over Buenos Aires.

Dulce de Leche

Pizza

Argentines are more than proud of their pizza. Usually, a lot more bready than regular pizzas with a colossal amount of cheese, only a bit of tomato sauce, and a few whole green olives symmetrically placed on the top, the best Argentine-style pizza can be found in Buenos Aires. Originally brought over from Italian immigrants, this adopted Argentinian national dish really is a must on a visit to Buenos Aires.

 Argentinian Pizza

Tartas

Essentially a savoury quiche-like pie, tartas have a cream and egg base with vegetables. Usual flavours include pumpkin, cheesy broccoli, and zucchini. Soft and fluffy inside with a firm crust outside, the two textures combine for a satisfying snack.  The home-made taste makes you feel fulfilled, as if you’ve just eaten it straight from your grandma’s oven!  Mmmmmmm!

Vegetable Tarta

Ice Cream

Another throwback from the Italian immigrants, Gelaterias started developing an ice cream scene in Buenos Aires in the 19th century. Today, Buenos Aires is regarded as an Ice-cream expert goodness with some of the best ice cream parlours on the planet. To order delicious Argentinian flavours ask for dulce de leche, sabayon (a mix of alcohol and eggs), chocolate Suiza or Amargo, and frutos del bosque for a berry-like fruitier option.

Gelato

Choripan

Choripan is the Buenos Aires equivalent of a hot dog. Choripan, or “chori” as the local Portenos name it, is an Argentinian chorizo sausage in a bun, generally served with delicious chimichurri on the side for a parsley and garlic kick. If you go to an asado, this will be on the grill, and if you go to a football game, this will be a favourite of the crowd. Choripanes can be found everywhere, but for a more gourmet option, head to the Palermo neighbourhood.

Choripan con chimichurri

Medialunas

Media lunas