Argentinian cuisine is so much better than I had expected.
I’ve been living in Buenos Aires for nearly a month now and the foods have been so much fun to explore.
The desserts are ridiculously rich and the traditional dishes have so much flavor.
And whether you wanna try Argentina’s famous steaks or their dulce de leche filled sweets, I really do think you’re gonna like it.
There is so much to explore with their cuisine and I’ll be adding more to this list during my stay here. So add a few to your bucket list and check back later for more ideas!
1. Asado
If you’re going to do Argentina, then you need to know that asado (or their version of BBQ) is gonna be everywhere.
My husband and I went to the Asado and Empanada food festival held at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo (a beautiful 148 year old horse race track). There was so much meat and tasty foods everywhere.
We got to try amazing cuts of beef like bife de ojo (ribeye), vacio (flank steak), and HUGE ribs!
The asado (or also called parrillada) was super tender, juicy, salty, and savory. It was definitely worth the money and I can’t remember the last time I had beef that good!
2. Fugazzetta
Argentina had a big Italian immigration between the 1850s and 1950s, and that means you’re going to be getting some amazing fusion dishes like fugazzetta.
And while this traditional food just looks like a pizza, it’s a bit more rich than that.
A fugazzetta has four layers: dough, cheese, dough, cheese. No tomato sauce, but it does have a sprinkling of caramelised onions on top.
I can’t tell you how satisfying and creamy this dish was and it didn’t even make me feel sick from all the rich ingredients.
I actually felt amazing after eating it and wasn’t hungry for hours.
One of the Best Places to Get It: El Cuartito
3. Empenadas
Coming from Spain, these are probably one of the most fun Argentine foods to order.
And whether they’re baked or deep fried, there are so many empanada flavors to try!
Of course you’re going to get ones with beef and tasty spices, but there are also ones with ingredients like cheese, olive, egg, goat, ham, and more.
I’d suggest finding a restaurant that makes really good empanadas, ordering multiple flavors, and doing a bit of a tasting. We did and it was pretty fun. 🤷♀️
4. Dulce de Leche
Dulce de leche is like caramel except it’s SO much richer and creamier.
This thick smooth sauce is made up of caramelized milk and sugar and is put into so many desserts! So whether that’s alfajores, flan, ice cream, or cake, you’ll find it everywhere and it’s a very good thing. 👌
5. Helado
Originating from the Italians bringing over their gelato, Argentina took this dessert and made it its own thing.
Being described as creamier because of the type of cream and milk that goes into it, I can 100% verify that it is really good.
Also, there are so many different flavors you’re not gonna find in Italy. Here are the ones we’ve tried so far:
- Dulce de leche
- Tramontana (vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche + chocolate-covered cookies)
- Dulce de leche granizado (dulce de leche with chocolate bits)
- Patagónico (dark chocolate with chocolate chips + red fruits)
- Flan
Some of the Best Places to Get It:
6. Chimichurri
Chimichurri is this really nice garlicky, tangy, and savory sauce you can put on just about any dish.
I really loved having it on the asado I got at the food festival; it really enhanced the flavors of the meat and was the perfect addition to my meal.
Here are the ingredients you’ll normally find in Argentinian chimichurri:
- Parsley
- Garlic
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Red chilis
- Oregano
- Bay leaves
7. Flan
I am in love with flan and Argentine flan is one of my favorite kinds!
It’s super creamy, caramely, and rich. Also, it kind of has this almost burnt sugar flavor to it like a creme brûlée.
I also had it paired with dulce de leche and it’s honestly the perfect pairing. The creamy smooth sauce just worked so well with the flan.
One of the Best Places to Get It: El Cuartito
8. Medialunas
If like European croissants, then you’ll love the Argentinian version, medialunas!
They’re honestly so good and it doesn’t even matter if they’re hot and fresh or cold.
If they’re cold, they’re still super flaky and buttery and pair so well with a hot coffee.
And if they’re hot, they’re still really flaky, buttery, and have this nice doughiness to them. So people who love different textures in one food will definitely like this!
Personal Recommendation: Try it heated up with some butter; the butter soaks so well into the flaky soft layers and makes it so much better.
One of the Best Places to Get It: Salvaje Bakery
9. Alfajores
I’ve been living in different South American countries for over a year now and alfajores are one of my favorite desserts!
They’re two biscuit-like cookies with a yummy dulce de leche filling. It’s super crumbly and rich and pairs so well with a hot drink. Definitely worth trying while exploring Argentinian cuisine.
10. Milanesa
Milanesa is a thin slice of beef that’s been coated in breading and spices and is super juicy and filled with a lot of flavor.
I can’t tell you how good it is.
They also have it in sandwiches (caballo), Neapolitan style (with ham, cheese, and a tomatoes sauce), and many other variations.
It’s not healthy but if I could, I’d probably eat this satisfying Argentinian dish at least a couple of times a week.
One of the Best Places to Get It: Cafe Rivas
Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.