One of the best things about traveling is trying the food in new places. Argentina has some of the best food in the world. I might be biased. Here is all the food you should try when visiting.
Breakfast in Argentina
As the most important meal of the day Argentinians like to take a slow approach to breakfast. You’ll find many little cafes where you can eat amazing and relatively inexpensive breakfasts. Many of them offer combo deals that include food and coffee (which includes a cup of water). Definitely take advantage of the combos!
Tostados
This is a must have breakfast! You will see in the middle picture above you can get a toasted sandwich. This sandwich has ham and cheese inside. Make sure not to order the whole grain kind (not because I don’t want you to be less healthy). The whole grain kind is just not the same sandwich. You can also order Tostados for the tea time (merienda). Some places offer tostados with prosciutto or added tomato. My tip is to start with the original then get fancy with prosciutto or tomatoes.
Tostadas
If you want to experience the fresh bread of Argentina order the tostadas. Now you’ll notice this is one letter different from tostados, but they are completely different so be clear when ordering! Tostadas are toasted slices of bread. Now this isn’t a loaf of bread from the grocery store, its homemade baguette style bread. You’ll also get a pot of butter and marmalade. Now trust me here when I tell you this is how to eat them: spread butter on the toast then put marmalade on it, finally dunk it in your cafe con leche THEN eat it.
Facturas
Now this is a MUST try either for breakfast or the merienda. There are many different pastries that fall under the “facturas” category. Facturas are unique foods to Argentina. You won’t find these delicious pastries elsewhere. Some of my favorites include: medialunas de grasa, medialunas con dulce de leche, vigilantes, and cuernitos.
- Medialunas de grasa: There are two types of croissants. One is made with butter and the other one is made with lard. The medialunas de grasa are croissants made with lard. They are absolutely delicious. They are skinnier than the butter croissants, but SO worth it.
- Medialunas con dulce de leche: these are butter croissants that are filled with dulce de leche (caramel) and topped with powdered sugar. A fabulous sweet treat.
- Vigilantes: these are medialunas de grasa that are baked straight instead of the crescent shape. Additionally, they have caramalized sugar on top which gives them a delicious crunchy, sweet top. By far my favorite factura.
- Cuernitos: This is a horn shaped bread. It is excellent with some marmalade. Again another food you can have for breakfast or merienda.
Cafe con Leche
Coffee life is a big deal in Argentina. You can pop into any cafe to get yourself a cafe con leche, but don’t expect to be able to take it to go. Life is slower in Argentina so you will rarely see to-go mugs around the city. So settle in with a mug of coffee with milk and enjoy the people watching. The sugar will come on the side for you to sweeten to your taste. You’ll also get a cup of water. Note this water will be sparkling water.
Want to see where to eat these delicious foods? Check it out here!
Food in Argentina
Steak
You can’t got to Argentina without trying the steak. This is the most famous food in Argentina . So head to a steakhouse (you might need a reservation) and order bife de chorizo or lomo.
Lamb from Patagonia
The Patagonian area of Argentina is known for their exquisite lamb. If you are going to the south of Argentina then you must try this! If you aren’t going south, no worries you can try some of this tender lamb in many restaurants within Buenos Aires.
Homemade Pasta
While pasta might be what makes Italy famous, Argentina has its own national variety. Sorrentinos are the national pasta dish of Argentina. They are rounder and fatter ravioli. If you go to a pasta shop or pasta restaurant you must try this. We had some delicious lamb sorrentinos. But the typical ones are ham and cheese in a deeply rich tomato sauce.
Empanadas
Now these are probably the food in Argentina you’ve heard the most about! There are many little pop-in shops that sell empanadas in all filling flavors. Do yourself a favor, get one of each and try them all. There are oven baked (traditional) and fried empanadas. Try them both then let me know which you prefer, I’m always ready for a full conversation about empanadas.
Check out the regional empandas in Salta for a different twist on this favorite of mine.
Fugazzeta & Fainá
These are traditional pizzas in Argentina. Fugazzeta is a pizza with lots of cheese and onions, however, it will not have tomato sauce. Fainá is a garbanzo bean flour “pancake” if you will. It can come with some dipping sauces. Truly a unique meal.
Choripan
As I stated earlier, steak is a big deal in Argentina. Chorizo or sausages are also super popular food in Argentina for asados (BBQs). You will get a chorizo, cut it in half lengthwise, then put it in bread for a sandwich. You can also add some balsamic vinegar, roasted peppers, tomatoes, or even some mayo. Granted you might not be able to wait to put anything else into your sandwich.
Milanesas
I will say milanesas are my favorite food. You can get them either chicken or steak (there’s also a fish option). The traditional kind are steak milanesas. Its steak that’s breaded then fried. You can also order it “Napolitana” which means with ham, tomato, and cheese on top of the milanesa. You can get these in nearly all restaurants.
Papas Souffle
These are the MOST incredible potatoes. They are thinly sliced potatoes that are fried, removed from the fryer, and then put into a hotter fryer to puff it up. Go to El Palacio de La Papa Frita (the fried potato palace) and order the milanesa with papas souffle. Then come back and tell me how awesome it was.
Want to see where to eat these delicious foods? Check it out here
Desserts & Sweets in Argentina
Ice Cream/Helado
Ice cream in Argentina is a big deal. They have incredible flavor options and just so many ice cream shops all over the place. My recommendations would be chocolate and dulce de leche anything. I would also recommend getting two scoops one of chocolate and/or dulce de leche and the other of a tarter fruit. Consider maracuya (passion fruit) or Patagonian berries. Argentines take their ice cream very seriously, it is basically its own food group in Argentina.
Alfajores
These are cookies that sandwich dulce de leche and then dipped in chocolate. Pop into an Havanna Cafe and try one of each alfajor like we did. Then we bought 4 dozen to bring home. My favorite one is the 70% cacao. You can also go to candy shops and get some Milka chocolate mousse alfajores too.
Dulce De Leche
Argentina’s version of caramel. In the states the imported Dulce de Leche we get is mostly from Colombia. Argentina’s is significantly different. It is a smoother, sweeter flavor with a richer caramel color. If you swing by a Case Del Dulce De Leche you can taste test a bunch of different brands. My favorite is Chimbote, I brought a tub home with me.
Rhodesia
These are my favorite snack cookies. They are a wafer cookie with a sugar filling all dipped in chocolate. They come in bright orange packaging which is also incredibly eye catching. You can find them in candy shops or at checkout in the pharmacy or grocery store.
Rogel
Rogel is a layered dessert that alternates a crunchy dough with dulce de leche. I hope you’re getting the obsession with dulce de leche in Argentina. It can then be topped with meringue. Finally, I do recommend ordering a slice to share as its super sweet. You can see it below in the first photo.
Chocotorta
Finally, we get to the chocolina cake. This is an amazing cake made with chocolinas (a chocolate cookies) and layered with a dulce de leche and cream filling. A definite must try dessert.
Want to see where to eat these delicious foods? Check it out here
Drinks in Argentina
Mate
This is the traditional herbal tea in Argentina. You will see people walking around with a thermos and a mate cup. It is that popular. Essentially the yerba mate is packed into a special cup and boiling hot water is poured into it. Then with a special straw you drink the mate to ensure you don’t get any yerba. The water is refilled multiple times (hence the thermos) until its time to change the yerba. Traditionally, people would pass the mate around and drink in companionship. This is still done with friends, at ranches, or other intimate social gatherings. Don’t pass up the opportunity to try this traditional drink.
Tereré
Cold mate. Sometimes made with coke, this takes the traditional hot mate and brings it into the modern times. Its the cold brew version of mate. A fun take on it and if you’re given the opportunity to try it, go for it! While it is not the drink you’ll see most people drinking it is increasingly popular.
Malbec
The wine of Argentina. If you are headed to Mendoza you should go to the vineyards and try the local wine! Since you are in Argentina you might as well enjoy the wine.
Maqui Berry Juice
Patagonia has a different ecosystem and with it their own foods. Maqui Berry is a Patagonian berry. It is definitely something to try. You can pick up a bottle in a grocery store or have some while you’re in the southern part of Argentina.
Fernet
This Italian based alcohol is very popular in Argentina. Check it out if you’re at a bar. It is sweet and also a little bitter.
All about the food in Argentina
There are so many different things to taste in Argentina. You can essentially have a different traditional food for every meal of every day of your trip and still not get through all the amazing food! The problem becomes that you develop favorite foods and then you have the horrible decision of getting more of the food you like or trying something new.
