Eating Buenos Aires

Tandoor Restaurante de la India

Restaurant

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Tandoor has been on our go-to list for awhile, and just the other day a colleague of mine was raving about it. We went for lunch a few days later.We were there at about 1:00pm on a Sunday and the place was completely empty. As we ate, two other couples came in, but it seems the evening is really the happening time at Tandoor.We loved it, though -- the waiter was incredibly friendly and attentive. I think it's some of the best service we've received in Argentina. We skipped the appetizers, expecting (correctly) that we would have plenty of food with our entrees. We ordered the cauliflower vegetarian dish and a lamb and rice dish. both of which were absolutely fant...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 2, 2025

Tandoor Restaurante de la India
Laprida 1293, Barrio Norte
Buenos Aires, Argentina 1425
4821-3676

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Delhi Mahal

Restaurant | "Indian Food at Delhi Mahal"

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Delhi Mahal has three locations in Buenos Aires, and we have eaten at the San Telmo location (near Bolivar and Chile) on two occasions.We were there both times for lunch and ordered from the set lunch menu, which includes pakora, an entree, and dessert.We realized the second time that we had ordered the same thing the first time -- it was really good! The first was the pork dish, the second was a vegetable option. There are a couple of meat options, a couple of vegetarian options, and a few "light" choices. The first time I ordered a mango lassi -- they are two for one during lunch, but it was so big that I sort of regretted the second one. It was a little too so...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 20, 2025

Delhi Mahal

San Telmo, Buenos Aires

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Dragon Porteno

Restaurant | "Dragón Porteño"

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Barrio Chino is full of Chinese restaurants, and choosing this one was basically like throwing a dart at the restaurant list. I can't say from dining experience, but they all seem to be about the same. The food was okay. I was disappointed in the sweet and sour chicken -- we were expecting what you might find at home: crispy chicken covered in sauce, served on rice, maybe with some vegetables. Instead, we got a giant plate of crispy chicken and a dish of sweet and sour sauce.I ordered the pumpkin tea. I loved it because it was really sweet, which is why my boyfriend did not like it. It was a cold tea and came in a tall glass.They have a lunch menu with a few entr...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 20, 2025

Dragon Porteno
Arribenos 2137
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District
4780-0984 / 4784

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Romario

Restaurant | "Romario for Lunch"

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Romario is a restaurant serving pizza and empanadas with 12 locations scattered throughout the city. We stopped by the one at Ayacucho and Arenales on a quiet Monday afternoon.We were served promptly, which should be expected since there were only a few people there. I ordered a pizzeta (personal-sized pizza) with mozzarella and pepperoni. My boyfriend got a sandwich of steak and sundried tomatoes. The cool thing about sandwiches here is that they're made using thin pizza crust -- so it's like a pizza with a lid, except with ingredients that might not normally be on pizza. It was a good choice for my boyfriend, who doesn't care for cheese.I thought the pizza was really good, an...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2025

Romario

Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District

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La Fabrica del Taco

Restaurant | "Mexican Food at La Fabrica del Taco"

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We love El Salto de Las Ranas, but we were over the moon when we found out about La Fabrica del Taco: Mexican food by Mexicans! Hot sauce that is actually spicy! Really, really spicy!The place was packed on by dinner hour on a Friday night, and we enjoyed a few drinks at the bar while waiting for our table. I ordered a margarita, which came out delicious but far from traditional. It seemed to include passionfruit, though I can't be sure.There are a variety of appetizers -- we ordered guacamole and a fried cheese roll. The guac was good, but for there weren't very many chips. We split it between five people; I think I ended up with two chips. The fried cheese was ridiculously go...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2025

La Fabrica del Taco
Gorriti 5062
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District
4833-3534

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Gengis' House

Restaurant | "Gengis's House Mongolian Grill"

Quote:

I stumbled across this place on my way home from another restaurant, so Brent and I went back the following week to try it for ourselves.The restaurant is small and cafeteria-like. We were there early in the evening, so it wasn't very busy yet. For AR$39, you get a bowl and fill it with your favorte meats and vegetables. Choose from beef, pork, chicken, spinach, onions, peppers, carrots, pumpkin, mushrooms, noodles and more. There are four sauces to choose from, but the workers recommended the combination of one scoop of all of them -- and they were right, it was awesome.You hand your full bowl to the man at the grill, who cooks it up for you and hands it back to you on a plate...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 5, 2025

Gengis' House
Riobamba 1179
Buenos Aires, Argentina
4815-2333

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Grocery Shopping in Buenos Aires

Story/Tip

Quote:

Even though it's tempting, you can't eat all your meals at a restaurant. Well, I guess you can. But if you're spending an extended period of time here, you probably will want to make your own food at some point, at least in part because there are very few places where you will find anything for breakfast aside from a medialuna (croissant) and coffee.Your major grocery stores include Disco and Carrefour, among others. Disco regularly tends to be more expensive with less selection than Carrefour, so I lean toward the Carrefour. I go here for eggs, toilet paper, tortillas, vanilla, cleaning products, wine (the selection is enormous), and little else these days. It's summertime now, and with s...Read More

Even though it's tempting, you can't eat all your meals at a restaurant. Well, I guess you can. But if you're spending an extended period of time here, you probably will want to make your own food at some point, at least in part because there are very few places where you will find anything for breakfast aside from a medialuna (croissant) and coffee.

Your major grocery stores include Disco and Carrefour, among others. Disco regularly tends to be more expensive with less selection than Carrefour, so I lean toward the Carrefour. I go here for eggs, toilet paper, tortillas, vanilla, cleaning products, wine (the selection is enormous), and little else these days. It's summertime now, and with so many porteños vacationing out of town, it´s possible to check out without a long wait in line. During the winter, when I first starting shopping here, I experienced waits of up to an hour. It was horrible. This is what made me start looking outside the grocery store for my kitchen needs.

If you're a one-stop shopper, you can get most of what you'll need at these big stores -- but if you're a bargain shopper like me, you won't want to.

The verdulerias -- vegetable markets -- are consistently cheaper than the store, and they're everywhere. I pass three of them on my walk to the Carrefour, and there are a couple more in any other direction. I buy all my fruit and vegetables here.

The prices at these stores vary randomly: for example, on the corner, cherries are AR$15 for half of a kilo. Down the block, they're AR$20 for a fourth of a kilo! You won't always find such wide variance, but on berries of all kinds I have noticed differences, so I check all the nearby places before making my berry purchase.

These markets also tend to to carry eggs, mushrooms, fresh cilantro and mint, and sometimes bottled drinks. They carry what's in season and what's available, so occasionally you might get there and discover they have no broccoli or something. I base my cooking on what I find, rather than planning a menu and shopping to match it.

It can be hard to find hot peppers like jalepeños, but when I do find them, it's at a verduleria.

The fresh-baked bread at the bakery costs about the same as the packaged loaves in the store, so when I want bread, I go straight to the bakery and choose a wholesome loaf.

Rice, beans, nuts, granola, dried fruit, spices, chocolate chips, and much, much more can be purchased in bulk at New Garden, which has several locations throughout the city. Most products here are cheaper than in the grocery stores. They also carry various sauces and condiments, noodles, cookies and sweets, natural soaps and cosmetics, and honey. I have found that sauces -- like soy and Tabasco -- are a little cheaper at the grocery store, but it varies. I shop here about three times per week. I love it.

Grandiet, another store with several locations, also has some nuts, spices, and granola in bulk, but the big attraction here is the dried fruit: kiwi, melon, pineapple, grapefruit, papaya, mango, apricots, and more. Melon and kiwi are my favorite, and stopping here is an absolute treat. They also carry other nutritional products.

For empanadas, skip the grocery store version and go straight to one of the empanada shops. They offer more variety and the products are fresh and delicious. Many places will warm them up for you if you want to eat right away.

Cooking in another country can be a challenge if you can't find the ingredients you're used to, but if you shop around you will usually be able to find sufficient substitutes, at least -- and you´ll probably encounter a few new favorite foods. Read Less

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Pura Vida Juice Bar

Restaurant

Quote:

I love smoothies. I blend almost every day. So it was an absolute delight to come across Pura Vida -- one of the only such places in Buenos Aires, and the best, as far as I'm concerned -- to enjoy some blended treats that I might not be able to concoct in my own kitchen.Smoothies and juices come in two sizes, Regular and Large. Prices range from AR$18 for a Regular House Smoothie to AR$29 for a Large Super Protein smoothie. Brent's favorite is the orange-carrot-ginger juice; I love the Berry Berry Good smoothie (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more!). Wheat grass shots are available, if you're into that sort of taste torture (but it's so good for you!). It's also possible to ad...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 1, 2025

Pura Vida Juice Bar
Reconquista 516
Buenos Aires
(0)11 4393 0393

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When you dine out in Buenos Aires....

Story/Tip

Quote:

In such a huge city, you can expect to find a lot of restaurants -- and you will. You also might expect to find an incredible variety of food. For this, you will have to look a little harder. Twelve million people in Buenos Aires, and they're all eating steaks.Restaurants line the streets in Buenos Aires -- go into many of them, and you will find that the menu is more or less the same. If you want variety, you have to seek out those places that have made a name for themselves by being deliciously different. You won't find international cousine on every corner. You have to dig a little deeper.Check out some of the entries in this journal. We love Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and Indi...Read More

In such a huge city, you can expect to find a lot of restaurants -- and you will. You also might expect to find an incredible variety of food. For this, you will have to look a little harder. Twelve million people in Buenos Aires, and they're all eating steaks.

Restaurants line the streets in Buenos Aires -- go into many of them, and you will find that the menu is more or less the same. If you want variety, you have to seek out those places that have made a name for themselves by being deliciously different. You won't find international cousine on every corner. You have to dig a little deeper.

Check out some of the entries in this journal. We love Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and Indian food, so we hunt those restaurants down -- and I write about them here!

If you love spicy food -- good luck! For the most part, Argentines don't, so even dishes that are listed as "spicy" -- even in, say, a Mexican restaurant where spicy is to be expected -- might not be very hot by your standards.

You will also notice that many Argentine restaurants charge a cover. Sometimes this is per person, sometimes it is per table. It is usually just a few dollars, maybe AR$10, but don't be surprised to see that added to your bill. This is not a tip; supposedly, it covers the use of utensils and the table service.

Tips are expected, though you generally can't put them on credit cards. If you pay with a card, make sure to leave the tip in cash. Some places don't accept cards, or they might have a minimum amount for using a card, so ask in advance if you don't have the cash on you.

When you enter a restaurant, you will most likely seat yourself and wait for a waiter to find you.

The Argentine dinner hour is late. Many restaurants don't even open for dinner until 8:00pm, and it doesn't really start rolling in there until 9:00 or 10:00. Make a reservation at popular restaurants, especially if you're keeping an Argentine schedule. If you prefer to eat a little earlier, you 'd probably be okay to skip the reservation -- but if you're thinking ahead, make one just in case.
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China Garden Restaurant

Restaurant | "Garden Chinese Restaurant"

Quote:

As you would expect from a Chinese Restaurant, Garden has a lengthy menu with all the Chinese favorites: dishes with noodles, vegetables, beef, chicken, duck, pork, tofu, and seafood. Prices range from AR$15 for some of the appetizers to $85 for some of the seafood entrees.We ate in the restaurant one evening and have ordered take-away on several other occasions. When we dined in, I ordered the cashew chicken and wasn't overly impressed. It was okay. Brent had the Pescado con Salsa Agridulce -- fried balls of fish with sweet and sour sauce -- and that's what we've ordered ever since. Brent also loves their hot and sour soup (sopa de agripicante); I'm not a big fan of it at any restaurant s...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 1, 2025

China Garden Restaurant
Riobamba 1156
Recoleta, Buenos Aires
4813-7555

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California Burrito Company

Restaurant | "CBC: California Burrito Company"

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As a long-time lover of stateside restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba, we were delighted to come across the California Burrito Company, South America’s answer to the Mexican grill.They have locations in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, and Bolivia, but the location we frequent is on LaValle in Buenos Aires. Quesadillas, nachos, and cookies are options, but we go right for creating our own giant burritos. I tend toward the vegetarian ingredients – rice, beans, peppers and onions, guacamole, salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, carrots, and cucumber, but there are also several types of meat available. Complete your meal with a margarita or beer like Corona or Otro M...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

California Burrito Company
Lavalle 441
Buenos Aires, Argentina
4328-3057/3056

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Green Bamboo

Restaurant

Quote:

We went to this popular Vietnamese restaurant to meet up with friends, so we made a reservation for eight people a week or so in advance. We were seated at a table where you sit around it cross-legged. It was fun and the pillows were pretty comfortable, but for a lengthy, lingering meal, it got a little uncomfortable to have your legs folded up for that long. If you’re going to do this you will want to warn the ladies to skip the skirts. Also, be considerate of the age of your friends – if you’re traveling with your grandmother you might want to request a regular table.We started with reasonably priced cocktails as we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. My favorite by far was the f...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Green Bamboo
Costa Rica 5802
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District
(011) 4775 7050

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Dody Donner Kebab

Restaurant | "Dody: Arabian Fast Food"

Quote:

We love that this is just down the street from where we live, and it’s actually one of the only Arabian restaurants we’ve come across. It’s nothing unusual for people who love shwarma and falafel, but if you do love shwarma and falafel you will be thrilled to find this place.Falafel, my new favorite, costs AR$12. Shwarma is $18. If you like hot sauce, they have a very spicy one, but make sure you request it. Argentines don’t usually go in for spicy foods, so it’s not a regular addition to your sandwich. Beers and baklava are also available.There are a few seats available inside, but we tend to get ours to go. It’s closed between 4:00 and 8:00pm, like many Argentine restaurants,...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Dody Donner Kebab
Rodriguez Pena 1136
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Happiness House

Restaurant

Quote:

This little vegetarian Oriental take-away restaurant doesn’t look like much, but the lunch crowds make it obvious that by not going, you’re missing something. We aim for a little later in the day, since it’s kind of miserably crowded when the masses are on their lunch break.Just to the right inside the door are plastic containers. Pick one and start filling it. The salad bar is full of fresh fruits and vegetables. The counter to the left, where I spend most of my time filling my container, has noodle dishes, vegetables, and fried goodies, like what I might describe as a pumpkin cornbread ball. Really good.These foods are sold by weight, and it’s not very expensive. There are o...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Happiness House
Rodriguez Pena 1026
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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El Salto de las Ranas

Restaurant

Quote:

One of the few Mexican restaurants we’ve seen in the city is also our favorite – and right down the street. Like many Argentine restaurants, they charge a cover for the meal. Ridiculous to me, but you’ll get used to it.The menu is full of Mexican favorites, although you won’t find them as spicy as you would in Mexico. Or the United States. We go straight for the fajitas every time, ordering vegetables and lomo for two people. The food usually arrives pretty quickly, and you can snack on the chips and mediocre salsa they serve you beforehand. Besides the tortillas and sizzling fillings, fajitas come with rice, beans, tomato, guacamole, sour cream, and "hot" sauce. If you’re serious about yo...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

El Salto de las Ranas
Rodriguez Pena 1164
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District
4811-2635

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Cumana

Restaurant

Quote:

This place is somewhat legendary in the neighborhood; everyone talks about it, and there’s a line into the street later in the evening. The food is good, traditional Argentine fair, and more than one person has told me it’s the place to try your first cazuela.The kitchen is closed in the late afternoon, so even though it’s open, don’t expect to order any food until 7:30pm. In the meantime, you can share some mate!This is one of the better pizzas I’ve had in the city, and there are a lot of topping options. The prices are on the lower end of the Argentine restaurant spectrum, which makes this place even more appealing.The highlight is the brown-paper tablecloths, whi...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Cumana
Rodriguez Pena 1149
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District
4813-9207

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Casa Bar

Restaurant | "The Casa Bar"

Quote:

For us, this started as a simple go-to for NFL games, but it quickly became our favorite hangout. Not only can you catch all the football games – as well as soccer, basketball, hockey, UFC, and more – they have one of the best-stocked bars I’ve come across in the city. Not that I usually care about well-stocked bars, as I don’t drink that much and am usually content with an amaretto sour, but I have been to too many bars here where it’s not even possible to get an amaretto sour. At the Casa Bar, I can.On Sunday, Bloody Marys and mimosas are popular choices. I’ve had the margaritas here, and even though they taste nothing like what you’d expect a margarita to taste like, they’re still good,...Read More

For us, this started as a simple go-to for NFL games, but it quickly became our favorite hangout. Not only can you catch all the football games – as well as soccer, basketball, hockey, UFC, and more – they have one of the best-stocked bars I’ve come across in the city. Not that I usually care about well-stocked bars, as I don’t drink that much and am usually content with an amaretto sour, but I have been to too many bars here where it’s not even possible to get an amaretto sour. At the Casa Bar, I can.

On Sunday, Bloody Marys and mimosas are popular choices. I’ve had the margaritas here, and even though they taste nothing like what you’d expect a margarita to taste like, they’re still good, if a bit sweet – which I love, of course. Quilmes and sometimes Stella are on tap, or you can get a liter bottle of Stella or Heineken. If you have other beer tastes, they have a dozen or more types of imported bottled beer to choose from. You can even get an apple martini.

As far as food goes, the wings are the big draw. I’m not a fan of chicken wings, but I’ve heard over and over that this is the place to get them, and the many orders for them that I see around me are a testament to that. The pizza is good, with thin crust, and they have real pepperoni! I love the complete nachos – my favorite part of football season – which come with four cheeses, beans, ground beef, jalepeños, black olives, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

For big sporting events, you can expect it to get packed in there. Sometimes the kitchen gets backed up and you have to wait a bit for your food, but it’s worth it. At that point, you might also have to wait a while for your drink if you order something that requires a little more preparation.

Prices are ridiculously cheap, even though they just increased slightly at the beginning of 2012. Hours vary, so call ahead or check online just to be sure.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Casa Bar
1150 Rodriguez Pena
Recoleta, Buenos Aires
+54 11 4816 2712

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Osaka Yuku

Restaurant | "Birthday at Osaka"

Quote:

Another special occasion restaurant, too expensive for regular use, we went here for Brent´s birthday on the recommendation of several friends who said that for good sushi, this is the best choice. I’m not sushi fan, but I was confident that I could find other things to eat.We made a reservation a week in advance. Reservations are definitely recommended, though we didn’t have trouble because we booked our table for 8:00pm – early by Argentine standards. The service was prompt and professional, and both the hostess and the waiter wished Brent a happy birthday.I ordered the lettuce wraps, which were awesome. Brent had salmon rolls, which he really enjoyed. The drink menu was exte...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Osaka Yuku
Costa Rica 5511
Palermo, Buenos Aires

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IgoUgo

Buenos Aires Journals

Eating Buenos Aires

Tandoor Restaurante de la India

Delhi Mahal

Dragon Porteno

Romario

La Fabrica del Taco

Gengis' House

Grocery Shopping in Buenos Aires

Pura Vida Juice Bar

When you dine out in Buenos Aires....

China Garden Restaurant

California Burrito Company

Green Bamboo

Dody Donner Kebab

Happiness House

El Salto de las Ranas

Cumana

Casa Bar

Osaka Yuku

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