Foods to Try in Argentina: Argentina has many dishes compared to other countries, yet there is something different about them. Stealing is not a hot dog. A humita is not a tamale. Provolet isn’t just grilled cheese, and dulce de leche certainly isn’t caramel. Developing your palate to notice these subtleties is part of the fun of diving into Argentina’s culinary identity, so much so that exploring regional specialties like llama steak or Iron Cross lamb. While Argentina is a meat-focused country, some of the classics are vegetarian-friendly – and with the rise of vegetarianism, many more plant-based interpretations of other staples are becoming more common.
10 Foods to Try in Argentina
- Locro
Nothing says freedom like a bowl of meaty stew in Argentina, and this joyful pale dish includes beef or pork broth, beans, onions, potatoes, squash, hominy (a variety of corn), cumin, paprika, and pepper. Are included. Originating from the Andean tribes, the loco served as a national symbol for independence when Argentina broke away from Spain. Across the country, it is now commonly served on May 25, the anniversary of the Argentine Revolution, and July 9, the anniversary of their declaration of independence. Vegan and vegetarian restaurants also serve meatless versions of it.
- Empanadas
Each region of Argentina has its own specialty of these bread pockets of meat, vegetable, or cheese. Baked or fried, common varieties include chicken, beef, sweet corn, and ham and cheese. Patagonia cooks it with lamb, while Salta has marinated beef and raisins. A popular flavor in tucumán is mondongo (tripe), and Misiones stuffs them with cassava. Pizzerias and street vendors sell them all over the country. They make a filling breakfast or light meal, depending on how much you eat. Vegetarian restaurants and even some street vendors make vegetarian varieties.
- Asado
Asado is the pinnacle of Argentine food culture: high-quality meats, vegetables, and cheeses grilled in a simple fashion for optimum flavor. Popular Asado meat cuts include sirloin, ribeye, flank, skirt, and short ribs. Sweetbreads and chitterlings with a squeeze of lemon are also common, and vegetables such as eggplant, onions, bell peppers, and whole potatoes are typical sides. All items are thrown over the charcoal grill. Most meats are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic, to let the unique flavors of each cut shine through. Experience an asado as part of a tour, or (if you’re invited) at someone’s home during a typical Argentine weekend gathering.
- Choripan
These thick chorizo sausages may look like American hot dogs, but they are juicier, thicker, and come with paprika. Divided down the middle and stuffed into toasted bread buns, they are sold at football games, restaurants, protests, and street corners across the country. Spoon chimichurri—a sour Argentinian condiment of oregano, parsley, garlic, chili flakes, and lemon juice—on top for a perfectly loaded “steal.” Unlike hot dogs, it is seen as a bad form to walk and eat. Sit down and enjoy them with the locals.
- Alfajores
A cookie sandwich, alfajores traditionally consists of two soft shortbread cookies and a thick filling of dulce de leche (caramelized condensed milk), rolled in powdered coconut or sugar. Some confectioners choose to use chocolate or membrillo (quince) jam for the filling. Other varieties of Alfajor come dipped in milk, dark or white chocolate. Argentines eat them as an after-meal dessert or as a marinade (tea time) pastry. You can find Alfajor in cafes, bakeries or kiosks across the country.
- Mate
Drunk anywhere and everywhere in Argentina, mate is the national drink. Argentines drink this highly caffeinated tea to start their mornings, for an afternoon pick-me-up, or as a social drink to hang out with friends. Although it can be purchased in individual teabags (called “mate cocido”), the traditional way of brewing this loose-leaf tea is with a metal straw filtered into a gourd called a “bombilla”. Befriend an Argentinian drinking in a park and ask for a sip. Alternatively, you can buy mate (called “yerba”) at the grocery store along with bombilla and gourds.
- Llama
Some describe its taste as “earthy” while others say it is “gamey”. Either way, llama meat is considered leaner and healthier than beef, and it graces the menu of the northwestern provinces of Salta and Jujuy, Argentina. In this part of the world where llamas are more common than cattle, you can find llama steaks, llama empanadas, and even llama tartar—if you’re feeling fancy. The most common llama dish is cazuela de llama, a llama stew, the perfect meal for winter nights by a big fire.
- Patagonian Lamb
Patagonian lamb, known as asado al Palo, has a distinctive cooking method: split down the middle, spread on an iron cross, and roasted vertically. This way, the fat seeps down, helping the meat to taste tastier. Although it cooks for anywhere from three to five hours over an open flame, an herb mixture called “salmuera” (water, salt, cloves, and garlic) is applied to the meat each time. Crispy-golden on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside, the meat pairs perfectly with one of the country’s specialties: a full-bodied Malbec.
- Provoleta
Provoletta is a thick slice of provolone cheese grilled on a parrilla (Argentina grill). Drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with ground oregano and crushed red pepper, spices cook the cheese in a small, specially made skillet. The end result is a lightly seasoned, smoky-flavored cheese, typically paired with bread. Brown and slightly crunchy on the outside (but oh-so-gooey inside), it typically serves as a precursor to an asado’s main course. You can sample provolate at Parilla-style restaurants or family asados across the country.
- Humitas
A dish of Andean cuisine, these sweet or savory corn cakes are derived from the Incan dish “juminta”. , and Tucumen. Although they resemble tamales, the use of fresh corn and cheese (as well as the way they are wrapped) make them different. In other parts of the country, you’ll find humita as a mildly sweet empanada. Instead of a plate of humitas themselves, filling is on the menu.
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