Argentine Food: Asado, Empanadas, and Malbec Wine
Argentina takes its beef seriously enough that a full steak dinner with a bottle of Malbec at a good Buenos Aires parrilla runs $25–45 per person — a fraction of comparable quality in the US or Europe. Beyond steak: empanadas ($1–2 each, the go-to snack everywhere), a proper asado (the whole slow-grilled barbecue ritual, ideally shared with locals rather than eaten solo), and Malbec, Argentina's signature red, grown mostly around Mendoza. Dinner runs late — 9–10:30pm is normal, not fashionably late.
Argentines will tell you, without a trace of irony, that their beef is the best in the world — and having tried it, it's genuinely hard to argue. This is a food culture built around quality grass-fed beef, an Italian-immigrant pasta tradition, and some of the best-value wine on the planet. Here's what to actually order and what it costs.
What is an asado, really?
Asado is both the meal and the ritual — a slow, wood-or-charcoal grill cookout, traditionally a weekend social event rather than a quick weeknight dinner. A proper asado works through cuts in order: chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage) first, then the beef itself — asado de tira (short ribs), bife de chorizo (sirloin), and vacío (flank) are among the most common cuts. If you're invited to a home asado, go — it's the single best way to eat in the country.
Must-try dishes and where to eat them
| Dish | What it is | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Bife de chorizo | A thick-cut sirloin steak, the parrilla classic | $12–25 |
| Empanadas | Baked or fried pastry pockets, beef/chicken/cheese fillings | $1–2 each |
| Milanesa | A breaded, fried cutlet (beef or chicken), often with fries | $8–15 |
| Choripán | A grilled chorizo sandwich, the classic street/stadium food | $3–6 |
| Dulce de leche on everything | Argentina's caramel spread — on toast, in pastries, in alfajores | $1–4 for alfajores |
Malbec and Argentine wine
Malbec is Argentina's signature grape, mostly grown in Mendoza's high-altitude valleys, and the country produces genuinely excellent bottles at prices that would be considered a steal anywhere in the US or Europe — a very good Malbec at a wine shop runs $8–25, and restaurant markups are far gentler than in most countries. See our Mendoza guide for visiting the wineries themselves.
Dietary needs: Buenos Aires, especially Palermo, has a real and growing vegetarian and vegan restaurant scene — look for 'sin carne' (meatless) menus. Outside the capital, options narrow, though empanadas (ask for cheese or vegetable filling) and pasta (a strong Italian-immigrant influence nationwide) are reliable fallbacks. Halal food is limited to a handful of specific restaurants, mostly in Buenos Aires — check ahead if it's a requirement. Gluten-free is increasingly well catered to in bigger cities.
Argentine dinner culture — the late-night thing is real
- 9pm is considered an early dinner; many locals don't sit down until 10 or 10:30pm. Restaurants in very touristy areas will happily seat you at 7–8pm, but that's for visitors, not the local rhythm.
- Mate (a bitter, caffeinated herbal tea sipped from a shared gourd through a metal straw) is a genuine social ritual, not just a drink — if you're offered some, it's a friendly gesture worth accepting.
- Tipping around 10% is standard and appreciated at sit-down restaurants; it's not automatically added to the bill the way it sometimes is elsewhere.
What it costs, all in
| Meal type | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Empanadas + soft drink (quick lunch) | $4–7 |
| Casual parrilla lunch | $8–15 |
| Full steak dinner with a glass of Malbec | $25–45 |
| High-end tasting-menu dinner | $50–90 |