From the success of my last “Top 10…Dishes” post I made about Turkish food, I wanted to continue this series with Argentinian food. I spent last fall visiting Argentina, and I ate so many distinctive and delicious dishes to my heart’s content. It’s especially known to be the land of asado, from its classic strip steak to more-adventurous affairs like sweetbread or guanaco (a type of alpaca). Do be aware that it’s very much a meat-dominated cuisine, so vegetarians be warned!

However, Argentinian food is more than just meat-based dishes: it incorporates just about all senses of taste, from super sweet dulce de leche to savory empanadas to bitter mate. Also surprising is that so much of Argentinian cuisine is heavily influenced by Italian food, as over 60% of Argentines are of Italian descent. Therefore, you see a lot of pizzas, pastas, and gelato all over the country. And the best part? They taste incredible!

That said, I’d like to share with you some of the must-eats in Argentina. This list does not cover every single dish, but rather serves as an introduction to the cuisine. Enjoy the wide array of food in this South American country and buon provecho!

Top 10 Argentinian Dishes You Need to Try

1. Asado

20221119_122848Patagonian lamb

As previously mentioned, asado is a staple in Argentina and in fact is the national dish. It’s not a particular kind of meat, but rather is the general concept of barbecue. You’ll see plenty of parrillas (grill restaurants) all over the country, serving up juicy, perfectly-charred meat every time. Even more impressive is that it’s always served well-done! Try them all: steak, chorizo, sweetbread, Patagonian lamb, guanaco, etc… with chimichurri to boot!

2. Empanadas

20221111_140521Beef and spinach-cheese empanadas

Next to asado, empanadas are a beloved import from Argentina. Baked golden brown and with minced meat or vegetables inside, empanadas are delicious and convenient to eat, whether as a snack or meal. It’s the crust that does it for me: hearty, but thin and tender enough so as not to overpower the flavorful fillings inside. I personally like anything filled with beef or lamb, although the spinach-cheese empanada is a delicious alternative.

3. Alfajores

20221114_065726Alfajores in the back

Dulce de leche is a staple in just about every Argentinian dessert you can imagine: thick and sticky sweet, it’s the perfect vessel sandwiched between two cookies, crumbly and similar to shortbread. To top it off, it’s tossed in shredded coconut, and thus the alfajor is born. Alfajores can be consumed at any time of day: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, even after dinner. You can also take it to the next level and have it dipped in chocolate as the ultimate sugar bomb. Sweet tooth lovers, beware!

4. Mate

20221123_134057Also served in a canteen!

Also written as maté, this is a traditional drink that dates back to the pre-Columbian period. Once used for medicinal purposes, today it’s become a past-time drink like coffee or tea– in fact, mate has the herbal qualities of tea, but also the caffeinated strength of coffee! You’ll see Argentines pull out their cups to brew and consume mate, no matter how busy they are. It’s imperative to drink with a special metal straw and, no matter what, do NOT stir the drink!

5. Black hake

20221115_201414Finger-licking good!

Black hake is a type of fish endemic to the South Atlantic. It is especially concentrated in and around the southernmost Argentine city, Ushuaia. That said, it’s a local dish of this region, and it has a very fatty, almost buttery texture, similar to halibut. Black hake also has a surprisingly clean taste without much of that “fishy” aftertaste. Especially if you don’t usually like fish, then black hake is a good one to start with!

6. Medialuna

20221119_103529Medialuna with hot chocolate

Literally meaning “half moon,” the medialuna is an Argentine take on the croissant. Although it looks almost identical to its French counterpart, the medialuna is smaller and denser, without much of the flaky airiness that croissants have. In addition, it’s lightly covered in syrup, offering an extra sweetness to it. Like alfajores, these half-moon pastries can be eaten at any time of day and are the perfect accompaniment with coffee or tea.

7. Sorrentinos

20221116_195801Vegetarian sorrentinos

Sorrentinos are a type of ravioli, but although ravioli originates from Italy, it’s important to note that sorrentinos are not from Italy; they were created by an Italian immigrant from Sorrento in the 1930’s. Compared to Italian ravioli, sorrentinos are larger and rounder, and the method for making them are quite different from the traditional ravioli. All the same, they are delicious whether they’re stuffed with cheese or ham, or both!

8. Gelato

20221111_123314Dulce de leche and pistachio gelato

You may not believe Argentina would have great gelato, but as it’s a nation of predominantly Italian immigrants, it’s technically not a surprise. I’ve had probably one of the best gelato in this country, as it’s creamy, super thick, and intense in flavor, no matter which ones you get. Two popular flavors are dulce de leche and pistachio, and I personally love the pistachio: the taste is earthy and incredibly nutty, and I’d go back for seconds!

9. Sandwich milanesa

20221113_142003Larger than the size of my hand!

Simple in concept, but effectively tasty, the sandwich milanesa comprises of two main ingredients: bread (usually a baguette) and beef schnitzel. You can also choose to add tomatoes, lettuce, and even boiled eggs to it, but at its core, it’s just bread and fried meat. The sandwich milanesa is almost never small, but rather served large enough to cover three meals! It’s the ultimate fast food, easy to eat and convenient on-the-go.

10. Churros

20221119_160639Lemon-ginger and Calafate berry churros

Besides its Italian influence, Argentina also has a Spanish influence, albeit smaller. You’ll see dishes like paella popular in the country, but you’ll also see churros which, compared to the crispy, plain version in Spain, are more bready and filled with jams, custards, and dulce de leche inside. I had some incredible ones in El Calafate, including a churro that was stuffed with Calafate berry jam, which was tart and tasty!

**bonus** Argentinian wine

20221123_201752That Malbec, though…

How could I end this post without even mentioning the wine?? Everyone knows that Malbec is the country’s claim to fame in the wine world and, especially in the region of Mendoza, lots of this bold, intense red wine is produced. It’s not uncommon for tourists to travel to Argentina for wine tasting, to sample good wine that rivals that of France, Australia, or even its neighboring Chile.

Which Argentinian dish caught your eye (or stomach)? Let me know! Thanks for reading. 🙂

— Rebecca

Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

53 thoughts on “Top 10 Argentinian Dishes You Need to Try”

  4. I’m lucky now there are at least two really good Argentinian restaurants in Jakarta, the city where I live. This post reminds me of a Netflix show called Street Food – Latin America which I really enjoyed. In the episode on Argentina, I remember one of the commentators say the three most important dishes for Argentinians are carne, carne, and carne! That shows just how much the nation love their beef.

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    1. Absolutely! Argentina is the land of meat, and interestingly, there are more cows in the country than people! Lucky you have good Argentinian food in your city, as you get the chance to try them out!

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    1. Argentinian food is yummy! And yes, a large majority of Argentinians can trace their roots back to Italy. In fact, they speak Spanish with an Italian accent; it’s very charming!

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  10. So many tasty dishes! Since I’m predominantly a desserts kind of woman, I’d happily try no. 3 and 5. Also, I’d love some gelato and to see whether these Argentinian churros are different from the ones I had in Madrid.

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    1. Argentinian desserts are uber sweet and decadent, especially with dulce de leche. I’ve found Argentinian churros to be more bready and sweeter than Spanish churros, which tend to be plain in order to dip hot chocolate in. Regardless, all delicious!

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  11. I don’t even know that I can pick a favorite dish from this list… though I will say the fish and the red wine would be my least favorites, so let’s just consider all the others to be ones that I would try because they sound super tasty!

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  12. These all look delicious, Rebecca, especially lemon-ginger and Calafate berry churros. One of the best things about travelling is getting the chance to try all kinds of different and new ingredients that you have not eaten at home. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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  13. Empanadas, alfajores and churros are popular here in Peru too. And Malbec…. the quality of Peruvian wine has made great leaps forward in recent years. Some pretty good Malbec is being produced now. But the meat……. we can’t even come close. In fact, going to my favourite Argentinian restaurant tonight. Special offer on a Thursday!!!!

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  14. I love churros and empanadas! I’ve had the version our Hispanic community makes in Jamaica, as well as a few times in Peru last year. I’d love to try the rest as everything looks and sounds delicious. P.s. I think food posts are always a hit! 😆 your readers (inc. Me) loves to eat

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  20. I enjoyed this Rebecca, as I am not at all familiar with Argentinian food. I can safely say that I would try everything on your list without hesitation. If I could only choose one I’d go for the lamb, it looks just fantastic and it would be a real treat as I rarely eat meat anymore. Sladja says she’d love to try the Vegetarian Sorrentinos. Great piece!

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    1. Thanks, Leighton! Argentinian food is really yummy, although very heavy on meat. I love lamb, too, and it’s really the best in Argentina. Sladja picked well with the sorrentinos, as they satisfy one’s pasta cravings! Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂

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    1. Awesome! The meat in Argentina is unparallel to any others out there. Malbec is full-bodied and rich, and it’s the perfect drink to pair with the intensity of asado. Thanks for reading!

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  23. in my mind Argentinian cuisine is basically steak, steak, steak and more steak. However interesting to hear 60% of ITALIAN descent??? what an interesting mix and how come it’s Spanish that survived as the dominant language. I really had no idea! But there are a LOT of Italian buildings in BA so it does make sense I guess. Mate for me… was something to try once lol. great post!

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    1. Argentinian cuisine is heavy on the meat, that’s for sure! Originally, Argentina was a Spanish territory, and it wasn’t until just a century ago that there was a huge influx of Italian immigrants who came from different parts of Italy and with different dialects, so they ended up just speaking Spanish (albeit with an Italian flair)!

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  24. Wow, all of these dishes sounds sooo delicious! It must be so hard to choose from all of these, though I am pretty sure my first pick would be the alfajores as I just love dulce de leche! I also didn’t know that Argentinian cuisine was so much influenced by Italian food! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes! With the high concentration of Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century, much of Argentina’s cuisine is heavily-influenced by them. Dulce de leche is absolutely decadent, and it’s perfect as a sweet treat! Thanks for reading, Juliette!

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  25. They all look delicious! We also like to try local food when we travel in new places. From your list, we had alpaca meat, empanadas, churros, and loads of mate de coca in our trip to Peru🙂

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