[takeaways] • Argentine cuisine blends Italian and Spanish influences with world-class local produce, making it one of South America's most celebrated food cultures. • The five must-try dishes are empanadas, asado, milanesa, dulce de leche, and alfajores — between them covering street food, barbecue culture, and dessert. • Yerba mate is Argentina's national drink and virtually unavoidable; malbec from Mendoza and the winter hot chocolate known as submarino are also worth trying. • Dinner is rarely served before 9pm, and lunch typically falls after 1–2pm — plan your meals around local rhythms. • Tipping around 10% is appreciated but not required; always tip in cash pesos directly to your server. • A SIMOVO eSIM for Argentina keeps you connected to find restaurants, vendors, and local recommendations wherever you are. [/takeaways]
Food in Argentina is some of the most celebrated in South America, and for good reason. The cuisine here draws on a delicious combination of Italian and Spanish traditions, with a particular focus on steak, empanadas, and a thriving street food culture. But Argentina's food scene is just as much about sweet treats as it is about main courses — so if you're traveling with a sweet tooth, cities like Buenos Aires are an excellent place to start.
In this guide, we take you through some of the best-loved, must-try dishes Argentina has to offer, along with tips and recommendations from the SIMOVO crew to get your appetite going before your next trip to South America.
Why is Argentine Cuisine So Popular?
Argentine cuisine is what many foodies and critics call world-class — and that's mainly thanks to its combination of excellent quality produce and meat with a fusion of traditional recipes from around the world. If you already enjoy Spanish and Italian dishes, there's an excellent chance you'll love Argentine food too.
Argentina has also embraced street food culture over the past decade, meaning some of the nation's best-loved treats are available on the go. The SIMOVO crew recommends trying a balance when you visit — book into traditional restaurants for a sit-down steak, but don't pass up on an empanada or two from nearby vendors.
Whether you're drawn to smoky, spicy, or sweet flavors, Argentina's broad range of influences means there's something here for every palate.
[esim flag="🇦🇷" label="Argentina" data="10GB · 30 days" price="£18" href="/products/argentina" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Find the best restaurants and street food vendors with reliable data on tap[/esim]
Best Food in Argentina: Our Top Picks
While exploring Argentina's famous cities and towns — including enjoying the best things to do in Buenos Aires — the SIMOVO crew recommends making time for these five dishes above all others.
[numbered title="Empanadas" pill="Street snack"]Argentina's take on the hand-held turnover is hard to beat — crispy, meaty, and made from flour dough that's either fried or baked. Fillings range from beef and ham to a wide variety of regional twists. Don't leave without trying at least a couple from a street vendor.[/numbered] [numbered title="Asado" pill="Barbecue culture"]Asado is more than a meal — it's Argentina's barbecue culture, centered on grilling steaks, chops, sweetbreads, and provoleta over an open flame. Asados are social occasions shared with family and friends, and experiencing one is as much about the atmosphere as the food.[/numbered] [numbered title="Milanesa" pill="Everyday staple"]Argentina's answer to schnitzel — tenderized, breadcrumbed chicken or beef that appears on menus across the country. In some regions you can get it topped with cheese. Try it at multiple restaurants and vendors to appreciate how much variation there is on this single dish.[/numbered] [numbered title="Dulce de Leche" pill="Sweet spread"]A thick, slow-cooked milk-based spread with a flavor closer to toffee than caramel — and Argentina's favorite sweet ingredient. It's eaten with toast, churros, and flan, and appears as a filling in countless desserts and pastries across the country.[/numbered] [numbered title="Alfajores" pill="Cookie dessert"]Traditional Argentine cookies sandwiched with dulce de leche and coated in chocolate. They're widely available packaged in supermarkets and from street vendors, making them an easy treat to pick up anywhere. Look out for fruit-flavored or white chocolate varieties while you travel.[/numbered]
Traditional Argentine Drinks
Argentina's drink culture is as distinctive as its food, and a few of the local tipples are well worth working into your trip.
Yerba mate is Argentina's national drink — a herbal tea brewed from dried mate leaves that's consumed throughout the day, everywhere across the country. Avoiding it on a trip to Argentina is not just missing out; it's practically impossible.
If you enjoy wine, Argentina is internationally recognized for its rich Mendozan malbecs, which pair brilliantly with the country's world-famous steak. And if you're visiting during cooler months, look out for submarino — a winter drink made from hot milk and a bar of dark chocolate, producing what might be the richest hot chocolate you've ever tasted.
[tip title="Try yerba mate the local way"]Mate is traditionally shared from a single gourd and metal straw, passed around among friends. If someone offers you mate, accepting is a genuine gesture of hospitality — and the social ritual around it is as much a part of the experience as the drink itself.[/tip]
Food Tips for Travelers in Argentina
Argentina's food culture comes with its own rhythms and customs. Here's what the SIMOVO crew recommends knowing before you sit down to eat.
[tip title="Expect late mealtimes"]Dinner in Argentina is rarely served before 9pm, and lunch typically doesn't get going until 1–2pm. Plan your day around these later mealtimes rather than expecting to eat on a northern European or North American schedule.[/tip] [tip title="Tip in cash pesos, directly to your server"]Tipping isn't required in Argentina, but around 10% is appreciated. Always tip in physical pesos handed directly to your server — not added to a card payment.[/tip] [tip title="Understand the cubierto charge"]If you see a "cubierto" charge on your bill, it's a standard service fee covering table settings — not a tip. Treat it as a separate line item, and still tip your server in cash if you'd like to.[/tip] [tip title="Order sides separately with your steak"]Steak in Argentina is traditionally served without side dishes. If you want salad or potatoes alongside, you'll need to add them separately — it's worth knowing before your plate arrives.[/tip] [tip title="Expect sparkling water with your coffee"]Ordering coffee often comes with a small glass of sparkling water on the side — it's a palate cleanser so you can enjoy the drink without any lingering food flavors. It's a nice touch, not a mistake.[/tip] [faq] [q]What is the most famous food in Argentina?[/q] [a]Argentina is best known for asado (its barbecue culture), empanadas, and dulce de leche. Steak is the country's most iconic dish internationally, but empanadas and alfajores are arguably the most widely eaten foods day-to-day.[/a] [q]What is dulce de leche?[/q] [a]Dulce de leche is a thick, sweet spread made from slowly cooked milk and sugar, with a flavor somewhere between toffee and caramel. It's used as a filling, topping, or dip across a huge range of Argentine desserts, pastries, and snacks — including alfajores.[/a] [q]What should I drink in Argentina?[/q] [a]Yerba mate is Argentina's national drink and a social institution — you'll encounter it everywhere. For wine drinkers, Mendozan malbec is a must. In winter, try a submarino, a rich hot chocolate made by melting a bar of dark chocolate into hot milk.[/a] [q]What time do people eat dinner in Argentina?[/q] [a]Dinner in Argentina typically starts around 9–10pm, and restaurants often don't fill up until later than that. Lunch falls after 1–2pm. If you're used to eating earlier, it's worth adjusting your schedule — or having a late-afternoon snack to tide you over.[/a] [q]Do I need to tip at restaurants in Argentina?[/q] [a]Tipping is not required in Argentina, but around 10% is a well-appreciated gesture. Always leave it in cash pesos directly to your server rather than adding it to your card. Note that a "cubierto" charge on your bill is a separate table service fee, not a tip.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for traveling around Argentina?[/q] [a]A SIMOVO eSIM for Argentina means you always have mobile data to find local restaurants, track down street food vendors, and navigate between cities — without relying on patchy public WiFi or hunting for a local SIM card when you land.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇦🇷" label="Argentina" data="10GB · 30 days" price="£18" href="/products/argentina" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Stay connected across Argentina — and never miss a great meal[/esim]
