Argentina. Land of beef, home of the gaucho (cowboy) the asado (bbq) and the parrilla (grill). As we've driven across 90% of this massive country, we have found people grilling everywhere we go and it's a matter of national pride.
Whether it's in their backyard, a campground, on the beach or of course in restaurants. It's almost a rite of passage to learn how to do a proper asado from the Argentines. With almost all of them saying, "their favorite asado is always at home". So if you can get an invite into the house of a local, take it and run. For those of us not able to do that, here we've listed some of the favorite steakhouses we've eaten at, during our time in Buenos Aires.
There are great steakhouses in Palermo (of course) but so many more in other areas of that city that it's worth getting in a taxi or uber to go explore!
When you get to the capital city of Buenos Aires, a city with a greater metro area population of about 15.5 million people or 1/3 of the population of the entire country, you no-doubt find an abundance of steakhouses catering to all levels from the local parrillas to Michelin star dining experiences at "The Best Steakhouse In The World", Argentina has something to offer for any carnivore. (They are also great about supporting vegetarian and celiac offerings too)
We haven't been able to try all the steakhouses in Buenos Aires, but we are trying. This list will look at some of the best we've tried and are worth a visit.
Something to note, the cuts of beef in Argentina are a bit different than what you find in the US. I found this post super helpful Guide to Beef Cuts in Argentina.
With the amount of options here, it really depends on what you are looking for. There are many steakhouses that have won international praise and may be the most expensive meal you'll find in town, but you can also get incredible meals at other parrillas for 1/3 the price and never know the difference. You'll also be able to get a more local feel for these places because most locals don't go/can't afford going to the high end touristy spots.
We have tried many others that aren't on this list, but I really want to only focus on the ones we like opposed to bashing ones we didn't.
High-end Parrillas:
La Carniceria
This tiny steakhouse hidden near Plaza Italia in Palermo is a gem. With a menu fitting the size of the restaurant, La Carniceria is small, but mighty. From unique dishes with delicately crafted flavors, this spot has one of the best steaks we've eaten during our time in Argentina.
Their delicious house smoked Provoleta with cooked pear, chimichurri and salsa Criolla was dreamy and tasted so much different than any Provoleta we've eaten around Argentina. (And trust me we've had a lot)
The Chorizo with a fried eggs, potatoes and sweet peas was bursting with flavor. Seriously the sweetest peas we've maybe ever tasted.
And of course, the steak, a Bone-in Ribeye presented to us, then taken back and carved to perfection. The meat was rich with flavor, topped with some sea salt and of course, more chimichurri. Was delightful, the whole experience was wonderful, the staff was super attentive and made for an awesome late lunch.
It makes sense why they landed on the Michelin Guide's recommended list as we walked out, ready to come back again.
Fogon Asado
You've got to book here in advance! They only offer a 9 course tasting menu for lunch and dinner (@$60/$80 USD pp, paid in advance with card while booking) but it is well worth it for the quality of meat and the entire experience. There are two locations, everything we've heard is they're both great. We did the "tasting menu" at the Palermo location and loved it, we felt like we were sat at the Chef's counter, but there is another option we didn't have the chance to try.
Fogon Asado wouldn't be my regular go to steakhouse due to price and no choices, but is a must try for your time in Argentina or if you have friends coming to visit who want to try a high end asado experience.
There are only 2 seatings per day so you have to be there on time and the ~20 people are all seated at the same time. They seat you together by language so you can connect with the people around you and it enhances the experience even further.
As you enter the restaurant, you're seated around a large rectangle that surrounds the parrilla. The staff is super welcoming, shows you to your seats and once everyone is settled, they get you started.
The meat is sitting out on the counter to show you what you will be eating and the fires are already going to fill your nose with a beautiful scent of burning wood.
This really felt like a traditional asado you might do at someone's house, just with really high quality meat and presentation. The times we've eaten with families, normally there are bites of multiple different types of meat. They come out at different times when they are ready and you get to snack on a whole host of different offerings. This was similar, just well orchestrated as a restaurant and we got plates as a few of our asado experiences it was all finger food.
We got to taste so many different cuts of meat and styles from chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), pork, multiple cuts of beef and a yummy dessert of a pancake with dulce de leche (Obvi). The meats were all cooked to perfection with robust flavors and wonderful textures. Each course was some of the best quality meat we've had our entire time in Argentina along with excellent service. It's wonderful being able to just show up and trust in the chef's, they know what they are doing.
Oh, and the wine pairings, of course. They have 3 different options of wine pairings to go with the meal from $20 to $48 and they all come with unlimited refills. They are offering Argentinian wines from some of the best vineyards in the country and world. You can choose your wine pairing when you make your reservation, or you can also select it when you sit down and you'll see what wines come with each pairing for the day.
Highly recommend Fogon Asado if you're looking for a high end experience, don't want to have to worry about ordering and you want to try a wide variety of meats and learn a lot about Argentine steak. You definitely will not leave here hungry.
La Cabrera
This is a classic high end steakhouse in Buenos Aires. They actually have 2 locations less than a block apart. La Cabrera also have the best Steakhouse Happy Hour in Buenos Aires. If you arrive early enough (we show up at 5/530) put your name on the list and are ready to eat by 630PM and can finish before 8PM, you get 40% OFF your meal and yes that also includes wine!!! From everyone we talk to, the meat is the same, the menu is the same, it's just an incredible deal followed up with high quality carne.
While you wait for your name to be called to sit, take a look at the menu, get an idea of what you want to order. Then you can be ready to go once you're seated and ensure you're in and out quickly. But don't worry, they do a great job of moving you through in an hour and half no problem.
To start your table will usually come with a few different breads and dipping sauces that are yummy. But don't fill up here because you're just getting started. There's an extensive wine list and a long list of great high quality beef products.
Helping us to get a serving of veggies we've really enjoyed the simple, but tasty Rucula & Parmesean salad, the massive portions of Mollejas (sweetbreads) and we've had the Bife Chorizo Mariposa (pictured above: sliced open/butterfly -not really my preference) and Ojo de Bife which is my personal favorite.
Every time we've been there it's been delicious and we can't wait to go back. And who can complain about wine @ 40% off!?
Hierro Palermo or San Telmo
I consider Hierro to be closer to mid-range from a price point perspective but it is totally delicious. We've only been to the Palermo location, as it's a lot easier to get into, but we've got plans to check out their location in the San Telmo market because it is a scene.
The Palermo location has lots of seating indoors, outdoors and upstairs so you're likely to find a seat here in this newer space with dark colored interior, you're ready to eat some steak. We've liked sitting in the back, by the grills so you can watch the kitchen staff work while perched on a hightop.
With delicious empanadas, a wide range of options to choose from and a great lunch "menu ejecutivo" Hierro has not disappointed any time we've gone.
We've thoroughly enjoyed their multiple different provoletta preparations and a few different cuts of beef that are grilled to perfection. As we've done at MANY of the parrillas in Argentina, a yummy Flan with whipped cream and Dulce de Leche to finish things off was a delight.
Don Julio
How do you even begin with a place that's rated the #1 Steakhouse in The World?! It's been rated the #1 Best Restaurant in Latin America by World's Best (currently #2) and is one of only 3 restaurants in Buenos Aires to receive a Michelin Star.
The scene here is awesome. If you don't have a reservation in advance, there's always a chance to get in line and see if you can make it in for lunch or dinner. You'll know it when you see it as the pink building with green and white striped awning stands out. And the line is almost always there along the side with a lot of people waiting to get a taste of this highly rated steakhouse. The restaurant isn't huge inside, but they have expanded with a lot of outdoor seating. The pain of standing and waiting is alleviated with complimentary glasses of champagne and freshly baked empanadas.
When you walk in you'll see the chef's on your right grilling up all sorts of steaks and butchering them to perfection. The options are endless of what you can choose to eat here and it's a bit overwhelming trying to make the best selection. Our only regret was coming as two people. If you come with a slightly larger group (and have a reservation) you can taste more cuts of beef, more appetizers, etc.
We had a wonderful steak here, with their famous french fries which were excellent, a provoletta and some salad. All very good. They also farm their own tomatoes, which if you're here during tomato season, you've gotta eat some!
Because they are predominantly visited by tourists they're mostly prepared to help you in English and the menu is English + Spanish to help demystify the experience a bit.
Don Julio is not known as a quiet, slow moving place. It's bustling with activity, fast paced movement and waiters gliding around carrying delicious red meat and wine every second.
Wine is another one of the claims to fame for Don Julio. If you are a wine connoisseur their wine list is massive and will give you a ton of options to find some of Argentinas most exclusive and high-end wines.
It is definitely an experience and to say you've eaten at the best steakhouse in the world is a good claim to fame. Many folks that have spent a long time here, find it to be very over priced for the quality as you can definitely find quality that is close to Don Julio for 30-50% less, but that is up for you to decide if you want to put in the effort.
Community Parrillas
To go from one end of the spectrum to the other, the community parrillas are more traditional, locals places that aren't going to be jam packed full of tourists. Some of these are getting more popular with foreigners, but don't expect much English to be spoken by the waiters. Don't expect high end glitz and frills. These places cook meat, serve wine and do it really well at a great price.
La Cañita - Palermo
This spot was introduced to us by a local Porteño lawyer who said this was one of his favorite spots to grab some parrilla and hang out with friends. He's also training to be a sommellier for fun, so we were delighted when he brought wine...and ordered a 10 year old bottle of Mablec off the menu for about $10.
This is a no frills steakhouse, no fancy tablecloths here but we can't get enough. Whereas many of the other steakhouses in Buenos Aires on the high-end side of things you'll hear guests from all around the world speaking Portugese, English, German, French, etc.....at La Cañita, it was pretty heavily locals coming in to enjoy this place.
To start the table comes with bread and a delightful preserved egglant spread that we kept asking for more. Then we had all sorts of great appetizers like mollejas that were huge and delicious, chorizo, a salad mixta and two MASSIVE Bife de Chorizo. One steak was enough for 2 people and the 2 steaks cost about $20. So we took the second steak home and cooked it with eggs the next day.
We capped it off with one of our favorite flans in the city, with a mountain of Dulce de Leche and whipped cream. Known as flan "mixto".
Highly recommend cruising into Palermo and grabbing some steak at La Cañita and have a bit more of a local vibe at this steakhouse.
La Brigada - San Telmo
This steakhouse near the San Telmo neighborhood in Buenos Aires gives you the feel of a walk back in time through futbol (soccer) history in Argentina. With EVERY INCH of the massive restaurant covered with jerseys from futbol greats from around the country and the world, you get to see autographs from Argentine legends; Maradonna & Messi as well as others. From the walls to the cielings you'll find sports memorabilia that would take a lifetime to collect decorating this 2 story steakhouse. You may even find some memorabilia from your home team hanging around (I saw a mini Denver Broncos pennant).
The scene outside is walking in through the beautiful and historic San Telmo neighborhood, you get inside and are wowed by the decorations, and then there's the food. La Brigada is famous for steaks so tender, they actually cut them with a spoon tableside for you. No joke, they actually did it, the meat was that tender!
As noted a few times, most of these places, for two people, one steak is enough, sometimes even too much meat for one meal, especially if you have any sides. Either be prepared to eat leftovers or don't order much in the way of sides here if you get more than one steak. It's also a reason why it's a great idea to make friends if you're going out to eat in Argentina because many restaurants have huge portions and it's hard to sample much on the menu if it's just two of you. Or, if you're like us you just order so much they need to bring a separate table over for you...which embarrassingly enough has happened on more than one occasion.
La Brigada is a classic steakhouse in Buenos Aires and can be paired nicely with a day in San Telmo exploring the historic part of the city with its' wonderful antique market, shops and if you're around on Sundays you might even catch some Tango performances on the streets.
They don't offer glasses of wine, but have mini-bottles. We really enjoyed our ribeye (ojo de bife) and NY Strip (Bife de chorizo) steaks that we ordered along with Salad and provoletta and a mini-bottle of Rutini Malbec. (somehow can't find our pictures from here, so you'll have to see for yourself.)
Parilla Peña- Centro
This one was on our list for awhile but when we showed up in the middle of January, it was closed along with many other places in the city. Being their summer break, many places in Buenos Aires shut down in January as families escape the city to the beach and coller destinations. So we finally go to Parrilla Peña in February and were totally delighted with our experience here. Many people have talked about this as the classic local steakhouse in Buenos Aires.
It's not huge and tucked away near the theater district and center of the city. We made our way in "late" for us around 10PM on a weeknight and they were still humming along.
We started with some really nice anchovies and onions we hadn't found offered many other places which were really delicious. We also had a nice Caprese salad with tomatoes and huge chunks of mozzarella which was also great. And then of course, the main course a delicious ojo de bife ribeye cooked to perfection (medium rare) for us. And of course another delicious flan.
We really liked Parrilla Peña as a wonderful steakhouse in Buenos Aires with a good community vibe and feel.
You can't go wrong with any of these places and many of them are scattered across the city. We have a lot more to try (see below) and will keep updating as we find new, delicious steakhouses in the city.
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Now, there are still SO many steakhouses we haven't had a chance to get to, yet in Buenos Aires. From the communities we're part of and the lists we've read here are some that were are looking to check out!
Elena @ Four Seasons - When I see Four Seasons I automatically think, I don't want to touch a hotel restaurant, the Michelin guide recommendation is paid for, but the amount of people I've talked to who have great things to say about it, it's on our list to give it a try. Oh and Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce ate their before we saw The Eras Tour in Buenos Aires.
El Ferroviaro - You probably need a car to get here. It's way outside of downtown and is known for huge portions, massive feasts with the locals and probably not the finest cuts of meat, but the biggest parrilla scene you will see in Buenos Aires.
Corte Comedor - Many people we've talked to actually rate this as their favorite steakhouse for the money in the city. We've also heard they have an excellent flan, so no doubt we'll be getting here soon.
Cabaña Las Lilas - this is newly recommended to us, but appeared on the Michelin recommendations, also is supposed to have great Flan and wonderful steak.
Lo de Jesus - have heard the quality is awesome
We've tried to get into a few of these, but they've either been booked or closed during January as a lot of the city shuts down for holidays. We'll update as we go and keep trying to find the best steakhouses in Buenos Aires.
Where have you gone? What do you think is the best steakhouse in Buenos Aires?
