Argentina is famed for its amazing beef steak, and believe me you will not be unimpressed! However, this is not the only thing on offer, have a look below to see what other cuisine you can sample also..although you simply cannot ignore the beef steak, it is a MUST!
The Steak!
Cooked to perfection on a parilla (barbeque grill), the beef steak (or simply bife) is a succulent and juicy melt-in-your-mouth special argentine meat, and an experience not to be missed while you are in Argentina! There is an abundance of beef in the country, there has to be because Argentines eat 70kg of beef per capita per year, which is almost double per capita in the US!
Therefore there are many different cuts of beef, the main two you should be aware of are the prime cuts (like sirloin and ribeye) and then the meat that Argentines like to use for a traditional parrillada or asado (ranging from blood sausages to intestines), and the latter may not be to the taste of many foreigners.
Here are a few translations, so that you know what you're ordering:
Prime Cuts:-
bife de chorizo - sirloin; a thick and jiucy popular cut, recommended as a first taste
ojo de bife - ribeye; a smaller round steak
bife de costilla - T-bone; cut close to the bone
bife de lomo - tenderloin; thinly cut and tender
cuadril - rump steak; often a thin cut
tira de asado - narrow strip of rib roast
vacío - flank steak; textured and chewy, but tasty
If you don't specify how you like your steak, it will come medio rojo (medium rare), the way to have it! If you don't like it that way, ask for rojo (rare), medio / en su punto (medium), medio hecho (medium to well done), or muy hecho (well done).
Also, look out for condiments for your bife; like chimichurri (tasty, made from olive oil, garlic and parsley), salsa criolla (diced tomato, onion and parsley) and even roquefort (blue cheese).
A typical Argentine Asado:
Parrillada and other meats:-
achuras - organ meats
cerdo - pork
chinchulines - small intestine
chorizo - sausage; used for choripán (see below)
churrasco - grilled beef
criadillas - testicles
lengua - tongue
jamón - ham
mollejas - thymus gland or pancreas; a delicacy among the locals
morcilla - blood sausage (black pudding)
pavo - turkey
pollo - chicken
salchicha parrillera - spiraled sausage, usually on a stick
sesos - brains
ternera - veal
Although a traditional parrillada or asado may contain some things not to your liking, it is a very traditional Argentina custom, and most pride themselves by the asado they cook. If invited to one by a local do not turn it down, you must try it at least once.
Here are a couple of my favourite steak restaurants in Buenos Aires:
La Estancia Microcentro (Downtown); Lavalle 941; tel: 4326-0330 (Check out the show)
La Cabrera Palermo; Cabrera 5099; tel: 4831-7002 (if this one is full, go to the sister restaurant just half a block away)
Siga La Vaca Puerto Madero; Alicia Moreau de Justo 1714; tel: 4315-6801 (All you can eat steak)
Italian
Italians flocked to Buenos Aires during the late 19th century, therefore Italian cuisine is everywhere and delicious, yet with an Argentine twist. Many of these restaurants make the pasta fresh on site, look out for pasta casera. A majority of the time you will first have to order the pasta and then the salsa (sauce), be aware that the pasta and the salsa have separate prices.
Then of course there's the pizza: freshly stone baked, piping hot with extra cheese, Argentines pride themselves in making the best pizza, so don't tell them otherwise!
A local Argentine pizza:
Most pizzerías also sell empanadas, which are small pastries usually stuffed with meat or cheese and ham, good for a snack.
Empanadas:
Many of the Italian words for pasta are changed in Spanish, here are a few translations to help you figure it out:
ravioles - raviolis
sorrentinos - large, round filled pastas
ñoquis - gnocci
fideos - spaghetti
tallerines - fettuccine
tuco - tomato sauce
estofado - beef stew, popular on raviolis
salsa blanca - bechemal
Some Italian restaurant recommendations:
Bice Puerto Madero; Alicia Moreau de Justo 192; tel: 4315-6216 (great location and tasty food)
Bella Italia Palermo; República Árabe Siria 3285; tel: 4802-4253 (upmarket Italian restaurant)
Il Matterello La Boca; Martín Rodríguez 517; tel: 4307-0529 (traditional Genovese trattoria)
Spanish
Another culture of people who raced to Buenos Aires were the Spanish, and, of course, bringing their unique cuisine with them. Among these are guisos and pucheros (types of stew), the traditional paella, and typical Spanish preparations of seafood. However, be aware that Argentine seafood is not particularly amazing, unless you go to nearby Mar del Plata (4 hour coach ride from Buenos Aires) where the seafood is caught fresh and has an edge on that sold in the city.
A couple of decent and Spanish restaurants:
El Hispano Congresso; Salta 20; tel: 4382-7534 (typical Spanish restaurant in a Spanish neighbourhood)
Casal de Catalunya San Telmo; Chacabuco 863; tel: 4361-0191 (Catalan restaurant, big on seafood)
Chinese and Indian
Porteños, you will find, are not too keen on hot spices, therefore the food you will find in these restaurants will be pretty mild. These restaurants are worth a try nonetheless to satisfy your craving, they're just not too common. You will find more Chinese restaurants, especially in Chinatown in Belgrano, and there are literaly a couple of Indian restaurants dotted around the city.
A couple of the few Chinese and Indian restaurants:
BuddhaBA Belgrano; Arribeños 2288; tel: 4706-2382 (great ambiance, near Chinatown)
Sushi
A much more popular type of Asian cuisine, sushi really kicked off in Buenos Aires and neighbouring Chile about 10-20 years ago. There are some great little restaurants that offer good portions, but expect to pay a bit more for the privilege.
Two of the best sushi restaurants in town:
Sushi Club Puerto Madero; Alicia Moreau de Justo 286; tel: 0800-222-7874 (great atmosphere and sushi creations)
Cafés and Kioscos
You will find that Buenos Aires has a big café culture, be it just to get an energy fix with a quick café con leche y medialunas (coffee with milk and criossants) to talking business with a friend. So you will find cafés very common in the city, and many porteños sipping on hot coffee.
A common sight - an Argentine kiosco:
As well as cafés are kioscos (kiosks) which are equally easy to find, and sell a huge variety of chocolates and sweets to satisfy that Argentine sweet tooth! As well as sweets, many kioscos also sell -
Sandwiches de Miga: white bread sandwiches usually filled with ham and cheese;
Pebetes (PBTs): a bit heartier sandwiches made on obling bread rolls;
Lomitos: big steak sandwiches;
Super Lomitos: same as lomitos but with a slice of ham and a fried egg on the meat;
Choripán: classic chorizo (pork or beef sausage) with pan (bread);
Super Pancho: Argentine take on the hot dog, usually covered with small potato chips and a variety of sauces
Helado
Many porteños, coming from an Italian heritage, have taken the ice-cream tradition from Italy and really know how make great helado (ice-cream)! If you've had the opportunity to taste the famous gelato of Italy, then the helado of Argentina is definately on par, of not slightly better! It has come to be a way of life for many porteños, you will see not just kids, but adults too eating a lot of helado. Due to this you will find numerous heladerías (ice-cream parlours) in the city, from the commercial Freddo to smaller chain Trevi Helados and a variety of independant shops, but all with deliecious helado! Be sure to try the super dulce de leche flavour, it's Argentina's dulce de leche (caremalised milk) mixed with chocolate, and it is probably one of the most deliciously sweet things you will ever taste!
If you are interested in learning Spanish, to make things easier while you are here, you should check out this book found by clicking here
If you are interested in learning Spanish, to make things easier while you are here, you should check out this book found by clicking here
