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Argentina might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think street food.
Though, you may be surprised to find how much Argentinian street food is woven into the fabric of local food.
Argentina street food features delicious meats, sandwiches, sweets, and a variety of emblematic savory snacks.
Importantly, when it comes to street food Argentina, it is rare to see Argentinians eating on the go, or standing up.
The Argentinian street food culture has its own codes. Seating at tables is definitely part of the experience to fully enjoy street food like a local.
To feast like an Argentine, here are 10 popular Argentinian street foods and where to eat them.
Note: Updated August 2020
Table of Contents
1. Choripan or Choripán – Most Popular Argentinian Sandwich
The Choripan, affectionately called the “chori”, is the Argentinian street food of choice.
It is essentially a sausage, made of 70% beef and 30% pork, cooked on a grill. It is then served between two pieces of fresh bread.
The choripan is usually seasoned with the flavorful chimichurri sauce.
Where to Eat Choripan in Buenos Aires
You will find choripan served for lunch at food trucks, cafes and sometimes restaurants.
An insider tip to get the best choripan in Buenos Aires is on Costanera Sur near the local airport Jorge Newbery.
Stop at one of the food stands and order this popular sausage sandwich. You will love the chori as we did, especially the simplicity of preparation and delicious flavors.
Eat a chori like a local on your trip to Argentina.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST RECIPE: Make your own Chimichurri Sauce at home with this simple Authentic Argentine Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
2. Lomito – Argentina Steak Sandwich
The Lomito sandwich has been called the “King of Fast Food Snacks.” It sits above the choripan both in price and stature.
What makes it so regal is that it features the famous beef that Argentina is renowned for.
At the core, Lomito is a steak sandwich that has been flashed grilled a la plancha or on cast iron griddle.
The slab of lomo steak is topped with; tomatoes, lettuce, onion, chimichurri, mayonnaise, fried egg, ham and melted cheese.
Delicious and quite a mouthful.
Where to Eat Lomito in Buenos Aires
The first thing to do when you get to Buenos Aires, is to make your way to Av. Dr. Tristán Achával Rodríguez which is near Puerto Madero.
It is one of the newest and ritziest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires located near the beautiful Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve.
Follow your nose to any of the carts grilling this delicious Argentinian street food.
Authentic Food Quest Tip: To taste the emblematic food of Argentina, take a Buenos Aires Food Tour with Urban Adventures. Learn about the culture and tradition while experiencing Argentina’s favorite foods from appetizers to dessert, wine included.
3. Empanadas – The Most Famous Argentinian Street Food
Argentinian empanadas are small savory pastry filled with a selection of meat, cheese and other ingredients.
Each region of the country has its own specialty. What we love most about Argentine empanadas is their simplicity and amazing flavors.
While in Argentina, we fell in love with these small and easy to eat Argentina street food.
We even learned to make empanadas at Siete Fuegos, Francis Mallmann restaurant near Mendoza.
Where to Eat Argentinian Empanadas
You will find empanadas everywhere in Argentina. This is a popular savory pastry that you will see on every restaurant menu.
Empanadas are a popular option at fast food joints, supermarkets and restaurants.
Be sure to taste popular empanada varieties. Beef empanada or empanada de carne, empanadas stuffed with ham and cheese or empanada de jamon y queso, and chicken empanadas or empanada de pollo.
Vegetarians can also find meat-free cheese empanadas and other meat-free options.
READ MORE: Discovering Argentina Through its Empanadas
4. Sandwich de Miga – Popular Argentina White Bread Sandwich
A sandwich de miga looks similar to tea sandwiches though it is much larger. They are made with thinly sliced bread with the crust and edges cut off.
The name Sandwich de Miga translates to crustless sandwiches. They are said to have originated in Turin, Italy and brought to Argentina by Italian immigrants.
The bread used is unique and unlike any bread you would find in the U.S. It is extremely white, very thin and delicately light.
The fillings used vary and include ham and cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, olives and ham, tuna and more. You can also find uncommon toppings like prosciutto, pastrami or anchovies.
Surprisingly, you can also get Miga sandwiches with three slices of bread.
Where to Eat Sandwich de Miga
Extremely popular, you will find these sandwiches at almost every bakery in the country.
Sandwich de Miga can also be served toasted. These hot sandwiches also called tostados are a popular Argentina street food.
We enjoyed several tostados for snacks during the afternoon break called media tarde at various cafes around the country.
5- Fugazzeta and Pizza by the Slice – Argentinian Style Pizza
Argentinian cuisine has been largely influenced by Italian cuisine. When it comes to pizza, Argentinian have their own unique style.
The most typical Argentinian pizza has a thick dough, is a bit chewy and comes with a lot of cheese.
On it, you can choose from a wide range of toppings from Mozzarella to Napolitana style.
One of the unique Argentinian pizza specialties you want to try is the Fugazetta. It is a thick doughy pizza with gooey cheese topped with lots of onion.
For an onion heavy pizza, we found the Fugazetta surprisingly delicious.
Where to Eat Argentinian Pizza in Buenos Aires
Pizzas are sold by the slice as an Argentinian street food. You can order a slice at any pizzeria.
Called pizza al paso or pizza al corte, you will find them at fast food joints selling empanadas and pizzas.
As you stroll around Buenos Aires, don’t hesitate to treat yourself to a slice of Argentinian style pizza.
6. Bondiola – Argentinian Pork Sandwich
One sandwich that rivals the Choripan in popularity is the Bondiola sandwich also referred to as Bondipan.
The sandwich consists of slices of roasted pork shoulder, served on bread, drizzled with lemon juice. You can enjoy this sandwich in two ways.
Order it with toppings like cheese, thinly cut french fries or a fried egg.
Or, you can have it plain and dress it up with toppings like salsa criolla, a mixture of chopped tomatoes and onions, or chimichurri sauce.
All this meaty goodness is jammed inside a baguette style loaf and devoured.
Where to Eat Bondiola
You’ll find Bondiola sandwiches served at stalls or eateries also serving choripan. You can eat at the food stalls on nearby plastic tables and chairs, or take your sandwiches to go.
We took our Bandiola sandwiches to go and enjoyed this Argentina street food staple where we were staying.
Choosing between the chori and bondipan is a difficult task. Give yourself enough days to try them both.
7. Pancho – Argentinian Hot Dog
The Argentinian street food scene would not be complete without a hotdog. The Pancho is Argentina’s take on the hot-dog.
It is a simple hotdog that is not much more than a frankfurter in a bun. You can sprinkle thinly cut fried potatoes called lluvia de papa or “potato rain” and give your sandwich more depth.
The more toppings you add on your hotdog transforms it to a “Super Pancho.”
There are several delecletab sauces that go along with this dog. The most popular is the salsa golf which is essentially a mixture of mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.
Where to Eat Pancho
Pancho or Argentine hotdogs are typically sold at fast food joints and food carts
Next to the choripan, the pancho did not tempt us. Every time we looked at the pink sausage next to a char-grilled choripan, the chori won all the time. As a result we passed on the pancho.
However, the long lines and popularity of this dog makes it an Argentinian street food you don’t want to miss.
8. Sandwich de Milanesa – Argentina “Italian” Sandwich
Milanesa is one of the typical dishes of Argentina that you should not miss. It comes from the Italian influence on Argentine cuisine.
In its simplest form milanesa is thin slices of beef covered with bread crumbs. You can also find other types of milanesa made with chicken or cod fish.
The Milanesa is typically served between two slices of white baguette style bread with lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. When offered to go as a sandwich it is known as Sandwich de Milanesa or Milanga.
Having enjoyed a Milanese meal, I was Initially skeptical about having it as a sandwich.
Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh flavors of this popular Argentina street food. The mayonnaise wasn’t overwhelming and the meat was delicious.
Where to Eat Sandwich de Milanesa
You can find this Argentinian street food at corner fast food joints or in fast food chains.
We had our sandwich de Milanesa while in San Miguel de Tucumán, a small town Northwest of Argentina.
We stopped for lunch at a local bakery and fast food chain and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of their sandwiches.
If you find yourself hungry, don’t hesitate to choose a sandwich de milanesa for your lunch break.
READ MORE: Milanesa and The Influence of Italian Cuisine in Argentina Food
9. Ham and Cheese Stuffed Tortilla – The Argentinian Version of Tortillas
One of the very unexpected treats on our food quest in the northwest of Argentina, was the discovery of Argentinian tortillas.
Argentinian tortillas are flatbreads made of wheat flour then baked on a barbecue or parrilla.
You can get them plain, but the best are the ones filled with ham and cheese or jamon y queso.
Warm like a panini, they melt in the mouth. And, if you love bread as I do, you can easily eat two or more in a row. Second to empanadas, these tortillas were a favorite Argentinian street food.
Where to Eat Stuffed Tortillas
You will find tortillas either near bus stations or at street corners in Salta and Jujuy Province.
The vendors usually sell the tortillas for the afternoon snack time before dinner, also known as media tarde.
Don’t miss your window of time as they sell pretty fast. If your travels take you to the north of Argentina, delight in this regional Argentina street food.
10. Garrapinada or Garrapiñada – Argentinian Street Snacks
The Garrapinada is a caramelized sweet Argentinian snack made of peanuts called garrapiñada de mani. You can also find them made with almonds called garrapiñada de almendras.
They are like candied pralines prepared with vanilla essence and sugar cooked over hot coals.
The sugar once cooked results in a caramelized coating covering the entire peanut (or almond), creating a sweet and crunchy texture.
Where to Eat Garrapinada in Buenos Aires
You will easily find these street snacks on the corners in Buenos Aires in the cooler Fall and Winter months.
Street vendors also place themselves at street fairs or markets and sell them in small packages cooked off the pan.
They are a tasty snack to have on the go especially if you have a sweet tooth like most Argentinians.
In Summary
Each country has its own street food culture. In Argentina, surprisingly, eating on the go is not a part of the local food culture.
We found Argentina street food to be in designated areas or neighborhoods, rather than spontaneous “pop-ups” anywhere. The street carts also typically have plastic chairs and tables for guests to sit on and enjoy their meal.
The culture of food in Argentina is about coming together and sharing a meal, in social situations. Even when food is eaten on the streets, it is enjoyed in a social setting and the experience is not rushed.
That said, if you find yourself hungry on your travels through Argentina, you will have plenty of Argentinian street food options.
Rather than eat on the go, sit comfortably in the plastic chairs and soak in the atmosphere.
What popular Argentinian street food would you like to try? Share your comments below.
Savor The Adventure!
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order your beef the Argentine way and what street foods to eat like a local. Use this as a guide to savor your adventures in Argentina
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Claire, ex-engineer, is a digital nomad and content creator at Authentic Food Quest. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, they travel the world in search of the best local food experiences. Their mission is to help you enjoy the best local specialties on your travels or via recipes in your home kitchen. Favorite country for food: Vietnam. Favorite local dish: Hainanese Chicken Rice. Favorite way to keep fit: Cycling. Claire is responsible for the website and the fun food & travel videos on Youtube. She is also co-author of Authentic Food Quest Argentina and Authentic Food Quest Peru, available on Amazon.
Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to help you explore local culture through food. As digital nomads, we travel to share authentic food recipes and food guides from around the world so you can savor them during your travels or in your home kitchen.
Some of the names I have’nt heard before. Good to know different food selections in different countries..
Thank you Sahar for your comment! Argentina although not a eat on the go culture, has an interesting street food selection.
Ham & cheese tortilla sounds good, I often use them as a substitute for bread, but never have I thought to turn into a fancy toasted sambo. Street food really is a magical way to immerse yourself into the culture of a place, and by the looks of it, you guys did it RIGHT!
Hi Anna, thanks for your comment! Yes these tortillas are so divine, I love warm bread and cheese so this is a great combination. And you are so right, street food has something magical, it feels like going on a food-adventure.
this all looks good! I especially like empanadas.
Thanks David! Yes, you cannot go wrong with Argentinian empanadas 🙂
Wow, this is quite carnivorous, haha 😉 Did you come across any vegan/vegetarian versions of any of these? I’m dreaming of visiting Argentina, but I think it will be a little difficult for my diet 😉
Hi Amelie! Great question, actually Argentina has a lot of vegetarian options and you can find vegan options as well. Here we presented the most popular so a bit bias toward the Argentinian love for meat. There are a lot of options with empanadas such as empanadas with quinoa, vegetables, corn; for pizza they have the Faina made of garbonzo beans and of course vegetarian options (with cheese though); they also make sandwich de milanesa with soy patty (instead of meat); sandwich de miga in many flavors with vegetables. Hope that can encourage you to pursue your dream to visit Argentina!
I totally shouldn’t have read this just before lunch! Now I am starving and nothing in my fridge compares to any of these amazing dishes 🙁
Looks like a fantastic feast for foodies!
Thanks Samantha! That’s how we feel each time we write a post: hungry for more of those delicacies 🙂
What a mouth-watering list! I’ve always wanted to visit Argentina- mostly to enjoy their steak and wine!
Thank you Tamara! Visiting Argentina for its steak and wine is a great excuse. While there, you will discover many other aspects of the Argentinian food culture.
Gosh! So much choices. I had to read this post more than twice as I drooled over the food photos! Empanadas all day please!
Thanks Anna for your comment! Agree empanadas are my favorites.
Some great food ideas here for when I go to Argentina 🙂 Thanks 🙂
Hi Danik, you are welcome! Argentina is a great country to explore through its food
YUM! Your posts always make me so hungry! I’ll be honest that I have never heard of some of these – but I want to try them all! The Chorpian with Chimmichuri sauce looks awesome – and empenadas are always a favorite!
Thanks Vicki! The Choripan is a great choice, a must try when you are in Argentina! It is difficult to find anything that beats the empanadas 🙂
Ooooh, I’ve heard a lot about empanadas – we’re hoping to take in Buenos Aires later in the year, and I’ve been told it’s a big foodie city, so looking forward to sampling some authentic cuisine!
Hi Meg, great to hear that you’re planning on going to Buenos Aires. Argentinians love eating and sharing a meal with friend s is a pastime. In Buenos Aires you can find all the diverse and authentic cuisine that Argentinians have to offer. You will have a blast!
I agree with Amelie! As a vegetarian, you hadn’t really won me over until the Garrapiñadas! There is a lot of meat featured here! Though, you pointed out some great veggie options in your reply to Amelie. Otherwise great overview of street food options.
Hi Toccara, thanks for your comment! Yes meat is what comes to mind when we talk about Argentinian food. And it is for a good reason as meat is at the center of many authentic dishes. However, they also have plenty of options for vegetarian including authentic and traditional dishes (great homemade pasta, pizza, dish made with papas andinas – Andes potatoes, and more!)
Gosh I love empanadas! We have them in Spain too and they’re such a treat
Hi Mar, yes empanadas are mouthwatering! My best so far are the Argentinian ones. I’ll have to try the one from Spain one day!
Some of those sandwiches look amazing!
Thanks Tandy! They look amazing and taste scrumptious.
These all sound delicious, but I think the Lomito was the most appealing for me. I hope to make it to Argentina in the future and I have this feeling a lomito will be my first meal.
Thank you Alina! Great pick with the Lomito, the Argentinian will definitively be very pleased by your choice
You’re absolutely right. We don’t eat on the go unless in a hurry and short of funds. Things may be changing but traditionally, most people have an aversion to street food. We much rather sit down and eat a proper meal. However, you’ll see people eating this kind of food in train stations on their way home or parks like, say, Plaza de Mayo, during a hurried lunch break.
Those hotdogs with “lluvia de papas” are also known as “salchipapas” and are said to have been introduced by the Bolivian community. Fact or urban myth, who knows!
Thank you Ana for the local insights! I love the Argentinian culture and tradition around food. It’s very much my kind of way to enjoy meals. Nice story about the salchipapas, didn’t know that it had Bolivian tie.
I am from Argentina and let me tell you, this is a good article! Anyone should eat all of this, awesome food 🙂
Thank you Nicolas for your “endorsement”! Great to hear that you like the article and couldn’t agree more about the food 🙂
This is such a interesting read… Loved reading about different food around the world.Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Soniya, glad you like the article.
This all looks good but I’m pretty sure I would just stuff myself full of empanadas! Sooo yummy!
Hi Ashley! Great choice with empanadas, you would definitively want to order them by the dozen in Argentina 🙂
Never been to Argentina, so I am bookmarking this post.
Some of the names are new to me but what impressed me most is Empanadas !
Very similar looking and in same size is our own dish called ‘Gujhiya’. It’s a sweet snack specially made during Holi festival, not baked but deep fried. Filling is of thickened milk, sugar, dry fruits, desiccated coconut etc. It tastes yummy. 🙂
Thank you Nisha for your comment! Would love to try Gujhiva. The resemblance with empanadas is quite striking! Funny how some specialties from one country can be found in a different country and continent prepared in a very different way.
There are a lot of dishes here that I hadn’t heard of before. I am so curious to try. I like the sound of the sandwich milanesa. Also I am curious if they eat pizza with a knife and fork as they do in Brazil?
Thanks for your comment! Yes for the most part Argentinian eat pizza with a knife and fork. Argentinian have a great love and respect for food.
Mouth-watering list! The Chori looks great! I know my husband and son would both really enjoy it.
Thanks Rebecca! The Chori looks and taste delicious! A great pick for the family 🙂
Oh how I love street food! This does make me a little sad though, as I became a vegetarian since my last visit to latin america in 2014. Fruitas and queso empanadas will be my life when we head to south america i think haha
Hi Tara, don’t be sad! There are now a lot of options for vegetarian in Argentina including authentic dishes.
Well I like to think I know my food but I had not heard of quite a few of these. The Bondiola has my name on it though. Looks delicious!
Hi Katy, great choice! The Bondiola is delicious, in Argentina, they know their meat!
This post made me hungry! Love the sound of Choripan and Pancho! (: Hoping one day I can try these!
Thanks Becca, great choices with Choripan and Pancho, two of the most common street in Argentina!
The Empanadas look like a Cypriot pastry! Everything looks delicious. I’ve tried some Argentinian food before, however it was at a restaurant. Great photos.
Thanks for your comment Dora! I would be interested to try that Cypriot pastry, is it a sweet?
Haven’t heard of a lot of these foods before! Great post! Just wondering, as someone who doesn’t “dine with the swine,” do you think it would be difficult to find much to eat there?
Hi Mimi, glad you liked the article! You will have plenty to eat in Argentina. The main meat is beef and other alternatives are veal, lamb, goat, llama (yes!), and fish. There are also more and more vegetarian options.
I love to try street food in different countries. I haven’t been in Argentina yet. Dishes you have described feel really tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Anita, Thanks for your comment! Glad to hear that you like trying street food. It’s one of the best way to get great local and authentic food. Argentina is a paradise for food lovers 🙂
I am definitely bookmarking this article! I wanna eat ’em all!
Thanks for your comment Shiv! Glad to hear you liked the post. If you go to Argentina, there is no reason why you cannot eat them all 🙂
Great article, Can’t wait to get my hands on some empanadas.
Thank you, John. When are you traveling to Argentina? Have you check out our book Authentic Food Quest Argentina for even more culinary treats. It’s available on Amazon. Please let us know if you have any questions as you plan your Argentina trip. And yes, the empanadas are the best.
My husband adores this kind of food! Argentina is on our bucket list for sure
Great list! Now I really want to go to Argentina and try one of those Lomito sandwiches – and maybe a couple of the other sandwiches too 🙂
Awesome. If your travels take you to Argentina, you’ll enjoy the street food. Lots of delicious options to choose from 🙂 Cheers
Street food is my go-to whenever I feel like stuffing and eating something heavy in a small period of time! It’s also underrated. If I go to Argentina, I’ll definitely try these!
Awesome to hear Mahnoor. Lot’s of tasty Argentina street foods. You’ll love it. Hope your travels take you there soon. Cheers.
Argentina has been on my list to travel one day! Love the street food selection, all seem like great options!
When you do get to Argentina, you’ll love it Tisha. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is making me miss traveling SO much. I would kill for an empanada right now!
So true, Amanda. We share your travel pain as well 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
This is yummy post sensually as well as physically. The pictures of street food of Argentina are so good that I feel like tasting it all. After all, the best way to know a country’s food culture is by trying street food. I have bookmarked this post and will try everything you mentioned when vacationing in Argentina.
Awesome to hear Pranita. So glad this article helps in getting your taste buds ready for Argentina. You’ll have an amazing time, don’t forget to check out all the Argentina resources on the website. Thanks for stopping by.