Argentine food isn’t just about restaurants and wine lists. Argentine gastronomy is also about what you grab standing on a corner, at a market, or after a soccer match. Street food in Buenos Aires is messy, delicious, and full of folklore. These everyday bites may not come with white tablecloths, but they carry the same weight in local culture as any fine-dining menu.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the best street food in Buenos Aires: choripán sizzling on the grill, empanadas that change flavor depending on the province they come from, and the beloved “sánguche de milanesa,” which Argentines eat with the same devotion they reserve for soccer. We’ll also share how you can take this experience further at The Argentine Experience, where you’ll learn to cook like a local while enjoying Argentina’s food and drinks at their best.
Best Street Food in Buenos Aires
Street food in Buenos Aires isn’t just about grabbing something quick to eat; it’s part of Argentine culture, woven into daily life and local traditions. These bites might not compete with a long sit-down meal, but they carry stories, rituals, and plenty of flavor. If you’re curious about what locals snack on between games, bus rides, or nights out, here are the essentials of Buenos Aires street food.
Choripán: The Stadium Classic
If there’s one sandwich that defines Argentine street food, it’s the choripán. A chorizo sausage, grilled until smoky and juicy, tucked into crusty bread and topped with chimichurri or salsa criolla. You’ll find it at markets, street fairs, and especially outside soccer stadiums. Eating one after a match is almost as important as cheering during the game. It’s messy, flavorful, and 100% Argentina.
Empanadas: A Bite from Every Province
Empanadas are everywhere, but no two are the same. Each region of Argentina claims its own style: spicy with potatoes in Salta, juicy and onion-heavy in Tucumán. In Buenos Aires, you’ll find a little of everything, often baked golden brown. Just be careful: the juicier ones are famous for dripping onto shirts. It’s all part of the fun, and tasting different versions is like touring the country one bite at a time.
Sánguche de Milanesa: Comfort Food on the Go
Despite the Italian name, the milanesa has become one of Argentina’s most beloved staples. Breaded beef or chicken, fried crisp, and stuffed between two pieces of bread with lettuce, tomato, and sometimes ham, cheese, or egg. Everyone calls it a sánguche de milanesa — a very Argentine twist on the word “sandwich” that locals turned into their own. In some provinces, it’s practically an institution. In Buenos Aires you’ll spot it in cafés, kiosks, or even on street corners, proving that simple comfort food has its own place in the best street food list.
The Argentine Experience: a Journey through the Traditional Flavors
If you want to dive into Buenos Aires street food but with elevated quality and meaning behind every bite, The Argentine Experience is the place where tradition meets craft. Alex Pels is the mind behind it—known for projects like Secreto Tango Society, Fogón Asado, and Sherpa Food Tours—he’s deeply passionate about Argentina’s roots and traditions, and builds experiences that feel real, not rehearsed.
At The Argentine Experience, you’ll enjoy a curated multi-course tasting menu that brings together the flavors you’d usually find on the streets of Buenos Aires and the fine dining you’d expect at the city’s top restaurants, all prepared with the care and quality of a truly professional kitchen. It even includes a hands-on empanada lesson, where guests learn to fold and shape their own before enjoying them fresh out of the oven. The menu also covers essential Argentine bites, from grill classics like chorizo to sweets and regional dishes that give a sense of the country’s diversity.
Drinks are part of the journey as well. Throughout the experience, you taste Argentine wines, cocktails, and other local favorites carefully paired with each dish, ensuring the food and drink go hand in hand.
The atmosphere manages to feel like a lively dinner party, where laughter and stories flow naturally, yet nothing is lost in terms of flavor, technique, or quality. If you want to experience the full breadth of Argentine street food and culinary culture in one night, this is the perfect place to do it.
FAQs About Buenos Aires Street Food
What street foods are considered essential to try for an authentic local experience in Buenos Aires?
Some of the best street food in Buenos Aires includes the famous choripán with chimichurri, freshly baked empanadas, and the sánguche de milanesa. These are everyday staples that reflect Argentine culture. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t miss dulce de leche treats or facturas from bakeries.
Where can I find the best street food in Buenos Aires?
Markets like San Telmo Market and Feria de Mataderos are packed with vendors serving authentic Argentine street food. You’ll also find “carritos” (street carts) outside soccer stadiums and in parks like Bosques de Palermo. These spots offer some of the best street food experiences in Buenos Aires, surrounded by locals.
Are there vegetarian or vegan street food options in Buenos Aires?
While Argentine street food is often meat-heavy, there’s a growing plant-based scene. You can find veggie empanadas, choripanes made with seitan, and creative vegan sandwiches in neighborhoods like Palermo and Villa Crespo. It’s not yet the norm on every corner, but the options are expanding fast.
Street Food as a Window Into Argentine Culture
As we said, Buenos Aires street food is more than just a quick bite, it’s part of daily life and a reflection of Argentine culture. From grabbing a choripán outside the stadium to enjoying a sánguche de milanesa on a street corner, these simple meals connect you to the city’s rhythm and traditions. Empanadas, choripanes, and other classics may not be fine dining, but they’re experiences that show you what it means to live like a local.
If you want to dive deeper into the flavors of Argentina beyond street food, check out our full guide on Argentine Food or book your Argentine experience and taste it all.