Where to Eat the Best Steak in Buenos Aires
Updated October 25th, 2019
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Did you know that Argentinians supposedly eat around 130 pounds of beef a year??? That is about double the amount that people from the United States eat!
I loved experiencing the culture of Buenos Aires through Tango and Fútbol, but let’s face it I came for the steak! People keep asking me what made me want to visit Argentina. Considering steak is my very favorite food and the best places to eat in Buenos Aires are steakhouses…..do I need to even answer that question anymore?
While steak is obviously a big deal in Buenos Aires, there are a lot of different foods available in the city. In my Where to Eat in Palermo post you can see all the different options for yourself.
But now, back to steak! Read on to find out where to eat the best steak in Buenos Aires and the best steak restaurants in Buenos Aires in the Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho neighborhoods.
Where to Eat the Best Steak in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Asados
Photo by Renata Aquino
One of the prime ways to enjoy the best steak in Buenos Aires is at an asado. An asado is a social gathering that revolves around the cooking of all the meats. It is common throughout South America and especially Argentina. From morcilla (blood sausage) to chorizo (argentine sausage) to bife de chorizo (sirlion) and more, you will be stuffed with meat by the end of the asado.
Vegetarians might survive with some provoleta or grilled vegetables. They are definitely not the stars of the show though.
I have participated in two Argentine asados, and by participate I don’t mean grill, I mean eat! I can’t think of many things that have made me happier than these asados. Everything isn’t grilled at the same time, so you eat a few bites of lomo perhaps (tenderloin- filet mignon). Later the vacio (flank steak) might be done. Some ojo de bife (ribeye) might follow. This would go on for hours.
Argentinians are known for running late. Most of the time I fit very well with that culture, but when I was headed for an asado I was on time! At one asado towards the end of the evening someone asked who was up for more meat. Of course I was! I had to quiet someone who questioned how that was possible considering I had been there since the beginning. One should never turn down more meat!
Best Steak Restaurants in Buenos Aires – Palermo Soho
Don’t worry if you haven’t got acquainted with any Argentinians or aren’t staying at an apartment with friends to host your own asado, you can still have the asado experience at Fogón Asado with an 8 course asado tasting menu! Just like a traditional asado, you get to sit around the grill and try many different types of meats.
You can also get some fantastic steak by going out to eat at the many parillas (steakhouses) in the city. Here are my favorite picks for steak in Palermo Soho.
La Cabrera
It is really easy to find good meat in Buenos Aires. What is a little more difficult is finding good vegetables, especially a meal with both meat and vegetables. Therefore I started ordering a salad whenever I got a steak to help balance it out. They cancel each other out, right?
La Cabrera was my first steak house in Buenos Aires, so I didn’t know at the time about the portion sizes. My salad was one of those family style bowls. I would have to eat a lot of steak to balance that many greens!
Good thing the Churrasquito con panceta (steak with bacon) that I ordered came with THREE steaks! In addition to all of that you get little dishes of vegetables included with your meal. From this first meal I was hooked!
Where: José A. Cabrera 5099, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tips: They offer a happy hour with 40% off from 6:30 to 8pm. For all of you that are struggling to adjust to the late dinner times, this is a great option for you! You can make reservations a couple of days ahead of time, but not the day of. It is a pretty popular spot so you may need to wait awhile if you don’t have reservations.
Don Julio
I heard a few mixed opinions about Don Julio, whether it was worth the hype or not, it is! I don’t care if the restaurant was full of other tourists, it is the best steak I have had in Buenos Aires so far! From the steady refills of the warm bread to the perfectly cooked steak I loved everything about Don Julio’s and think it should be crowned the best steakhouse in Buenos Aires.
It was on the more expensive end for Buenos Aires standards, but definitely not USA standards. For about $30 USD I had a huge steak that gave me leftovers for two meals. With leftover bread and bottled water and a salad at the restaurant I think it was a great deal!
Where: Guatemala 4699, C1425 CABA, Argentina
Tips: Make reservations a couple of weeks ahead of time to ensure a table. You may luck out and get in as a walk in, while enjoying some free appetizers and drinks outside as you wait.
La Carniceria
This was the steakhouse where I discovered sweetbreads. I love good bread as much as I love steak so I was happy to share the “sweetbreads” appetizer when asked. When it arrived it was clear I wasn’t getting the appetizer I quite expected. Molleja (sweetbread) is actually the pancreas of an animal. It had a unique taste I suppose…..you learn something new everyday!
We received huge chunks of delicious steak, with only a drizzle of vegetables on the side. Most of us agreed that the steak was really good, but perhaps cooked a little more than we would have liked it. With a picture of a meat locker on one wall and the open kitchen on the other side, it created a cozy steak eater’s paradise that I would try again.
Where: C1425FIG, Thames 2317, C1425FIG CABA, Argentina
Tips: It is a rather small restaurant so reservations are recommended. They have two seatings, one at 8:30 and one at 10:30pm.
Best Steak Restaurants in Buenos Aires – Palermo Hollywood
The steak places on the other side of the tracks aren’t as well known as they are in Palermo Soho. That doesn’t mean they aren’t just as good though!
Las Cabras
This is a bustling parilla serving all the traditional cuts of meat. The portion sizes are huge. They also serve great empanadas here, in case you don’t want steak (crazy I know)!
Where: Fitz Roy 1795, C1414 CHY, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tips: Make reservations or expect a long wait as it gets later in the evening. You will have better luck getting a table without a wait before 9:00pm.
La Dorita
Don’t worry steak isn’t just for a a nice dinner out. There are some great restaurants, such as La Dorita, that serve good steaks at lunchtime. They have an appetizer, main dish with side, dessert and drink special. When I ate here I had my empanadas, salad and dessert for lunch and could have my steak for another meal later!
Where: Humboldt 1892, C1414CTT CABA, Argentina
Tips: The portions are a little smaller here, especially at lunch time, so don’t plan to share or expect leftovers unless you try my method! You’re still getting a good amount of food for only about $8 USD though.
Miranda
Miranda is a modern steakhouse with quality meat. Similar to La Dorita, Miranda offers a 3 course lunch special. There are a few more options for vegetarians here too.
Where: Costa Rica & Fitz Roy 5602, C1414BTF CABA, Argentina
Tips: Don’t expect a quick lunch. Each course takes its time to arrive. I love this aspect of the city, how people linger over meals, but if you are rushing off to work or to sightsee it might be frustrating!
Eating Steak in Buenos Aires – Visiting Information
Where:
The Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.
How to Order Steak:
Most wait staff in Palermo speak English so you shouldn’t have a problem ordering your food how you want. Just in case here are some tips on how to order steak.
It seems steaks tend to be on the overcooked side much more often than undercooked. Depending on your tastes I would err on the lower end of the cooking spectrum and if need be you can always ask for it to be cooked more.
Jugoso = medium rare
A punto = medium
Bien cocido = well done
Types of Steak:
Bife de Lomo: Tenderloin/Filet mignon Asado: Ribs Molleja: Sweetbread
Bife de Chorizo: Sirloin/New york strip Asado de Tira: Beef Short Ribs Riñón: Kidney
Bife Ancho: Ribeye Costillas: Baby Back Ribs Morcilla: Blood sausage
Ojo de Bife: Ribeye Costillas de cordero: Rack of Lamb Chorizo: Argentine sausage
Vacío: Flank Steak
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires:
If all these steak restaurants don’t make you want to stay in the Palermo neighborhoods, I don’t know what will! In case you do need more reasons, Palermo is one of the safest and trendiest areas of the city. It is easy to get to other neighborhoods by bus or metro and quick and cheap by taxi.
More About Argentina
- 13 Things to Know About Argentina
- Buenos Aires: Where to Stay
- Buenos Aires: Tango – where to dance Tango and where to watch Tango
- Buenos Aires: Fútbol – how to get tickets to a Boca Juniors game
- Buenos Aires: Restaurants – where to eat in Palermo
- Buenos Aires: MALBA – The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires
- Buenos Aires: Evita Museum – museum dedicated to the life of Eva Perón
- Buenos Aires: Medical Care – where to go in Buenos Aires for medical care (plus pharmacies!)
- Tigre: A Day trip to Tigre from Buenos Aires
- Salta: What to Do in Salta – in Northwest Argentina
- Salta Day Trips: Salinas Grandes and la Quebrada de Humahuaca, Rafting & Zip-lining, Cachi
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15 Comments
Ben
This was a great read. Argentina has been on my bucket list for a long time. Some of those steak restaurants look great, but I think I’d be all about the asado too! Meat, meat, and more meat!
admin
Thanks! I’m clearly all about the meat too 🤣
Adrenaline Romance
Mmmmm! That’s delicious! Looking at this makes us want to try a steak. Believe it or not, we haven’t eaten a “real” steak before; that is expensive here in the Philippines.
admin
Argentina has some of the best steak I have ever had. It is so reasonably priced too that it is the perfectly place to have your first “real” steak!
Deeptha @ The Globe Trotter
Not a meat eater here but there seems to be a lot of choice for those that do. I might visit an Asado though for the ambience and for the provoleta and grilled vegetables 🙂
Jackie
I had no idea there were so many options to steak/meat. They all look really delicious, and it is so helpful to have the translation for the cooking instructions because I really do like my meat on the rare side. Funny that there are not a lot of vegetables served (but the salads did look good)! It definitely sounds like the timing of things would be an adjustment for me. For instance, to make reservations a day or even days ahead of time, or that the best time to avoid dining crowds is before 9 pm–I would not have guessed those things! Thanks for the insight.
admin
Steak takes the center stage and vegetables are after thoughts in Argentina for sure!
Alexander Popkov
I think I will go there only for food! Damn, I love the way they cook meat. Unfortunately, it is so far away. I think I need to learn how to cook them myself.
admin
Depending on where you coming from, it can be a long and expensive flight. It is so worth it once you are there though!
Brian
I like how you included a picture of a salad. Reminds me of what Anthony Bourdain said about Argentina and Uruguay!
admin
Haha, thanks! Yeah it is lots of meat!
james
I have been there and also tried these what ever you have shared but again your picture make my mouth watering
The Fearless Foreigner
The steaks are so good in Buenos Aires, aren’t they!?
Henry
I love Amado. Hard to get something that’s authentic here in NYC. Only place I know of in NYC that has authentic imported Argentine steak cooked the Argentine way is at Buenos Aires in The East Village area of Manhattan.
The Fearless Foreigner
The steak in Argentina is so delicious! Have you tried Libertador in Brooklyn? I remember liking it, but it was before my first trip to Argentina so I don’t know how it compares.