Discover Buenos Aires’ Best and Worst Restaurants: 2023 Red and Black List Guide

Many of Buenos Aires’ renowned restaurants are notoriously difficult to book. I visited several highly recommended spots, and I’m excited to share my experiences to help you discover some fantastic options and avoid the not-so-great ones. But why are the restaurants in BA so expensive? The prices often match those in Europe!

🍴La Cabrera
A popular steakhouse where advance booking is a must, or be prepared to wait in line. When you order a steak, they serve it with six delicious side dishes, and the steak itself is quite decent. Compared to other Argentine barbecue places, it offers good value for money. Highly recommended. Expect to pay around 35 euros per person.

🍴Don Julio
Perhaps the most famous barbecue restaurant, incredibly hard to book, and if you can’t secure a reservation, get ready to queue. The steaks here are massive, starting from 500 grams, and it’s a challenge for one person to finish! No side dishes are included, and the steak prices are steep. Given the high expectations and poor value, I was quite disappointed. You can skip this one. It costs about 77 euros per person!!!

🍴Fogon Asado
The chef grills the meat right in front of you, providing an interactive and engaging dining experience. I initially thought it would be more about the show than the food, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious, and I had the best pork belly I’ve ever tasted. The meal consists of nine courses, featuring a variety of grilled meats, and drinks are included in the price. Highly recommended. Around 80 euros per person.

🍴Julia
A small, Michelin-recommended restaurant with only 10 tables, so booking is essential. After indulging in a lot of grilled meat, this place offered a refreshing change. The seven-course menu ranges from oysters to salmon to wagyu beef, offering a diverse culinary journey. I also tried a new type of mushroom tempura, which was a delightful surprise. Highly recommended. The seven-course menu is 85 euros, or you can opt for à la carte dining.

🍴Mamaguille’s
This Peruvian restaurant served me a pan-fried fish with squid risotto. These were flavors I hadn’t experienced before. The risotto had a unique texture, somewhere between European risotto and Chinese fried rice, and the fish had a hint of cumin, which was a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended. Around 25 euros per person.

🍴SAETA Cafe
I stumbled upon this bar-restaurant on the street, and it was surprisingly cheap and delicious. The squid in the risotto was very generous. Highly recommended! Around 10 euros per person!

🍴Café San Juan La Cantina
I had the Milanese cutlet, one of the must-eat dishes in Argentina. It was pretty good, though the meat was slightly overcooked. Still, I recommend it. Around 22 euros per person.

🍴EL Hornero de San Telmo
A charming little shop for empanadas. I tried the beef, cheese, and eggplant flavors, and all were quite tasty, with a crispy crust. Recommended. Each empanada is around 3 euros.

🍴Saigon Noodle Bar
A Vietnamese pho restaurant that was expensive, slow, and not tasty! Not recommended! Around 20 euros per person.