Best Empanadas in Buenos Aires: A Local Guide for 2026

Few foods are as deeply connected to everyday life in Argentina as the empanada. Argentines order them for family dinners, birthdays, football nights and quick lunches—and every province has its own way of preparing them.

If you are visiting Buenos Aires, trying several styles is part of the experience. This guide explains what to order, how regional varieties differ and where to find some of the best empanadas in the city.

What Is an Argentine Empanada?

An empanada is a piece of dough folded around a savory filling and then baked or fried. The folded edge is called the repulgue, and its shape traditionally helps identify the filling inside.

The most classic choice is carne—beef seasoned with onion, spices and, depending on the recipe, egg, olives or potato. But menus usually offer many other options, including chicken, ham and cheese, humita and vegetables.

The Best Empanada Flavors to Try

• Carne suave: mildly seasoned beef and a perfect choice for first-time visitors.

• Carne picante: beef with a little more spice and intensity.

• Jamón y queso: ham and cheese; simple, comforting and very popular.

• Humita: a creamy corn filling with roots in Andean cuisine.

• Caprese: mozzarella, tomato and basil.

• Verdura: usually spinach or chard with cheese or béchamel sauce.

• Pollo: seasoned chicken, sometimes with peppers and onions.

Baked or Fried?

You will see both empanadas al horno and empanadas fritas. Baked empanadas are the everyday standard in Buenos Aires: lighter, easy to share and widely available. Fried empanadas have a crisp exterior and a richer flavor, and they are especially common in regional restaurants.

Our advice? Try both. The dough and filling can taste completely different depending on the cooking method.

Regional Empanadas You Can Find in Buenos Aires

There is no single Argentine empanada. Buenos Aires brings together recipes from across the country, which makes the city an excellent place to compare styles.

Salteñas

Originally from Salta, these are usually small and very juicy, with beef, potato, onion, egg and spices. Eat them carefully: locals often lean slightly forward to avoid spilling the filling.

Tucumanas

Tucumán takes empanadas seriously. The traditional version is often made with hand-cut beef, onion and egg, wrapped in thin dough and commonly cooked in a clay oven.

Sanjuaninas

Empanadas from San Juan often include beef, onion, egg and olives. They are flavorful without necessarily being very spicy.

Arabes

Also called fatay in Argentina, these open or triangular empanadas reflect Middle Eastern immigration. They are commonly filled with beef, onion, tomato and lemon.

Where to Eat Great Empanadas in Buenos Aires

Restaurants change their menus and opening hours, so check the latest information before visiting. These established spots are strong starting points for an empanada tour.

1. El Sanjuanino — Recoleta

A Buenos Aires classic for regional Argentine food. Its rustic atmosphere and traditional recipes make it a good place to try empanadas before or after visiting Recoleta Cemetery. Start with beef and add a humita if you want contrasting flavors.

2. La Cocina — Recoleta

This small, informal restaurant is especially well known for its fried empanadas. The pikachu—a cheese, onion and spicy filling—is a local favorite, while the meat empanada is the traditional option.

3. El Hornero — Mercado de San Telmo

Located inside the historic San Telmo Market, El Hornero is a convenient stop while exploring the neighborhood. The market setting makes it easy to combine lunch with antiques, cafés and the Sunday street fair.

4. 1810 Cocina Regional — Multiple Locations

1810 focuses on regional Argentine cooking and is a practical choice for visitors staying around Palermo or other central neighborhoods. Its menu usually offers classic flavors in a relaxed setting.

5. La Americana — Downtown

A traditional and affordable option near Avenida Corrientes. La Americana is known for both pizza and empanadas, making it ideal for a casual meal before or after a theater show.

6. Your Neighborhood Empanada Shop

Some of the most satisfying empanadas do not come from famous restaurants. Search for an empanadería near your accommodation, look for steady local traffic and order several flavors to share. Delivery is also a very Argentine way to enjoy them.

How Many Empanadas Should You Order?

For a light meal, most people order two or three empanadas. Three or four may be better if you are hungry, although sizes vary. Ordering a selection for the table is the best way to compare fillings.

If you are ordering delivery, shops commonly sell individual empanadas, half-dozens and dozens. Always check each pastry before eating: different repulgues or small dough markings indicate different flavors.

Useful Spanish for Ordering Empanadas

• ¿Qué gustos tienen? — What flavors do you have?

• Quiero una de carne, una de humita y una de jamón y queso. — I’d like one beef, one corn and one ham-and-cheese empanada.

• ¿Son al horno o fritas? — Are they baked or fried?

• ¿Cuál me recomendás? — Which one do you recommend?

• ¿La de carne es picante? — Is the beef one spicy?

• Para llevar, por favor. — To take away, please.

Notice the Argentine vos form in ¿Cuál me recomendás?. It is exactly the kind of everyday Spanish you will hear in Buenos Aires.

Empanada Etiquette: The Local Way

Empanadas are usually eaten with your hands. Hold a juicy meat empanada upright, take small bites and keep a napkin nearby. They pair naturally with beer, wine or a soft drink.

And do not expect one universal winner. Asking Argentines where to find the best empanadas can start a passionate debate involving provinces, family recipes and neighborhood loyalties.

Turn It Into a Buenos Aires Food Day

You can easily include empanadas in a day of sightseeing. Try El Hornero while exploring San Telmo, visit El Sanjuanino after Recoleta, or stop near Avenida Corrientes before the theater. For a complete plan, see our Buenos Aires weekend itinerary.

If steak is next on your list, read our guide to the best parrillas in Buenos Aires. First-time visitors may also want our guide to what tourists need to know before visiting Argentina.

Learn Spanish Through Argentine Culture

Food is one of the easiest ways to start a real conversation in Spanish. At Rivendell Spanish College in Palermo, students learn practical language for everyday situations while discovering Buenos Aires and Argentine culture.

Whether you are staying for a few weeks or several months, Spanish classes can help you move beyond the tourist experience—and confidently order the next dozen without switching to English.

Final Tip

Do not try only one style. Order a classic beef empanada, a regional variety and one flavor you have never seen before. That small tasting will tell you far more about Argentina than any single “best empanada” ranking.

Buen provecho—and let the empanada debate begin!