Dinnertime generally doesn't begin until 8.30 pm. Popular cuisine includes everything from Argentine barbecues, known as "asado," to Japanese sushi. Argentineans have a strong love for meat, so vegetarians may have to make do with fish and salads and a smaller selection of vegetarian dishes.
Step into the Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, and Las Caņitas neighborhoods for the widest array of cuisine to suit your palate. For starters, or a quick meal, empanadas are often a popular choice. These are pieces of baked or fried pastry stuffed with chicken, beef, ham, cheese, boiled eggs, olives, or vegetables. Or you can order a mixture of all of the above. Pizza is a popular favorite with numerous pizzerias found throughout the city. Franchises like Subway are also available for those who prefer familiar fast food. Pasta is also quite commonly chosen as a daily meal. Regular culinary fare is often simple, centering around meat, potatoes, and bread.
Steakhouses can be found throughout Buenos Aires due to the popularity of asado, where chicken and beef (as well as their offals) are barbecued over charcoal. Meat is often served rare unless a preference is specifically requested.
For a more refined European style meal, the filet mignon at Bife de Loma comes highly recommended for its tenderness and flavor. Argentina is famous for its wine, so be sure to sample some of these (like the Malbec) while you're here. At Bife de Loma, a four course meal for two inclusive of wine and a tip could amount to less than $100.
El Gato Dumas is also a popular restaurant for its Parisian appeal. The owner, Dumas, is well known in Argentina, having made numerous television appearances as well as creating in-flight menus for Argentina's national airline.
Sweetmeats are also very popular in Argentina. Ice creams are one of the most loved of all of these, where all natural ingredients are used. Freddo, Volta and Persicco are recommended, although many others would easily hit the spot as well. Dulce de Leche-a milky caramel flavored ice cream-tastes excellent when added to a warm flan or when used in Havannets.
While Buenos Aires does come with the standard fast food and pasta establishments as well as a wide range of exotic Oriental and European cuisine, one needs to be adventurous and try the local cuisines of asado and local fast food like empanadas to truly get in touch with the "flavor" of the city.
