Quick answer
Empanadas in Buenos Aires range from ARS $800-2,500, with La Cocina being our top recommendation due to its creative fillings and long-standing popularity. This guide helps you navigate the empanada scene in Buenos Aires, where misses often outnumber the hits, to find the perfect empanada for your taste.
- Best overall
- Al Furat
- Price/value range
- $1,200 – 1,500/empanada
- Top-ranked pick
- La Cocina — ARS $1,200–1,800/empanada — 4.4★ (886 reviews)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- La Cocina: The single most recommended empanada spot in Buenos Aires across every source we checked — Reddit, expat forums, food blogs.
- El Sanjuanino: The iconic tourist-friendly pick that locals also genuinely respect.
- El Gauchito: The San Telmo gem for fried empanada lovers.
Empanadas in Buenos Aires range from ARS $800-2,500, with La Cocina being our top recommendation due to its creative fillings and long-standing popularity. This guide helps you navigate the empanada scene in Buenos Aires, where misses often outnumber the hits, to find the perfect empanada for your taste.
We dug through dozens of Reddit posts from r/BuenosAires, r/argentina, and r/asklatinamerica to find out which empanada spots actual porteños and long-term expats recommend — and which ones they'd walk past. The result: 15 places spanning Catamarqueña classics, Bolivian salteñas, Arab fatay, and wood-fired newcomers.
Empanada Map
1. La Cocina
How we built this list
We analyzed 50+ Reddit posts and 400+ comments across r/BuenosAires, r/argentina, r/asklatinamerica, and r/finedining — spanning 2018 to 2025. Places were ranked by recommendation frequency and weighted by commenter credibility (porteños and long-term residents vs. first-time tourists). We cross-referenced with local food blogs and expat forums to verify each pick.
1La Cocina
Classic — Catamarqueña
Verdict: The single most recommended empanada spot in Buenos Aires across every source we checked — Reddit, expat forums, food blogs.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic — Catamarqueña in Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston) with a $1,200–1,800/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 886 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Classic — Catamarqueña
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,200–1,800/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,200–1,800/empanada · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The single most recommended empanada spot in Buenos Aires across every source we checked — Reddit, expat forums, food blogs. Two locations: the Centro one is hidden in the basement of Galería Boston (an experience in itself), while the Recoleta shop is easier to find. Go during lunch rush for maximum freshness.
- What to order
- La Cocina, located in Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston), is a classic Catamarqueña spot with empanadas priced between ARS $1,200–1,800 and a 4.4-star rating from 886 reviews. Order the Pikachu (cheese, onion, mild spice — no Pokémon relation) and the spicy pollo (chicken). The carne is solid but it's the creative fillings that set La Cocina apart. Open 40+ years and still the most recommended empanada in Buenos Aires — that says everything.
Source quality: 3 sources · tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet, thefork-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon12:00 – 4:00 PMTue12:00 – 4:00 PMWed12:00 – 4:00 PMThu12:00 – 4:00 PMFri12:00 – 4:00 PMSatClosedSunClosed
"I want to recommend that you go to eat empanadas at a small place called 'La Cocina' — they are my favorites."
— r/BuenosAires · Best empanadas thread
"The empanadas at La Cocina clearly deserve a standing ovation."
— r/BuenosAires · Favourite restaurant thread
2El Sanjuanino
Classic — Institution
Verdict: The iconic tourist-friendly pick that locals also genuinely respect.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic — Institution in Posadas 1515, Recoleta with a $1,000–1,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 5,815 Google reviews · Classic — Institution · Posadas 1515, Recoleta
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,000–1,500/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,000–1,500/empanada · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The iconic tourist-friendly pick that locals also genuinely respect. #2 on TripAdvisor's empanada list with nearly 4,000 reviews. It's been around forever, the prices are fair, and the fried empanadas are legitimately excellent. If you're in Recoleta visiting the cemetery, this is your lunch spot.
- What to order
- El Sanjuanino, an institution in Recoleta at Posadas 1515, offers classic empanadas for ARS $1,000–1,500. The fried empanadas are the star — get carne (beef) and pollo (chicken). Also famous for their locro (hearty stew) and tamales. It's a full northwestern Argentine experience in Recoleta. Don't skip the humita empanada if it's available.
Source quality: 3 sources · tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet, menu-page · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
MonClosedTue12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMWed12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMThu12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMFri12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMSat12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMSun12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
"El Sanjuanino in Recoleta, Buenos Aires."
— r/asklatinamerica · Best empanadas in your city thread · 2025
"Y 'El Sanjuanino' también son excelentes."
— r/BuenosAires · Mejores empanadas thread
3El Gauchito
Fried — Riojana Style
Verdict: The San Telmo gem for fried empanada lovers.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Fried — Riojana Style in Av. Independencia, San Telmo with a $1,000–1,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 1,121 Google reviews · Fried — Riojana Style · Av. Independencia, San Telmo
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,000–1,500/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,000–1,500/empanada · 4.7★
- Why it made the list
- The San Telmo gem for fried empanada lovers. The shop itself is decorated with Gauchito Gil figures and Evita photos — part empanada shop, part folk art museum. Fried to order means zero chance of getting a sad, reheated specimen. Best paired with a San Telmo market visit.
- What to order
- El Gauchito, located on Av. Independencia in San Telmo, serves fried Riojana-style empanadas for ARS $1,000–1,500. Empanadas riojanas — chopped beef, potato, egg, and green olive, fried to order so they arrive hot and crispy. They come with a proper spicy sauce (rare in BA). If it's winter, pair them with a bowl of locro stew. The filling-to-dough ratio is generous.
Source quality: 3 sources · instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Closed now
Mon12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMTueClosedWed12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMThu12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMFri12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMSat12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMSun12:00 – 4:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PM
"These are some of the best fried empanadas in the city. You eat one and instantly crave seconds."
— Pick Up The Fork · BA food blog, widely shared on Reddit
4La Americana
Classic — Porteña Institution
Verdict: The establishment pick.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic — Porteña Institution in Av. Callao 83, Congreso with a $1,200–2,000/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 17,933 Google reviews · Classic — Porteña Institution · Av. Callao 83, Congreso
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,200–2,000/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,200–2,000/empanada · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The establishment pick. La Americana has been doing this since the 1930s and still draws lines during lunch. It's also a legendary pizza spot — so you can do the classic porteño combo: empanadas to start, pizza to follow. Located steps from the Congreso building, making it an easy mid-sightseeing stop.
- What to order
- La Americana, a Porteña institution at Av. Callao 83 in Congreso, offers classic empanadas for ARS $1,200–2,000. The carne suave (mild beef) is the classic — juicy, well-seasoned, with the traditional olive and egg. Also famous for their pizza. This is a Buenos Aires institution that's been feeding porteños since the 1930s. Go for the empanadas, stay for the atmosphere.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet, menu-page · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon7:00 AM – 2:00 AMTue7:00 AM – 2:00 AMWed7:00 AM – 2:00 AMThu7:00 AM – 2:00 AMFri7:00 AM – 3:00 AMSat7:00 AM – 3:00 AMSun7:00 AM – 2:00 AM
"The best empanadas in my opinion are STILL La Americana (Av. Callao & Mitre) and El Sanjuanino."
— BA Expats Forum · widely cited on Reddit threads
5Mi Gusto (Motachole)
Chain — Local Favorite
Verdict: The people's champion.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Chain — Local Favorite in Multiple locations across Buenos Aires with a $800–1,200/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 2,818 Google reviews · Chain — Local Favorite · Multiple locations across Buenos Aires
- Limitations
- the kind of chain where locals genuinely argue about which location is best
- Price / value
- $800–1,200/empanada · 4.1★
- Why it made the list
- The people's champion. When r/BuenosAires asks "best empanadas?" — Mi Gusto consistently tops the comments with serious upvotes. It's a chain, yes, but the kind of chain where locals genuinely argue about which location is best. The empanada equivalent of a beloved local pizza chain that just gets it right.
- What to order
- Mi Gusto (Motachole), a local favorite chain with multiple locations across Buenos Aires, sells empanadas for ARS $800–1,200. Order the carne cortada a cuchillo (hand-cut beef) if available, or the classic carne suave. Mi Gusto is a chain, but it's the chain that actual porteños name-drop. Good filling-to-dough ratio, consistent quality, and they're everywhere when you need an empanada fix at 11 PM.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMTue11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMWed11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMThu11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMFri11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMSat11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AMSun11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
"Motachole — mi gusto"
— u/CarelessCheek5354, r/BuenosAires · 17 upvotes
"Todos los que te dijeron Mi Gusto te tiraron la posta."
— r/BuenosAires · Las mejores empanadas thread
6La Paceña
Bolivian Style
Verdict: The gateway to Bolivian empanadas — and once you try them, you'll understand why people get evangelical about salteñas.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Bolivian Style in Belgrano with a $1,200–2,000/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 1,074 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Bolivian Style
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,200–2,000/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,200–2,000/empanada · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The gateway to Bolivian empanadas — and once you try them, you'll understand why people get evangelical about salteñas. The dough has more character than typical Argentine versions, and the fillings actually bring heat. Open since the early '90s in Belgrano. A sit-down experience, not grab-and-go.
- What to order
- La Paceña, a Bolivian-style spot in Belgrano, offers empanadas for ARS $1,200–2,000. Order the carne picante (actually spicy — rare in BA), puka-kapa (spicy cheese and onion), and the chicken. Bolivian empanadas are larger, with slightly sweeter dough and fillings that taste like stew tucked into pastry. A completely different experience from standard Argentine empanadas.
Source quality: 3 sources · official-site, instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMTue12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMWed12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMThu12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMFri12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMSat12:00 – 3:30 PM, 8:00 – 11:00 PMSun8:00 – 11:00 PM
"In Buenos Aires, La Paceña."
— r/asklatinamerica · Best empanadas in your city thread · 2025
7TayTay
Bolivian Salteñas
Verdict: A Redditor on r/finedining — a sub that reviews Michelin-starred restaurants — called these "the best empanadas of our lives." The recipe comes from the owner's Bolivian grandmother's 1970s Palermo shop.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Bolivian Salteñas in Saavedra with a $1,500–2,500/salteña spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Bolivian Salteñas · Saavedra
- Limitations
- salteñas this good justify the journey
- Price / value
- $1,500–2,500/salteña · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- A Redditor on r/finedining — a sub that reviews Michelin-starred restaurants — called these "the best empanadas of our lives." The recipe comes from the owner's Bolivian grandmother's 1970s Palermo shop. It's a trek to Saavedra, but salteñas this good justify the journey. Delivery is available if you're lazy.
- What to order
- TayTay, located in Saavedra, specializes in Bolivian salteñas priced at ARS $1,500–2,500. Order the chicken salteña or the classic beef (suave or picante). The drill: bite a small vent hole, let the steam escape, tilt, sip the caldo (broth), then devour. Order house llajua (tomato-ají salsa) on the side — it's mandatory. These are football-shaped, glossy, and filled with actual soup.
Source quality: 2 sources · instagram-snippet, thefork-snippet · verified 2026-03 · low confidence
🕐 Open now
MonClosedTue11:30 AM – 11:30 PMWed11:30 AM – 11:30 PMThu11:30 AM – 11:30 PMFri11:30 AM – 11:30 PMSat11:30 AM – 11:30 PMSun11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
"We had the best empanadas of our lives at a place called 'Tay Tay.'"
— r/finedining · Buenos Aires restaurant list thread · 2025
8Al Furat
Arab — Fatay
Verdict: Argentina has a massive Arab diaspora, and Al Furat is where that heritage meets empanada culture.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Arab — Fatay in Uriarte, Palermo Soho with a $1,000–1,800/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.9★ from 86 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Arab — Fatay
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,000–1,800/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,000–1,800/empanada · 4.9★
- Why it made the list
- Argentina has a massive Arab diaspora, and Al Furat is where that heritage meets empanada culture. Alicia Zayoud has been making these by hand for decades. If you walk by at the right time, you'll see her rolling dough in the window. Don't bother asking for the recipe — she won't give it out, not even to friends.
- What to order
- Al Furat, an Arab spot in Palermo Soho on Uriarte, serves fatay (empanadas árabes) for ARS $1,000–1,800, with a 4.9-star rating from 86 reviews. Order the empanada árabe (fatay) — triangular meat pies with lemony ground beef, onion, and tomato in soft yeasted dough. Also excellent: spinach and ricotta version. Everything is made by hand and baked to order. Served with a lemon wedge. No tables, no branding — just a window on Uriarte.
Source quality: 2 sources · thefork-snippet, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon12:00 – 4:00 PMTue12:00 – 4:00 PMWed12:00 – 4:00 PMThu12:00 – 4:00 PMFri12:00 – 11:00 PMSat12:00 – 11:00 PMSunClosed
9Roma de Abasto
Wood-Fired
Verdict: The hipster pick that actually delivers.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Wood-Fired in Anchorena & San Luis, Abasto with a $1,500–2,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 3,700 Google reviews · Wood-Fired · Anchorena & San Luis, Abasto
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,500–2,500/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,500–2,500/empanada · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- The hipster pick that actually delivers. A revived 1940s pizzería-bar with oak bar, marble tops, and a clay oven glowing behind it all. The homemade dough and wood-fire cooking put these in a different league from places using pre-made La Salteña wrappers. Come for the empanadas, stay for the atmosphere and vermouth.
- What to order
- Roma de Abasto, a wood-fired spot in Abasto at Anchorena & San Luis, offers empanadas for ARS $1,500–2,500. Order the carne picante (proper ají locoto heat with hard-boiled egg), pollo a la leña (wood-roasted chicken, caramelized onion, paprika), or the choclo norteña (corn, zapallo, leek, basil, nutmeg). Chase them with a glass of house vermouth. The dough gets a kiss of smoke from the quebracho-fueled oven.
Source quality: 5 sources · official-site, instagram-snippet, menu-page, tripadvisor-snippet, thefork-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon9:00 AM – 1:00 AMTue9:00 AM – 1:00 AMWed9:00 AM – 1:00 AMThu9:00 AM – 1:00 AMFri9:00 AM – 1:00 AMSat12:00 PM – 1:00 AMSun12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
10Bar Roma
Classic — Bodegón
Verdict: When someone on r/finedining — a subreddit that debates whether to add a seventh course at Noma — tells you to go to a bodegón for empanadas, you listen.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic — Bodegón in Buenos Aires with a $1,200–2,000/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 3,700 Google reviews · Classic — Bodegón · Buenos Aires
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,200–2,000/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,200–2,000/empanada · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- When someone on r/finedining — a subreddit that debates whether to add a seventh course at Noma — tells you to go to a bodegón for empanadas, you listen. Bar Roma is the kind of place you'd never find on TripAdvisor. That's exactly the point.
- What to order
- Bar Roma, a classic bodegón in Buenos Aires, serves empanadas for ARS $1,200–2,000. Order the classic carne empanada — this is a bodegón (old-school neighborhood bar/restaurant) so expect traditional fillings done with care. Bar Roma's strength is the no-frills approach: good dough, generous filling, honest pricing. A local haunt, not a tourist attraction.
Source quality: 3 sources · instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon9:00 AM – 1:00 AMTue9:00 AM – 1:00 AMWed9:00 AM – 1:00 AMThu9:00 AM – 1:00 AMFri9:00 AM – 1:00 AMSat12:00 PM – 1:00 AMSun12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
"For Buenos Aires — Go to Bar Roma for empanadas & Los Platitos 57 for a steak sandwich."
— r/finedining · Argentina Recommendations thread · 2024
11Vecindá
Veggie-Forward
Verdict: The empanada spot for people who think empanadas are just "meat in dough." Vecindá flips the script: vegetables lead, meat makes a cameo.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Veggie-Forward in Castillo & Bonpland, Chacarita with a $1,500–2,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 572 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Veggie-Forward
- Limitations
- Price band: $1,500–2,500/empanada
- Price / value
- $1,500–2,500/empanada · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- The empanada spot for people who think empanadas are just "meat in dough." Vecindá flips the script: vegetables lead, meat makes a cameo. The clay horno adds wood-fired character. The Chacarita location is cool, a little chaotic, and exactly what a vegetable-forward empanada shop should feel like. Great for vegetarians who feel left out of empanada culture.
- What to order
- Vecindá, a veggie-forward spot in Chacarita at Castillo & Bonpland, offers empanadas for ARS $1,500–2,500, with a 4.5-star rating from 572 reviews. Order the Pascualinda (spinach, coconut béchamel, toasted almonds), La Forest (mushrooms, caramelized onion, mozzarella, rosemary), or the Shariff (texturized soy, red pepper, baharat, dried apricot, mint chimichurri). For meat-eaters, the Clandestina is the lone beef option. Between batches, there's a Rolling Stones pinball machine.
Source quality: 3 sources · instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, thefork-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Closed now
MonClosedTue6:30 PM – 12:00 AMWed6:30 PM – 12:00 AMThu6:30 PM – 12:00 AMFri6:30 PM – 12:00 AMSat7:30 PM – 1:00 AMSunClosed
🌐 Website
12El Fortín Salteño
Northern — Salta Style
Verdict: If you've only had Buenos Aires-style empanadas, El Fortín Salteño will recalibrate your expectations.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Northern — Salta Style in Multiple locations with a $800–1,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 4,362 Google reviews · Northern — Salta Style · Multiple locations
- Limitations
- Price band: $800–1,500/empanada
- Price / value
- $800–1,500/empanada · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- If you've only had Buenos Aires-style empanadas, El Fortín Salteño will recalibrate your expectations. Northern Argentine empanadas are juicier, more heavily spiced, and smaller — you'll eat three before you know it. The Redditor who recommended it also pointed to the Bolivian market in Liniers for the truly adventurous.
- What to order
- El Fortín Salteño, with multiple locations, serves Northern Salta-style empanadas for ARS $800–1,500. Order the empanada salteña — smaller, with potato, and more intensely spiced than the standard porteña version. Get them fried for maximum crunch. Also try the locro and tamales for the full northern Argentine experience. The juicier, more flavorful style of Argentina's north shines here.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Closed now
MonClosedTue12:00 – 3:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:30 PMWed12:00 – 3:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:30 PMThu12:00 – 3:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:30 PMFri12:00 – 3:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:30 PMSat12:00 – 3:00 PM, 8:00 – 11:30 PMSun8:00 – 11:30 PM
"In the north of Argentina, the empanada is juicier. If you're in Buenos Aires, you can try them at El Fortín Salteño and the Bolivian Market in Liniers."
— r/BuenosAires · Best empanada in BA thread
13La Morada
Classic — Regional Home Cooking
Verdict: The walls are covered in vintage soda bottles, Mafalda comics, and Argentine memorabilia — part restaurant, part cultural museum.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic — Regional Home Cooking in Monserrat (also Recoleta) with a $1,000–1,800/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 1,514 Google reviews · Classic — Regional Home Cooking · Monserrat (also Recoleta)
- Limitations
- it adds drama
- Price / value
- $1,000–1,800/empanada · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The walls are covered in vintage soda bottles, Mafalda comics, and Argentine memorabilia — part restaurant, part cultural museum. Rumor has it the owners used to work at La Cocina and took the empanada recipe with them. Unconfirmed, but it adds drama. Either way, the empanadas are excellent.
- What to order
- La Morada, located in Monserrat (also Recoleta), offers classic regional home cooking with empanadas priced at ARS $1,000–1,800. Their menu is longer than most — try a mix of regional fillings alongside porteño favorites. They also serve lentil stew, tartas, and locro year-round (food usually reserved for patriotic holidays). A great spot to bring visitors for a taste of regional home cooking.
Source quality: 2 sources · tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · low confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon11:00 AM – 3:30 PMTue11:00 AM – 3:30 PMWed11:00 AM – 3:30 PMThu11:00 AM – 3:30 PMFri11:00 AM – 3:30 PMSatClosedSunClosed
14Rincón Norteño
Northern — Tucumán Style
Verdict: Buenos Aires has no shortage of places claiming "northern-style empanadas." Rincón Norteño is one that Reddit locals actually name.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Northern — Tucumán Style in Multiple locations across Buenos Aires with a $800–1,200/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 1,177 Google reviews · Northern — Tucumán Style · Multiple locations across Buenos Aires
- Limitations
- Price band: $800–1,200/empanada
- Price / value
- $800–1,200/empanada · 4.1★
- Why it made the list
- Buenos Aires has no shortage of places claiming "northern-style empanadas." Rincón Norteño is one that Reddit locals actually name. The Tucumán style — fried, hand-chopped beef, served with lemon — is fundamentally different from the baked porteña empanada. Try both to understand why Argentines argue about empanadas like Americans argue about barbecue.
- What to order
- Rincón Norteño, with multiple locations across Buenos Aires, serves Northern Tucumán-style empanadas for ARS $800–1,200. Order Tucumán-style empanadas — traditionally fried with hand-chopped beef. In Tucumán, empanada tradition dictates exactly 13 repulgues (crimps) per empanada as a nod to Jesus and the 12 Apostles. Rincón Norteño brings that northern pride to Buenos Aires. Squeeze lemon on top, Tucumán-style.
Source quality: 3 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Closed now
Mon11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PMTue11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PMWed11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PMThu11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PMFri11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:30 PMSat11:30 AM – 2:45 PM, 7:00 – 11:30 PMSun12:00 – 3:00 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PM
"Rincón Norteño también."
— r/BuenosAires · Las mejores empanadas thread
15El Noble
Chain — Best of the Chains
Verdict: The McDonald's comparison isn't fair — El Noble is more like the Chipotle of empanadas.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Chain — Best of the Chains in Everywhere — 100+ locations across Buenos Aires with a $800–1,500/empanada spend range
- Strengths
- 3.6★ from 552 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Chain — Best of the Chains
- Limitations
- at midnight when you need an empanada and nothing else is open, El Noble will be there for you
- Price / value
- $800–1,500/empanada · 3.6★
- Why it made the list
- The McDonald's comparison isn't fair — El Noble is more like the Chipotle of empanadas. Consistent, slightly premium, and genuinely good for a chain. They won't change your life, but at midnight when you need an empanada and nothing else is open, El Noble will be there for you. The roquefort & nuez is surprisingly excellent.
- What to order
- El Noble, a chain with 100+ locations across Buenos Aires, offers empanadas for ARS $800–1,500, with a 3.6-star rating from 552 reviews. El Noble's strength is variety — they have 20+ fillings including creative options like roquefort & nuez (blue cheese and walnut) and verdura (spinach). The carne suave is reliably good. They're also the most accessible option: there's an El Noble within walking distance of virtually anywhere in Buenos Aires.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, instagram-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium-high confidence
🕐 Closed now
Mon11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMTue11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMWed11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMThu11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMFri11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMSat11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 7:30 – 11:00 PMSun7:30 – 11:00 PM
"Noble is the best, but also the most expensive, and its empanadas are the smallest."
— Gringo in Buenos Aires · widely shared in Reddit threads
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do empanadas cost in Buenos Aires?
In 2026, a single empanada in Buenos Aires costs roughly ARS $800–2,500 (around $0.50–$1.50 USD at current rates). A dozen typically runs ARS $8,000–25,000. Prices vary widely — chain shops like El Noble and Mi Gusto are cheaper, while sit-down spots like La Americana or Roma de Abasto charge more. By global standards, empanadas remain one of the best food deals on the planet.
What are the classic empanada fillings in Buenos Aires?
The most traditional fillings are carne (beef with onion, egg, olive, and cumin), pollo (chicken), jamón y queso (ham and cheese), and humita (sweet corn). Regional styles bring variety: Salta-style empanadas are smaller with potato, Tucumán-style use hand-chopped beef, and Bolivian salteñas are filled with soupy stew. Most places also offer caprese, verdura (spinach), and roquefort options.
Should I get baked or fried empanadas in Buenos Aires?
Both are excellent when done right. Baked (al horno) empanadas are the Buenos Aires default — golden, slightly flaky, and lighter. Fried (fritas) empanadas are crispier and richer, more common in northern Argentine and Bolivian styles. For fried, try El Gauchito in San Telmo or El Fortín Salteño. For baked, La Cocina and El Sanjuanino are hard to beat. The real answer: try both.
Where can I find the best northern-style empanadas in Buenos Aires?
For Salta-style empanadas, try El Fortín Salteño or La Imperfecta. For Tucumán-style, look for places advertising 'empanadas tucumanas' — they use hand-chopped beef and are traditionally fried. For Bolivian salteñas (a soupy, sweet-dough cousin), TayTay in Saavedra and La Paceña in Belgrano are the go-to spots. The Bolivian market area in Liniers is also worth the trip for adventurous eaters.
Are empanada chains like El Noble worth trying in Buenos Aires?
El Noble is the most respected chain — Reddit users acknowledge they're 'the best of the chains' with consistent quality and the widest filling variety. Mi Gusto is another popular chain with strong Reddit support, especially for takeaway. They won't blow your mind like a specialist shop, but they're reliable, cheap, and everywhere. Perfect for a quick grab-and-go when you don't want to hunt down a hidden gem.
🎟️ Book Buenos Aires Experiences
Tours and activities hand-picked for this guide — book with free cancellation
Food Tour
Best Buenos Aires Food Tours & Tastings
Night Food Tour
Buenos Aires Night Street Food Tour
Cooking Class
Buenos Aires Cooking Class & Market Visit
Explore More
All Buenos Aires Tours & Activities →
Experiences via Viator — free cancellation on most tours