A Vegetarian Guide to Buenos Aires

To travel to Buenos Aires and not eat your fair share of meat could almost be considered a crime. Meat in all its varieties – steaks, chorizos, and morcilllas – is to Argentine food, what Feijão is to Brazilian or rice to most Asian cooking. It’s a staple ingredient in Argentine cuisine. But what if you’re a vegetarian travelling in this meat lover’s country? Or maybe as a meat eater, you just can’t keep up with the Argentines’ carnivorous enthusiasm and need a healthy meat-free break. Fear not as we have created a short vegetarian guide to Buenos Aires. A vegetarian who has travelled to Buenos Aires knows all too well the pain of suffering through an Asado or a night out at one of Buenos Aires’ many Parrilla restaurants (traditional restaurants specializing in barbequed meat). Where at best you fill up on an ‘ensalada mixta’ - which really only serves as decoration to the meat; a few lettuce leaves and tomatoes, which could do with a bit more flavour and variety – or you make up your own chimichurri sandwich, with bread from the table’s breadbasket. [caption id="attachment_6248" align="alignnone" width="640"] Can't face another ensalada mixta? / source[/caption] While it’s not easy – among all the Parrillas – to find good vegetarian food in Buenos Aires, the city has become increasingly vegetarian-friendly over the past few years. Where once asking about the non-meat options on the menu, the waiter would recommend you the chicken or ham dish, nowadays even a few Parrillas incorporate vegetarian options on their menu. However, it often limits itself to pasta - which in Buenos Aires, with its strong Italian heritage, is delicious, but can get a bit tiresome. After a few weeks in Argentina as a vegetarian, the sight of more pasta, another ensalada mixta and veggie empanadas, might tip you over the edge.  So, we’ve come up with a short vegetarian guide to Buenos Aires.

Take advantage of the International cuisine with our vegetarian guide to Buenos Aires!

China

On the one hand, there has been an influx of Chinese immigrants to Buenos Aires and this is great news for vegetarians. Chinese Restaurants and buffet-style takeaways are never too far away and you can also visit the local Barrio Chino (Buenos Aires’ Chinatown) in the neighbourhood of Belgrano, which is filled with great Chinese restaurants and supermarkets and is one of the most recommended in our vegetarian guide to Buenos Aires for the amount of vegetarian food options available! [caption id="attachment_6255" align="alignnone" width="640"] China town / source[/caption]

Armenia

Buenos Aires also has an important Arab and Armenian community. Many vegetarians have left, very satisfied customers, after trying the Falafel, Babaganoush (eggplant dish) and heavenly hummus at the Armenian Restaurant Sarkis in Palermo (Thames 1101). Another great option in our vegetarian guide to Buenos Aires, if you want to try the variety of meat-free options Arab food offers, is a dinner at the UGAB, also in Palermo. This is a very unique experience, as it is a supper club run by a group of local Armenian mothers, raising money for their kids to be able to visit the homeland Armenia on a high school trip. Delicious home-cooked Armenian food at very reasonable prices! (Only open on Friday and Saturday nights, from 8pm, Armenia 1322, Palermo) [caption id="attachment_6251" align="alignnone" width="640"] Delicious Armenian food, at Sarkis. / source[/caption]

Peru

Immigration from Peru can be noted throughout Buenos Aires too. And Peruvian cuisine, largely based on vegetables, a variety of grains (rice, quinoa etc.) and seafood it can make for the perfect vegetarian option in Buenos Aires. Especially if you eat seafood, the Japanese influences in Peruvian food, make for some great dishes. The ceviche is a must try! There are many Peruvian restaurants in the central neighbourhoods of Almagro and Montserrat. If you love seafood and fancy a great night out in an upscale restaurant Sipan, with its fusion cuisine (Peruvian/Japanese) has some spectacular seafood dishes. (in the Palermitano Hotel, Uriarte 1648, Palermo Soho). For a less upscale night out try Chan Chan in Congreso, that serves up delicious, traditional Peruvian dishes. (Hipólito Yrigoyen 1390) [caption id="attachment_6253" align="alignnone" width="640"] Delicious Peruvian ceviche - a must try if you love sushi! / source[/caption]

Mexico

Mexican food isn’t necessarily famous for being vegetarian; however, there are a few Mexican restaurants in Buenos Aires, which serve delicious meat-free quesadillas, fajitas and mouth-watering guacamoles. There’s a variety of Mexican Restaurants around Buenos Aires, you’ll come across quite a few in Palermo. A great place is La Fabrica del Taco in Palermo (Gorritti 5062, Palermo Soho). Again, there isn’t a huge meat-free selection but it’s worth going for the excellent vegetarian tacos,  quesadillas, guacamole and refried beans. A restaurant - less Mexican – but where the vegetarian quesadillas and Fajitas are to die for is Las Cabras, also in Palermo. This is a great place for dinner if you’re planning a night out with friends who eat meat, as it is mainly a parilla, but puts just as much care into its vegetarian dishes. (Fitz Roy 1795, Palermo Viejo) [caption id="attachment_6254" align="alignnone" width="500"] Mmm...vegetarian Fajitas! / source[/caption]

Puertas Cerradas

Another great option for vegetarians in Buenos Aires is to enjoy a very unique dining experience at a Puertas Cerradas – read about it in our recent blog post, dedicated entirely to this new Buenos Aires dining trend. One of these closed doors restaurants, that stands out for serving high quality vegetarian exclusive meals is Casa Felix in the neighbourhood of Chacarita. Well, as you can see the influx of international cuisine to Buenos Aires has come as a saviour to many a vegetarian travelling to Argentina. A vegetarian suffering in Buenos Aires is a thing of the past! Of course, there are many, many more vegetarian restaurants that are starting to pop up all over the city, but that’s material for a whole new post. So, keep your eyes peeled! Don’t forget if you’re travelling to Buenos Aires, have a look at our online catalogue, here, with the best tours and activities in Buenos Aires.