Buenos Aires: Best "not a Parilla" Restaurants - No Skips

Cover Photo: MARTi - Watermelon Gazpacho

You can walk down any street in Buenos Aires and point to a grade A parilla with amazing steaks, but what happens when you're exhausted of steak? Trust me it will happen if you stay over two weeks in BA. 

When you hit that inevitable wall these are some spots you cannot miss out on while you're in town! 

Gran Dabbang

Gran Dabbang

@TheTakeaway

An absolute MUST TRY in Buenos Aires. It recently moved up on the list of the 50 Best Restaurants in South America and for good reason. Experts at Indian flavors, Gran Dabbang is an excellent break from the more tamed spice palette of the typical Argentinian.

Add to

Details

They don't accept reservations at Gran Dabbang, but if you arrive shortly before or after they open you can get seated right away. Be sure to dress for the weather as half of their seating is outside and the location is pretty small. 

Mishiguene

Mishiguene

@TheTakeaway

A very unique set of flavors for Buenos Aires, Mishiguene has authentic Jewish dishes with an Argentinian flare. Make a reservation well in advance and go for a nice walk through the neighborhood when you're done. P.S. The homemade pickles are to DIE for!!

Add to

Details

A very cute and cozy restaurant for a date night. You must make reservations in advance and they do fill up so be sure to plan in advance. If you eat here you MUST try the pickles. 

La Mar

La Mar

@TheTakeaway

Feeling like some fresh seafood and cocktails? La Mar is a fantastic casual eatery with excellent Peruvian ceviche, Oysters, sushi and a great spot to people watch! An easy addition to Saturday shopping in downtown Palermo.

Add to

Details

After a day of shopping and sightseeing on a relaxed Saturday there is nothing better than cocktails and seafood. La Mar has some of the best casual seafood in the city and is right outside Palermo Hollywood. Think city shopping vibes meets ocean breeze. 

Fa Song Song

Fa Song Song

@TheTakeaway

Ok hidden gem time! Flying completely under the radar in an unsuspecting part of town is this absolute FLAVOR BOMB of a restaurant. Deep, rich sauces and authentic Korean flavor, this spot will have you sweating! 🌶🌶🌶

Add to

Details

Argentina has amazing flavors in the city, but heat can be seriously lacking at times. Fa Song Song brings the HEAT and is located just a few blocks from Galerias Pacifico, a cute little mall where you can find most essentials and Plaza General San Martin, a fantastic park with a lovely monument.

Rapanui

Rapanui

@TheTakeaway

A MUST try in BA. Best Ice cream ever! My controversial take is this ice cream challenges even the gelato of Italy.

Add to

Details

Bonus: Rapanui is located down the street from Fa Song Song as well and may or may not be the BEST ice cream in the city and has many other sweet treats as well.

Mad Pasta House

Mad house

@TheTakeaway

A newer concept in BA with the chefs from extremely notable restaurants in the area Mad House will exceed every expectation you have about pasta! I know I said no steak, but the Ribeye with the Cacio e Pepe is heavenly. I won't tell if you don't.

Add to

Details

A bit out of the way from the other restaurants Mad Pasta House is located in the San Isidro area. Even if it's just to visit this restaurant I highly recommend you check out San Isidro. You'll see high class houses and gated communities as well as businesses stacked on top of one another. The area has a lot of fantastic restaurants and is often overlooked. 

MARTi Barra

MARTi barra

@TheTakeaway

If you've been in BA five minutes you already know the vegetable game is a bit...lackluster. That can NOT be said here! MARTi takes steak lover out of the best of us. Amazingly delicious meal that will make you forget about the steak culture and have you begging for a vegan mushroom butter.

Add to

Details

Near the Recoleta Cemetery which is a common tourist destination in the city, MARTi is an absolute must try. It's vegetarian (yes, you read that right), but rivals the best parillas in flavor! The restaurant is extremely unassuming on the outside with just a street number to guide you. You ring the bell and are led through what looks like a club entrance then BAM you are surrounded by glass windows and greenery covering the walls. 

Juan Pedro

Juan Pedro Caballero tacos y churros

@TheTakeaway

Missing a taste of Mexico? Juan Pedro has you covered with authentic street tacos, elotes and churros! The tortillas are FRESH and the corn is the best I've ever had outside of Mexico. An excellent way to spice up your dinner plans.

Add to

Details

A bit of an accidental find, Juan Pedro is located right in the heart of Palermo Soho. The best shopping, gifts, markets and nightlife are all in this area so it's no surprise it can often be packed, but they certainly keep up with demand. The restaurant is quite small, but there is outdoor seating and you can of course take your tacos to go. Make sure to try the elotes before you go! 

Togni's Pizza

Togni's Pizza

@TheTakeaway

Finishing off with a classic everyone loves: Pizza! Now pizza at any old location in BA is likely to have green olives or you might run into the fugazzeta which is more like a giant pie filled with cheese and topped with onions, but at Togni's you can't miss out on the deep dish pizza. Beware: each slice is HUGE!

Add to

Details

Finally, I have to include a classic: Pizza! Is this the best Pizza in BA? Probably not. However, if you're craving that deep dish, saucy, cheesy, pepperoni-y slice Togni's is absolutely your best bet. Located in a gorgeous area with a ton of diversity as well so be sure to explore nearby spots. You'll want to walk off that pizza anyway, it's heavy in the best possible way. 

Remember that most people don't even think about dinner until 8 or 9 pm in BA so if you see an empty restaurant at 7pm don't be alarmed and maybe take a stroll around the neighborhood or grab a drink before dinner. 

Happy eating! 🥘