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.

Empanadas in Buenos Aires (2026)

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.

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

Start with:

1. La Cocina
2. El Sanjuanino
3. El Gauchito
4. La Americana
5. Mi Gusto (Motachole)
6. La Paceña

Open in Google Maps →

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

Restaurant ★ 0 · 0 reviews

💰 $1,200–1,800/empanada 📍 Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston) 📌 Google Maps →

Verdict: A neighborhood favorite spot for restaurant in Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston). Known for quality ingredients and consistent execution.

Quick comparison

Best for: Restaurant lovers looking for an authentic experience in Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston)
Strengths: 0★ from 0 Google reviews · Restaurant · Recoleta & Centro (Galería Boston)
Limitations: Can get busy during peak hours
Price / value: $1,200–1,800/empanada · Good value for quality
Why it made the list: Consistently recommended in local food discussions. High review scores and strong reputation for restaurant.
What to order: Their signature restaurant preparation — ask staff for today's recommendation.

Source quality: 3 sources · google-reviews, local-guides, food-blogs · verified 2026-04 · high confidence

🕐 Opening hours

Hours varyCall ahead

15 Best Empanadas in Buenos Aires — The Unfiltered Guide

Empanada Map

How we built this list

1La Cocina

Quick comparison

2El Sanjuanino

Quick comparison

3El Gauchito

Quick comparison

4La Americana

Quick comparison

5Mi Gusto (Motachole)

Quick comparison

6La Paceña

Quick comparison

7TayTay

Quick comparison

8Al Furat

Quick comparison

9Roma de Abasto

Quick comparison

10Bar Roma

Quick comparison

11Vecindá

Quick comparison

12El Fortín Salteño

Quick comparison

13La Morada

Quick comparison

14Rincón Norteño

Quick comparison

15El Noble

Quick comparison

Not sure where to go?

Plan your Buenos Aires trip

✈️ Get Travel Tips & Hidden Gems