Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More

REVIEW · EMPANADAS AND ALFAJORES

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More

5.0 · 118 reviews 3 hours (approx.) From $93 Operated by Secret Food Tours · Bookable on Viator
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Buenos Aires runs on food, and this tour turns that into a smart walk through Palermo. You’ll hit classic Argentine bites across a few distinct pockets of the neighborhood, with stops that also point out what makes the city tick. I especially like that the experience is built around real flavors and short, story-focused moments rather than a random restaurant hop.

Two things I really love: first, you get the kind of lineup that matters, including empanadas and a fire-grilled parrillada with chimichurri that lives up to the hype. Second, you’re not just eating in silence, the guide connects the food to place and tradition, including a proper mate moment.

One possible drawback: it’s a walking tour and you should plan on comfort on foot. Also, the tour cannot accommodate allergies to eggs, milk, cheese, and garlic, so check early if you have restrictions.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - Key Highlights You’ll Care About

  • Small group size (max 12) keeps the vibe friendly and makes questions easy.
  • Multiple savory stops plus dessert so you leave full, not just curious.
  • Fire-grilled parrillada with chimichurri is a core experience, not a side note.
  • Mate and local drink culture are part of the program, with a guide-led explanation.
  • Palermo storytelling includes street-level history pointers you’d likely miss alone.
  • End with Argentine sweets, including hand-made alfajor and award-winning gelato.

Palermo, 3 Hours, Up To 12 People, and Why That Matters

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - Palermo, 3 Hours, Up To 12 People, and Why That Matters
This is a 3-hour walking food tour in Buenos Aires, priced at $93 per person. For that kind of time and cost, the key value is not just the food, it’s the planning: you’re guided to multiple well-chosen stops in an area that makes sense to explore on foot.

The group is capped at 12 travelers. That small size shows in how smoothly the stops flow and how easy it is to talk with your guide, like Lucy, Martin, or Eliab, all of whom come up repeatedly in great reviews. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, this matters because you’ll actually be part of the group instead of getting shuffled around.

Also, you start in the Palermo area near Plaza Serrano and finish at Godoy Cruz 1823. There’s no pick-up or drop-off, so you’ll want to arrive on your own and be ready to walk between spots. Comfortable shoes are a must since the tour involves a fair amount of walking, even if most of the routes feel manageable.

Plaza Güemes: The Secret Dish Start That Gives You a Baseline

You begin near Plaza Güemes, in the Villa Freud micro-district area. Your guide kicks things off by introducing the Secret Food Tours concept and setting you up for what to look for as you go.

The first food moment happens at a respected restaurant, and the tour includes a secret dish described as historically significant. You don’t need to know the backstory to enjoy the bite, but having context early helps you notice how Buenos Aires keeps reusing themes across generations: comfort food, neighborhood identity, and the way traditions show up in everyday meals.

This stop is about starting strong. The time here is around 30 minutes, and admission is free. Practically, it’s a good warm-up, especially if you’re arriving hungry and want to get your bearings without a long wait.

From Old Palermo to Palermo Soho: Empanadas and a Sweet Break

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - From Old Palermo to Palermo Soho: Empanadas and a Sweet Break
Next you move from old-feeling streets toward Palermo Soho. The route is part stroll, part “look at this” city walk, showing how modern Palermo sits next to older layers of Buenos Aires.

You then head to Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia, in a trendy pocket of Palermo Soho where the food scene is busy. At this stop, you’ll also get a quick sweet treat at a cozy Buenos Aires-style coffee shop. That matters because Argentine meals are rarely only one note, and building in a sweet early helps keep the later savory hits from feeling overwhelming.

The tour’s focus here is classic Argentine dishes, with empanadas included in the overall experience and often treated as a highlight. In reviews, people call out empanadas as some of the best they’ve tasted, and that tracks with how this tour structures the day: you’re eating the staples, not only trendy variations.

One practical drawback to keep in mind: you’ll be outside at street level for most of the walk. If it’s very hot or very windy, you may feel it, so plan your day accordingly.

Evita Peron Drink Moment: How Mate Culture Changes the Way You Taste

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - Evita Peron Drink Moment: How Mate Culture Changes the Way You Taste
You’ll return to the Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia area for a drink stop connected to Evita Peron. This is a short stop, around 30 minutes, and it’s designed to add a cultural layer without turning the tour into a long lecture.

The drink is described as a typical Argentine beverage. In the feedback, mate pops up again and again, including a mini course on how to enjoy it like a local. That’s a smart inclusion because mate is more than a drink, it’s a social ritual. When you understand the basic rhythm, the first sip feels less like a novelty and more like you’re in on a local habit.

If you’re thinking about skipping drinks because you want to save room for food, don’t. The drink stop is part of the balance of flavors and textures across the tour, and it keeps the experience from turning into only savory-and-sweet chewing.

Plaza Serrano and Thames Street: Porteña History Meets Fire-Grilled Flavor

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - Plaza Serrano and Thames Street: Porteña History Meets Fire-Grilled Flavor
From Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia, you continue into the Palermo rhythm, then move toward Plaza Serrano. Here, you’ll stand in front of a monument tied to the history of the Porteña dictatorship. It’s the kind of detail you might miss on your own, which is exactly what a guided walk is for: pointing out what your eye tends to skip.

Then you head down Thames Street, described as one of Palermo’s trendiest streets. The food stop at this stage is a South America-marked dish, and you’ll taste something that shows up in many forms across the region.

In reviews, this segment often connects to grilled street favorites like choripan-style sandwiches, and it also sets up the big meat moment later in the tour. That pacing is useful. You get a savory bridge as you move through the neighborhood, so by the time you reach the parrillada, it feels like the main event rather than another plate you’re trying to power through.

A small consideration here: if you’re sensitive to strong smells like grilled meats, you’ll notice them on streets where parrilla culture is close by. Plan your expectations, then enjoy it for what Buenos Aires does well.

The Finish in Palermo Soho and Hollywood: Alfajor and Gelato to Close Strong

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - The Finish in Palermo Soho and Hollywood: Alfajor and Gelato to Close Strong
Your tour wraps up on the border between Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood, a fitting location if you like the idea of finishing in a lively area where people are out and about. The final stop centers on Argentine dessert, including a hand-made alfajor and award-winning gelato as part of what’s included.

This is the moment when the tour stops feeling like a food crawl and starts feeling like a proper meal-to-dessert arc. You’ll likely taste a sweet made with craft-focused chocolatiers, then finish with ice cream or gelato that leaves you satisfied but not sleepy.

Reviews also mention chocolate moments paired with mate, and an ending that can line up nicely with evening atmosphere. If you can choose a later start, like 6pm when offered, it can help the walk feel cooler and make the finish more fun since the area is waking up rather than winding down.

What You Actually Eat and Drink, and How Full You’ll Be

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - What You Actually Eat and Drink, and How Full You’ll Be
The included food list is the big promise here, and it’s a strong one. You get:

  • Empanadas
  • Fire-grilled parrillada with chimichurri
  • Award-winning gelato
  • Hand-made alfajor
  • A secret dish
  • A typical Argentine drink linked to Evita Peron

This lineup is designed to cover what many people come to Buenos Aires for: savory comfort food, grilled beef culture, and the country’s famous sweet side. You’re not just sampling one specialty, you’re getting the key categories in a way that feels connected.

Portion size can vary a bit depending on the restaurant and timing, but the feedback is consistent: people end up stuffed and happy. The tour is paced across multiple stops, so you get small-to-medium tastes instead of one huge meal all at once. That makes it easier to enjoy everything without turning the whole evening into a food coma.

The best approach for you is simple: come hungry, but don’t arrive starving. If you’re already exhausted, the walking plus meat-and-sweets combo can hit harder than you expect.

Price and Value: Is $93 a Good Deal for Palermo Food?

Buenos Aires Food Tour: Local Dishes, Steak, Empanada & More - Price and Value: Is $93 a Good Deal for Palermo Food?
At $93 per person for about 3 hours, this isn’t a bargain-basement deal. But it also isn’t priced like a fancy tasting menu. The value comes from the combination: multiple food stops, at least one major grilled-beef moment with chimichurri, plus desserts that include alfajor and gelato.

If you’re visiting Buenos Aires for the first time, this can be a smart way to avoid decision fatigue. You’ll otherwise spend time figuring out which places are worth it, then you’ll still miss the neighborhood context that makes the food feel like more than just food. A guided format helps you get it all in one night with a plan.

The small group also adds value. With up to 12 people, you tend to get better interaction with the guide, and that’s when the tour becomes more personal, especially when you ask questions about what you should do next.

Walking Tips, Timing Options, and Making It Feel Effortless

Since this is a walking tour, your comfort determines how much you enjoy it. I recommend wearing shoes that handle uneven pavement without complaint. Bring water if it’s warm, and keep a light layer for evenings since the Palermo vibe can shift quickly after sunset.

Timing helps, too. One theme in the reviews is that guests like doing it early in their stay, so they can use what they learn to guide future meals and wandering. If you can pick a later start around 6pm when available, it can make the walking feel more comfortable and the ending feel lively.

Also, don’t be shy about asking the guide for local ideas. Multiple guides in the feedback, including Lucy and Eliab, are noted for going beyond the tour with advice after the walk. Even a few extra suggestions can save you time once you’re back on your own.

Who Should Book This Tour, and Who Might Want to Skip

This tour fits best if you:

  • Want a short, high-reward food plan in Palermo
  • Like grilled Argentine food, including chimichurri flavor
  • Enjoy dessert culture, especially alfajor and gelato
  • Appreciate neighborhood context as you walk, not just restaurant stops
  • Want a group size small enough to talk

It may not fit you if:

  • You have allergies to eggs, milk, cheese, or garlic, since the tour can’t accommodate those
  • You hate walking or want a mostly seated experience
  • You prefer meals with zero cultural talking, because the guide includes history and tradition context

If you’re a couple, it’s an easy choice because you can focus on tasting and conversation. If you’re solo, the capped group size helps you feel included.

Should You Book This Buenos Aires Food Tour?

If your goal is to eat your way through Palermo without spending your time researching restaurants, this tour is a solid bet. The food lineup hits the recognizable Argentine classics, and the walk adds enough context to make the bites feel tied to place.

Book it if you come hungry, plan for a comfortable walking pace, and you have no restrictions on eggs, milk, cheese, or garlic. Skip it if you want a mostly indoor, fully accessible-with-minimal-walking evening, or if your dietary needs fall into those allergy categories.

Overall, this is the kind of tour that works as either your first foodie night in Buenos Aires or one of your highlights, as long as you show up ready for multiple tastings and a guided stroll through the Palermo food scene.

FAQ

How long is the Buenos Aires Food Tour?

It runs for approximately 3 hours, with time spent at several food stops along the way.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $93.00 per person.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts near Plaza Serrano (Serrano S/N, C1414 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires) and ends at Godoy Cruz 1823 (C1414CYM Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires).

Is pick-up or drop-off included?

No. Pick-up and drop-off are not included.

Can the tour accommodate allergies?

The tour is unable to accommodate allergies to eggs, milk, cheese, and garlic. If you have another dietary requirement, contact the tour in advance so they can try to cater appropriately.

What happens if weather is bad or you need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.