15 Places to Eat Really Well in Buenos Aires for Under $30,000

Born in Saavedra and now with a second location in Villa Urquiza, Del Río brings back the spirit of the neighborhood cantina with an Italian twist. The result is a kitchen that moves between comforting classics and homemade pasta.

From noon to 4pm, Del Río packages that concept into a practical lunch format: for $25,000, you get a main dish of your choice, such as meatballs with mashed potatoes, baby beef with fries or salad, Neapolitan milanesa with mash, ricotta and spinach cannelloni Rossini-style, malfatti with pomodoro sauce, spinach tagliatelle with meatballs, filet a la romana, or Caesar salad with grilled chicken. It also includes a drink (soda, lemonade, water, or a glass of wine) and coffee.

Good to know: if you pay cash, the menu costs $23,000.

Where: Av. García del Río 2957, Saavedra; Av. Congreso 5702, Villa Urquiza.

Puchero offers an executive lunch menu for $19,900, available Monday through Friday at lunchtime, including a main dish, drink (water, soda, vermouth, or a glass of wine), and dessert or coffee.

There’s plenty to choose from: grilled chicken breast with a side, eggplant parmigiana, sirloin-and-cheese sorrentinos with tomato sauce, traditional Neapolitan chicken supreme with a side and crispy salad, among others.

The concept is a contemporary cantina with a family feel, where classic Buenos Aires cuisine is reinterpreted through high-quality ingredients and solid technique in the western neighborhood of Villa Luro.

Good to know: if you want to go beyond the meal itself, Puchero also hosts blind tastings, themed gatherings, and special degustation events.

Where: Av. Rivadavia 10300, Villa Luro.

Executive lunch menus don’t have to stick to traditional porteño dishes: Peruvian cuisine with Nikkei influences also has a place, thanks to Kamay Casa Gardel, chef Raúl Zorrilla’s newest project in Abasto.

Also of interest: The ramen route in Buenos Aires: 10 tables and counters to warm you from the inside

From Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5pm, the restaurant offers a daily menu for $15,900 (cash only), including a starter, main course, and either a non-alcoholic drink, a glass of wine, or coffee.

The options rotate but always keep the house identity intact. Starters may include classic causa or leche de tigre, while mains range from risotto with fish in Nikkei sauce to a 12-piece sushi box selected by the itamae.

Good to know: the venue features sidewalk seating with long couches, a spacious dining room with an open kitchen, and an outdoor patio with colorful details and a communal table.

Where: Carlos Gardel 3131, Balvanera.

At its Villa Urquiza and Villa Devoto locations, La Condesa serves generous milanesa plates for under $30,000, such as the veal milanesa with fries and two fried eggs for $22,500.

For $25,900, you can try the Neapolitan version with mash or fries; fugazzeta-style with Spanish potatoes; or spinach-and-cream with noisette potatoes. And for just $29,900, there’s a ribeye milanesa served with gnocchi or tagliolini.

There’s also a weekday executive menu for $25,500, including starter or dessert, main course, and drink. Starters include empanadas, fritters, or mini choripán bites, while mains feature beef, chicken, or milanesas with sides.

Good to know: there’s an even more affordable menu for $22,500, including a main dish, dessert, and drink, with options like tagliatelle with sauce, the house salad, or Caesar salad.

Where: Av. Olazábal 5196, Villa Urquiza; Asunción 4031, Villa Devoto.

Another project by chef Raúl Zorrilla, also located in Abasto. From Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4pm, Grau offers a generous executive menu for only $13,000, including starter, main course, and drink, with options changing daily.

Starters include house signatures like fish chilcano, classic cebiche, or papa a la huancaína, while mains feature dishes such as fish in tamarind sauce with aeropuerto-style wok rice and vegetables, spicy seafood stew, or fish tallarín saltado.

To drink, there are lemonades and infusions, including pineapple-and-apple blends.

Good to know: everything is served in a modern, spacious, and bright dining room with an open kitchen.

Where: Guardia Vieja 3372, Balvanera.

Monday through Friday, from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Picarón offers either an omnivore plate ($26,500) or a vegetarian plate ($25,500), including dessert of the day and water service.

The menu changes weekly but always revolves around seasonal ingredients. Recent highlights include the double smash burger with mimolette cheese and mango barbecue sauce; pumpkin cappellacci with vegetable demi-glace and citrus butter; glazed fried chicken with gochujang, coleslaw, and cucumber pickles; sweet potato risotto with scallions and pangrattato; and catch of the day with carrot purée, tamarind sauce, and lime.

Good to know: the concept is led by Maxi Rossi, a chef recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Where: Av. Dorrego 866, Chacarita.

In Saavedra, Raíces Cocina Casera offers a weekday executive menu from 11am to 4pm, available both in-house, takeaway, and delivery.

The menu includes a main dish of your choice, drink —soda, flavored water, or lemonade— and coffee or dessert (options include dulce de leche pancakes, bread pudding, flan, cheese-and-quince, or mousse), starting at $21,000 depending on the main selected.

There are two main menu tiers. The first, at $21,000, includes dishes such as vegetable lasagna with tomato sauce, ricotta-ham-spinach cannelloni in pink sauce, homemade noodles with tomato sauce and mini meatballs, and even kidneys Provençal-style.

The second option costs $23,000 and includes dishes like Riojana-style pork ribs, stuffed chicken breast with leek sauce, and teriyaki pork flank with sweet potato mash.

Good to know: side dishes are flexible, and many meals allow swaps for fries, mashed potatoes, or salad.

Where: Crisólogo Larralde 3995, Saavedra.

In Caballito, Ronconcon explores flavors from Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina through a very personal lens.

On Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5pm, the restaurant offers a brunch menu for $25,900, including a baked item, a main course, and a drink, plus one bottle of water for every two people.

The feast might begin with classics like cheese fritters with panela sauce, Andean arepitas, or tequeños. Main dishes include casabe pizza —a crispy cassava base— topped with citrus ricotta and roasted peaches, or white fish ceviche with yellow chili leche de tigre.

Drinks range from Jamaica water, tamarind juice, aguapanela, and coconut lemonade to Bierhaus beer and wines by the glass.

Everything takes place in a colorful house with a patio and sidewalk seating, where lively music and a relaxed atmosphere encourage long lunches.

Good to know: paying cash gets you a 10% discount.

Where: Beauchef 527, Caballito.

A historic notable bar in Microcentro, Lavalle serves an affordable $30,000 menu centered around one of the house’s most beloved dishes: shepherd’s pie, Argentine-style.

Also of interest: The best milanesas in Buenos Aires: an essential culinary guide

The recipe keeps the homemade spirit of the venue but with a more contemporary touch: it’s made with braised beef full of rich flavor and topped with creamy gratinated mashed potatoes.

The menu also includes a glass of Malbec, with a choice between two Mendoza labels: Mara from Ernesto Catena Winery or Solsticio from Camino de Anchoris, both from the Uco Valley.

Good to know: the bar sits on the historic corner of Lavalle and Rodríguez Peña, birthplace of artist Florencio Molina Campos, and is open daily from 8am to 2am.

Where: Lavalle and Rodríguez Peña, San Nicolás.

For those in the northern suburbs —or simply looking to slow down a bit— Zulu Haus offers a Japanese-inspired midday break in La Lucila.

At lunchtime, the focus is on bentos. These classic Japanese tray meals bring together several preparations in balanced portions, and at Zulu the idea becomes a contemporary version with its own identity.

Each bento —priced at $26,000— includes a small starter, a hot main dish, a sweet fruit bite, and a cold drink.

Starters are usually vegetable-based, served as salads, pickles, or grilled vegetables, always paired with a Japanese dressing or sauce. Main dishes are built around rice with vegetables and a protein that may vary between chicken, beef, or pork.

Good to know: the menu changes every two days, creating a dynamic that encourages repeat visits.

Where: Salvador Debenedetti 635, La Lucila.

Saigón Noodle Bar offers a weekday executive lunch menu exclusively at its Palermo and San Telmo locations. The Vietnamese street food restaurant, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, specializes in traditional Southeast Asian recipes alongside vegetarian, vegan, and meat-based options.

The menu, which rotates periodically, features starters such as pork or tofu nems, followed by mains like Thit Xao —a Vietnamese-style stir-fry with rice noodles and pork shoulder— or tofu curry.

At both locations, there are two menu formats available: main course plus drink for $15,000, or starter, main course, and drink for $17,000. Drinks include lemonade, tea, or still/sparkling water.

This menu is available Monday through Friday from noon to 4pm, excluding public holidays.

Good to know: all payment methods are accepted, but there’s a 10% surcharge for debit or credit card payments.

Where: Soler 4388, Palermo; Bolívar 986, San Telmo.

La Academia, a historic notable bar opened in 1930, joins the list with three full menus priced at $30,000 each, all including starter, main course, dessert, and drink.

Main dishes feature classic bodegón-style favorites such as Neapolitan milanesa with fries, homemade ribbon pasta with scarparo sauce, and eggplant parmigiana. Every menu includes water, soda, or a glass of house wine, plus flan with dulce de leche for dessert —which can also be swapped for coffee.

The milanesa menu starts with a beef empanada; the homemade pasta menu opens with an olive triolet; and the eggplant option comes with a vegetarian starter: Caprese salad.

Good to know: you can add a game of pool to any menu. Another great perk: La Academia is open 24 hours a day, every day.

Where: Montevideo 341, San Nicolás (Microcentro).

KOI Dumplings also offers an executive menu at its Avellaneda, Ingeniero Maschwitz, and La Plata branches.

Every day from noon to 4pm, there are two options available: a serving of buns with fries and a drink for $21,000, or a ramen of your choice with a drink for $26,000. There’s also an all-day option: chicken or vegetable chow mein or chow fan with a drink for $18,000.

Also of interest: 11 Restaurants Where Heat Envelops and Transforms

Everything is served in venues defined by a colorful, modern aesthetic inspired by contemporary Asian culture: neon signs, red tables, manga and anime references, and an Asian street food atmosphere.

Good to know: opened in early April, Koi Avellaneda is the brand’s first location inside a shopping mall. A few days later, Koi Maschwitz opened inside Quo Containers, a commercial space built from shipping containers.

Where: Gral. Güemes 897, Avellaneda; Mendoza 1667, Ingeniero Maschwitz; Calle 22 899, La Plata.

Shanghai Express invites diners to lunch on Chinese cuisine classics served in generous portions and with multiple protein options.

Among the available dishes is chao fan, made with stir-fried long-grain rice, egg, carrots, and scallions. It comes with vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, mixed proteins, or shrimp, for only $15,500.

They also offer the Zen combo for one person, including a bao and chicken chao fan for $18,000. Another option is chao mein, with stir-fried noodles, carrots, zucchini, onion, cabbage, sprouts, and soy sauce. It can be ordered with pork, mixed proteins, or shrimp for $15,500.

Good to know: for those looking for an even more protein-packed dish, there’s chicken with almonds, stir-fried in soy sauce and served with rice or noodles, for $17,000.

Where: Almirante Seguí 1684, Caballito; Cnel. Pablo Zufriategui 975, Ituzaingó.

“The dough for our pinsa uses 600 grams of wheat flour, 250 grams of rice flour, and 150 grams of soy flour,” explains Santiago Amin, chef at La Zarpada. Their individual Neapolitan pinsa costs $14,500, and you can add a slice of classic fainá for $2,500 and a draft beer for $4,400 to complete the experience at a great price.

Another menu combination could start with an nduja and mozzarella empanada for $3,400, followed by a Swiss chard and pumpkin tart for $14,300, paired with a glass of wine for $5,700 and finished with chocotorta for $6,400. Total: $29,800.

If you prefer a large pear, blue cheese, and brie pizza, you’ll still stay under $30,000: it costs $22,900, and you can add water or soda for $3,300, or a draft craft beer for $4,400.

Everything takes place in a setting inspired by the 1950s and 1960s, featuring murals of Sandro and Coca Sarli, a piano, foosball table, communal tables, and a bar counter.

Good to know: La Zarpada is one of the pizzerias that helped popularize Roman-style pinsa in Argentina.

Where: Bulnes 910, Almagro.