Top Snack Foods in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires may be the Paris of the Americas with its Art Noveau architecture, Parisian style tree lined streets, and cafes on every corner, but as a hungry traveler looking for a cheap snack, or as an employee on lunch break looking for something healthy, Buenos Aires can be a far cry from the rich and gourmet foods of Paris.

To be sure, Buenos Aires has it's own food culture, but this culture tends to consist of foods that would make any health nut cringe, or kill anyone with a sweet tooth. The following is my list of top must try snacks in Buenos Aires. Most are terribly unhealthy, but there are a few here that won't expand waistline, at least not very much : )

1. ALFAJORES: Snack number one is Argentina's famous Alfajor. These yummy dulce de leche filled cookies can be purchased at any kiosko or supermarket and are often reasonably priced at between $1 peso to $7 pesos for the more high end alfajores. I personally recommend the Havanna Alfajores which, while on the higher end of the price list, is very difficult to beat. A healthier adaptation of the alfajor made from rice cakes instead of cookies is called Chocarroz. These can also be found in any supermarket and will often satisfy any sweet tooth in less calories.

Havanna makes some of the best Alfajores in Bs. As.

Artesanal Alfajores from a confiteria located on Avenida Pueyrredon

Alfajores and tortas for sale at La Porteña

2.EMPANADAS: When one is looking for a more savory snack, or maybe even a meal, look no further than the empanada. Coming in flavors of pollo, carne, cebolla, picante, verdura, and more, there is always variety to choose from and they can be found ready to eat on nearly every street in the city. Reasonably priced at about $6 pesos each, empanadas can be a hearty snack or a meal substitute and, while not very healthy, they can be quite satisfying to an empty stomach.

Four varieties of empanadas offered at La Portena Confiteria y Panaderia

3. PANCHOS: What do you turn to when you're sick of the empanadas? Panchos! Yes, the Argentine adaptation of the American hot dog is as popular as ever and is offered in most kioskos. The pancho, often called the Super Pancho, is like an American hot dog but is usually longer. Toppings include onion, mustard, and a skinny and crispy version of the French fry. Panchos are usually priced at no more than $10 pesos and could be a large snack or lunch if you desire.

4. CHORIPAN: If you're looking for more than a small snack the choripan might be the way to go. This savory sausage wrapped in bread is a staple here in Buenos Aires. It is both filling and fattening so watch out. Choripan (a combination of the words "chorizo" and "pan") is a heavy snack for a meat lover with a big appetite. One choripan is usually priced between $15 and $20 pesos and are more of a meal than a snack. Nonetheless there are choripan shacks located throughout the parks of Palermo where you can find the perfect meal to cancel out all the calories you had burned running in the park.

Sr Choripan, located in the heart of Recoleta, is a one-stop place for chorizo, bondiola, panchos, empanadas, facturas and most other snack foods popular in Bs. As.

5. TREBOL BARS: Probably the healthiest and most reasonably priced snack food are the Trebol bars. These sunflower and mixed seed based bars can be found in all the Chinese supermarkets throughout Buenos Aires. They are reasonably priced at between $7 and $8 pesos
***The Chinese supermarket I go to has charged me $7, $7.50, and $8 pesos respectively each time I have bought Trebol bars there. I wonder if the price changes that much in one week or if they just arbitrarily decide the price based on the customer. Regardless, these bars are my replacement for the lack of cliff bars or any other type of health food bar in Bs. As.

6. HELADO: Of course there is always ice cream. While ice cream is on the pricey side, it is possible to find deals in even the chain establishments like Freddo, Persicco, and Volta. Freddo and Volta offer $16 peso quarter kilos of dulce de leche ice cream, while all three offer $9-$10 peso single scoop cones of any flavor. A refreshing taste of wine-flavored Sambayon or the vanilla and milk cream flavored Crema Americana on a hot day is difficult to pass up, especially since ice cream is one of the things Bs. As. does best.

A sign located on the Freddo window advertising the $16 peso 1/4 kilo.

7. TATUCA: Number seven is one of my all time faves. Tatuca is possibly the best snack I've found since moving to BA last October. While not the healthiest, this sweet and sugary popcorn is certainly not the worst food you could be consuming, and you could eat an entire bag and only feel as though you ate a light meal. The popcorn itself has a caramel flavor, a lot like caramel corn but without the sticky outer coating. This snack usually costs around $4 pesos, you should never pay more than $5, and can be found at most kioskos. Tatuca is also the perfect movie snack as it doesn't have the buttery and fatty flavor of normal popcorn but "tastes" just as good.  

There is a large variety of grab and go foods to choose from in Bs. As. Most are either high in fat and savory, or high in fat and sweet, with relatively few healthy options. Still, it is possible to find healthy snacks for those determined enough to look. Even now verdulerias are beginning to offer fruit salads to go, and many specify no sugar added. While the health food craze may have taken off in places like the
United States, it is only just beginning here in Argentina, and foods high in sugar and fat still have a strong cultural influence. McDonalds and other fast food is extremely popular despite being more expensive than in the states, and one would be hard pressed to find an "ensalada" as an entree at most restaurants. Still, healthy eating has begun to take root and restaurants are slowly beginning to offer healthy dishes. Only time will tell whether this trend will reach the magnitude it has reached in the states.

Personally, I think we'll only know for certain that this trend is here to stay when I start to see Clif and Luna bars for sale in the grocery stores. I do miss my Clif bars :  )

Cheers folks,