Best Restaurants in Salta, Argentina
During my visit to Salta, I was surprised by how delicious the regional food was compared to the other provinces I visited. The top 4 foods you need to try in the province of Salta are:
Locro- a hearty thick squash and corn stew typically with lamb meat cooked in. I couldn’t get enough of this savory soup with enormous al dente corn chunks.
Empanadas Salteñas- a smaller empanada with wheat-based flour, baked in a clay oven to lightly charred perfection. I was convinced corn-based empanadas were superior to the wheat-based ones made in Argentina…. until I came to Salta. The Province of Salta had the BEST empanadas in Argentina in my opinion. Be on the lookout for quinoa-based empanadas for something different- There are lots of varieties to try!
Tamales- a small circular shape and steamed in a corn husk; all the tamales I had in Salta were so moist and delicious.
Humitas- a sweet corn dish filled with cheese and very similar to a tamale but with more ancient roots.
La Empanada Salteña Potosina- a dish that is supposedly from Bolivia but got its claim to fame in Argentina, is similar to an empanada but much bigger in size and has a sweet flavor to the outside shell with a rich meaty filling.
For traditional regional dishes, this is the best spot in town. I came back here multiple times because I couldn’t get enough of their savory homemade locro! No need to make a reservation but if you are coming here at prime dinner time you may have to wait.
These were my favorite empanadas I had while visiting the city of Salta and has the feeling of an old Spanish villa. They also had a different variety of empanada called a Potosina as I mentioned above. They served all varieties of empanadas and even give you the option to have them baked in a clay oven or fried!
Boasting creativity with traditional ingredients, the chefs who launched this restaurant well execute high Andean cuisine with a gourmet touch. They include local ingredients such as llama and quinoa. The highlight for me was the llama carpaccio and lingote de chocolate picante (spicy chocolate ingot). The dessert was topped with crunchy quinoa puffs and a perfectly ripe tree tomato.
This was one of the best steakhouses in the city of Salta. The service was exceptional and the bife de chorizo cut was delicious! They have several locations for you to enjoy a steak at.
Where the locals go when they aren’t when they’re not grilling at home, this neighborhood parilla is bound to satisfy your steak craving. You can’t go wrong at any steakhouse but Tosca is a local favorite!
Bife de Chorizo
TIP: It is common for most Argentians to eat late (around 9pm and later) so if you want to beat the crowds, a 7pm dinner will be easier to get a seat! Keep in mind that because most locals eat late, most restaurants do not open for dinner until late (sometimes 8pm!).
