11 Great Spots for an Affordable Lunch in Buenos Aires
Proof you can still eat well when out and about without blowing the budget.
In Buenos Aires, the midday lunch is a smart way to eat out without seeing your wallet have palpitations. Across the city, more restaurants are offering the menú de mediodía (aka menú ejecutivo): its proper plates, quality ingredients, an included drink, and often the choice of either a starter or dessert. From local bodegon favorites to parrillas and global flavors, these lunchtime spots keep porteńos fed and refuelled at budget-friendly prices. Here are 11 options for your next midday outing, all coming in at $35,000 or less.
1. Condarco
Condarco is a Chacarita favourite that balances a relaxed ambiance, style, and seriously good and value-for-money food. Known for its tortilla de papas and cured fish, the menu shifts with the seasons but never compromises on quality. At lunchtime, a tighter lineup of porteño classics comes in big portions, a contrast to the evening sharing-plate vibe. The current midday deal includes a drink (water, soda, or wine) with standout mains like agroecological chicken leg with roasted potatoes and onion, or a vegan-friendly potato gnocchi with passata and pesto.
Price: $17,000 to $19,000
Location: Dorrego 901, Chacarita
Lunch special hours: Monday to Saturday 12.30 pm to 4 pm (no reservations)
Check out more awesome dining and drinking spots with our Chacarita guide
2. La Alacena Pastifico
The brainchild of chef Julieta Oriolo, La Alacena Pastificio began as a pasta production hub for her nearby La Alacena Trattoria. It’s now become an acclaimed pasta factory, salumeria, and restaurant celebrating honest Italian craft. The midday menu changes daily, featuring one hot and one cold option, and includes a drink. Past plates range from tonnarelli arrabbiata to spinach pasqualina, ham ravioli with pomodoro, and zucchini schiacciata with potato wedges. The hand-made pasta, organic eggs, and old-school technique make it feel like a quick detour to Italy.
Price: $19,500
Location: Cabrera 4002, Palermo Viejo (East)
Lunch special hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 4.30pm
Find more places to eat in the area with our Palermo Viejo (East) guide
3. La Causa Nikkei
A small chain of restaurants, La Causa Nikkei, hits a sweet spot between casual and intimate, with a menu of Peruvian-Japanese-inspired dishes. Tucked into a leafy street, the Palermo Chico locale has a compact dining room and warm service. The Almuerzo Causeña has two options: main, water, dessert, or coffee, or a slightly more expensive option with a starter. Begin with tiradito nikkei, caustia, or tequeños. Then tuck into a choice of seven mains, including 10 sushi pieces, a salmon poke bowl, and ceviche. Come for a later lunch, then stick around for the 2x1 happy hour on drinks and beers (4 pm to 8 pm).
Price: $18,900 to $21,400
Location: Cerviño 3550, Palermo Chico and Callao 1290, Recoleta
Lunch special hours: Daily 12 pm to 4 pm
Get the lowdown on what to see and where to eat with our Recoleta guide
4. Macha
In the heart of Caballito, Macha reimagines comfort classics with seasonal organic produce and wood-fired cooking, blending traditional asado techniques with modern methods. The lunchtime menu is a proper appetite filler, including a welcome Vermouth, a starter, a main with a side, a drink, and coffee. There’s a smaller option of main with side, drink, and coffee only, too. Current starter choices include empanadas, grilled mushrooms, cheese-and-olive pinchos, and eggplant with parmesan. Then you can pick from eight mains, with 250g bife de chorizo (strip steak) and ojo de bife (rib-eye) being big hitters alongside chicken milanesa and bondiola (pork neck).
Price: $18,000 to $22,000 (10% discount in cash)
Location: Av. Pedro Goyena 899, Caballito
Lunch special hours: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4 pm (excluding public holidays)
5. Todo Brasas
On a busy Villa Devoto avenue, Todo Brasas elevates the classic Argentine parrilla with slow-cooked cuts suspended in industrial jualas (iron cages) that roast over wood for up to 4 hours. The vibe is bold and relaxed; costillares (ribs) and vacío (flank steak) take centre stage while the energetic dining room strives to bring the campo into the city. Their menú ejecutivo here includes a main, a side drink, and a dessert. Choose from fusilli pasta with fileto sauce, bife de chorizo and grilled chicken, the latter two with mash, fries or salad sides. Water, soft drink, or lemonade, and a dulce de leche pancake complete the set.
Price: $22,000
Location: Beiro 5016, Villa Devoto
Lunch special hours: Daily 12 pm to 4.30 pm
Discover some more restaurants with our complete Villa Devoto guide