3 must-visit food stops at San Telmo market

Time Out

5 hours ago

When a foreign tourist arrives in Argentina, there is an unavoidable ritual: trying some of the iconic dishes of our cuisine. Asado undoubtedly takes first place, and milanesa easily settles into second. The third spot is more contested: some say Buenos Aires-style pizza, others perhaps good medialunas, but we want to propose choripán to close the podium. One argument in our favor is that this year it was chosen among the world's top 50 sandwiches by Taste Atlas.
Another valid argument is that one of the best in the city can be tasted at the San Telmo Market, a tourist hotspot that is also a must-see for foreigners visiting Buenos Aires. So what better plan than to combine the two? Argentine flavors in an unmissable city spot, one you absolutely have to visit.
'At such an iconic place as the San Telmo Market, we wanted to showcase what we consider 100% Argentine gastronomy, obviously with our own touch. We try to offer a great experience since people always choose us for our food,' explains Esteban Citara, owner of the three venues that make up our foodie podium: Fueguito, a walk-up meat spot that opened recently; Milanguería, a classic where you can try milanesa in a thousand versions; and Choripanería, where one of the world's best sandwiches can be enjoyed while wandering the market. At all three, the experience can be perfectly complemented with an Imperial beer pairing.
We wanted to showcase what we consider 100% Argentine gastronomy, with our own touch.
What to Do in San Telmo: A Taste and Color Experience
Visiting San Telmo — especially on a Sunday — is a can't-miss experience. Not only because it's a historic neighborhood but also for its vibrant atmosphere. The cobblestone streets fill with stalls where you can buy everything from crafts to antiques.
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Plaza Dorrego is the heart of the neighborhood's buzz: there, the fair mixes with tango couples performing open-air shows. The San Telmo Market is also a fundamental part of the visit, where you can find everything from wines from Mendoza to rare spices and objects that seem to have traveled through time, as well as grab some quick bites.
'All three venues offer the best of Argentine food. The chori is the typical Argentine, the mila is one of the city's best. All these options are ideal to accompany a cold Imperial beer,' adds Citara.
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He also adds that the asado from Fueguito pairs well with this drink: 'I usually go for an Imperial IPA because it has more body and is a bit bitter, which suits certain types of meat. But people often order a sirloin steak with any of the flavors and leave happy.'
Walk, Eat, and Pair
While each of these culinary offerings has something special, the experience can reach the next level if each flavor is paired with a beer that enhances it.
At Choripanería, we recommend trying the Gaucho (pork chorizo, provoleta cheese, grilled bell pepper with chimichurri) paired with an Imperial Extra Lager, a beer with good body and finish achieved thanks to its special hops and malts.
'At Milanguería, I'd go for a Beef Focachinesa (rump milanesa, provoleta, roasted bell pepper, and salsa criolla) with an Imperial Cream Stout,' explains Citara (and we applaud): its blend of roasted malts goes great with intense, smoky cheeses. It's also a beer that pairs well with desserts.
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At Fueguito, sit at the bar facing the kitchen and enjoy a grilled octopus sando bun (a small sandwich) with an Imperial IPA, with citrus aroma and hoppy flavor, ideal to pair with seafood.
'We're in a tourist hotspot in Buenos Aires, but we would love to open any of these places anywhere in the world and have people try our typical Argentine products made with our recipes,' he concludes.
We would love to open these venues anywhere in the world and have people try our typical Argentine products.
Visiting a market is a fantastic plan whether you're about to welcome a friend coming from the other side of the world, you're a foreigner looking for an unmissable city plan, or simply a local who likes to look (and taste) like a stranger. Dishes that will stay in your memory in an iconic place. A truly great plan.