Eating Cheap in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires may be one of the most expensive cities in South America, but it is easy to stay on your budget and eat cheap. Buenos Aires is known as the Europe of South America and it certainly lives up to its reputation. The people, architecture and some of the cuisine have a strong European influence especially from Italy and Spain.

Restaurants are everywhere in Buenos Aires, on the main streets and deep in the barrios but they are not where you want to go if you want to eat cheap. Argentine parilla's and Italian influenced pasta restaurants are the most plentiful and popular in Buenos Aires. These delicious establishments offer a la carte entrees from twenty to sixty pesos. If you do the math, that equals approximately seven - twenty US dollars an entrée, not bad for a first class meal.

However there are much cheaper meals to be had in Buenos Aires and these cheap meals are everywhere. One of the cheap meal hot spots is any panederia. Panederia is Argentine for bakery and these fine establishments offer a bonanza of cheap meals for you to enjoy.

Panederia's offer a variety of fresh hand made empanadas, both with meat and vegetarian varieties, are mildly seasoned and savory. These tasty treats provide a cheap meal for you in Buenos Aires. You can expect to pay between two and three pesos for one empanada. When you buy your empanadas the panaderia will give them to you at room temperature or refrigerated. If you want them warmed up be sure to request them "caliente".

Another tasty cheap meal available at the panederia's in Buenos Aires are the artisanal sandwiches. These cheap sandwiches are available with meat or vegetarian. These sandwiches come with three pieces of white or wheat bread and they are a toddlers dream because the crusts are always cut off. Ham or prosciutto with cheese is the most popular, but tuna and cheese, and olives and cheese are almost always available. My favorite is the tuna and cheese. These sandwiches make a cheap meal and you can expect to pay between 1.5 and two pesos for each sandwich, sometimes they are sold by weight.

If you cook for yourself the possibilities for cheap meals are endless. The verduria, a fruit and vegetable stand, is a great place to buy your ingredients for a cheap meal. Additionally, due to the strong Italian influence in Buenos Aires there are many places to buy handmade pasta frescas, fresh made pasta. Fresh pasta is and excellent first class cheap meal. A box of ricotta and parmesan ravolis will cost between eight and twelve pesos. The varieties of pasta are endless and I highly recommend the raviolis. The fresh pasta places usually offer a variety of home made sauces, but they are not as cheap as the pasta.