Where to taste Middle Eastern flavors in Buenos Aires

Sarkis may be the most popular and sought-after Middle Eastern restaurant in Buenos Aires. With 40 years of history, it is now run by the second generation of an Armenian family, the Katabians. Its style is loud, chaotic, and picturesque, filled with large tables of friends.

Start with the mezze, a combo of small plates including the classic hummus and the jambra, a red pepper puree with lots of garlic and walnuts. Delicious. For the main dishes, try the meat or the lamb skewer with yogurt and, of course, a portion of mante, open ravioli filled with spiced meat served in a vegetable broth. Don’t forget to ask for the sweet Sarkis cup for dessert. They don’t take reservations.

Where: Thames 1101, Villa Crespo.

One of the 2024 openings in Colegiales. Located on a vintage corner with wooden panels on the walls, retro cane and leather chairs, globe lamps, and black-and-white photos of Alf and Don Ramón. The kitchen at Florentín is open to the dining room and features a bar for those who prefer to sit there.

The food, which honors Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisine, comes on platters and is divided into two categories: starters and mains. Eggplant is ubiquitous in the starters (babaganush, eggplant trio, and chambota) and in the mains, you'll find chicken schnitzel, slow-cooked shawarma, and falafels in various combinations. For dessert, try the turron brownie.

Where: Conde 1402, Colegiales. 

Ten years after opening, Mishiguene remains one of the most original kitchens in the city, offering a complete restaurant experience with sharp service, an electric atmosphere, and unforgettable flavors.

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Tomás Kalika and his head chef, Mexican Fernando Padua, master the spices and seasonings: the mezze is a true banquet, and the bone-in pastrami with farfalaj truffle risotto is the star of the menu. Also try the baby squid with squid ink, garlic, and anchovies. On Fridays, they celebrate Shabbat, and everything ends with live klezmer music. A must-visit for return visits.

Where: Lafinur 3368, Palermo.

Armenian cuisine is well-represented in Buenos Aires, with many immigrants and their descendants working in restaurants, keeping one of the most interesting Middle Eastern cuisines alive. In our opinion, Nani, located in Villa Crespo, is one of the best examples.

Here, Natalia Demirdjian uses both her own recipes and those from her mother, resulting in dishes that are both rich in flavor and size. Without hesitation, try the hot sarma, one of the best in the city. Also standout are the lehmeyun and for something sweet, the pistachio baklava. In winter, they offer hearty stews like bamia or herisé, hard to find elsewhere.

Where: Gurruchaga 1088, Villa Crespo.

La Crespo is a symbol of Villa Crespo, specializing in Eastern European Jewish cuisine. The dining experience, blending tradition and modernity, is very reminiscent of those iconic delis in New York City that tourists flock to in other parts of the world.

Notable dishes include the hot pastrami sandwich with all the right fixings: 200 grams of hot pastrami, a touch of Dijon mustard, caramelized onions, cucumber pickles, and fries. They also serve knishes with potato and onion, varenikes stuffed with potato or ricotta, and fresh bagels. After more than a decade in the business, they’ve perfected their service and offerings.

Where: Vera 1001, Villa Crespo.

It’s always wonderful to find places full of soul and personality that are unlike anything else. That’s Querida Rosa, a small contemporary Armenian restaurant where, on weekends, the feasts may end with dancing and where you can even get your coffee grounds read. Behind this family venture are Nataly – better known on social media as “La hija de la pólvora” – and her boyfriend, chef Fernando Romano.

In October 2023, they transformed a dilapidated venue into what looks like a living room of a grandmother’s house or the set of an Armenian TV show. They offer afternoon teas and a menu for lunch and dinner, featuring mante, spanakopita, and subereg.

Where: Aráoz 568, Villa Crespo.

A different concept in Villa Devoto. Malcolm Farid Lancioni is a gastronomy enthusiast who, just over two years ago, decided to open a small Middle Eastern restaurant in what was once a butcher shop.

Farid only accommodates 28 diners per night in a minimalist space with white tiles and bottle green upholstered seats. The menu is concise, just one page, and includes falafel, shawarmitas, babaganoush, cardamom rice with lentils and dried fruits, and the house specialty: a cheese-filled pastry topped with an egg known as lehme. The wine list is a plus: carefully designed with knowledge and curiosity.

Where: Francisco de Enciso 3791, Villa Devoto.

Founded in 1977, El Horno de Medio Oriente is one of Buenos Aires' oldest Arabic bakeries, run by descendants of Syrians who keep their traditions alive. The San Cristóbal corner is always full of customers, either picking up their orders or eating at the small dining area inside. The oven starts up at 5:00 AM every day, baking nearly a hundred kilos of bread.

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The menu is extensive and includes ten varieties of empanadas, followed by sweet treats. Lehmeyun, sfija (empanada with Arabic cheese and parsley), mamul, and lokum – rose petal bonbons – are some of the hits.

Where: Garay 2501, San Cristóbal.