Food · Mendoza · Argentina
What to eat in Mendoza
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Mendoza, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Malbec, Asado and Empanadas mendocinas. Many wineries in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley serve multi-course lunches paired with their wines, lasting two or three hours with views of the vineyards and the Andes. Lunch runs from about 1pm to 3pm and dinner rarely starts before 9pm; many restaurants are closed in between.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Malbec
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service, in cash if possible.
- Food experiences
- 4
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10 foods to try
Drink · Vegetarian
1.Malbec
Argentina's signature red grape, originally from France, thrives in Mendoza's sunny, dry, high-altitude vineyards, producing dark, plummy wines. Higher Uco Valley sites tend to make fresher, more structured styles.
Where: Winery tastings in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and the Uco Valley, and wine bars along Arístides Villanueva and in Chacras de Coria.
Dish
2.Asado
The Argentine barbecue: beef cuts such as bife de chorizo, vacío and ojo de bife, plus chorizo and morcilla, cooked slowly over wood or charcoal embers on a parrilla.
Where: Parrillas in the Quinta Sección and the centre, and Sunday asados at many winery restaurants.
Street food
3.Empanadas mendocinas
Baked pastries filled with hand-chopped beef, plenty of onion, olive and boiled egg; the Mendoza style is juicy, and locals eat them at the start of an asado or as a quick lunch.
Where: Bakeries and empanada shops across the city and the counters of the Mercado Central.
Dish
4.Chivito
Young goat roasted over embers, a speciality of southern Mendoza province around Malargüe, served simply with salad or bread.
Where: Parrillas and country restaurants, especially on the road south and in traditional places in the city.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Tomaticán
A simple Cuyo-region stew of tomatoes and onions cooked down and finished with beaten eggs, eaten with bread. It reflects the region's links with Chilean country cooking.
Where: Restaurants serving regional cuisine and some home-style eateries in the centre.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Sopaipillas
Flat rounds of fried dough, often made with pumpkin, eaten plain, with sugar or alongside mate on winter afternoons.
Where: Bakeries and street vendors, especially on cold or rainy days.
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Humita
Grated fresh corn cooked with onion, peppers and cheese, either baked in a dish or wrapped and steamed in corn husks (humita en chala).
Where: Regional restaurants and empanada shops, mostly in late summer and autumn.
Dish
8.Locro
A thick stew of white corn, beans, squash and pork or beef, traditional on the national holidays of 25 May and 9 July.
Where: Restaurants and community events around national holidays; some regional restaurants serve it through the winter.
Dish · Vegetarian
9.Mendoza olive oil
Extra-virgin oil pressed from olives grown in Maipú and other irrigated areas, often served with bread at wineries and restaurants.
Where: Olive-oil producers on the Maipú bike route and delicatessens in the centre.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
10.Mate and medialunas
Mate, the bitter herbal infusion sipped through a metal straw from a shared gourd, is a daily ritual; in cafés, breakfast is usually coffee with small sweet croissants called medialunas.
Where: Cafés on Paseo Sarmiento serve medialunas; mate is mostly shared at home and in parks.
Food experiences
Winery lunch
Many wineries in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley serve multi-course lunches paired with their wines, lasting two or three hours with views of the vineyards and the Andes.
Bike-and-taste day
In Maipú, hire a bike and ride between wineries, olive-oil producers and liqueur makers, stopping for lunch at a bodega restaurant.
Late dinner at a parrilla
Mendocinos dine from about 9:30pm; a parrilla meal of grilled beef, provoleta and a bottle of Malbec is the classic evening out.
Harvest season
From about February to April, wineries are harvesting and crushing grapes, and some invite visitors to join harvest activities around the Vendimia festival.
Quick bites and street food
- Empanadas mendocinas — Bakeries and empanada shops across the city and the counters of the Mercado Central.
- Sopaipillas — Bakeries and street vendors, especially on cold or rainy days.
- Mate and medialunas — Cafés on Paseo Sarmiento serve medialunas; mate is mostly shared at home and in parks.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Malbec, Tomaticán, Sopaipillas, Humita, Mendoza olive oil and Mate and medialunas. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Lunch runs from about 1pm to 3pm and dinner rarely starts before 9pm; many restaurants are closed in between.
- Many shops close for a long afternoon siesta and reopen in the evening.
- Restaurants often add a small 'cubierto' cover charge per person for bread and table service.
- Book winery tours and lunches ahead; many bodegas accept visitors only with a reservation.
- If you plan several tastings, hire a driver or join a tour rather than driving yourself.
Tipping
Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service, in cash if possible. Tips are welcome for winery guides and tour drivers but not expected in taxis.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buen día | Good morning |
| ¿Me trae la cuenta? | Could you bring the bill? |
| Un vino tinto, por favor | A red wine, please |
| Bodega | Winery |
| Che | Hey (informal, used constantly) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Mendoza famous for?
Malbec, Asado, Empanadas mendocinas and Chivito. Argentina's signature red grape, originally from France, thrives in Mendoza's sunny, dry, high-altitude vineyards, producing dark, plummy wines.
+Is Mendoza good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Malbec, Tomaticán and Sopaipillas.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Mendoza?
Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service, in cash if possible. Tips are welcome for winery guides and tour drivers but not expected in taxis.