Salta is the empanada capital of Argentina, and its food runs from a dollar-fifty street snack to refined contemporary takes on northwest (NOA) cuisine. These are reliable, well-loved picks across price points, save the ones you like and slot them into your days.
Where to Eat in Salta
1Must visit
Restaurant4.4
Patio de Empanadas
The classic empanada experience: several stands under one covered patio, each making its own empanada saltena. Order around and compare.
Centro
2Must visit
Restaurant4.3
Dona Salta
An iconic regional restaurant for empanadas, locro, humitas, and tamales, the go-to for authentic northwest comfort food.
Centro
3
Restaurant4.4
El Solar del Convento
Upscale regional dining in a converted 18th-century convent, with a strong Torrontes list and a peaceful courtyard.
Centro
4
Restaurant4.5
Casa Moderna
Contemporary Argentine cuisine in a restored colonial house, with a seasonal menu built on NOA ingredients like quinoa and llama.
Centro
5
Restaurant4.2
La Vieja Estacion
A lively pena folklorica on Balcarce, pairing regional food with live folk music and dancing every night.
Centro
6
Market4.1
Mercado Central de Salta
The central market for the cheapest empanadas in town, plus regional cheeses, produce, and spices.
Centro
FAQ
- What is the empanada saltena?
- It is Salta's distinctive empanada: diced (never ground) beef, potato, hard-boiled egg, olives, cumin, and aji molido, sealed with a hand-crimped repulgue edge. Salta is widely credited as the empanada's home, and the style differs from the rest of Argentina.
- What else should I eat in Salta besides empanadas?
- Try locro (a hearty corn, bean, and meat stew), humitas (steamed corn parcels), and tamales, all northwest classics. Pair them with a glass of Cafayate Torrontes, the region's aromatic white wine.
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