Asado Adventure: How to Experience an Asado in Argentina (Review + Discount Code)

“In Argentina, a house without a parrilla is like a house without a bathroom”. 

That’s how Frank of Asado Adventure described the importance of asado to Argentine life. 

And he couldn’t be more right.

Every house has a parrilla, whether it’s a six bedroom mansion or a single room studio apartment.

Asados, parrillas, red meat and red wine… it’s all central to everyday life here in Argentina.

Families get together every weekend around the parrilla for the sort of pro-longed meal we only do on major holidays in the US.

So how can you experience an authentic Argentine asado in Buenos Aires?

This major facet of Argentine life is typically closed off to visitors. 

Unless you know someone who can invite you to an asado in Argentina, you’re left to watch the smoke waft out of everyone’s backyard without a ticket to the party. 

The Asado Adventure is your ticket to the party and one of the best food tours in Buenos Aires.

Disclosure: I was invited to Asado Adventure and what follows is an honest review of the experience. This is not a paid advertisement. I only write reviews for experiences I’ve truly enjoyed and would do myself and opinions are 100% my own.

Asado Adventure: How to See an Authentic Asado in Buenos Aires

Frank Almeida has been living in Buenos Aires since 1999 and is the founder of Asado Adventure (among other food tours for those of us gluttonous travelers). 

Frank offers 10% off on all of his tours, including this asado, with the code SOLSALUTE.

What is an asado?

First, what is an asado?

For the beginners out there, here is a bit of vocabulary to help you navigate eating steak in Buenos Aires :

• PARRILLA: This is the name for the actual grill in Argentina (no gas barbecues here) and also the name for steakhouses in Argentina
• ASADO: An asado is the name of the event of a barbecue at someone’s house and the name of barbecue as a whole in Argentina

What is the Asado Adventure?

The Asado Adventure is a blend of a walking tour and a dining experience.

We arrived at Frank’s home at 10:30 am in Palermo Viejo to start what would be a full day of eating. I recommend eating a light breakfast that morning.

The first thing we did was build the fire. It may feel a bit early for that but the fire for an asado the fire is a literal slow burn.

While the fire was burning, Frank taught us how to make chimichurri. Luckily, he sends over the recipe after the tour because traditional chimichurri is nothing like the fresh green sauce you see on the shelves in the US.

Now it was time to go for a walk through the heart of Palermo Soho (the popular nickname of what is actually Palermo Viejo).

Frank taught us about the barrio’s history and street art as we went to do the shopping for the wine and other ingredients that we’d be enjoying later that afternoon.

We learned about the economic crash in 2001, what was the aftermath like and how did it affect this neighborhood.

Because the Palermo you see today is not what Frank bought into when he moved into the home he now uses to operate his asados.

His insight is unique as he saw Palermo Viejo change over the years.

As the walk goes on we learned about the street art and the artists who created it, visited a community garden, and learned interesting facts about the neighborhood that I’ll leave for you to hear in person.

When we got back to the house the real fun (read: eating) began.

A picada (one of the most popular foods in Argentina) was waiting for us on arrival.

We tried it with Fernet and Coke, a local classic for football games and asados.

Fernet in hand, we made our way to the patio for the star of the show: the asado.

The entire meal was fantastic and I even tried (and liked) things I don’t typically enjoy, like morcilla (blood sausage).

In true asado fashion the cuts of meat kept coming one after the other, each one better than the last. We tried a wide variety of cuts.

Starting, traditionally, with a bubbling provoleta cheese. Next came the sausages and the “odd cuts” like sweetbreads and chinchulines (small intestines, try it).

The main course of Bife de Chorizo was as tender as cutting into butter.

Wine, a simple salad, and chimichurri rounded out the meal and it was just like an asado with my Argentine in-laws but better (but don’t tell them I said that).

The meal ended with dessert, something Argentines never skimp on, and yerba mate.

Should you Book Asado Adventure?

The best way to experience a new place is through their food.

And the Asado Adventure is more than a food tour. You’ll get to experience a major facet of Argentine life that you would have no way of accessing otherwise.

You’ll learn about Argentina’s history and the meal you’re eating.

And from the picada to yerba mate, the meal really covered a LOT of aspects of Argentine cuisine beyond just the meat.

I really enjoyed the day and know any food loving traveler would as well.

Click here to book this tour and/or Frank’s other highly rated food tours. Use my code SOLSALUTE (case sensitive) for 10% off.

Tip: An asado is just like any dinner party, no matter how good the food is, it’s only as much fun as you make it. Come with friends and family for a true asado/dinner party feel!

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