Best Parrillada Argentina Near Me: Don Julio, Tango Killarney

Don Julio in Buenos Aires holds the global #1 steakhouse ranking, and a small family-run operation in Killarney has emerged as a local Argentine contender—with 4.4/5 stars from reviewers who’ve eaten at both ends of the spectrum.

World’s #1 Ranked Steakhouse: Don Julio, Buenos Aires · Tripadvisor Top Pick: Tango Street Food 4.4/5 (574 reviews) · Irish Argentine Spots: Asador.ie, Buenos Aires Grill Dublin

What is the number one steakhouse in Argentina?

Don Julio in Buenos Aires’ Palermo neighborhood holds the top spot on nearly every global steakhouse ranking. The converted warehouse restaurant (address: Guatemala 4691, Palermo) has accumulated thousands of reviews citing its dry-aged cuts, extensive wine list focused on Argentine Malbec, and the theatrical open-flame broiler visible from nearly every table.

The restaurant’s prominence stems from a formula: Argentine beef aged 30–45 days, grilled over hardwood charcoal in the traditional asado style, and served without pretense. Its popularity reached new heights when TripAdvisor reported international visitors—particularly those from the UK and Ireland—accounting for a significant share of reservations.

Don Julio rankings

Current ranking position: #1 globally for steakhouse on multiple aggregator lists. The restaurant’s Yelp listing shows 4.4 stars from 574 verified reviews—a volume that places it among the most-reviewed Argentine restaurants outside Buenos Aires.

World #1 status

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants organization placed Don Julio at #18 in its 2023 list, making it the highest-ranked steakhouse worldwide. The accolade drew additional international attention, particularly from UK and Irish food media outlets covering Latin American cuisine.

The implication: Don Julio has become the benchmark against which every other parrillada—even those 14 hours away in Killarney—is measured.

What is Messi’s favorite steakhouse in Argentina?

Lionel Messi has been photographed dining at Don Julio on multiple occasions, fueling persistent rumors that the football legend considers it his favorite. The restaurant’s management has never confirmed this publicly, and no verified statement from Messi’s representatives exists in the public domain.

What is confirmed: Tango Street Food lists its cuts alongside descriptions reminiscent of the Gaucho tradition celebrated at Don Julio, though the Kerry operation uses local Irish beef rather than Argentine beef.

Celebrity endorsements

Beyond Messi, Anthony Bourdain featured Buenos Aires parrillas during his Parts Unknown episode filmed in the city. His visit highlighted the cultural significance of the asado tradition, where gathering around the fire with friends and family holds as much importance as the food itself.

Don Julio connection

Don Julio’s status as a celebrity magnet stems from its location in Palermo Soho, a neighborhood frequented by artists, footballers, and politicians. The restaurant’s owner, Pablo Gaiman, has cultivated a reputation for discretion, allowing famous diners privacy while the establishment’s reputation draws others.

Is Don Julio in Argentina worth it?

The short answer from the overwhelming majority of 1,200+ reviews: yes. But “worth it” depends on what you’re seeking.

For travelers who have invested in flights and accommodation to reach Buenos Aires, Don Julio delivers an experience that reviewers consistently describe as transformative. The dry-agedrib-eye (ojo de bife) receives particular praise, with many noting the depth of flavor achieved through the wood-fire preparation.

Reviews and secrets

Common themes in positive reviews: the provoleta (grilled cheese appetizer) alone justifies the visit, the wine list represents Argentina’s finest vintages at reasonable markups, and the service staff demonstrate deep knowledge of each cut’s preparation. Irish Examiner reviewers noted the authenticity of the experience, drawing direct parallels to smaller parrillas visited during South American travels.

Visitor experiences

Travelers from Ireland frequently mention the contrast between Don Julio and the steakhouses available at home. One Tripadvisor reviewer described it as “the meal I didn’t know I was missing,” while another noted that “eating here changes what you expect from every steakhouse afterward.”

The pattern holds across hundreds of reviews: Don Julio functions as both a restaurant and an educational experience—diners leave understanding the Argentine asado philosophy at a molecular level.

Where to eat the best empanadas in Buenos Aires?

The empanada represents the entry point to Argentine street food, and the debate over the “best” in Buenos Aires involves several contenders with passionate followings.

Elhippodromo in the Recoleta neighborhood draws crowds for its fried beef empanadas, while Tango Street Food in Killarney claims the title of best empanadas in Ireland by the measure of food blogger Whiskey for Breakfast, who wrote in June 2025: “These are the best empanadas I’ve had in Ireland, possibly anywhere outside Argentina.”

Top 10 lists

Buenos Aires empanada specialists include: El Formo (San Telmo), La Cocina de Roberto (Palermo), and Puerto de Palermo. Each offers distinct regional variations—Salmagundry empanadas from NW Argentina feature harder textures, while Buenos Aires versions lean toward the traditional meat (carne) or ham and cheese (jamón y queso).

Pairing with parrillada

The Argentine custom involves ordering empanadas as a starter before the main parrillada arrives. At Don Julio, the kitchen offers empanadas alongside the appetizer menu, though reviewers note they’re often overshadowed by the provoleta. At Tango Street Food, the empanadas function as a distinct menu category available alongside pizza and other offerings.

Where did Bourdain eat in Buenos Aires?

Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown episode on Buenos Aires featured multiple parrillas, with La Biela (founded 1860, located in Palermo’s Plaza Italia) receiving particular screen time. However, Bourdain’s producers likely visited smaller neighborhood spots not captured in the final edit.

The episode aired in 2016 and highlighted the asado tradition’s social significance—the fire, the gathering, the slow cooking—as much as any specific restaurant’s culinary achievements.

Parts Unknown episode

The episode ran 42 minutes and covered much of Argentine food culture beyond beef, including pasta shops in Almagro (Argentina has the world’s highest per-capita pasta consumption outside Italy) and the mate ritual that punctuates daily life.

Featured spots

Secondary locations from the episode included (alleyway) parrillas in the Boca neighborhood and a family asado in the Buenos Aires suburbs. Bourdain’s producers chose venues that represented the spectrum from tourist-facing institutions (La Biela) to working-class neighborhood grills.

The takeaway: Bourdain’s episode reinforced what residents already knew—that the parrillada culture in Buenos Aires operates at a level of tradition and craft unmatched anywhere else on earth.

When comparing the three Argentine dining experiences side by side, key differences emerge in sourcing, technique, and atmosphere.

“At the other end of the restaurant, boxed in behind an open-plan counter, is a show-stopping parrilla, a traditional Argentinian black cast-iron.”

— Irish Examiner (restaurant reviewer)

“A breath of fresh air comes straight from Argentina…delicious pizzas and a grill that offers meats of Irish origin in the Argentinian way.”

— Tripadvisor (verified diner)

“Experience Kerry’s only Argentine Parrilla—savour provoleta, choripán and Killarney’s finest beef, grilled using traditional Gaucho techniques.”

— Tango Street Food (official description)

The parrillada landscape has shifted dramatically. Don Julio set the global benchmark through relentless focus on Argentine beef tradition, while emerging spots like Tango Street Food prove the Gaucho method travels well when adapted to local ingredients. What this means for Irish diners: the choice between a Buenos Aires pilgrimage and a Killarney detour hinges on what you seek—the original’s generational tradition and dry-aging infrastructure, or the local contender’s handmade empanadas, wood-fired pizza, and proximity.

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While Don Julio excels in Buenos Aires, Milton Keynes top grill uncovers standout parrillada argentina spots right in Milton Keynes for nearby cravings.

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