Eat · Recoleta Cemetery and Plaza Francia
El Sanjuanino
A long-running Recoleta empanada counter: order a mixed dozen to share, eat in or take away, and go outside the 20:00–22:00 dinner rush if you want a table without a wait.
last order: unknownmixedrNot field-verified
Key facts
- Price
- $$
- r
- Hours
- unknown
- Walk in
- lunch and mid-afternoon
- easiest window
- Seating
- mixed
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Recoleta Cemetery and Plaza Francia
- Getting there
- Posadas street, a short walk from Recoleta Cemetery
- 10 min walk
- Empanadas by the dozen
- Regional dishes like locro
- Near Recoleta Cemetery
- Order: Empanadas and tamales
- Tables and stools
- Walk-in window: lunch and mid-afternoon
- Menu with prices on Voykit
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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Map & directions
Directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
lunch and mid-afternoon: high20:00–22:00: medium
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Paying and dietary fit
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| Need | Fit | What works here |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian | ask each time | Ask staff to confirm no meat stock or lard in the base. |
| Vegan | ask each time | Dairy and egg are common even in vegetarian dishes; ask about both. |
| Halal | ask each time | Not certified; ask about pork and alcohol in the specific dish. |
| Gluten-free | ask each time | Not confirmed; ask about wheat-based sauces, breading and noodles. |
“Ask” means possible with care; Voykit has not tested cross-contact. Allergies: carry a written card in the local language.
Who it suits, booking, closures
goodWho it suits — Anyone wanting a straightforward, well-known empanada meal within walking distance of Recoleta Cemetery.
- Dress code
- Casual.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly or holiday closures | check before you go | No weekly closure reported; confirm locally. |
On the ground
Facts
- Reservations
- false — Walk-in; takeaway also available.
- Capabilities
- food · seated_rest · toilet
- Getting there
- Posadas street, a short walk from Recoleta Cemetery · ~10 min walk
Cons
- Small dining room; can queue at peak dinner times.
- Menu leans heavily on empanadas and a few regional mains — not a large-menu restaurant.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check · Dietary phrases
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Empanada | A baked or fried stuffed pastry, the standard Argentine snack or starter. | Order by filling; a mixed dozen is the easy way to sample several. |
| Docena | A dozen. | The usual unit for ordering empanadas to share. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A mid-priced neighbourhood meal; empanadas individually are cheap, a sit-down main and drinks add up to a standard restaurant bill.
- tourist price
- Same menu prices for everyone; no separate tourist pricing reported.
- rule
- Ask the price per empanada if ordering a large mixed order, since fillings sometimes vary in price.
Dietary: what to say
| Need | Say or show | Reality here |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Soy vegetariano/a. | The cheese-and-onion empanada and humita are the vegetarian options; most of the rest of the menu is meat-based. |
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
How many empanadas per person?
Three to four as a light meal, more if it is the whole meal; order a mixed dozen for two or three people to share.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is it good for a quick bite between sights?
Yes — takeaway empanadas travel well if you want to eat them on a Plaza Francia bench.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is there a vegetarian option?
Cheese-and-onion empanadas and humita; the rest of the menu is meat-focused.
Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.
Similar places nearby
All places to eat in Buenos Aires, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Buenos Aires in 4 days.
Sources
- officialBuenos Aires City tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Buenos Aires