i just came back from argentina. as a vegetarian, i had an EXTREMELY difficult time eating. i ate a lot of cheese omlettes, veggie tarts and pasta. a lot of times, there wasn't even anything vegetarian on the menu. (and if i was vegan, i would have starved.) if you are vegetarian and going to argentina, i recommend bringing some energy bars. even grocery stores were more difficult to shop at.

I haven't been there yet, but I'm not too surprised. Aren't rice, beans and salad readily available everywhere though like Brazil?

Hmmm...I remember reading an article about a bunch of trendy vegetarian places that had recently opened up in Buenos Aires. So I assume things were a bit better there? But probably less so in more rural, less touristy places?

A few years ago I was on a flight to Argentina together with a young girl who was vegetarian.
Accidentaly we met again five weeks later, on the same flight back home to Stockholm.

I remembered her saying that she was vegetarian, and one of my questions was how she could survive in a country like Argentina (she travelled also to Bolivia and Peru).
I was surprised to hear from her that she didn't have any problems with finding veggie food. The only thing was that vegetarian food in those countries was considered the food of the poor, or those who can't afford buying meat. So, typically she would be finding places to eat where the poor go - street stalls and eateries at the markets. And she said, she liked the food and survived without stomach problems.

No -- unfortunately, beans and salad are not readily available like they are in brazil. I LOVED Brazil and didn't have trouble eating most of the time in Brazil. There were many restaurants in Argentina without a single veg thing on the menu -- cow, cow, cow. It was really extremely difficult. I went to all kinds of places to eat, and really, it was so difficult.

cherie wrote:There were many restaurants in Argentina without a single veg thing on the menu -- cow, cow, cow.

I was close to that problem too. Even though I loved their steaks, after two weeks I craved something different. I liked my dinner of two courses and with a bottle of wine, because it was sooo cheap, but it was hard to find a full set dinner different than steak, or another steak.
(but, I wouldn't say "no" to a nice Argentinian parilla now)

Thanks for the advice. I'm vegan and am planning on traveling through most of South America, and will definitely keep that in mind. Hopefully I'll find enough fruits/veggies along the way to get by...and I'll definitely take vitamins with me.

Actually, some of the best vegetarian restaurants I've eaten in are in Buenos Aires (I've been vegetarian for over 30 years). It is very easy to be vegetarian in the city; there are new vegetarian-only places opening every year. I just returned from my third visit in four years and I'm always amazed at the variety and quality in a largely meat-eating country. I even ate at an all raw vegan restaurant (excellent, by the way).

I will admit if you don't eat cheese, it is harder to find meals in many restaurants, but it can be done. Almost every parilla has a decent salad bar, and I found that once you explain that chicken is not a vegetable, many restaurants are happy to cater to your needs with a special meal.

If you stay in the towns that tourists frequent (Mendoza, Salta, El Calafate, Cordoba, etc.) there are usually several vegetarian places to chose from.

Don't be put off by Argentina's well-deserved fondness for beef. Vegetarians can eat and eat well.

Im vegetarian and dont remember having any specific problems in Argentina either in restaurants or buying from supermarkets, even in the steakhouses I always managed to find something albeit not much choice I agree.
Australian outback was far harder - they live on meat pies out there - I lived on crisp sandwiches LOL (though this was a few years ago now)