Mengano

Restaurant · Palermo ·

Mengano

Restaurant · Palermo ·

Creative Argentine cuisine blending high-end and popular dishes

Information

José A. Cabrera 5172, C1414 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina Get directions

ARS 50,000+

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,026 Cities

"This unpretentious restaurant in the Palermo district, where you’ll need to ring the bell to gain access, is a potentially good option for its informal tapas and its wide array of traditional-style small plates. This bistro-eatery, boasting the appearance and feel of a modest tavern with old photos of the chef’s family adorning the walls, also features a small bar counter (with 4 stools) where guests can watch the kitchen team hard at work. The cuisine here revolves around a concise à la carte that aims to combine local cuisine with tapas and more traditional dishes, while always working with fresh ingredients, a nod to modernity and reasonably affordable prices. Dishes here include spicy meat empanaditas, pizza-style glazed pork belly with fainá flatbread, delicious lamb tartare toasts with quince cream and, for dessert, the Rogel, a cookie from Santa Fé in the form of a tart with lots of crispy and crunchy layers." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/ciudad-autonoma-de-buenos-aires/buenos-aires_777009/restaurant/mengano

Mengano

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,026 Cities

Argentinian Meat: the Star of the Show in the Country’s Best Restaurants

"A Bib Gourmand address in the MICHELIN Guide, this kitchen revives the comforting spirit of Buenos Aires’ bodegones with creative technique and a carnivorous bent. Chef Facundo Kelemen works with diverse breeds—mainly British—and is a fan of Argentine wagyu for its intensely distinctive marbling. Signatures include a flank steak “pizza” whose meat is braised for hours in milk with garlic, paprika, and chili before being topped with smoked stracciatella, grilled onions, and a slice of fainá; a roast wagyu tapa cooked sous-vide for 21 hours at 80ºC, then trimmed, thick-cut, breaded, fried, and tucked into a milanesa-style sandwich that nods to Japanese katsu; an aged sirloin flashed in mushroom butter for juiciness; and a raw beef carpaccio with heritage tomatoes." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/argentinian-meat-the-star-of-the-show-in-the-country-s-best-restaurants

Mengano

Mike D.

Google

From the moment you arrive at Mengano in Palermo, you can tell this isn’t just another restaurant — it’s an experience. Tucked away on José A. Cabrera, the entrance adds a sense of intrigue, and once inside the intimate and stylish space, you’re welcomed by a warm, contemporary atmosphere that’s ideal for a date night, special occasion, or a memorable evening with friends. I personally, did see it as typical Michelin rated restaurant. What truly sets Mengano apart is its approach to dining. The experience feels more like a wine tasting with thoughtfully paired food rather than a traditional full-portion meal. The menu offers a creative reinterpretation of Argentine classics, blending local porteño flavors with Italian and Spanish influences. In some cases, it was difficult for us to guess the ingredients. Dishes are beautifully presented, highly creative, and full of flavor, but portions are intentionally small and selection is limited but highly achieved. If you arrive hungry, it’s best to order multiple plates to fully enjoy the experience. The tapas-style format encourages sharing and exploration, allowing diners to sample a variety of dishes alongside an excellent wine selection. Each plate feels designed to complement the wines, reinforcing the idea that this is a curated tasting journey rather than a conventional dinner. Service is friendly, professional, and attentive without being intrusive. Sitting at the bar offers a great view of the chefs in action, adding to the overall experience. Prices are on the higher side for Buenos Aires, but the creativity, quality, and atmosphere make it worthwhile. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. Overall, Mengano delivers an inventive, wine-focused dining experience with refined small plates. Perfect for those who enjoy discovering flavors slowly, glass by glass — just be sure to order generously if you’re looking for a more filling meal.

Corazon

Google

Amazing and my favorite dinner in BA. Definitely add this to your Buenos Aires plan for dinner. Came here on a Friday night at 9pm with no reservation and were offered a table at 10pm. We went to a local wine bar and were seated easily at 9:50 when we returned. Staff was really nice and helpful in english! We had the empanadas, scallops, cacio y pepe gnocchi, lamb tartare, and wagyu sandwich + a bottle of malbec. We certainly went overboard but wanted to try lots of items. We would order every item again just maybe 1 less plate for 2 people. Stand outs are the empanadas which are like soup dumplings and full of flavor, the tartare was tender and spiced beautifully, and the gnocchi was rich and creamy but just right. Nice wine we tried that paired wonderfully with the food. Vibe is great in here definitely make a reservation!

Peter R.

Google

We arrived without a reservation and were offered seats at the bar which was perfect as it was a great place to watch the kitchen at work. We order 2 dishes and once the first had arrived 2 more. The dishes are small but very rich. The highlight for me was the stuffed tomato but every plate was great. I would have no problem going back and ordering a different 4. Service was great and the wine by the glass was very nice Not cheap but well worth it.

Abhi K.

Google

The empanaditas are like soup dumplings in empanada form. They were amazing! And the wagyu sandwich was delicious too. It was so tender. We also got the bbq red peppers which were surprisingly good too. The wine was average. The service was not great. Attire is casual.

Dana L.

Google

Perfect experience at Mengano! The food and service were superb. The atmosphere of the restaurant is super intimate- perfect for a date night. The dishes are tapas style which means they are pretty small but are great for sharing with your partner. I highly recommend the empanadas which were so juicy and yummy. The lamb tarter and the gnocchi.

Guillermo Garcia A.

Google

Every dish was a delicious, especially the gnocchis and the seafood rice, which were standout favorites. The ambiance is wonderful, and the service was top-notch, making us feel truly taken care of. It’s worth noting that the experience is not cheap, with no dessert we paid $70 per person. But tried a lot of dishes. However, the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere made it a memorable outing. Highly recommend for special occasions!

Tessa H.

Google

Absolutely perfect time at Mengano! Everything was so delicious. Atmosphere is intimate and romantic, reservations definitely needed for when we went on Saturday. Gnocchi was insanely tender and the tartare was very special and well done. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed watching the chefs cook. They were very friendly to two Americans who don’t speak Spanish as well! Our top 3 meals in Argentina in our past week, easily.

nicholas M.

Google

What an amazing experience we had here! From the food, to the setting, and the atmosphere- everything was professional and high quality. We had a delicious Malbec to start and ordered 10 plates which was more than enough for four people. Each dish came in a special juice that really elevated the flavors. The food was just so creative and delicious. I would highly recommend Mengano if you are visiting Palermo and want a creative and impressive version of Argentine food.