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Photo courtesy of Empacho Argentinian Street Food
If you have ever torn into a perfectly crimped empanada, watched provoleta bubble and blister over an open flame, or lingered at a table long after the last bite of dulce de leche, you already know that Argentinian food is about so much more than a meal. It’s about slowing down, sharing generously, and turning an ordinary afternoon into something worth remembering. Metro Detroit is home to a thriving Argentinian food scene, and whether you’re craving smoky asado or a proper choripán loaded with chimichurri, there are places across Metro Detroit doing it with real heart and authenticity. Here is where to find the best Argentine cuisine.
Brava
1053 Novi Road, Northville
Brava has become one of the go-to names for Argentinian empanadas in Metro Detroit, and for good reason. This Northville spot treats the empanada as the star of the show, offering a selection of flavors that includes classics like beef with onion, egg, and olives, chicken Portuguese, pulled pork potato, and ham and cheese, alongside vegetarian options of mushroom, spinach, and humita. The dough is baked golden and flaky in the traditional tucumana style, and each one is satisfying enough to build a full meal around, especially when paired with their chimichurri or chipotle sauce on the side. Brava also offers a solid alfajor for dessert, the beloved Argentine sandwich cookie layered with dulce de leche, alongside black forest and apple empanada choices. It is the kind of place that works perfectly whether you are grabbing a quick lunch or picking up a few dozen for a weekend gathering, and it serves as one of the best introductions to Argentinian flavors in Metro Detroit.
Empacho Argentinian Street Food
2761 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit
Empacho brings the vibrant, social energy of Argentine street food culture straight to the heart of Detroit. Their menu features an array of savory empanada fillings alongside sauces for dipping and sharing, and the entire concept is built around the bundle: order a few, mix your flavors, and let everyone dig in. Founder Gonzalo Collazo captures the philosophy beautifully: “In Argentina, we mostly share everything, and empanadas are the definition of our culture. Grab a 12-unit bundle and pass the box around.” On the cultural roots behind the concept, Collazo shares: “In Argentina, the table isn’t just where you eat, it’s where you connect. We brought that to Detroit since 2023: a box of empanadas in the middle, sauces to pass, flavors to share… and suddenly you’re sitting at an Argentine table.” The empanada flavors range from pork asado and beef & cheddar to butternut squash & mozzarella or vegan quinoa & lentil. Pair yours with a salsa (or two!) like the llajwa spicy or herbs sour cream, and add a side of chipa. Don’t forget your sweet tooth, with choices of mini sweet empanadas (dulce de leche or sweet cheese), mini churros with sweet salsas like dark chocolate or seasonal jam, or a range of flavorful alfajores. That communal, joyful spirit makes Empacho a standout addition to Detroit.
PUMA
4725 16th Street, Detroit
PUMA is where Argentine street food sensibility meets Detroit’s creative energy, brought to life by chef-owner Javier Bardauil. This Detroit spot channels the more casual, everyday side of Argentine cooking with items like the Choribun, a take on a choripán (the iconic Argentine sausage sandwich dressed with chimichurri), grilled provoleta, and hearty plates built around live-fire techniques. Bardauil himself speaks to the deep connection between his Argentine roots and his adopted city: “I came to Detroit with fire in my hands. In Argentina, food begins with the asado. It’s not just grilling — it’s ritual. Someone tends the fire. Someone pours the wine. The table fills slowly. No one rushes. We call it sobremesa — the time after the meal when conversation matters as much as the food. When I arrived in Detroit, that spirit felt familiar. This is a city built on craft and resilience. People here respect process. They understand what it means to work with your hands and take pride in what you create. That’s the same philosophy behind Argentine cooking. What I brought wasn’t just chimichurri or empanadas. It was a way of gathering. Provoleta bubbling at the table. Meat cooked low and slow over live fire. Dishes meant to be shared, not plated for isolation. But Detroit shaped me, too. Michigan’s seasons, local farms, the creative pulse of the city — they’ve all become part of my food. What we cook here isn’t a replica of Argentina. It’s a conversation between both places. For me, hospitality is about warmth — from the fire, and from the people around it. In Detroit, I found a city that understands both.” That philosophy makes PUMA feel like an invitation to sit down and stay awhile.
BARDA
4842 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
If PUMA is the casual, neighborhood expression of Argentine fire cooking, BARDA is its more ambitious sibling. Also helmed by Javier Bardauil, BARDA is one of Metro Detroit’s most celebrated restaurants and a destination for anyone who wants to experience the full depth of Argentinian cuisine. The menu centers on live-fire cooking as well, with dishes like charred Caesar salads, wood-fired short rib, and carne y hueso, all setting the tone for a meal that unfolds slowly and deliberately, just the way it would at an Argentine asado. Seasonal vegetables get the flame treatment alongside the proteins, and the wine list leans into Argentine and South American selections that pair naturally with the smoky, bold flavors coming off the grill. BARDA is the kind of place where you come hungry, order generously, and leave understanding why Argentine food culture is so deeply tied to the experience of gathering around a fire.
La Patagonia
18000 East 9 Mile Road, Eastpointe
Tucked into Eastpointe, La Patagonia is a real gem. This spot focuses on traditional Argentine recipes and delivers them with impressive consistency. Their menu features fillings like beef, chicken, corn, and their Americana with pepperoni pizza vibes, all wrapped in a beautifully golden, hand-crimped dough that hits that ideal balance of tender and crisp. La Patagonia also serves up patatas bravas (baby potatoes fried, salted, and served with sauce, often Salsa Brava) and, for dessert, alfajores and dulce de leche mousse, making it a wonderful stop for those looking to explore the sweeter side of Argentine cuisine. If you are exploring Argentinian food for the first time or are already a devoted fan, La Patagonia is absolutely worth the drive.
From flaky, hand-crimped empanadas eaten out of a box on a sunny afternoon to a long, smoke-filled dinner where the fire never stops, and the wine keeps flowing, Metro Detroit offers a genuinely wide variety of Argentinian cuisine. What ties all of these spots together is a belief that food is meant to be shared, that meals are meant to be unhurried, and that the best tables are the ones where everyone feels welcome. Whether you are just discovering the pleasures of a well-made empanada or you already know your way around a menu, these spots have something truly special waiting for you.
