Mar del Plata Food Tour 🇦🇷🥪 Eating an ARGENTINIAN PICADA + CHURROS experience at Manolo in Argentina

In today's video we take you to Manolo, a restaurant chain that's a favourite with locals here in Mar del Plata. Manolo is best known for its stuffed churros - strips of fried dough filled with dulce de leche, vanilla, or chocolate - and they are delicious! However, before we get into the desserts, we're going to introduce you to the Argentinean "picada", a meal that's often considered a snack or an appetizer. A picada consists of lots of little dishes with finger food - similar to tapas in Spain. We ordered the classic picada at Manolo, which featured fried cheese, calamari, fries, marinara pizza, margarita pizza, mini sausages, beef empanadas, chicken empanadas, olives, stir-fry, and 1 litre of beer! It was a lot of food and even though the menu said this particular picada is meant for 3, I could see it feeding a few more friends. This is definitely a meal to try if you're going to be travelling in Argentina. Oh, and even though we were beyond stuffed, we still made room to try the 3 different churros, because hey, that's what you do at Manolo! 🍩 Mar del Plata Food Tour & City Stroll | Manolo Picada & Churros Experience 🇦🇷 🌆 Discovering Mar del Plata: First Real Day in the City! After two festival-filled days at Masticar, today marks our first real chance to explore Mar del Plata itself. We’re staying in the heart of downtown, surrounded by city attractions, classic parks, and vibrant local life—so we decided to combine food and sightseeing for the perfect local experience. 🥪 Manolo: Classic Diner Vibes & Legendary Picadas Our main destination? Manolo, a Mar del Plata institution renowned for churros, desserts, and classic picadas (think Argentine tapas-style platters). Getting In: The place was packed—we braved a 30-minute line at midday, which was totally worth it for the legendary local comfort food inside. Manolo Origins: Fun fact—Manolo’s roots trace back to Spain, then Uruguay, and now has locations across South America, including Peru and Argentina. 🍻 Picada for Three: Tapas Argentine-Style Once seated, we ordered a picada for three—trust us, it’s enough for four! What’s on the Platter? Fried cheese and fried ravioli (stuffed with spinach) Stir-fried beef, mushrooms, peppers, and onions Mini sausages, calamari, peanuts, and crispy French fries with mayo Chicken and beef milanesa (breaded cutlets) Two kinds of pizza slices (cheese & marinara) Drinks: A liter of Quilmes beer was included—cheers! Taste Test: Everything was tasty, but standouts included the calamari (tender, never chewy!), pizza, and surprisingly delicious fried ravioli. 🍫 Churros for Dessert: The Real Star No visit to Manolo is complete without churros, the house specialty: We sampled three flavors: Vanilla cream Dulce de leche (the ultimate Argentine filling) Rich chocolate Verdict: All are delicious—crisp outside, warm filling inside—but dulce de leche steals the show! 💸 Price Check & Value Cost: 940 pesos (about $25 USD) That included everything: a massive picada, beer, churros dessert, and even leftovers for dinner. Incredible value for a feast in the heart of a touristy city! 🌳 Park Plaza San Martín: City Life & Artisan Fairs After our food coma (and a quick run for jackets, thanks to a sudden cold snap!), we headed to nearby Park Plaza San Martín. What’s there? Central statue of San Martín, Argentina’s liberator Daily artisan fair—most stalls set up in the late afternoon, with plenty of handicrafts and local artists (tip: don’t show up too early; Mar del Plata is a city that comes alive later in the day) Weather: The skies turned stormy, so we wrapped up the sightseeing early and returned to the apartment to work off our food baby! 📝 Highlights & Tips Must-Visit: Manolo for a local diner experience, killer churros, and unbeatable picadas. Come Hungry: The portions are massive! Local Rhythm: Expect late starts—afternoons and evenings are when city life and artisan markets really get going. Budget-Friendly: Even at busy, touristy places, food in Mar del Plata is generous and affordable. Dessert: Don’t skip the churros, and try all the fillings if you can! #MarDelPlata #FoodVlog #Argentina #ManoloChurros #Picada #TravelArgentina #Churros #LocalExperience #TravelVlog #SouthAmerica 👍 LIKE • 💬 COMMENT • 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more food, travel, and Argentina adventures! See you in the next episode for beaches, seafood, and more Mar del Plata discoveries! Eating an ARGENTINIAN PICADA + CHURROS at Manolo in Mar del Plata, Argentina: BLOGS https://cheargentinatravel.com/ https://thatbackpacker.com/ https://nomadicsamuel.com/ https://acrossalberta.com/ https://pictureperfectportfolios.com/