Skip to content
Milanesa from Argentina

Milanesa

Breaded thin beef cutlet, an Argentine comfort staple. · Argentina

📍 Nationwide ★ 4.4
Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Reviewed by the WhatWhereVacay editorial team

Breaded thin beef cutlet, an Argentine comfort staple.

About Milanesa

A pounded beef cutlet is breaded and fried, sometimes topped with ham, tomato sauce and cheese as milanesa napolitana. Brought by Italian immigrants, it is everyday Argentine comfort food.

🏛️ History & Culture

The milanesa traces its lineage to European breaded cutlets, most directly the Italian cotoletta alla milanese, brought to Argentina by Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its exact origin story is not disputed, but the dish was adapted to local tastes and ingredients, becoming a cornerstone of Argentine home cooking and casual dining.

Regional variations include the popular milanesa napolitana, which—despite its name—is an Argentine invention topped with ham, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. The milanesa is served as a main course with mashed potatoes or salad, or as a sandwich (sándwich de milanesa), and its ubiquity makes it a symbol of everyday comfort food across the country.

Recipes from travellers

No one has shared their own Milanesa recipe yet. Yours would be the first.

Share how you make Milanesa

You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.

Sign in to share your recipe

Ingredients
Steps

Milanesa — frequently asked questions

What is Milanesa?

A pounded beef cutlet is breaded and fried, sometimes topped with ham, tomato sauce and cheese as milanesa napolitana. Brought by Italian immigrants, it is everyday Argentine comfort food.

What is Milanesa made of?

Milanesa is made with beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic and parsley.

Where does Milanesa come from?

Milanesa comes from Argentina, and is especially associated with Nationwide. The milanesa traces its lineage to European breaded cutlets, most directly the Italian cotoletta alla milanese, brought to Argentina by Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Where can I eat Milanesa?

A neighbourhood Argentine bodegón, with fries or mash.

→ More traditional dishes from Argentina

Taste Milanesa in Buenos Aires

Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these — at no extra cost to you. How this works.

✅ Before you go to Argentina

Round out your trip — most travellers book these alongside their trip.

More dishes like Milanesa

Humita -- traditional dish from Argentina
Snacks & Appetizers ★ 4.3

Humita

Fresh corn paste steamed in its own husk.

🇦🇷 Argentina · 📍 Northwest Argentina
Empanadas -- traditional dish from Argentina
Snacks & Appetizers ★ 4.5

Empanadas

Argentina's beloved savoury pastries — flaky golden turnovers with spiced fillings and a signature hand-crimped edge.

🇦🇷 Argentina · 📍 Nationwide
Milanesa Napolitana -- traditional dish from Argentina
Meat & Grills ★ 4.1

Milanesa Napolitana

Milanesa Napolitana is one of the classic dishes in the beef dish tradition of Argentina.

🇦🇷 Argentina
Matambre -- traditional dish from Argentina
Meat & Grills ★ 4.4

Matambre

Thin flank steak rolled around egg and vegetables.

🇦🇷 Argentina · 📍 Nationwide
Dulce de Leche -- traditional dish from Argentina
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.6

Dulce de Leche

Caramelised milk spread that Argentines put on everything.

🇦🇷 Argentina · 📍 Nationwide
Choripán -- traditional dish from Argentina
Street Food ★ 4.5

Choripán

Grilled chorizo in a crusty roll with chimichurri.

🇦🇷 Argentina · 📍 Nationwide
Slinzega -- traditional dish from Italy
Meat & Grills ★ 4.0

Slinzega

From Italy, Slinzega is a well-known cured beef.

🇮🇹 Italy · 📍 Sondrio
Griot -- traditional dish from Haiti
Meat & Grills ★ 4.5

Griot

Citrus-marinated pork braised then fried crisp.

🇭🇹 Haiti · 📍 Nationwide
Cordeiro Mirandês -- traditional dish from Portugal
Meat & Grills ★ 4.4

Cordeiro Mirandês

Cordeiro Mirandês is a DOP lamb from Portugal's Terra de Miranda plateau in Trás-os-Montes, slow-roasted with garlic and paprika in traditional wood-fired ovens.

🇵🇹 Portugal · 📍 Trás-os-Montes
Dongpo Pork -- traditional dish from China
Meat & Grills ★ 4.5

Dongpo Pork

Glistening braised pork belly squares, named for a poet.

🇨🇳 China · 📍 Hangzhou
Pollo a la Brasa -- traditional dish from Peru
Meat & Grills ★ 4.6

Pollo a la Brasa

Marinated rotisserie chicken with green aji sauce.

🇵🇪 Peru · 📍 Lima
Ceviche -- traditional dish from Peru
Seafood ★ 4.7

Ceviche

Fresh raw fish "cooked" in lime juice with red onion, ají chilli and coriander, served with sweet potato and corn.

🇵🇪 Peru · 📍 Lima
Coxinha -- traditional dish from Brazil
Snacks & Appetizers ★ 4.4

Coxinha

Teardrop-shaped fried dough filled with shredded chicken.

🇧🇷 Brazil · 📍 São Paulo
Chalona de Cordero -- traditional dish from Peru
Meat & Grills ★ 4.2

Chalona de Cordero

Chalona de cordero is Andean salt-and-smoke-cured lamb, dried at altitude and simmered with potatoes, mote and ají panca.

🇵🇪 Peru · 📍 Southern Peruvian Andes — Cusco, Puno, Huancavelica, Ayacucho
Lomo Saltado -- traditional dish from Peru
Meat & Grills ★ 4.5

Lomo Saltado

Stir-fried beef with onions and tomato, served over fries and rice.

🇵🇪 Peru · 📍 Lima
Chivito -- traditional dish from Uruguay
Street Food ★ 4.4

Chivito

A loaded steak sandwich piled high with the works.

🇺🇾 Uruguay · 📍 Nationwide

Reviews

Rate this dish:
No review needed - one click, publishes instantly.

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Milanesa.

Write a review

Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Milanesa.

Comments

Sign in with Facebook or Google below to comment. Comments are auto-checked and post instantly.

No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Milanesa.