Buenos Aires Chinatown (Barrio Chino)

The Basics

The best way to explore Chinatown is on foot, and highlights of a walking tour include the Buddhist Tzong Kuan temple and the monumental arch that stands at the corner of Juramento and Arribeños. Bike tours of Buenos Aires’ northern neighborhoods also often make a stop in Chinatown on the way to nearby Palermo and Nuñez.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Leave yourself plenty of time to browse the shops and supermarkets, where you’ll find foods and other items that can’t be found anywhere else in Buenos Aires.

• Most shops in Chinatown are open from 9am to 9pm.

• Many of the area’s restaurants are closed on Mondays.

How to Get There

Buenos Aires’ Chinatown is generally denoted as the area bordered by Juramento, Arribeños, Montañeses, and Monroe Avenues. The closest subway (subte) station is Juramento Station (Line D), or you can catch the train from Retiro to Belgrano C.

When to Get There

Chinatown draws a large crowd during the annual Lunar New Year celebrations, when central Arribeños street comes alive with a vibrant street market, and revelers can enjoy live music and costumed entertainers. Chinatown is also a great dining destination any evening.

Dining in Chinatown

For most locals, the main reason to visit Chinatown is the food, and the streets are lined with family-run restaurants and street food vendors. This is the go-to place for authentic Chinese food, but there are also restaurants serving Japanese, Thai, and Korean cuisine. Swap your steak knife for chopsticks (palitos) and enjoy home-cooked delicacies like pad thai, black bean tofu, steamed dumplings, and duck pancakes.