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Food tours in Iguazu Falls: what to eat and which tour to book
Iguazu Falls sits on the border of Argentina and Brazil, close to Paraguay, and most visitors stay in one of two towns: Puerto Iguazú on the Argentine side or Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side. They eat differently. Puerto Iguazú is a small town of Argentine parrillas (grill restaurants), empanadas and river fish such as surubí, with the Guaraní-rooted food of Misiones province — chipa cheese bread, mandioca (cassava) and yerba mate — in the background. Foz is a larger Brazilian city of all-you-can-eat churrascarias, per-kilo buffets, pastel and açaí. Inside both national parks the food is mostly basic snack bars; eat well in town before or after.
Use this page to know what to order on each side of the border and roughly what it costs. Argentine peso prices change quickly, so we give rough euro equivalents. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price, which side of the border it starts from and the meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Iguazu Falls
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentine grill parrillada / asado (Argentina) | Beef cuts such as bife de chorizo (sirloin), vacío (flank) and entraña (skirt), plus chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage) and provoleta (grilled provolone), cooked over wood or charcoal and served with chimichurri and salad. | Parrillas in the centre of Puerto Iguazú, around Avenida Victoria Aguirre and Avenida Brasil. | roughly €12–22 for a main cut; a parrillada for two about €30–45 |
| Surubí and river fish surubí, pacú, dorado | Large freshwater fish from the Paraná and Iguazú rivers. Surubí is a firm catfish, often grilled, breaded or in a stew; pacú is rich and oily, often grilled whole. | Restaurants in Puerto Iguazú and Foz do Iguaçu; menus usually say 'pescados de río' or 'peixes do rio'. | roughly €12–25 a main |
| Cheese bread of the Guaraní region chipa (Argentina) / pão de queijo (Brazil) | Small rings or rolls of cassava starch and cheese, chewy inside. Chipa is Paraguayan and Misiones style; pão de queijo is the Brazilian cousin. Eaten for breakfast or with mate. | Bakeries and street sellers in both towns, and in Ciudad del Este across the bridge in Paraguay. | about €1–3 for a bag or a few pieces |
| Empanadas empanadas (Argentina) | Baked or fried pastries filled with minced beef, chicken, ham and cheese, or onion and cheese. A cheap lunch or a starter. | Empanada shops, bakeries and parrillas in Puerto Iguazú. | roughly €1.20–2.50 each |
| Brazilian rodízio churrasco rodízio (Brazil) | All-you-can-eat barbecue: waiters bring skewers of picanha (top sirloin cap), sausage, chicken hearts, pork and lamb to the table until you turn your card to red, plus a buffet of salads and sides. | Churrascarias in Foz do Iguaçu, many along the main avenues and near the hotels on the road to the falls. | roughly BRL 110–200 (about €17–32) per person, drinks extra |
| Per-kilo buffet and pastel comida por quilo / pastel (Brazil) | At a 'por quilo' restaurant you fill a plate from the buffet and pay by weight — the everyday Brazilian lunch. Pastel is a large, thin fried pastry with cheese, meat or palm heart, often with sugarcane juice (caldo de cana). | Lunch restaurants and pastelarias in central Foz do Iguaçu. | per-kilo lunch roughly BRL 35–60 (about €5.50–9.50); pastel BRL 8–15 |
| Yerba mate and tereré mate / tereré | Misiones is Argentina's main yerba-mate region. Mate is drunk hot from a gourd through a metal straw; tereré is the cold version with water or juice, drunk constantly in Paraguay and Misiones in hot weather. | Locals carry their own; yerba is sold in supermarkets and at the market stalls in Puerto Iguazú. | a 500 g or 1 kg pack of yerba costs a few euros |
| Picada with Argentine cheese and salami picada (Argentina) | A board of cheeses, salami, cured ham, olives and bread, usually with Argentine wine or beer. | La Feirinha market in Puerto Iguazú, where stalls sell picadas and drinks in the evening, and bars in the town centre. | roughly €10–20 for a board to share |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
La Feirinha (Feria), Puerto Iguazú
A covered market in the centre of town, famous with Brazilian visitors for Argentine cheese, salami, olives, wine, yerba and alfajores. In the evening many stalls serve picadas and drinks at tables.
Puerto Iguazú town centre
Small grid of streets around Avenida Victoria Aguirre and Avenida Brasil with parrillas, pizzerias, empanada shops, bakeries and bars, all walkable.
Hito Tres Fronteras
The point where the Iguazú meets the Paraná and you can see Brazil and Paraguay. Food stalls, craft sellers and bars gather here around sunset, and there is an evening light-and-water show.
Foz do Iguaçu centre
The Brazilian city centre has per-kilo lunch restaurants, pastelarias, bakeries and churrascarias, plus a large Arab-Brazilian community with Lebanese restaurants and bakeries.
Inside the national parks
Both parks have snack bars and restaurants near the main trails, with buffet restaurants at the larger visitor areas. Choice is limited and prices are high; many visitors bring sandwiches and water.
Food tours in Iguazu Falls compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class | 4 hours | from €221 per person | max 3 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner | 3 hours | from €67 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Puerto Iguazu Madero Tango Show | 2 - 4 hours | from €27 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Madero Tango Iguazu - Premium Dinner (Foz do Iguaçu/Puerto Iguazu) | — | from €36 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Iguazu: Brazil Side Tour & Authentic Churrascaria Lunch | 4 hours | from €253 per group | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by Tangol
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €221 per person
- Group size
- max 3
- Included
- Wine tasting Dinner Experience Private Hotel pick up and drop-off Personal expenses From €221 per person Adult x 1 Select date English Check availability * * * Free cancellation Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner
On GetYourGuide · run by The Argentine Experience
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €67 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 142 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 6-course dinner Cocktail & Empanada class demonstration Beer or Wine pairing (3 different wines from Argentina) Non-alcoholic beverages Local Mate Tea demonstration Tips
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- The Argentine Experience restaurant on Av. Brasil 57, N3370 Puerto Iguazú, Misiones
Puerto Iguazu Madero Tango Show
On GetYourGuide · run by Madero Tango
- Length
- 2 - 4 hours
- Price
- from €27 per person
- Rating
- 4.1 ★ from 23 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Admission ticket For those who would like a drink, there is a bar with an additional menu available to the public. Food and drinks
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Madero Tango Iguazu - Premium Dinner (Foz do Iguaçu/Puerto Iguazu)
On GetYourGuide · run by Iguassu Planet Turismo
- Price
- from €36 per person
- Rating
- 4.2 ★ from 16 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Dinner (with dinner options) Tango and Folklore Show Singers Free Play Casino Live orchestra Show Only:* does not include dinner, drinks, or transportation to the venue. To enjoy the show with dinner, select the *Show…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Next to the Iguazú Casino.
Iguazu: Brazil Side Tour & Authentic Churrascaria Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Maria Laura Gamboa
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €253 per group
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Guide assistance Guide tour at the Iguazu Falls: Brazilian side Round-trip transportation service from the hotel to the park, then to the restaurant Provided by a professional driver. A bottle of mineral water per per…
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food is modest: chipa sellers, empanadas, pastel, açaí bowls and fresh juice. There is no big street-food district, but La Feirinha and the Hito Tres Fronteras give you the most informal evening eating on the Argentine side.
Sit-down meals
On the Argentine side, dinner is at a parrilla or a river-fish restaurant, starting late (from about 20:30). On the Brazilian side, lunch is a per-kilo buffet and dinner a rodízio churrascaria. Many hotels outside town have their own restaurants because they are far from the centres.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are uncommon here. The closest equivalents are asado or empanada experiences offered by some hotels and lodges, and visits to yerba-mate plantations in Misiones that include a tasting. Check exactly what is cooked and eaten before booking.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €20–30 (bakery breakfast, empanadas or por-quilo lunch, simple dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €40–60 (park snack lunch, a parrilla or churrascaria dinner with a drink) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €90+ (a lodge or hotel restaurant with wine, or a premium churrascaria) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible but limited on the Argentine side, where menus centre on beef; ask for provoleta, pasta, pizza, salads, humita or vegetable empanadas. Brazilian per-kilo buffets are the easiest place for vegetarians, with many salads, rice, beans and vegetables.
Halal: Foz do Iguaçu has one of Brazil's largest Muslim communities and a large mosque, with Lebanese and Arab restaurants and some halal butchers. On the Argentine side halal options are very limited; Argentine grills include pork sausages.
Gluten-free: Chipa and pão de queijo are made with cassava starch and are usually gluten-free (check for added wheat flour). Argentina has good coeliac labelling ('sin TACC') on packaged food, and many restaurants mark dishes. Grilled meat and fish are fine; empanadas, milanesas and pastel are not.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Bad exchange rates when paying in a foreign currency, especially restaurants in Puerto Iguazú quoting prices in reais or dollars, or card machines converting to your home currency. Pay in the local currency of the side you are on (pesos in Argentina, reais in Brazil), and decline 'dynamic currency conversion' on card machines. Foreign cards in Argentina usually get a rate close to the market rate.
- Street money changers offering high rates for cash, sometimes with counterfeit or out-of-circulation notes. Use your card, ATMs inside banks or official exchange offices, and count notes carefully.
- Unexpected cover charges: 'cubierto' in Argentina (bread and cutlery per person) and 'couvert artístico' in Brazil for live music. Both are legal if shown on the menu or at the door. Ask before sitting down if you see live music.
- Coatis in the parks grabbing food bags and snacks, sometimes scratching or biting. Don't eat in the open near them, keep food zipped away and never feed them — it is prohibited.
Top tours & activities in Iguazu Falls
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Should I stay and eat on the Argentine or Brazilian side?
Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) is a small, walkable town with parrillas, wine and late dinners; it suits couples and travellers who like steak. Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) is a larger city with rodízio churrascarias, per-kilo buffets and more variety, including Lebanese food. Many visitors see both sides of the falls and stay on one side; crossing the border takes time, so carry passports.
Can I bring food into the national parks?
Yes, you can bring sandwiches, snacks and water, and many visitors do because park food is limited and expensive. Keep food in your bag, because coatis and monkeys snatch it, and eat only in designated areas. Take your rubbish with you. Feeding wildlife is prohibited on both sides.
Do I need to tip?
In Argentina, a tip of about 10% in cash is customary in restaurants; the 'cubierto' charge is not a tip. In Brazil, a 10% service charge ('serviço') is usually added to the bill and is optional, though most people pay it. On guided tours, a small tip for the guide is appreciated on both sides.
What currency should I use?
Use Argentine pesos in Puerto Iguazú and Brazilian reais in Foz do Iguaçu. Many businesses near the border accept both currencies and sometimes US dollars, but at their own rate. Cards work widely in Brazil and increasingly in Argentina, where foreign cards usually get a rate close to the market rate. Carry some cash for markets and small shops.
What time do people eat?
In Argentina, lunch is around 13:00–15:00 and dinner from about 20:30 to midnight; many restaurants open for dinner only around 20:00. In Brazil, people eat earlier: lunch from about 11:30 and dinner from about 19:00. Inside the parks, eat early or bring food, as snack bars get busy around midday.
What should I try that's local to the area?
Try chipa (cassava-and-cheese bread), river fish such as surubí and pacú, yerba mate or cold tereré from Misiones province, and an Argentine picada at La Feirinha. On the Brazilian side, try a rodízio, a pastel with sugarcane juice and pão de queijo. Paraguayan sopa paraguaya (a dense corn bread) appears on some menus too.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.