A reliable, slightly upscale parrilla and regional restaurant just off Plaza Independencia, El Portal serves the classics of northwestern cuisine — empanadas tucumanas, locro, humitas, and grilled meats — in a comfortable old townhouse with a leafy patio. The wine list draws heavily on nearby Cafayate and Mendoza, and the kitchen does the empanada-and-grill combination as well as anywhere in the centre.
It is a popular spot for both visitors and locals celebrating something, so a reservation on weekend evenings is sensible. Prices are mid-range by Argentine standards. The empanada platter for two is the obvious starter; a bife de chorizo with a glass of Cafayate torrontés rounds out a proper Tucumán dinner.