Restaurant in Buenos Aires Province, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Mostrador de Quesos Sirio-Libanes
A popular street food stall in La Plata run by a Lebanese family serving shawarma, falafel, and Syrian pastries that reflect the province's diverse immigrant heritage. A huge hit with university students for its cheap, filling food.
Mostrador de Quesos Sirio-Libanes is a street food stall at the corner of Calle 50 and Calle 9 in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, operated by a Lebanese family and serving Middle Eastern food that reflects the broader Syrian-Lebanese immigrant heritage embedded in Argentine culture. La Plata's large student population — drawn to the city by its national university — has made the stall a fixture of the surrounding barrio, where affordable, filling food is in constant demand.
Despite its name referencing cheese (quesos), the stall's identity has always been rooted in its cooked food offer: shawarma de cordero is the centrepiece, prepared on a vertical rotisserie and carved to order onto flatbread with garlic cream, pickled vegetables, and fresh tomatoes in the Lebanese-Argentine style. The lamb shawarma is slow-roasted through the morning and develops a deeply caramelised exterior crust by midday, which is considered the prime eating time. Falafel wraps are the other staple — housemade chickpea patties fried to order and wrapped with tahini, pickled cabbage, and chilli — and serve as the stall's main vegetarian option. Syrian pastries, particularly baqlawa (the Argentine adaptation of baklava) and mamoul filled with dates or walnut paste, are sold from the counter alongside the savoury items and give the stall a sweet dimension rare in the street food scene of central La Plata.
The stall's name originates in the family's original business selling imported Syrian and Lebanese cheeses, preserved vegetables, and dried goods — a trade that predates the cooked food operation and still continues from a small refrigerated cabinet at the rear. Shanklish (aged herbed cheese balls), labneh, and cured olives are available for purchase alongside the hot food.
The stall operates Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 9PM, serving a continuous stream of students, office workers, and neighbourhood residents. There are no tables or seating; food is taken away or consumed standing. The operation is entirely cash-based. The cooking area is open to the street, and the smell of the rotisserie lamb has an effective radius of several city blocks, functioning as a reliable wayfinding signal in the grid-regular streets of La Plata's centre.
Signature dishes
- Shawarma de cordero — $7
- Falafel wrap — $5
Known for: Lebanese street food reflecting immigrant heritage
Hours: 11AM-9PM Mon-Sat
Location
Calle 50 y Calle 9, La Plata, Buenos Aires Province
-34.9200, -57.9560 — View on map
Highlights
- Shawarma de cordero carved from a vertical rotisserie — slow-roasted lamb at its best at midday when the outer crust is deeply caramelised
- Part of La Plata's Syrian-Lebanese immigrant heritage; shanklish, labneh, and imported Middle Eastern cheeses are also sold from a refrigerated cabinet
- Housemade falafel wraps fried to order are the stall's main vegetarian option and a staple for the surrounding university community
- Syrian pastries including baqlawa and mamoul are sold alongside the savoury menu, a sweet dimension unique to this stall
Tips
- Arrive between noon and 1PM for the shawarma at its best — the outer crust develops through the morning and reaches peak caramelisation at midday
- The stall is cash-only; carry Argentine pesos as there is no card terminal
- Order the mamoul (date-filled shortbread) as a dessert alongside a savoury wrap — the contrast of lamb and sweet pastry is classically Lebanese-Argentine
- The stall is closed Sundays; plan visits for Monday through Saturday within the 11AM–9PM window
FAQ
What cuisine does the stall serve?
The stall serves Lebanese-Argentine street food, including lamb shawarma, falafel wraps, and Syrian pastries. The food reflects the culinary heritage of Lebanon and Syria as interpreted by an Argentine immigrant family over multiple generations.
Does the stall sell cheese?
Yes. Despite its name being associated with cheese (quesos), the stall originally operated as a cheese and specialty goods vendor. A refrigerated cabinet still sells shanklish, labneh, and cured olives alongside the hot food menu.
Is there seating available?
No. The stall is a take-away operation with no tables or chairs. Food is consumed standing on the street or taken to eat nearby. The university campus and public plazas within a few blocks provide informal seating options.
What are the opening hours?
The stall is open Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 9PM. It is closed on Sundays. Argentine public holidays may also affect hours, so visiting on a regular weekday is the most reliable option.
Accessibility
The stall operates from street level with open access from the footpath and no steps or barriers. Ordering at the counter is possible from a wheelchair. The area around Calles 50 and 9 has standard La Plata grid footpaths, which are flat and generally wheelchair accessible throughout the city's planned centre.
When to visit
Midday from Monday through Friday captures the stall at peak production, when the shawarma rotisserie has been running for several hours and the crust is at its most developed. The university academic calendar (March–July and August–November) brings the heaviest foot traffic during term time.