The best restaurants Ecuador

The culinary influences of this establishment are diverse (German, Mexican, Italian, etc.), just like the clientele. A nicely decorated café paying tribute to all the countries of the world, where you can enjoy good burgers, nachos, onion fritters, nuggets, as well as pancakes and eggs for breakfast... Cocktails and a good selection of beers. Many expats from Vilcabamba meet here at the end of the day for a drink and to catch up on the latest gossip. On match days, the TV is always on!

This restaurant offers a traditional cuisine, including cuy, the famous roasted guinea pig that Ecuadorians love. The clientele is mostly composed of tourist groups passing through the area, so avoid it if you are looking for authenticity, although since the pandemic the restaurant has turned towards the local market by expanding its menu with more common dishes. A daily menu completes the offer and allows you to have lunch at a lower cost in a pleasant atmosphere that is conducive to meetings. Folk music on weekends.

A restful place where you can read a book, sit and sip a drink accompanied by a pastry (carrot cake or muffin, for example), and this for hours. To test: the good organic Intag coffee produced in the region, speciality of this association of artisanal producers of fair trade organic coffee from the Intag valley. Cocktails and wines are also available. Book exchange on site. A very nice stop where you can also buy an excellent roasted coffee and even green coffee if you feel like roasting it yourself.

Rayuela is without a doubt THE trendy restaurant of the city where local families meet. It was the first to call itself a restobar, a kind of bistro restaurant of today. Music, modern decor, and varied and quality dishes. The meat is tasty. We like, among other things, the lomo a la pimienta, the pechuga de pollo and the (large) organic salads. If you like pork, the chuleta en salsa maracuya (pork chop with passion fruit sauce) should make you happy. The staff is friendly. A safe bet!

An original and elaborate menu that makes your mouth water. We don't know what to choose... In addition to being beautifully prepared, each dish is tasty, fragrant, and sometimes surprisingly new. The fish is unquestionably fresh. We recommend the tuna(atún) à la parilla. The red meats are imported from the United States, an excellent Angus. If you are hungry, the Picaña d'Angus importado (grilled beef) should satisfy you... A very good address and a good value for money.

Carmita is a must in town. You can enjoy Ecuadorian-style ceviche, shrimp with garlic or a la plancha, calamari, octopus, fish of the day... Not to mention beef and chicken prepared according to local recipes. Lots of choice on the menu. The prices are a little higher than in other restaurants, but the quality is there and the portions are generous. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the place is a bit noisy at times... We are in the heart of the most animated sector of the village, every medal has its reverse.

An original address where you can enjoy a subtle, almost gastronomic cuisine. Shrimps in tartar sauce, parmesancorvina with spinach, potatoes, courgettes and tomato sauce are just some of the tasty dishes prepared by Big Ralph, the chef and owner of the place. Reminiscent of its origins, the fish of the day with breadcrumbs is a true British-style fish and chips. And don't forget the grilled chicken and salads that are part of the menu. Recommended!

The restaurant of this hostel managed by Martin and Maye Baldovino is a good surprise. Not only does the place have a beautiful view of the port of Bahia, but the food is very satisfying. On the menu, typical dishes, fish and seafood, fresh and well seasoned. Simple and efficient. At the time of our visit in May 2021, the facilities were closed, but let's bet that they will reopen very quickly because the place is very appreciated by the locals as well as the tourists, a buyer should be quickly interested...

This trattoria is as popular with Guayaquilenos as it is with visiting tourists. For almost 35 years, in a singular setting, both friendly and elegant, people have been flocking here to enjoy spaghetti, gnocchi, minestrone, ravioli, fettuccine, risotto(al funghi, for example). Piccolo Mondo is now considered by many to be one of the 10 best Italian restaurants in the city. Everything is quite good overall, with the added bonus of an original setting that will delight fans of kitsch. To be discovered.

This Italian restaurant-pizzeria moved into this new location in 2019 and offers excellent Italian food, mostly prepared over a wood fire. The pizza is hands down the best in all of Ecuador! The meat is also very good, and the icing on the cake is a delicious homemade tiramisu waiting for you to end this beautiful culinary experience that we highly recommend. The wine list is not to be outdone and you can accompany your meal with a good quality Italian or Chilean red wine. A must in Baños.

A fine address in the heart of the Arzobispal patio. Here you can devour fine cuts of meat at reasonable prices. If you prefer seafood, you'll find top-quality grilled prawns. Don't forget to accompany them with a good, slightly spicy chimichurri sauce - it's a real delight. More airy than its upstairs neighbors, Juan Fogonero on the first floor is a great place to dine in the historic center, especially as the few restaurants open in the evening in this area are located here.

Not to be missed in Quito! This small family cafeteria is very well run by charming owners. The place which exists since 1965 serves very good typical dishes. We advise you the seco de chivo. For breakfast, Fabiolita offers various very healthy options. Most of the products used here are organic and often harvested by the employees of the house. You can enjoy the quality of the products in a very simple way. Moreover, from the terrace the view on the Plaza Grande is sublime. Highly recommended!

It is the oldest covered market in Quito! Although it has been in existence for almost 120 years, the market halls have been renovated relatively recently. You can stroll around, do some shopping and even eat there with many Quiteños or visitors from the province. The visit is a must, but we strongly advise you to sit down at one of the tables and taste one of the seco de pollo or other specialties that make you want to. Here, we are far from the tourist traps, one of the best plans for small budgets!

El Mariachi Taco Factory is a good Mexican restaurant located in the Mariscal around the famous Foch square. Here, you can eat very good Mexican specialties: tacos, tortillas, guacamole, fajitas... there is something for everyone (generous portions). The meat is also very good. It's a good place to start the evening, right in the center of the Quito nightlife. Many Quiteños meet here on football match nights, in a more intimate atmosphere than on the plaza Foch. The staff is very friendly.

Notice to the gourmets! A very pretty and well decorated café serving superb cakes and chocolates. The place is perfect for breakfasts and snacks and offers a wide range of variations on cheesecake. Cheesecake with Jamaican flowers, figs, passion fruit or blackberries compete with the succulent brownies prepared on site with quality products. Some excellent sandwiches will delight the hungriest. But beware, the desserts are copious... a little nap may be in order!

Perfect place to enjoy very good pizzas in a typical Italian setting: wood-fired pizzas, red and white checkered tables, warm welcome, everything is there. On match nights, the TV is on and you come with your family or friends to watch it. The pizzas are as good and almost as big as in Italy! Don't hesitate to have it delivered if you want to stay at your hotel, it has become common since the pandemic and the deliveries are very fast, no need to reheat your pizza when you arrive!

Welcome to Fabiano's, opened since 2011 and highly recommended by locals, it is a great place to eat delicious Italian pizza at low prices and in a relaxed and family atmosphere. Fabiano has opened two other locations in Cuenca. One in the Zona Rosa and the other in the Challuabamba neighborhood, a residential area of the city. All three places have a good atmosphere and above all, produce very good pizzas and pasta dishes. If you prefer to dine at your hotel, ask for a delivery, it is fast and free.

In the heart of Riobamba, César Oña, a native of the country who studied abroad and stayed with a chef, has opened an apparently unpretentious bar-cafeteria on the main avenue, Daniel Leon Borja. The food here is Ecuadorian, even "Riobambenian" quality, prepared with fresh local products. Ask for an empanada de morocho and you will be taken for a local! They also serve good chicken wings with chips. The service is friendly, the dishes are of good quality. Perfect place for a quick break and not very expensive.

Looking for Mexican food in the middle of volcanoes? Guadalajara Grill is without doubt the best Mexican restaurant in town. It's often very quiet, as it's set back from the busy streets of Latacunga. The owners of Guadalajara grill (they're Mexican) are charming and serve delicious home-cooked food. On the menu: Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Fajitas, Sopas, Tostadas, Huevos Rancheros, Nachos and many other delights. All for a very reasonable price. If you want to stay at your hotel, delivery is fast.

There is a wide choice for lunch or dinner in Machala, but we have selected the Waikiki restaurant which is a bit more expensive than the others, but really worth it. Its terrace under a straw roof is the perfect place to enjoy a good dinner. The courbine au gratin with crab sauce is excellent as are all the dishes we tried. The Waikiki's slogan being "the authentic flavour of our coast", one could think that only seafood is served, but don't be mistaken, the menu is very complete. A favorite.

Located on the first floor of a pretty colonial house, we recommend this restaurant mainly for the view it offers of the Plaza de los Ponchos from the balcony. It serves hearty breakfasts and decent local cuisine at low prices. You can also enjoy a very good canelazo, the traditional hot drink made with spices and often with added alcohol. As its name suggests, this restaurant has a lovely little terrace from which you can watch the artisans setting up or getting busy on market days.

Sergio Guevara, the chef of this small, unpretentious Italian restaurant with a cosy atmosphere, opened in 1996, prepares delicious food with fresh, local products. He welcomes you in a pleasant house, a little away from the town centre, at the beginning of the road that leads to Puyo. You will be able to taste his dishes on the terrace as well as inside and you will not be disappointed. Pizzas, pasta, lasagne, meat and fish, everything is excellent and prepared with good quality products. We highly recommend this establishment.

Salinerito is a small and charming fast-food restaurant where they serve very good sandwiches and pizzas cooked on the spot, in front of your eyes. Ideal for the small munchies. Salinerito Otavalo is a cafeteria with comfortable and warm facilities where you can spend pleasant moments with family or friends. You will find a wide variety of pizzas, delicious sandwiches and snacks, as well as cappuccinos, mocacchinos, chocolates, coffees, etc. In the morning you can enjoy a delicious breakfast. Interesting address.

If you're in the mood for a good Italian meal, look no further than La Briciola, where you'll feel like you're in Italy from the moment you walk in. The staff are professional and friendly, and the tables are well spaced. We recommend the wood-fired pizzas or the lasagne baked in the pizza oven, which are excellent! If you're looking for a more gourmet meal, try the rabbit with peppers, for example, after a good plate of fresh pasta. Agnolotti, tortellini and ravioli are homemade with quality local ingredients. A good choice.

Restaurant looking like a fast food, La Vaca Loca is more than that. The first thing to notice is the neat, lively and cheerful decoration with cows all over the walls. Dishes are relatively copious and well prepared. We melt for their succulent desserts. Nothing very original, but the address is very popular with the locals and the few tourists passing through. And the staff is friendly! On the evenings of football matches, this is the place where people gather to support their favourite team, with friends and neighbours. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Here is an establishment opened since June 2017 and run by a French woman Valentine and her husband Yadin. The decor is neat and you quickly feel at ease, the beach in focus. It is the perfect place to enjoy a very good coffee or a fruit juice. The breakfasts served are very good. For the greediest, you can also taste the pancakes prepared by the team. For the rest of the day, they also serve sandwiches or excellent toasted bread as well as vegan dishes. A pleasant address of choice, a little away from the city.

A unique place awaits you here, near the beautiful beach of Puerto Chino, the only opportunity to eat outside the village. In the middle of a 30 year old organic farm, a restaurant offering fresh food and healthy products. While your food is being prepared, you can visit the farm, guided by the passion of the owners. Back at your table, you will be able to enjoy an extremely nourishing and engaging cuisine. Many deliciously prepared seafood dishes are served. A place to visit again and again.

On the Malecón, Blanche offers seafood dishes made with passion. Miguel Angel and Maria are in charge of the establishment and have learned a lot from Nico, a 20-year-old graduate of the Lausanne hotel school who opened a bakery here and now runs it remotely for hoteliers and restaurateurs in the area. Blanche also offers excellent breakfasts and delicious dishes made with local products. The bread is still as good as ever, it still comes from Nico's!

Those who like their breakfasts local and hearty will find themselves here. Prices are very affordable and the dishes are hearty. The coffee, made from local produce, is very good and goes perfectly with the famous Tigrillos and Bolons for those with a sweet tooth. Don't miss the maduro de la casa, a plantain dish seasoned with cheese sauce, grated cheese and chicharrones ! It can't get any more local than this. What's more, the welcome is very warm and you'll enjoy staying a while just to chat with the regulars.

Here's the nugget of the year, a stone's throw from the historic center. A small restaurant that can accommodate a dozen people in a small, well-decorated room, where dishes are concocted using local produce of excellent quality. Vegetables and meats are lightly smoked in the in-house smokehouse, sauces are all homemade and the welcome is particularly friendly. Soft music accompanies the excellent salads, pizzas and sandwiches.

Small and inexpensive restaurant that serves pizza specialities, salads and sandwiches. Good atmosphere.

Italian cuisine served in a warm atmosphere. Classic cuisine for those who want something other than fish and seafood.

Good ice creams, homemade cakes and also grills in a pub atmosphere, since the establishment is maintained by an Englishman. Friendly and friendly.

A few tables under a large roof roof, a pleasant atmosphere and a good quality kitchen. The place is very popular in the evening.

An old box in wood, blue. All tables and chairs are lame and the decoration of pious images deserves a look. Very local kitchen, special «tourist» rates, but a little higher.

Beautiful location overlooking the Playa de los Marinos. It serves mainly fish and seafood.

For those who tired of rice in Ecuador, would prefer rice to Chinese.

Attablé outside, you eat ceviches and fish well seasoned. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Restaurant specialized in Italian cuisine. In a charming setting, you will taste fresh handmade pasta (especially spaghetti and fettuccine), but also ravioli, risotto, lasagne... The pizzas are not to be outdone and are proposed in 2 sizes, large or very large! We are here in one of the best restaurants of Manta without any doubt and the local clientele is not mistaken, the regulars are numerous in these places. We finally succumb to a good dessert. The shrimp ravioli are to be tested.

A classic restaurant, well attended; local and international cuisine.

Directly on the Malecón, this is an authentic pizzeria whose owner worked for several years in Milan and learned the best techniques there. The products are chosen with care and you can enjoy the pleasant view of the ocean. Also on the menu, chicken and fish dishes are very successful. But if you come here, it is first of all for the very good pizzas cooked on a wood fire, with a very fine dough! Since the pandemic, Da Giulio also offers delivery to your hotel if you don't feel like going out.

Right next to the beach, the Seaflower Lateneus is a tasty and elegant restaurant nestled in a pretty wooden house. The Ecuadorian chef went to Europe to train before coming back to the country to offer his refined cuisine that one comes from far away to taste. Fresh fish and seafood to be enjoyed without moderation! The Seaflower doubles as the best bar in Same with a wide selection of cocktails and various alcohols. And if you wish, you can even sleep in a large and beautiful room for about fifty dollars.

Or the net, as its name indicates: fish, shrimp and shellfish; chicken also for good measurement!

A small bar for a beer.

Whether you are a vegetarian or not, you will love this restaurant which serves excellent Indian food at unbeatable prices. It is located in the patio of a beautiful colonial house that serves as the premises of the Krishna community of Quito. A small store of Indian products opens on the same patio, one would think in India! Fresh and organic products on the menu, served by a follower of the community who does not proselytize. We feel at ease here, the decor is very pleasant and the calm absolute, sometimes punctuated by the songs coming from the floor. A good choice.

For more than 30 years, this good Chinese restaurant has been offering an extensive menu in a beautiful and very large red room with large windows. The most typical dishes are on the menu: fried noodles, shrimps, beef marinated in a sweet and sour sauce. The whole of Macas meets here for lunch or dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. Since the pandemic, the delivery service has been developed and you can of course order from your hotel, but we recommend that you come here to make the most of this restaurant.

The place to be for a nice night out in Macas. La Maravilla has had a new location since 2021, modern and comfortable, although it still lacks the charm of the old house. You can sit down and enjoy a cheese board or a meat dish with yucca. You can also sip a beer, a cocktail with rum... or the house preparation, the Guayusa, made with plants and which would have aphrodisiac virtues! The music is good and there are often bands playing live. Karaoke some evenings.

In addition to good ceviche, we serve meat dishes. The restaurant is very well maintained and of good quality. A small terrace to observe street activity. Basic Ecuadorian cuisine and local clientele. Economic.

Near the hotel El Jardin, a little away from the city centre, here is an establishment where you will certainly taste real Neapolitan pizzas, even the best of the region, in a pleasant modern and very well maintained setting (room on the floor). The menu is varied and we appreciate the original recipe of some (with spinach, ricotta among others). Pasta is also on the menu. Note the lasagne with delicious bolognese and a tiramisu to die for. A very good choice in Puyo that we recommend without hesitation!

Just outside the city centre, this elegant restaurant in a beautiful bourgeois home serves both Ecuadorian and international dishes.