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Alladin is my all time favorite place to go. It sells hookas and has comfy couches. Yummy cold Pilsensers and the best Shwarmas ever! I've eaten so many in my life and nothing compares! Alladin is always my first stop when I go to Ecuador! Shwarmas!
'Ceviche' are shrimps or fish served in a tangy sourish lemon juice or tomato sauce, mixed with onions, parsley and some spices. This is usually served in a bowl with a side dish of salty popcorn or fried plantains.This is a very popular dish along the coasts, from Ecuador, Peru to Chile. Do try it!
This is interestingly a traditional Ecuadorean snack - ice-cream with the flavours mixed in a huge pan.The ice-cream flavours are mainly fruity. You will see signs 'HELADO DE PAILA' everywhere. Try it!
Hornado de cerdo - This is a WHOLE PIG being cooked over fire, thoroughly crisping the skin. They usually display the dish with the whole head of the pig staring at you. Very ‘Lord of The Flies’. You should be able to see this dish from southern Colombia to Ecuador. It was very delicious, I think, rather fatty, considering I also ate the skin of the pig, but who cares… it was amazing.
A typical Ecuadorean drink, my friend told me, is chocolate con queso (hot chocolate with cheese).Imagine a tall glass of hot chocolate with melting cheese inside. But not just any cheese, I was told. As my cheese knowledge is very limited, I am not able to tell you how to prepare this drink yourself.But there is a cafe in Palacio Arzobispal where my friend brought me to which served this. I assume many other cafes do the same.
Apparently, for the Ecuadoreans, their main meal is lunch, rather than dinner as in Western cultures. At times, it might be only main dish in their diet.Do try 'seco de chivo'. You will find that lunch menus which are very economical and good, usually offer a few selections for the main dish and 'seco de chivo' is often an option. While 'seco' means 'dry', this dish is actually a type of stew made from goat. Yum.
'Almuerzo del dia' means 'Lunch of the day'. These are fixed-price lunches, usually between US$1 to US$1.50, that are available in markets and small local restaurants. The lunch includes soup, a main course of rice and meat, dessert and a cup of drink like juice or syrup of some sort (possibly mixed with questionable water). Usually, the meat is not of good quality, and the menu is preselected. Well, it fills the tummy, that's the most important for budget-conscious.
I normally take a peek at the local market to see if there is anything interesting.The Mercado 24 de Mayo has a section where they serve lunch for about US$1 with rice, a piece of meat and some salad. There are many stalls to choose from, but I reckon they are all more or less the same. I supposed just follow the locals and join them at the most popular one. The food is not fantastic, but it is filling and very cheap indeed.
Ecuador is one of South America’s more interesting culinary countries though much like its brethren it is a bit lacking with regard to vegetarian choices. For those who love meat, potatoes, and fish it’s a paradise. Oh, and don’t forget the corn. Corn is king in Ecuador, especially in the highlands. If there were ever a people who knew how to utilize corn, the Andeans are surely them. Be sure to try humitas, a corn based dumpling of sorts wrapped in a leaf and served with coffee for breakfast or as a snack. Llapingachos (potato pancakes) are another great street food. They are generally roaring hot so safe to eat. Okay, so the old woman serving them may not have washed her hands recently but for fifty cents and something so tasty, it's worth the chance. Restaurants in Ecuador range from the simplest side walk affair to four stars and don’t let price be your only guide as you’ll miss...
The food at Creta is one of the best in Cuenca, well presented, delicious and reasonable. The atmosphere is posh and modern, with a bar area that is has very comfortable chairs you could sit in for hours. The tables, dressed with white linen are also nice as well as the service, attentive. This restaurant is a gem you don't expect to find within a mall. The duck, our favorite, though probably the most expensive ($16.00) on the menu, but well worth the price if you enjoy the bird. It melts in your mouth, is very moist and seasoned well. My husband and I were very impressed, thinking "this chef knows what he's doing".
Four Points by Sheraton Quito Quito
6 Reviews and 82 Opinions I knew this hotel as the Sheraton Quito, but I suppose that it was, at least at one time, a Four...
Hotel Victoria Cuenca
1 Review and 46 Opinions I arrived without a reservation at the end of a long and exhausting day (see my Alausi page). The...
Samari Spa Resort Baños
33 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Ecuador attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ecuador sightseeing.
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Q: Hello I leave in Ecuador next month and i'm looking a spanish school, located in the Pacific Coast. I know there is a school in...
A: Hello Enrico You're right, Montanita is such a touristic place. I understand you want to avoid it. Last year, I have spent one month in a spanish school in Sua, near...
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