20 Best Places to Eat in Ecuador: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Ecuadorian cuisine is a fascinating, diverse tapestry influenced by its four distinct geographic regions. From mountain stews and roasted pork in the Andes to ocean-fresh ceviches and coconut seafood along the Pacific coast, dining in Ecuador offers incredible variety, rich native ingredients, and exceptional value.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

While exploring Ecuador, indulge your taste buds with these iconic national dishes and regional specialties:

• Ceviche Ecuatoriano: Unlike Peruvian style, Ecuadorian ceviche (shrimp or fish) features a flavorful citrus tomato broth served with toasted corn (tostado) and chifles (plantain chips).
• Locro de Papa: A creamy, comforting Andean potato soup cooked with garlic, annatto, and cheese, topped with fresh avocado slices.
• Encebollado: Ecuador's ultimate national hangover cure—a hearty albacore tuna soup loaded with yucca, pickled red onions, cilantro, and lime juice.
• Hornado: Slow-roasted whole pig marinated in chicha or beer, served with crispy skin, potato patties (llapingachos), and choclo corn.
• Seco de Chivo: A flavorful goat stew braised in a spiced beer, naranjilla, and coriander sauce, served with yellow rice and sweet plantains.
• Encocado de Camorón / Pescado: Fresh seafood simmered in a rich, aromatic spiced coconut milk sauce, a specialty of coastal Esmeraldas.

20 Best Places to Eat in Ecuador

1. Zazu

• Cuisine: Modern Ecuadorian Fine Dining & Seafood
• Location: Quito, Pichincha
• Must-Try Dish: Amazonian Paella & Stone-Grilled Octopus
• About the Place: A Relais & Châteaux designated restaurant offering world-class fine dining that elevates indigenous Ecuadorian ingredients with contemporary European culinary techniques.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Zazu

2. Nuema

• Cuisine: Avant-Garde Ecuadorian Gastronomy
• Location: Quito, Pichincha
• Must-Try Dish: Multi-Course Ecuadorian Micro-Climate Tasting Menu
• About the Place: Named among Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, Chefs Alejandro Chamorro and Pía Salazar craft artistic tasting menus showcasing Ecuador's unique micro-climates and native biodiversity.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Nuema

3. Casa Gangotena Restaurant

• Cuisine: Refined Cocina Mestiza
• Location: Historic Center, Quito
• Must-Try Dish: Deconstructed Locro de Papa & Artisanal Ecuadorian Hot Chocolate
• About the Place: Set inside a restored colonial mansion on Plaza San Francisco, serving elegant modern interpretations of traditional Ecuadorian comfort food alongside high tea experiences.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Casa Gangotena Restaurant

4. Tiesto's Café Restaurant

• Cuisine: Traditional Andean Fusion in Clay Pots
• Location: Cuenca, Azuay
• Must-Try Dish: Lomo en Tiesto & Signature Painted Dessert Plates
• About the Place: Famous for serving gourmet meats and seafood sizzled inside traditional earthen clay pots (tiestos), accompanied by personalized hand-painted fruit-sauce dessert plates.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Tiesto's Café Restaurant

5. Mercado Central de Quito (Encebollado Stalls)

• Cuisine: Authentic Ecuadorian Street Food
• Location: Historic Center, Quito
• Must-Try Dish: Encebollado de Pescado & Hornado with Llapingachos
• About the Place: The bustling heart of local food culture, where skilled market vendors serve cheap, mouthwatering bowls of national tuna soup and crispy roasted pork.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Mercado Central de Quito

6. La Picantería de Rudy

• Cuisine: Coastal Seafood & Ceviche
• Location: Guayaquil, Guayas
• Must-Try Dish: Ceviche Mixto (Shrimp, Fish, and Octopus)
• About the Place: A legendary Guayaquil institution renowned across the coast for serving massive, ice-cold bowls of authentic citrus ceviche alongside crispy plantain chips.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to La Picantería de Rudy

7. Mercado 10 de Agosto

• Cuisine: Traditional Cuencan Food Stalls
• Location: Cuenca, Azuay
• Must-Try Dish: Hornado Cuencano with Motepillo (Hominy and Egg)
• About the Place: Cuenca's vibrant market where local women serve golden-roasted pig with crispy skin, served alongside traditional hominy, potato patties, and pickled salads.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Mercado 10 de Agosto

8. El Mercado Cuenca

• Cuisine: Farm-to-Table European & Ecuadorian
• Location: Cuenca, Azuay
• Must-Try Dish: Slow-Braised Pork Ribs & Trout Carpaccio
• About the Place: Housed in a rustic-chic industrial space overlooking the Tomebamba River, serving seasonal organic dishes sourced directly from local Andean farms.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to El Mercado Cuenca

9. Isla de Santa Cruz Fish Market (Puerto Ayora)

• Cuisine: Fresh Seafood & Street Stalls
• Location: Puerto Ayora, Galápagos
• Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Red Snapper & Spiny Lobster
• About the Place: By day a fisherman's pier frequented by pelicans and sea lions, by night the street transforms into an open-air seafood dining market serving cheap grilled catches.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla de Santa Cruz Fish Market

10. Urko Cocina Local

• Cuisine: Seasonal Sustainable Ecuadorian
• Location: La Floresta, Quito
• Must-Try Dish: Raymi Seasonal Tasting Experience
• About the Place: Located in Quito's bohemian neighborhood, Urko creates innovative tasting menus structured around the four traditional Andean agricultural solstice cycles.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Urko Cocina Local

11. Restaurant La Balsa (Puerto López)

• Cuisine: Coastal Seafood & Encocados
• Location: Puerto López, Manabí
• Must-Try Dish: Encocado de Camaron (Shrimp in Coconut Sauce)
• About the Place: A charming beachfront venue where diners enjoy traditional coastal coconut stews and grilled mahi-mahi while watching fishing boats unload on the shore.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Restaurant La Balsa

12. Café Mosaico

• Cuisine: Ecuadorian & International Bistro
• Location: Itchimbía Hill, Quito
• Must-Try Dish: Empanadas de Viento & Warm Canelazo Cocktail
• About the Place: Perched high on Itchimbía hill, offering panoramic views over the illuminated historic center of Quito, perfect for evening sunset cocktails and traditional snacks.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Café Mosaico

13. Lo Nuestro Restaurant

• Cuisine: Traditional Coastal Criollo
• Location: Urdesa, Guayaquil
• Must-Try Dish: Arroz con Menestra y Carne Asada (Rice, Beans, and Grilled Beef)
• About the Place: A Guayaquil landmark dedicated to preserving authentic coastal Ecuadorian recipes, served inside an elegant heritage home setting.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Lo Nuestro Restaurant

14. Achiote Ecuador Cuisine

• Cuisine: Traditional Regional Specialties
• Location: La Mariscal, Quito
• Must-Try Dish: Seco de Chivo & Amazonian Tilapia Maito
• About the Place: A cozy restaurant in Quito offering representative dishes from all four regions of Ecuador, including fish wrapped in Amazonian bijao leaves.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Achiote Ecuador Cuisine

15. Cafe de la Vaca

• Cuisine: Farmstead Comfort Food & Dairy
• Location: Machachi, near Cotopaxi
• Must-Try Dish: Locro de Papa with Fresh Farm Cheese & Milksakes
• About the Place: A country estate restaurant located near Cotopaxi volcano, renowned for rich farm-fresh dairy products, hearty soups, and rustic mountain comfort meals.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Cafe de la Vaca

16. Caracol Azul

• Cuisine: High-End Spanish & Coastal Seafood
• Location: Guayaquil
• Must-Try Dish: Crab Claws in Garlic Sauce & Lobster Thermidor
• About the Place: Operating since 1975, Caracol Azul is Guayaquil's classic destination for sophisticated seafood dining and business lunches.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Caracol Azul

17. Stray Dog Grill (Puerto Ayora)

• Cuisine: Craft Beer & Galápagos Seafood Pub
• Location: Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
• Must-Try Dish: Fresh Tuna Burger & Island Craft Beer
• About the Place: A lively social hub in Puerto Ayora serving local Galápagos microbrews alongside gourmet burgers, fish tacos, and fresh tuna steaks.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Stray Dog Grill

18. Dulceria de Corpus Christi

• Cuisine: Traditional Artisanal Sweets
• Location: Cuenca
• Must-Try Dish: QUESADILLAS, Cocadas & Guava Rolls
• About the Place: A historic bakery stall quarter in Cuenca where generations of women bake centuries-old convent sweets and traditional pastries.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Dulceria de Corpus Christi

19. Shamrock Pub & Grill (Baños)

• Cuisine: International Comfort Food & Grills
• Location: Baños de Agua Santa
• Must-Try Dish: Artisanal Beef Burgers & Ecuadorian Craft Beer
• About the Place: A popular gathering spot for international travelers in Baños, known for hearty post-adventure meals, craft beers, and friendly atmosphere.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Shamrock Pub & Grill

20. Mercado de Otavalo Food Section

• Cuisine: Indigenous Andean Market Stalls
• Location: Otavalo
• Must-Try Dish: Yamor Corn Beer & Crispy Roasted Pork with Mote
• About the Place: Experience authentic local market dining where Kichwa cooks serve traditional Andean stews, steamed corn dishes, and roasted meats in a festive atmosphere.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Mercado de Otavalo Food Section

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Traditional Ecuadorian Ceviche & Coastal Gastronomy