The best restaurants Ecuador

Timetable

Lunch is usually served between noon and 3pm. Plan to dine early, as most restaurants close around 9:30pm. Many restaurants are closed on Sundays.

Budget & Tips

A daily menu with drinks usually costs around US$3.50 in small local restaurants. Plan for a European budget if you're going to lunch or dinner in a specialty restaurant. All restaurants offer take-away service for excess food. If you wish to bring your own bottle of wine, you'll usually only be asked to pay a small corkage fee.

What costs extra

Gratuities (what you leave if you're satisfied with the service) are not included, but service (which is often the waiter's only wage) is usually included in the bill and in menu prices. Be sure to check that VAT (IVA) is included in the price.

The local way

Dishes are hearty, as in many American countries, but there's nothing to stop you sharing a dish with others. If you like your steak rare(jugoso), let the waiter know. If you like culinary discoveries, you won't leave the country without tasting cuy asado, roast guinea pig, a surprising Andean specialty.

On the coast, it's ceviche (marinated raw fish) that will delight your taste buds, with its mani sauce, peanut, which normally accompanies it.

Ecuadorians generally eat an almuerzo (daily special) for lunch, which is often very inexpensive compared to the a la carte menu. It usually consists of a soup, a main course(plato fuerte) and a fruit juice, sometimes with a dessert.

To be avoided

We recommend that you avoid drinking tap water, even in large cities, and avoid ice cubes wherever possible. You should also avoid the ice creams often sold by the roadside, as they are rarely preserved in accordance with hygiene standards.

Smokers

Smoking is not permitted in the restaurant, but many terraces are available for smokers.