As of 2026, this Quito food guide covers 12 restaurants by category — including Hasta la Vuelta, Señor, Achiote Ecuador Cuisine, Mama Clorinda. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Quito is Quito is Andean Ecuadorian cooking — locro de papa, hornado, encebollado, llapingachos, and canelazo — from Mercado Central stalls to mansion fine dining, paid for in US dollars. We've organized 12 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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1
Hasta la Vuelta, Señor
Historic Center (Palacio Arzobispal) · Traditional Ecuadorian
Andean classics — locro de papa, hornado, llapingachos, seco de chivo — at Historic Center mainstays like Hasta la Vuelta, Señor
Hasta la Vuelta, Señor
Hasta la Vuelta, Señor · Historic Center (Palacio Arzobispal)
1
#1
MUST TRY
Hornado $8-12, locro de papa $5-7, seco de chivo (goat stew) $9-12
A long-running traditional Ecuadorian restaurant tucked into the arcade of the Palacio Arzobispal, right on Plaza Grande in the Historic Center. It's credited as one of the first places in the old town to serve elevated, affordable traditional fare — hornado (roast pork), locro de papa, seco de chivo, and other Andean staples in a colonial courtyard setting.
$8-20
($8-20)
11:00-23:00 Mon-Sat, 11:00-21:00 Sun
Local tip: Order the hornado with llapingachos, or the locro de papa to start. It's a reliable, central spot to try classic Quiteño dishes without a tourist-trap premium. The colonial arcade setting is part of the appeal. Closes earlier on Sundays. Cards accepted; carry some cash for tips.
Locro de papa $5-8, fritada, vegetarian/quinoa dishes, traditional tasting plates
A well-regarded restaurant in La Mariscal serving traditional Ecuadorian cuisine drawn from coast, highlands, and Amazon, with a notably strong vegetarian and plant-based offering (quinoa dishes, jackfruit takes on classics) alongside the meat staples. A comfortable, tourist-friendly place to sample a range of regional dishes in one sitting.
$10-25
($10-25)
12:00-22:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Good for groups who want variety — order a spread of traditional plates plus locro de papa. One of the more reliable spots for vegetarians who still want authentic Ecuadorian flavors. Centrally located in La Mariscal, walkable from many hotels. Reservations help at dinner. Cards accepted.
Mama Clorinda · La Mariscal (Calle Reina Victoria)
3
#3
MUST TRY
Cuy (roasted guinea pig) $18-22, fritada $9-12, locro de papa $5-7, llapingachos
A long-standing traditional Ecuadorian restaurant in La Mariscal, known as a dependable place to try the full range of highland classics — including cuy (whole roasted guinea pig) for the curious — alongside fritada, llapingachos, locro de papa, and seco de pollo. Hearty, homestyle Andean cooking in a relaxed setting.
$8-22
($8-22)
12:00-22:00 (open daily)
Local tip: If you want to try cuy in a comfortable, central setting, this is a common recommendation — but it's served whole, so know what to expect. Otherwise the fritada and locro are crowd-pleasers. Portions are generous. In the heart of La Mariscal's dining strip. Cards accepted.
Quito's central market, where the upstairs and ground-floor food counters serve the city's most honest traditional eating — hornado (roast pork) carved to order, encebollado (hot tuna-and-onion soup), llapingachos, and bowls of seafood, plus a wall of stalls pressing fresh-fruit juices. This is where Quiteños actually eat, not a tourist setup.
$3-8
($3-8)
08:00-17:00 (food counters busiest at lunch)
Local tip: Follow the busiest counter for hornado, and pair it with a fresh-fruit juice. Encebollado is the classic morning/hangover dish. Go at lunchtime when everything is freshest and the place is buzzing. Cash only — bring small bills. Watch your belongings as in any busy market.
Calle La Ronda (Juan de Dios Morales) · Historic Center (La Ronda)
5
#2
MUST TRY
Canelazo (hot spiced spirit) $2-4, empanadas de viento $2-4, traditional sweets
La Ronda is one of Quito's oldest streets — a narrow colonial lane of balconied houses that comes alive in the evening with small taverns, sweet shops, and craft stores. The signature experience is a warm canelazo (a hot drink of naranjilla, cinnamon, and aguardiente) and a giant empanada de viento (puffy cheese pasty dusted with sugar) as you wander.
$2-10
($2-10)
Evenings, liveliest ~17:00-22:00 (varies by venue)
Local tip: Come in the early evening when the street is lit and lively but still safe — it's atmospheric and very Quiteño. Get a canelazo to warm up against the cool night air and an empanada de viento to share. Several tiny family-run spots line the lane; follow the crowds. Bring small cash.
A popular local cevichería frequently recommended for some of Quito's better ceviche and encebollado, with generous portions and fair prices. Ecuadorian ceviche differs from the Peruvian style — often served in a tangier, soupier 'leche de tigre' base with popcorn, chifles (plantain chips), and toasted corn on the side.
Local tip: Order the shrimp ceviche (ceviche de camarón) or the encebollado, the classic hot tuna soup. Ecuadorian ceviche comes with popcorn and chifles — mix them in. A casual, local-favorite spot rather than a fancy one. Best at lunch when seafood is freshest. Cash preferred; some cards accepted.
A mariscos and cevichería spot that has won recognition for its encebollado in local competitions, serving Ecuadorian seafood — ceviches, encebollado, and shellfish plates — in a more contemporary setting than the no-frills street cevicherías. A good pick if you want the coastal seafood tradition with a bit more comfort.
$6-18
($6-18)
10:00-18:00 (varies by location)
Local tip: The encebollado is the dish to order given its award reputation — a hearty tuna-and-onion soup with cassava, eaten with chifles and lime. Shrimp ceviche is the other reliable choice. Locations in the city and the Cumbayá valley. Cards accepted. Check current hours before going.
The restaurant inside Casa Gangotena, a restored mansion on Plaza San Francisco, serving elevated 'cocina mestiza' — contemporary techniques applied to traditional Ecuadorian ingredients and dishes. It was awarded a MICHELIN Key, and is among the city's most refined dining rooms, with a setting to match in the heart of the UNESCO old town.
Local tip: Book ahead, especially for dinner or the tasting menu. It's a splurge by Quito standards but reasonable for the quality and setting. The hotel's terrace, overlooking Plaza San Francisco, is a memorable spot for a drink before dining. Smart-casual dress. Cards accepted.
Theatrum Restaurante & Wine Bar · Historic Center (Teatro Sucre, Plaza del Teatro)
9
#2
MUST TRY
Gourmet Ecuadorian-Mediterranean dishes, Ecuadorian-fruit desserts, extensive wine list
An upscale restaurant on the second floor of the historic Teatro Nacional Sucre on Plaza del Teatro, pairing gourmet Ecuadorian and Mediterranean cooking with a large wine cellar. The dessert menu leans into Ecuadorian fruits and chocolate. The dramatic theater setting and the wine program make it a special-occasion choice in the Historic Center.
$40-80
($40-80)
12:30-15:30, 19:00-23:00 Mon-Fri; evenings only weekends
Local tip: Reserve ahead, and ask about the wine pairings given the deep cellar. A polished alternative to Casa Gangotena for fine dining in the old town. The location inside the working national theater adds to the occasion. Smart-casual to smart dress. Cards accepted.
Seasonal tasting menu $65-85, ceviches, Andean ingredients across altitude zones
A long-acclaimed contemporary restaurant in the north of the city, led by chef Alexander Lau, with a seasonal tasting menu that sources ingredients from across Ecuador's altitude zones — coast, highlands, and Amazon. The cooking blends Ecuadorian flavors with international technique, spanning ceviches, soups, and refined mains.
Local tip: The tasting menu is the way to experience it — book ahead. It's in the modern north of Quito (a short Uber from La Mariscal/La Floresta), not the Historic Center. A standout for travelers who want serious, internationally minded Ecuadorian cooking. Smart-casual dress. Cards accepted.
Quito-view dining and relaxed cafés — Café Mosaico on Itchimbía hill and Pim's on El Panecillo
Café Mosaico
Café Mosaico · Itchimbía hill (Historic Center edge)
11
#1
MUST TRY
Canelazo, light meals and mezze, coffee and dessert with the Quito panorama
A café-restaurant perched on Itchimbía hill with sweeping views over Quito's Historic Center and the surrounding mountains — one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset over the old town. The menu mixes light international and Ecuadorian plates with a relaxed, artistic atmosphere; the view is the main event.
$8-20
($8-20)
12:00-22:00 (open daily; sunset is prime time)
Local tip: Come at sunset for the view over the old town and the lit-up churches, and order a canelazo to warm up. It can get busy at golden hour, so consider arriving a bit early or booking. Best reached by Uber as the hill is a steep walk from the center. Cards accepted.
Ecuadorian and international mains, coffee and dessert with floor-to-ceiling city views
A restaurant near the top of El Panecillo hill, beside the winged Virgin of Quito statue, with large windows framing a panorama of the city below. A long-established spot serving a broad Ecuadorian and international menu, it's as much about the setting — the view over the Historic Center and the Andean valley — as the food.
$10-25
($10-25)
12:00-23:00 Mon-Sat, 12:00-18:00 Sun
Local tip: Combine it with a visit to the Virgen del Panecillo statue and the viewpoint. Go by taxi or Uber — the hill is not a safe walk up. The window tables have the best views; daytime is clearest before afternoon cloud. A relaxed lunch stop with a view. Cards accepted.
Almuerzo set lunch + hornado + a La Ronda canelazo.
Mid-Range
$25-50/day
A traditional dinner (Hasta la Vuelta) + ceviche + Cafe Mosaico views.
Luxury
$80+/day
Casa Gangotena or Zazu tasting + a curated mestizo-cuisine dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Quito.
What dishes should I try in Quito?
Start with locro de papa, a creamy Andean potato-and-cheese soup with avocado ($4-8). Try hornado (slow-roasted pork, $6-12) and llapingachos (cheese-stuffed potato patties) at the Mercado Central. Encebollado, a hot tuna-and-onion soup with cassava ($3-6), is the classic morning and 'hangover' dish. Ecuadorian-style ceviche ($8-14) comes tangy and soupy with popcorn and chifles. Finish with a canelazo — a hot cinnamon, naranjilla, and aguardiente drink — on La Ronda.
Where do locals actually eat in Quito?
The Mercado Central food counters in the Historic Center are where Quiteños go for honest hornado, encebollado, and llapingachos at $3-8. The cheap set lunch (almuerzo) at neighborhood restaurants — a soup, a main, and a juice for $3-5 — is the everyday standard. Cevicherías like 7 Mares serve local-favorite ceviche and encebollado. For atmosphere, La Ronda's tiny taverns serve canelazo and empanadas de viento in the evening.
What is the almuerzo and why is it such good value?
The almuerzo is Ecuador's fixed-price set lunch and the best food value going — for about $3-5 you get a soup, a main of meat or fish with rice and beans or potatoes, a fresh-fruit juice, and often a small dessert. It's how most locals eat at midday (roughly noon to 2-3pm). Look for handwritten 'almuerzo' signs in the Historic Center and residential areas, and follow the lunchtime crowds for the freshest options.
What is canelazo and where do I get it?
Canelazo is Quito's signature hot drink — naranjilla (a tart Andean fruit) infused with cinnamon and sugar, spiked with aguardiente (sugarcane spirit). It's a cozy warmer against the cool highland nights, and the classic place to try it is La Ronda, the old colonial street, where tiny taverns and sweet shops serve it alongside giant empanadas de viento in the evening. Café Mosaico on Itchimbía hill also serves it with a view. Around $2-4.
Should I try cuy (guinea pig)?
Cuy (whole roasted guinea pig) is a traditional Andean dish eaten for thousands of years, more of a highland and festival specialty than an everyday Quito menu item. It's served whole — which some visitors find confronting — and usually costs $15-25; the taste is often likened to a cross between rabbit and dark chicken. Spots like Mama Clorinda serve it in a comfortable setting. It's a cultural experience to try if you're curious, with no obligation.
Does Quito have good fine dining?
Yes. Casa Gangotena, in a restored mansion on Plaza San Francisco, earned a MICHELIN Key for its elevated 'cocina mestiza' Ecuadorian cuisine. Theatrum, inside the historic Teatro Sucre, pairs gourmet Ecuadorian-Mediterranean plates with a deep wine cellar. Zazu, in the north of the city, is a long-acclaimed restaurant with a seasonal tasting menu drawing on every Ecuadorian altitude zone. Tasting menus run roughly $50-90 — a splurge locally, but good value internationally.
Can I eat vegetarian, and is the food spicy?
Ecuadorian food is generally mild — heat comes from the ají chili salsa served on the side, so you control it. Vegetarians manage well with locro de papa, llapingachos, empanadas, quinoa dishes, and the abundant fresh-fruit juices; pork and seafood are everywhere, but modern spots like Achiote offer creative plant-based plates. Strict vegan and gluten-free are easier at the newer restaurants than at market stalls. Wash or peel fruit and stick to bottled or filtered water.
Cash or card, and how much should I tip?
Ecuador uses the US dollar, so US-dollar travelers need no exchange. Carry cash — especially small bills — for markets, street food, La Ronda, and taxis, as breaking a $20 is a constant hassle and torn bills may be refused. Cards work at hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and supermarkets. Tipping is around 10% at sit-down restaurants and is often already added as a 'servicio' charge, so check the bill before adding more.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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