Planning a stay in Quito during your trip to Équateur? Whether it's for lunch or dinner, we've prepared a list of the best places to eat during your getaway in the Ecuadorian capital. Typical cuisine in local restaurants, budget-friendly food in covered markets, gourmet cuisine in upscale restaurants, or world cuisine in international establishments… there's something for everyone!

Where to eat local in Quito?

Traveling is all about discovering new culinary flavors. To do this, there's nothing better than eating dishes typical of Équateur! Besides tasting emblematic dishes of the country, Ecuadorian local cuisine is also the best way to save money. For example, the price of a lunch (referred to as almuerzo for the midday menu) with an appetizer (often a soup), a main course, a dessert and a beverage costs only between 3 and 4 US$.

Discover the best places to eat local in Quito.

Eating at the Huecas

The Huecas are small popular restaurants open to the street where you can find really cheap typical dishes to eat on-site or take away. You can find many culinary specialties such as:

• Empanadas: pastries filled with meat, vegetables, cheese…

• Ceviche: fish or shellfish cooked and marinated in lime and its vegetarian version called ceviche de chochos made with Andean lupin seeds.

• Fritada: pork meat cooked for several hours that is generally accompanied by plantain, grilled corn and French fries.

• Pollo a la brasa: a roasted chicken with fries that despite the simplicity of the dish is considered the national dish…

These small neighborhood restaurants are scattered throughout the capital. You'll find them in the historic center (such as on Ronda street), in the trendy La Floresta neighborhood and many others. Here are some Huecas to try for tasting traditional dishes from Équateur:

• La Yapa Manabita: mainly a seafood restaurant,

• Dona Blanquita Restaurant: renowned for its excellent fritada,

• Motes Colonial: also renowned for its fritada,

• Meneses e Hijos: where you can find many specialties to taste from morning to evening,

• Las Guatitas de la Marín: where you can try Guatitas, a stew made from tripe…

Eating at a Quito market

If you want to eat local and find very inexpensive dishes during your stay in Quito, you can also visit the covered markets in the city.

Among them, you can mention the Mercado Central. Located in the historic center, it's the must-visit and most popular market in Quito. In addition to numerous vendors of fruits and vegetables and other fresh products, you'll find food stalls (called caseras) with the best value for money. You can try the cuisine of Las Corvinas de Don Jimmy known for its fried fish, that of Corvinas María Paz known for being one of the oldest caseras in the market, or the cuisine of los llapingachos de la abuelita maria where you can taste typical Ecuadorian potato pancakes.

Beyond the central market, you'll find other markets filled with displays of fresh products and local food stalls where you can eat at any time of the day, in a friendly atmosphere and for a modest sum. We especially recommend the Mercado Santa Clara located north of La Mariscal or the Mercado de San Francisco, the oldest covered market in Quito that will appeal to market enthusiasts and travelers who want to avoid tourist traps.

Where to find a Western-style restaurant in Quito?

Looking to move away from local cuisine? Searching for nice dinner restaurants? Traveling in Équateur with family and want to treat your children to familiar dishes?

If you recognize yourself in one of these situations, we recommend moving away from the historic neighborhood where it's difficult to find restaurants open in the evening and on Sundays. Head instead to the neighborhoods of La Mariscal or La Floresta where you'll find restaurants with a higher standing than the traditional huecas and offering dishes from all over the world.

Here are some renowned restaurants in Quito where you can enjoy international cuisine:

• La Casa Gangotena: this hotel has an upscale restaurant where you can find revisited Ecuadorian dishes as well as international cuisine.

• Zazu: a gastronomic restaurant worthy of a Relais & Châteaux establishment that offers creative dishes made from fresh products in a chic and lounge setting.

• El Maple: a vegetarian and vegan restaurant located in a colonial-style house.

• Chez Jérôme: as its name suggests, this restaurant is run by a French chef who offers French cuisine with an Ecuadorian touch.

• Fairuz: if you love Lebanese gastronomy, don't miss this wonderful address!

• Sher e punjab quito: a delicious Indian restaurant where you can find vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.