As you can probably already guess if you’ve read this blog for long enough, the first thing I did upon arriving in Quito was join a food tour. Frankly, this turned out to be the best way to familiarise myself with the city and begin to learn about Ecuadorian culture.

I was taken on this tour by Santiago of Bondabu, and he was honestly one of the greatest tour guides I’ve ever had. He explained things simply for me, gave me further suggestions for the rest of my trip, and absolutely spoiled me with some of the most divine food in the country. He was un wey muy chido, vdd. (But clearly couldn’t exchange my CDMX slang for Quito slang.)

As it turns out, Ecuadorian food is even BETTER than Colombian food – controversial, I know (Colombianos, no me odien). And to back up my point, I bring you ten foods that you absolutely MUST try during a trip to Quito*.

*and surrounding areas

Encebollado: The Fisherman’s Soup

Start your culinary exploration with encebollado, a hearty fisherman’s soup that combines tuna, yuca, and onions (believe me, it’s a lot nicer than it sounds). It’s a bowl of comfort that warms the soul and gently eases you into the heart of Ecuadorian street food.

Colada Morada: Purple Corn Elixir

Quench your thirst with colada morada, a refreshing purple corn drink sweetened with fruits and spices. Before arriving to Ecuador I was told that this would be one of the best things I’d try during my trip – and boy, were they right! I swear, my mouth is watering just thinking about the drink.

Menestra: Ecuadorian Stew

Because apparently the people of Ecuador just really love soup?

Menestra is a savoury stew featuring beans, rice, and your choice of meat. This wholesome dish mirrors the diversity of Ecuador’s agricultural offerings and is something that you’re going to want to try HUNGRY.

Espumilla: The Sweet Cloud You Can EATTTT

If anyone’s ever been to a festival and been covered in espuma, this dish might bring back traumatic memories (just me..?). But regardless, it’s absolutely worth the flashbacks: with espumilla you can indulge your sweet tooth with a whipped meringue dessert filled with fruit. Light and airy, it’s the perfect treat to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Quimbolito: The Sweet Steamed Cake

Experience the unique taste of quimbolito, a steamed cake made from corn flour and packed with delicious surprises like raisins and cheese. Yes, you read that right – this sweet treat has CHEESE inside of it. It is a delightful Ecuadorian answer to comfort food.

Tamal de Morocho: A Corny Delight

Tamal de morocho is a corn-based tamal that offers a delightful blend of sweet and savoury flavours. A popular choice among street food enthusiasts, it’s a must-try on your culinary journey – it even rivals the tamales of México, it’s that good.

Sopa de Fideo Ecuatoriano: Ecuadorian Noodle Soup (wow, Amy did a word-for-word title translation instead of something weird and whimsical?)

Elevate your soup experience with sopa de fideo ecuatoriano, a comforting noodle soup that showcases Ecuador’s passion for simple yet flavourful dishes. Believe me, this bad boy is deli. There’s nothing else to say.

Jugo de Tomate de Árbol: Tree Tomato Juice (gasp, she did it again!)

Quench your thirst with the unique taste of jugo de tomate de árbol, a refreshing tree tomato juice that’s both sweet and tangy. Personally, I have an intolerance to tomatoes but my dumb ass didn’t quite clock the ‘tomato’ in ‘tomato juice.’ You can use your imagination as to what came next.

(Worth it though.)

Maito: Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaves

Maito is a culinary gem that involves wrapping locally-caught fish in banana leaves and grilling it to perfection. It’s a dish that captures the essence of Ecuador’s diverse ecosystems – and one which I was able to try in the rainforest before Quito (hence my side-note at the beginning of this post).

Masamora – The Forest Catfish

Since you mentioned the rainforest (it’s on you, not me), I have to end this rundown with masamora. From what I could gather, this is a mysterious catfish dish that also features a bunch of locally-sourced ingredients that don’t quite have translatable names in Spanish. It was pretty good, tbh.

Bondabu

I discovered a lot of these dishes with Bondabu and the aforementioned Santiago, who also introduced me to fritada, Ecuadorian quesadillas, and the delightful empanada de verde. Plus, I tried more fruits on this tour than I’d ever had in one day before, including guanabana, uvilla, granadilla, chirimoya, achotillo, and naranjilla. Ecuador has INCREDIBLE fruits, let me tell you.

I have plans to return to Ecuador and absolutely gorge myself on colada morada and maito once again at the end of the year, perhaps even moving myself there permanently. And if that doesn’t prove to you just how good the food is, I don’t know what would.

Thanks, Santiago and Bondabu!

Food Tour Quito

I also recommend Food Tour Quito as they offer an immersive culinary journey through the vibrant flavours and rich cultural tapestry of Ecuador. With expert guides leading the way, guests delve into local markets, savouring authentic dishes while learning about their historical and cultural significance. Their commitment to sustainable tourism ensures that each experience not only delights the palate but also supports local communities and preserves Ecuador’s culinary heritage.

Several months ago, I found myself living in Bogotá, Colombia. Whilst the city will forever have my heart for various reasons (namely due to a gorgeous little morrita), the city took a lot out of me.

Nights were spent drinking cachaša in grey parks and inhaling thick clumps of air pollution, and days were spent with me wondering why exactly I couldn’t find the motivation to write or meditate. I had to leave, to re-align myself.

And that’s where Punanti comes in.

I decided to cross the border into Ecuador. A new country brought new opportunities and new places to fall in love with, along with the chance to reconnect with myself, with nature, and with the healthier side of travelling.

On the recommendation of a Couchsurfing host, I booked myself into Punanti. I’d heard great things about the hostel: not only was it located in a quiet space next to Mount Cayambe where the inhabitants of the nearest village primarily spoke Kichwa, but it offered a healthy place to detox and heal. Foreigners and locals alike travelled to the hostel to spend time in nature and with themselves, and it couldn’t have been more ideal.

I paid a local driver to take me up the rocky road to the hostel, where I was greeted by a beautiful white mountain dog and a relatively tiny husky puppy. Walking over the wooden terrace boards and heading into the heart of the hostel – the kitchen – I finally met the owner.

Antoine had come over from Switzerland many years ago and fallen in love with life in the Ecuadorean mountains. Eventually, he made the permanent move to Cayambe, starting the very hostel that I was now standing in. It seemed as though we had both made the right choice to come here.

We sat down together as he handed me a steaming bowl of healthy, hearty soup, and I helped myself to the free unlimited tea on the counter. Chatting with a full stomach and my cup of lemon verbena, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains I’d ever seen, I felt whole.

Over the next few days, I would start to feel even more at home in the hostel. Several guests came and went, but the volunteers remained. Each morning and evening we would eat together – oftentimes also sharing lunch – and it almost felt as though we had become family.

The food was on another level: Antoine was a trained chef who had spent 10 years in Michelin star restaurants and a 5* hostel, and he would take it in turns between a hired cook to create the most incredible meals.

There was always fresh bread, oftentimes fresh juice and cakes between meals, and the food could be adapted to any restrictions. I went in unable to consume lactose, tomato, nor onion, and yet they were always able to work around it and still create healthy and nourishing meals. I never went hungry.

I would spend my days with a flask of tea hiking through the mountains, wrapped up in one of the hostel’s ruanas. In the evenings I would head to the wooden attic of the hostel and meditate before sitting beside the fire and playing board games with the other residents.

Sometimes I would take a cup of oolong and chill with the llamas and chickens outside; other times I would visit the town, attending indigenous council meetings, or attempting to go rock climbing. Then, I would swathe myself up in the warm, comfy bed, feeling thoroughly taken care of.

Over the course of my stay, I shook free the remnants of Bogotá. Punanti gave me the opportunity to heal; the opportunity to come back to myself after so much time lost in the city.

The day before I left, I ate an incredible meal with my new mountain family, finished one of the hostel books I’d been reading, and sat opposite the view of Mount Cayambe with a warm cup of green tea in my hand. I caught my reflection in the window and I smiled. I had returned to myself.