Following a brief stint in the Amazon rainforest, I slowly made my way over to Quito. Suddenly, I found that I was in a place where people were constantly staring at me, I had complete freedom to wander around by myself, and no one whispered warnings of snakes and kidnappers. Quito was an absolute HAVEN after weeks of badly adjusting to the rainforest.
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.
