Top 10 List of Ecuador Famous Food: Seafood, Secos, Soups, Street Food…

Let’s talk about Ecuador famous food – mouthwatering soups, slow cooked lip-smacking stews, whole roasted pigs and more… Ecuador’s tasty cuisine is a major surprise to a lot of people the first time they visit. And it’s so good, it keeps them coming back for more!

Top 10 List of Ecuador Famous Food

In our list of Ecuador famous food there are delicacies that aren’t eaten everyday, like cuy (guinea pig).

And there are some that you may never have thought to eat – like the tiny yet delicious sea snails (churo) often sold as a street food and served with cilantro and lime.

As with most countries, seafood is popular along the coast (including the Galapagos) and is eaten in the form of ceviches, soups, stews and deep fried whole fish.

In the highlands the cuisine is more based around meat, rice and potatoes in the form of soups, stews, mixed plates both boiled and roasted. Most options are inexpensive and taste amazing.

Tourists often return from a trip to Ecuador raving about the food, the tastes and the new experiences.

To help get you excited about your trip here are 10 Ecuador famous food dishes for you to try.

1) Locro de Papa: Potato and cheese soup

Potato is a staple in all of Ecuador, so is it any wonder they have mastered how to make the most delicious hearty potato soup? Made with cheese, onions, garlic and cilantro and served with fresh avocado, it makes for an appetizing treat.

Found in abundance up in the mountains, it is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly night.

2) Llapingachos: Fried, cheese-stuffed potato cakes/patties

Hugely popular and extremely filling llapingachos is usually served with avocado, a fried egg and some meat on the side. This is not only one of the top national dishes, but a delicious one at that. It ticks all the boxes and will keep you full for hours.

The native Incas cultivated potatoes and they have been a staple in the diets of the highland peoples ever since. But the popularity and mouthwatering goodness of this dish made its way down the mountain and into the hearts of a nation.

3) Cuy: Guinea pig

A worldwide and nationally famous dish, travelers and tourists often place it on their list of things to try.

Some may not be too keen on trying guinea pig if they had one as a pet when they were younger. But in Ecuador this little rodent is a specialty and is usually eaten during celebrations as a treat (due to price).

Not holding a lot of meat, locals make the most of it by eating it all – including the crunchy paws.

Expect to get messy when eating this because it is also described by many as a little greasy. There are many ways to cook cuy and it can be served with rice and potatoes. Some travelers have compared it to roast duck.

Spit roasted is a very popular and favorite way to enjoy cuy.

4) Canelazo: Warm spiced sugar cane alcohol

Canelazo is Ecuador’s famous cocktail, you will find a pitcher of this at most celebrations. This warm and spicy treat is made from puntas (30-60% cane sugar alcohol), cinnamon, sugar and the local citrus fruit called naranjilla.

This tasty drink packs a punch, so maybe start out with one and see how you go.

5) Pan de Yuca: Yucca bread

This bread is made from yucca (also, yuca) flour, cheese, eggs and butter and is quite filling for such a little bun. It is very popular to have with breakfast,

Yucca is the root of the cassava plant and is similar to potato in texture. The root is ground to form a flour that is used instead of wheat flour and is very tasty. Yucca chips are a favorite street food and snack as well.

6) Churrasco: Grilled steak with fried eggs

This hearty plate consists of sliced beef strips (or a thin steak) topped with a fried egg. It’s usually served with rice, avocado, fried plantains, and chips (fries). It can also be accompanied by a side salad with a spicy garlic sauce called aji. This dish is inexpensive, filling and has got it all.

Churrasco is extremely popular with locals, travelers, backpackers and tourists. Nearly everyone that lives in or has visited Ecuador says this dish is a must try. It often becomes their ‘go to’ meal while in the country.

7) Seco de Chivo: Goat stew

Deliciously slow cooked with beer, this succulent stew is a huge crowd pleaser. Originally, the native Inca made it with a fermented corn beverage called chicha but nowadays it’s usually made with beer, and accompanied by beer at the dinner table.

There are a lot of different seco’s out there. They are often served with fried plantains and yellow rice, seco options including: carne (beef), pollo (chicken), chivo (goat), cordero or borrego (lamb) and the most unusual – guatita (cow’s stomach, aka tripe). This means, no matter what your taste, there is a deliciously slow cooked stew for you!

8) Encebollado: Seafood and onion soup

Classed as a national dish and another of Ecuador’s mouthwatering soups, encebollado is a seafood soup found along the coast.

Traditionally, this soup is made of tuna, red onions, yucca (or cassava root) and cilantro. Then it is topped with pickled red onion rings and boiled cassava. Some people also include tomato and onion sprinkled on top as well, which only adds to the flavor.

In Ecuador, encebollado is usually served with plantain chips, popcorn or bread on the side.

Many chefs around the world will have their own take on this easy to make soup by adding different spices, but this is the basic recipe cooked daily along the coast.

9) Hornado: Slow roasted pig

Roasting whole pigs on a spit is popular in many cultures world-wide, producing a succulent meat that is easily carved without leaving a greasy feel when consumed.

Found as the number one street food in most villages in the highlands, it is popular throughout the entire country and is usually served with llapingachos (#1 on our list), mote and vegetables. Mote (or hominy) is boiled corn grains treated with an alkaline like lime or ashes.

10) Street Food

Depending on where you find yourself in Ecuador one thing remains the same. You will no doubt be surrounded by delicious snacks made from meats, seafood, grains and vegetables.
In the highlands, it’s hornado (#9 on the list) and along the coast it’s ceviche which is famous all through Latin America, so trying the street food will delight both you and your taste buds.

Here are some of the top Ecuadorian street foods to try:

• Ceviche – for those that have never had ceviche it is an immensely popular fresh raw seafood medley soaked in citrus juice which basically cooks the meat. Includes fish, shrimp and shellfish all diced up and usually served in cup. Amazing and delicious… a definite must.
• Choclo – this snack is sold in streets everywhere and is just a type of large dry roasted Andean corn kernels.
• Pinchos – meat, potato and vegetable kebabs very popular as a snack on the go.
• Churo – small sea snails topped with onion coriander and lime, served in a bag for your convenience.

Ecuador Famous Food and You

We hope you’re looking forward to some new taste experiences on your trip, Ecuador has a lot to offer. I wonder which one will be your favorite, or (if you’re like me) perhaps you’ll have a hard time deciding.

If you would like to know more about how you can experience the flavors of Ecuador please contact us today.

Have you already tried some of the dishes on our list of Ecuador famous food? Please let us know by commenting on this post.