The Best Ecuadorian Cuisine is at
Casa Gangotena Restaurant
Taste your way through Ecuador with its dishes
The Best of Quito’s Gastronomy
Ecuador is a melting pot of cultures, from Amerindian to European, and its diversity can be felt in its gastronomy. Ecuadorian cuisine varies from region to region, yet the capital city brings together most of the country’s culinary traditions. This is the reason why Quito is the best destination to taste the most popular foods in Ecuador. We put together a selection of our blogs on Ecuadorian food and answers to the most common questions about enjoying our food in Quito, Ecuador!
What is Cocina Mestiza?
This is the name we use to describe our distinct style of cuisine—a reimagination of traditional Ecuadorian fare prepared with fresh, regionally-sourced ingredients. Mestiza is to Ecuador what Creole is to the Caribbean. Therefore, cocina mestiza is the combination of indigenous-and European-influenced cooking traditions, envisioned anew through modern techniques while celebrating fresh, native, and locally sourced ingredients.
Colada Morada and Guaguas de Pan
At this time of year in the Andes, a wild berry called mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum or Andean blueberry) comes into fruit in the highland páramos. People make the most of this succulent, dark berry to make a very special drink, only prepared at this time: colada morada. It’s a tasty, slightly spicy, thick, hot beverage, cooked with mortiño, strawberries, black corn flour, small pieces of pineapple and babaco (Andean papaya), herbs and spices such as ishpingo (Ocotea quixos).
What makes Casa Gangotena’s rooftop terrace one of the best places in Quito?
High atop the southwest corner of San Francisco Plaza, in Quito’s famed historic quarter, the city’s most dynamic space continues to attract and impress locals and visitors alike with stunning views, comfortable seating, and an atmosphere like no other. The rooftop terrace is one of the things that really sets Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel apart from other hotels in the Old Town.
Where can you find the best fanesca in Quito?
Ecuador is a country with many rich and wonderful culinary traditions. Every year, around the Catholic observance of Holy Week, the capital city of Quito comes alive with the most consistently delicious interpretations of fanesca, a creamy and robust soup that highlights an array of native ingredients
Dining and nightlife in Quito’s Old Town
Amidst the historic center’s narrow, cobblestone streets and steep ascents you’ll find a number of bars and restaurants offering exquisite meals, cocktails and entertainment. Experience nightlife in Quito Old Town at some of the following spots:
Where can I find the best drinks in Quito?
The cocktail: that classic concoction that unites and relaxes us, helps us celebrate momentous occasions and enjoy the company of friends, family, and colleagues, alike. At Casa Gangotena, our team of bartenders and beverage specialists have created an exciting series of cocktails that pay tribute to Ecuador’s unique towns and provinces by celebrating native regional ingredients.
OUR CULINARY WORLD
Breakfast at Casa Gangotena
Casa Gangotena offers buffet-style breakfast 7 days a week. Starting at 7 a.m., diners are presented with a wide variety of options. On a few tables, cereals, cold meats, cheeses, breads, cakes, fruits, yogurts and a selection of juices parade. By adding pancakes, granola, eggs, coffee and hot chocolate, it becomes the finest breakfast in all of Quito!
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about Quiteño food
- What is the typical breakfast in Quito?
- What kind of food can I find in Quito?
- Where can I eat the most popular dishes in Quito?
- Where can I find the best coffee in Quito?
- What kind of Ecuadorian desserts can I find at Casa Gangotena?
The pure quiteño tradition has a few breakfast staples, like cow’s milk mixed with coffee or chocolate, fruit pulp juice, bread with a slice of cheese and jam, butterfat, and colada (a warm, thick, fruity drink). For an overview of the costeño and foreign elements incorporated into the breakfast most quiteños enjoy, be sure to check out the blog listed above, about the one served at one of the best restaurants in Quito!
Because people from all four regions of Ecuador come to live in the capital city, and many communities from other latino nations have found their home here, food in Quito is quite eclectic. From the most traditional to the most international, there is a dish for every preference to be found in quiteño kitchens. For more information, inspiration and recommendations, take a look at the dining blog listed above!
While the city offers a wide array of options to please every preference, if it is the typical quiteño food you wish to explore, the best place to do so is Old Town Quito. The dishes Quito is most known for are best preserved in the Historic Center, where ancient traditions are very much alive. And where better to taste our cuisine than at Casa Gangotena? We are located at the heart of the Historic Quarter and our restaurant offers fresh takes on our culinary heritage. We’d love to have you!
Undoubtedly, at the Historic Center. Where in the Old Town is the question. There are coffee shops dedicated to elevating this brew, and there are restaurants that serve quality coffee. A native quiteño would say Galletti Coffe Shop for the first category and San Agustín Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant for the second. Now, how about turning drinking coffee into an experience? Casa Gangotena Restaurant hosts the High Tea Ceremony, where we show you how quiteños do afternoon coffee: hot cocoa with cheese! Read more here.
As a proud representative of Ecuadorian cuisine, Casa Gangotena Restaurant elevates the custom of eating dessert to an art form, with a unique Andean twist. Quito is especially known for sweets and treats no other city in the country makes, which you can find a plenty in the Historic Center. Check out our menu to see our House’s reinterpretation of the traditional quiteño desserts.