Ecuadorian cuisine, known as "criollo food," is a gastronomy with a very original value. The different foods from the regions (Sierra, Coast, Amazon), influenced by European cuisine, especially Spanish, play an important role in Ecuador's culinary landscape. The diversity of natural conditions developed in the mountains or along the coast fostered a true blossoming of customs and techniques for good eating, allowing the local people and ethnic groups to create various native dishes. One way to classify the gastronomic culture of Ecuador is by dividing it into geographic regions, as each has its own particular qualities.
Northern Coast, gifts from a generous sea
It boasts a remarkable culinary art centered around fish, seafood, coconut, yuca, maize, plantains, and the various juices of orange, watermelon, and melon, transforming any table into an appetizing display of diverse delicacies. Some of the delights famous in the northern coast of Ecuador include sweet potatoes, achasca, bala, cazuela, chontaduro, tapao, chilla, piampiado, mazata, fish or shrimp Biches, panelilla, coconut manjar, encocados and cocadas, majada, wrapped dishes, battered foods, and more. Besides the shrimp pools and abundant marine produce, the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabí are green paradises with thousands of hectares of plantains, cacao, and coffee.
Southern Coast, all with rice
This region includes the provinces of Guayas, the hub of port, commercial, and industrial life; Los Ríos, known for its lush greenery; and El Oro, the land of endless banana and shrimp farms. Guayas’ cuisine favors seafood, with ceviche (shrimp, conch, octopus, etc.) being the most appreciated dish, prepared with simple ingredients but wise flavor touches. Fish is also prepared in many ways, often simply in onion sauce ('encebollados'), which are among the most sought-after dishes. Rice is the staple of the entire coastal cuisine—everything goes with rice, and its preparation makes it a delicacy on its own. For desserts, the entire southern coast offers a unique variety, featuring delicious fruits like the famous Malagranga pineapples, mangoes, bananas, and more. El Oro Province also preserves coastal food recipes, leveraging seafood and fish options, and is renowned worldwide for its bananas, with countless recipes highlighting the varieties of plantains.
The Sierra, the land of maize
Mountain cuisine is part of the maize culture, a sacred plant for the ancestors of Ecuador. In maize-producing valleys, there's a culinary cycle aligned with the harvests of this grain. Notable dishes include humitas, bola soup, boiled corn, chulpi, aji with corn and cheese, maize flour fritters, sweet corn, maize bread, etc. Although maize is central to Sierra cuisine, the region also boasts a wide gastronomic range thanks to its diverse geography, from the Andes to temperate and subtropical zones. Typical dishes of the mountain peoples enrich celebrations like baptisms, weddings, festivals, carnivals, harvests, and gatherings, showcasing the region's culinary richness. In this region, sweets take many forms—ranging from simple whipped foam (suspiro or meringue) to delicate moncaybas or chocolate-covered Orejitas, including purple porridge ('colada morada'), bread of the dead ('guaguas de pan'), milk manjar, and innumerable ice creams and jams.
Galápagos, the enchanted islands
This region is known for its spectacular volcanic landscapes and unique wildlife. The fauna with strange forms of biological survival helped Darwin develop his theory of evolution. Due to these factors, the Galápagos Islands are a unique place in the world and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. As the wildlife on the islands is exotic, its underwater fauna is also incredibly rich. The abundant seafood—mainly tuna and cod—dominates the dishes of small restaurants in Puerto Baquerizo, Progreso, Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil, and Santa Tomás. There’s also cattle and goat farming, which diversify the menus. This rich variety of flavors makes Ecuador’s culinary journey a fascinating adventure across all its regions.
