Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ Alika
"For a little more money than traditional lunch, people come here for the ambience and exclusive environment."
Roberto Crespo Toral y Luis Moreno Mora
§ Cuenca Eats map · companion guide · curated by James Li ★ 47 restaurants
Cuenca Eats
Cuenca Lunch Spots
The almuerzo is the heart of every Cuenca workday. Soup, main, juice, sometimes dessert. All for a few dollars. These are the lunch spots James returns to.
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Category
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Asados de Doña Mechita
Remigio Crespo
"From time to time, it offers grilled chicken and pork, tempting everyone from afar with the delicious aroma of the grill smoke."
Remigio Crespo Toral y Brasil
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Bistro Yaku
Centro Histórico
"New since the pandemic and a masterpiece."
Luis Cordero y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Black Lunch & Sweets
"Once inside, the noise and the busy street scene fade into a much more relaxed environment."
Cornelio Merchan y Jose Peralta
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ Café Del Parque
El Estadio
"The coffee is fresh and served in a French press with frothed milk on the side."
Av. del Estadio y Roberto Crespo Toral
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Café Plaza
"Its location makes it an ideal place for people-watching."
Loja y Lorenzo Piedra
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Carne y Fuego
Centro Histórico
"As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in grilled meats, including chicken, beef and pork."
Vargas Machucha y Honorato Vásquez
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Come Bien
El Batán
"A spacious and clean place to have lunch in the barrio, very popular with neighborhood residents."
Unidad Nacional y Perú
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Comedor Doña Mary
"Come early because if you arrive after the morning crowd, the llapingachos and other favorites will be sold out."
Latinoamericana y Brasil
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Dolce & Ricco
Las Herrerías
"Popular with locals, a secret hideout for tourists."
Las Herrerías
Lunch Cuenca Eats
EcuaColombia
"The menu includes both traditional Ecuadorian and Colombian dishes, and both are expertly cooked."
Juan José Flores y Calle Jacinto Jijón
Lunch Cuenca Eats
El Buen Sabor
"On a busy street with a half dozen other eateries, this long-standing tiny restaurant is arguably the most popular."
Manuel Vega y Gran Colombia
Lunch Cuenca Eats
El Fogón de Benja
El Batán
"The pitchers of juice, hot chocolate and lemonade are enormous and easily enough for two people."
Unidad Nacional y Zamora Chinchipe
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ El Mesón Español
Centro Histórico
"It was so beautiful that we let ourselves be taken to a table and seated for lunch."
Presidente Borrero y Mariscal Sucre
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ El Tunel
Centro Histórico
"The restaurant has a solid, old-fashioned neighborhood feel and the waiters are friendly, efficient and welcoming."
Presidente Borrero y Honorato Vásquez
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ Full Criollo Sabor Venezolano
Centro Histórico
"A live guitarist played soft music as he wandered from table to table."
Gran Colombia y Estévez de Toral
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Gran Hotel Paris
Centro Histórico
"We really enjoyed our food on the elegant patio, far from the street; it was a real pleasure."
General Torres y Gran Colombia
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ Hueca de Alex
Centro Histórico
"Originally a true hole-in-the-wall with only a few tables, this is one of our greatest neighborhood discoveries."
Manuel Vega y Gran Colombia
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Isla Cafe
El Estadio
"It is large, comfortable, very traditional and a nice place to rest after a long walk."
Las Herrerías y Av. 12 de Abril
Lunch Cuenca Eats
La Cazuela
"This hidden garden in El Centro is worth the trip just for the tranquility it offers."
Benigno Malo y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$$ La Cuenka Café Restaurante
Centro Histórico
"The courtyard area is set up for eating with traditional wooden tables on top of a red-brick floor."
Luis Cordero y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ La Estación Manabita
Centro Histórico
"The owner is a superb cook and always accommodates my wife’s vegetarian and pescetarian requests."
Tomás Ordóñez y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ La Excelencia
"Our neighbor told us he eats there when he wants to get food that’s the same as his grandmother cooks."
Manuel Vega y Alfonso Malo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
La Gatita
"This bright, clean, tastefully decorated lunch spot is located in the covered passageway between Santa Teresa and the market."
Santa Teresa y General Torres
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ La Herencia del Sabor
Centro Histórico
"It’s a favorite with locals (and with us too) and is usually filled past capacity at lunch."
San Blas, Manuel Vega y Simón Bolivar
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ La Huequita (De La U)
"An excellent place to eat, chat, hang out and observe young students in their own environment."
Loja y Av. 12 de April
Lunch Cuenca Eats
La Sazón de la Abuela
"Lovingly prepared almuerzos by a true-to-life lovely abuela with a choice of mote or canguil to start."
2 locations
Lunch Cuenca Eats
La Sazón de Lupita
"Food is traditional, reliable, and delicious. The favorites run out quickly, so come early."
Gran Colombia y Padre Aguirre
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Mangos Restaurante
"The almuerzo is one of the best I've ever had in Cuenca."
Avenida Paucarbamba y De Las Retamas
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Mira Mar
El Estadio
"Few places in Cuenca offer them, as they are a bit time-consuming to prepare."
Loja y Av. 12 de Abril
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Moliendo Café
Centro Histórico
"The exceptional and diverse a la carte menu always makes my mouth water."
Honorato Vásquez y Hermano Miquel
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Orion Bar & Restaurant
Centro Histórico
"In general, a quiet place full of Ecuadorian business people."
Gran Colombia y Presidente Borrero
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Picanteria “El Sambo”
Centro Histórico
"A solid small local corner restaurant run by a matronly owner who is also an expert cook."
Manuel Vega y Honorato Vásquez
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Picanteria Carmita
"So popular is it among the locals and students that if one arrives for lunch after 1 pm, every table is usually taken."
Miguel Angel Estrella y Calle Larga
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Picanteria El Chef Omar
El Batán
"It is impossible to pass by at lunchtime without salivating."
Unidad Nacional y Pichincha
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Plaza del Arte
"This lunch-only restaurant is a local favorite, packed beyond capacity every lunch hour."
Benigno Malo y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Puerto Madero
Centro Histórico
"On the day we went, $3 returned a hearty soup and a whole fresh fried fish, which was delicious."
Juan Jaramillo y Mariano Cueva
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Restaurant One Way
Hermano Miguel
"The quiet piano music and the bright yellow walls make it a pleasant refuge of the busy exterior street."
Hermano Miguel y Mariscal Sucre
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Restaurant-Cafetería El Tocte
"Inside, the décor is funky and cozy."
G. Plaza L. y Pio Bravo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Restaurante Cafeteria “Pumapungo”
"A quiet and relaxing reprieve from the busy end of Calle Larga in this part of El Centro."
Calle Larga y Jesús Arriaga
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Sazón Colombiano Piquese Aca
El Batán
"The chancho I had was as good as the roast pork in China, despite being much less expensive."
Unidad Nacional y Perú
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Secos de la Lucho
"A bright cheerful place for lunch with a green and lovely outside."
2 locations
Lunch Cuenca Eats
Tienda de Marianita
"The tigrillos here are excellent and can be ordered in either a large or small size."
Calle Larga y Tarqui
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Torre Colón
Centro Histórico
"On one visit, we particularly enjoyed the light dessert of mango cream with our lunch and enjoyed live music being played in the back room."
Luis Cordero y Juan Jaramillo
Lunch Cuenca Eats
$ Vintage Cafe
"The tables have cheerful stripes, curtains decorate the walls and even the crockery evokes fond memories."
Guantánamo y Malvinas
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Reviews on this page are quoted with permission from Cuenca Eats by James Li, MD. Opinions are the author's. Restaurants may have changed since the book was published. Please verify current hours, prices, and ownership directly.