Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca Ecuador

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Choosing our favorite lunch restaurants in Cuenca Ecuador…

is almost an impossibility. Certainly not because there are no “Favorite lunch restaurants in Cuenca Ecuador’, but just the opposite. You can probably find a new favorite in every part of Cuenca with little or no effort.

We love having so many choices, especially in El Centro where we are staying. Believe me when I say we discover new favorite restaurants routinely so this is just our list for now, in no particular order. These are primarily budget-wise restaurants which is what we like for lunchtime.

1. El Pedregal Azteca

Estévez de Toral 8-60 y Simón Bolivar
Cuenca, Ecuador
+593 7-282-3652

What a find! Jack and I are elated. This magical Mexican restaurant is so close to our El Centro home we can describe the distance in steps. Out the door to the right, then left down the street and here we are.

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We literally almost trip across this Mexican restaurant one day, as they have a sandwich board out on the sidewalk for the lunch specials. This made our “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list because the pricing is good, presentation beautiful and the food is even better tasting than it looks. They also have cappuccinos and mochaccinos – we are SOLD! Lunch hours are 12 to 3 so make sure you get there in time! Here is their Facebook page.

2. El Tostador Cafe

Mariscal Sucre 10-10
Cuenca, Ecuador 
+593 99 019 8539

What is there not to like in this photo? El Tostador is one of Jack’s favorite places for an iced mochaccino. It comes served in a mason type jar topped with tons of whipped cream. Oh yes, it is good! I’m not sure if that’s what they call it on the menu but just ask for it.

We love this place and quickly put it on our “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca list! Why? Because they have great coffee, really thick “filled to the brim” empanadas, it’s open from 8 to 8 everyday but Sunday and it is an excellent place to people watch.

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The route to our gym class at SkyFit takes us past this friendly restaurant every Mon / Wed / Fri at 11 AM. By the time class is over, our first question is “where to for lunch?” El Tostador becomes a popular answer as it fills our tummies and easily satisfies our afternoon coffee cravings.

It is also the answer to our evening wanderings. A large cookie, two hot coffee drinks and El Tostador’s big windows onto the sidewalk make people watching so much fun. And as you know, there’s never a hurry in Ecuador, so sit and enjoy the views.

3. La Cocina de Jared

Located in the Hotel Catedral, 2nd floor
Padre Aguirre 8-19
Cuenca 010101, Ecuador
0995315056 – 0967562011 – 0983497439

It is shocking, I mean shocking, at what comes with the “menu del dia” for almuerzos (lunches) in Cuenca, and I assume in most of Ecuador. For this reason alone it easily made out “Best Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list.

And the cost! Can you really get this much food for this price? “Menu del dia” is generally severed Monday through Friday from noon to three. We are in amazement – not only is all of this new to us but remember we are from Kauai where pricing is q-u-i-t-e different!

The “menu del dia” usually includes soup, a main dish like steak or pork, rice or a vegetable, dessert, coffee and a tasty, but unknown drink. Yes, we often have no idea what we are eating and strangely, consider that a benefit of travel. Weeks later we find out it is the juice of the tree tomato (tamarillo) which grows in Ecuador and some other South American Countries. Read about it here. These meals are well worth it. Not haute cuisine but good basic food for an incredible price.

4. Fabiano’s Pizza

Presidente Cordova 4-84 y Mariano Cueva
Cuenca, Ecuador
(07) 282-4517

What good is a list the “Favorite Restaurants in Cuenca” if it doesn’t include a Pizza place? Jack is a pizza lover so no matter where we go, we find pizza and Cuenca is no exception. “Let’s Google it,” is my response to Jack’s pizza craving, this time for dinner. With a 4.6 rating out of 5 from 1,014 Google reviews for Fabiano’s, we set off for Parque Calderon and beyond.

Fabriano’s does not disappoint. In fact, we love it for dinner and would love it for lunch too. Why? Our thin crust pizza is crisp without being burnt. (As some places tend to do.) The tomato sauce is rich in flavor, heartily topped with ingredients with just enough cheese to make it all melt in your mouth.

Service is quick and friendly and the atmosphere reminds me of what a pizzaria in Italy might be like. No, Italy is still on the list so we are just imagining. Nevertheless, it is our favorite. They serve a variety of Italian foods, and – oh – don’t forget the tiramisu. Outstanding!

5. Destino Cafe

Simon Bolivar y Coronel Talbot
Cuenca, Ecuador
+593 99 755 1016

“Starbucks! What?” We were walking along, exploring like usual, when we came to a Starbucks sign. In retrospect, I think it meant they used Starbucks brand coffee, (not sure, however) as this was definitely unlike any Starbucks we’ve been in.

First of all, Destino Cafe is fun, quirky, filled with memorabilia, and makes damn good coffee. My cappuccino was the perfect blend of a slightly bitter coffee with just the right amount of steamed milk to balance it, while Jack’s mochaccino was a perfect balance of coffee and chocolate.

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But getting back to the place, itself, You’ll find “ET” in a display case at a downstairs entrance, wearing sandals and drinking coffee. (Of course.) ET by himself should merit this cafes inclusion on the “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list, but there is much more to it. The steps to the upstairs cafe are brightly painted with the figure of man going up the steps. Trust me, you won’t get lost.

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Of course, the real attraction is the food and coffee – both of which were excellent. Their menu is not extensive but what they have is made with a wholesome blend of oats, fruits, nuts – all those natural ingredients that are good for you. Call before going, we found the hours to be a bit tricky otherwise we would have been there more often.

6. Sucre Sale Cafe

Calle Luis Cordero 874
Cuenca, Ecuador
+593 7-284-5181

We almost missed this place, hidden as it was under some construction tarp aong with being under the archways. “What is this place?” we are wondering as we step inside the door. “They have coffee drinks so let’s try them out.”

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“It’s so delightful” is my initial remark. Decorated like a French bistro, Sucre Sale Cafe has THE FLAKIEST empanadas in Cuenca. I will match this cafe’s empanadas against any other in town for being the flakiest. (Being “flaky” in this instance, is a good thing!)

The other thing I love is eating off brightly colored plates. Arrive in a bad mood and I guarantee the plates alone will cheer you up. But seriously, the flaky crust on the empanadas gives them a wonderful taste that we had not experienced before. Plus, the “stuffing” as I call it, is tasty, nicely seasoned and enough to satisfy your hunger. Sucre easily made it to our “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list. After all, look at these iced coffees. How can you resist?

7. Altisimo Chocolate Factory and Bistro

8-86 Gran Colombia
Cuenca, Ecuador
+593 07-284-0334 Restaurant
+593 96-279-2090 Manager

“What’s open on Sunday?” is my question this time. Actually, Sunday is a great time to go wandering as the streets are empty of the usual throngs of business people. Because of that, we find that most places are closed.

“Look, this place is open. Let’s try it.” Thus began our love affair with Altisimo Chocolate Factory and Bistro, not only because it has some of the world’s finest chocolate which they produce, but they also put out a great lunch or dinner. Their delicious Cajas trout dish and to-die-for desserts are our Sunday treat and the reason it is on our “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list. If we ever do a “Favorite Dinner Restaurants in Cuenca,” it would surely be on that list, too! Everything about Altisimo is unique and chosen with care, from their furnishings and fixtures and especially, their food and chocolate.

I love trout. I am told this trout was caught by the owner’s son a few hours ago while fishing in the Cajas. He tells me that the fish is meatier with less fat because it has to work harder to swim at the higher elevation. Sounds just like people!

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Nothing falls short of perfection at Altisimo. I had the pleasure to interview the owner for an upcoming post on the production of their hand made chocolates so watch for that in the future. We learn that Ecuador makes some of the best chocolate in the world! We had no idea. This food IS haute cuisine so come and enjoy!

8. The “Pig” Ladies

Mercado 10 de Agosto
Calle Larga 1147
Cuenca, Ecuador

No “Favorite Lunch Restaurants in Cuenca” list could possibly be complete without inclusion of the “Pig” Ladies. In other parts of the world, reference to “ladies” as “pigs” just might get your a– kicked, but not so here.

“What is this?” I asked Jack as we read the information left for us by our homeowners. “Pig Ladies?” We have no idea what to expect but are given instructions to go to the Mercado, upstairs, where the ‘Pig Ladies” are and sit at the table of the first one who invites you. Easy enough!

Yes, you cannot miss the “pig ladies” upstairs in the Mercado. Our Spanish is still pretty rusty at this point, so pointing and nodding our heads “yes” gets us a huge plate of pig, corn, vegetables – everything. We eat this for two days. Not a bad deal by any means and very, very good. We have “Kalua Pig” on Kauai but this pig is every bit as delicious. (And dare I say, much much cheaper!)

If you prefer a guided tour of the “Pig Ladies” as well as other points of interest throughout El Centro, treat yourself to a free walking tour at Walking Tours Cuenca. Sebas (Sebastián Ordoñez) and Sami (Samira Peralta,) our guides, come highly recommended. The tour is a couple of hours and is worth it for the Mercado and Pig Ladies, alone, not to mention everything else. It’s totally free! Give it a try!

9. La Casa del Pan

Mariscal Sucre 11-87
Cuenca, Ecuador
+593 7-283-8385

This list is by no means arranged in order of our preference, but rather, it is simply the restaurants / coffee shops / eateries we love. Having said that, there truly is one and only one panaderia (bakery) we now ever go to and that is La Casa del Pan on Mariscal Sucre.

Our love affair with La Case del Pan starts slowly. We are walking everywhere, everyday after all, so can’t we have a cookie after dinner for dessert? Believe me, it isn’t hard to convince Jack that dessert is an acceptable option so whenever we see a panaderia, in we go. There are many such panaderias scattered throughout El Centro but we undertake the difficult task of finding who has the best cookies – specifically, chocolate chip cookies, our favorite. And there are many.

We put in countless hours scouring the City – which stops the moment we step inside La Casa del Pan and purchase two chocolate chip cookies. OMG. Immediate inclusion on the “Best Restaurants in Cuenca” is necessary. These chocolate chip cookies have a satisfying crunch to them as you bite in coupled with an intense chocolate flavor, just the way we like. It is a perfect blend of cookie dough and chocolate we have never experienced before.

What starts out with me pointing and holding up two fingers became such a sacred exercise that I make it my business to learn to say “Buenas noches. Me gustaria dos galletas con chispas de chocolate por favor.” The smile on the shopkeepers face (I think he is the owner) was well worth my time and effort and I find it is a phrase I will never forget.

Whether chocolate chip cookies or some other cookies, cake, bread or other bakery item is your craving, we strongly recommend you give La Casa a try.

We hope you enjoyed this post and…

will continue on with us as we’d love to have you along as we travel. You’ll see a “subscribe” area in the sidebar if you’d like email notifications of new blog posts.

Also, please share your favorites in the comments below. We love to try new places and welcome your input. Adios for now.