This week I have been staying in Cumbayá an area 20 minutes drive from Quito, Ecuador in a beautiful Airbnb apartment. I’ve have previous reservations about Quito and expressed my discomfort a few times here on the blog. But Cumbayá I’ve discovered is a beautiful area that feels very relaxed and safe, with many restaurants and cafes for all styles and budgets, including vegan.
Superfoods Ecuador
Located in Cumbayá, Superfoods Ecuador is a very hipster-style, western influenced, organic, vegan cafe. Incorporating a restaurant, store, and cooking area for classes, Superfoods Ecuador is attractive for those looking for a plant-based organic meal. A Menú Del Día is offered each day, which is a very common way of serving lunch in Ecuador. The set menu gives a main course, desert and drink for $9. The restaurant also offers al á carte dishes and servings of hot drinks that are dairy free.
Eating in the restaurant this week we ordered the Menú Del Día which consisted of a carrot, ginger and cucumber soup, a lettuce wrap filled with mushrooms and olives, yuca fritters, sweet plantain for dessert and a glass of tree tomato juice.
The presentation of the food was beautiful. The soup was delicious and everything had a very alternative, hipster vegan style. Our complaint however was that there was not enough food to fill us. For the USD$9 price, especially here in Ecuador, we expected more in quantity than we received. So whilst the food was very delicious and the ambiance attractive, we left feeling that for $18 for two people we could have bought the ingredients ourselves and fed 10 people.
https://www.facebook.com/SuperFoodsEc/
Quipizza
Quipizza has locations in both Cumbayá and Quito and serves delicious vegetarian and vegan pizzas. Quipizza one of the most popular pizza places in Ecuador, often with specials of 3 slices plus a drink for $5. Otherwise if you’re going with a huge hunger a gigantic 60cm x 40cm pizza might be for you.
https://www.facebook.com/Quipizza-Cumbaya
El Maple
By far my favourite vegan restaurant in Quito and possibly the world, El Maple serves delicious vegan food in large quantities for a low price.
Each day a Menú Del Día is served including entré, main course, desert and a drink for $6. The food is creative and delicious. The first time I discovered El Maple a year or so ago I ended up visiting for lunch everyday for the week I was in Quito. They also stock a dessert fridge filled with vegan temptations of cakes and slices that are way too good to ignore.
Located in La Mariscal the restaurant is a very pleasant break from the craziness of Quito.
Thanks for sharing!!
Currently I’m living in Quito and am happy to know you’re in the same city with me. 🙂
I was actually only there for a few weeks this time, but Quito is an interesting city to explore!