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Adam's Rib
Adam's has been grilling up US-style ribs and barbecued meats since 1986. And with a bar, pool table and satellite TV, it's no wonder there's a faithful stream of expats.
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Aladdin's
This extremely popular souk-themed restaurant serves great falafel and shawarma sandwiches, and main courses. Giant hookahs attract the hipsters.
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Boca del Lobo
Beneath the sonic pitter-patter of ambient grooves, smartly dressed diners order delicacies such as rosemary sea bass, salmon ishpingo (an Amazonian cinnamon-like spice), stuffed plantain tortillas, guanábana (soursop) cocktails, raclette, focaccias, pizzas and excellent desserts at this ultra-hip restaurant.
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Café Amazonas
An Amazonas classic with outdoor tables, this is a favorite haunt for everyone from petroleros (oil industry folks) to travelers.
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Café del Fraile
Old World atmosphere and balcony seating make this café-cum-bar the perfect spot for evening hot chocolate or a stiff cocktail. Sandwiches, snacks and desserts are quite good too.
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Café Galletti
Nuclear-physicist-turned-coffee-roaster might seem like a recipe for disaster. Not here. This Ecuadorian-/US-owned café offers excellent organic espresso drinks.
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Café Mosaico
Sure the drinks are overpriced, but you won't find a balcony view like this anywhere else, and tourists are a rarity. This is a must for an evening cocktail or a midmorning coffee (when you'll likely have the balcony, the stunning views and your banana pancakes all to yourself).
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Café Quiteño Libre
For those pinching pennies, you'll find good family-style food and cheap almuerzos (set lunches) here in the brick-wall cellar of the Hotel San Francisco de Quito.
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Café Sutra
With its dim lighting, mellow music and cool crowd, Café Sutra is a great place for a snack and a beer before a night out.
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Cafetería Fabiolita
Cafetería Fabiolita (aka El Buen Sanduche) is one of Quito's little treasures. For more than 40 years, Fabiola Flores and her daughter Margarita have been serving up the city's favorite secos de chivo (goat stew), one of Ecuador's most traditional dishes. This remarkable shop beneath the cathedral is still the most authentic place to try it. Its famous sanduches de pernil (ham sandwiches) even humble city politicians.
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Cafetería La Zamba Teresa
Attached to La Cueva del Oso, this is the people's chance to sample some of the restaurant's outstanding cooking. The set lunches are a steal, and the sopa marisco is delicious.
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Cafetería Modelo
Opened in 1950, Modelo is one of the city's oldest cafés, and a great spot to try traditional snacks such as empanadas de verde (plantain empanadas filled with cheese), quimbolitos (a sweet cake steamed in a leaf), tamales (cornmeal stuffed with meat and steamed in a banana leaf) and humitas (similar to Mexican tamales).
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Casa China
Good, reasonably priced Chinese food. The chicken noodle soup is a tasty, grease-free treat.
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Cava Restaurant Urrutía
Occupying what was once the dining room where philanthropist María Augusta Urrutía fed needy children, this is now (ironically enough) one of the Centro Histórico's finest restaurants. Some of the dishes, including squash blossom soup and lemon ice cream, are based on Urrutía's recipes.
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Cevichería Manolo
Join the locals at this affordable seafood restaurant with several types of Ecuadorian and Peruvian ceviches (seafood dishes marinated in lemon juice) on the menu. Indulge in the delectable camarones al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce) or sopa marinera (seafood soup).
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Cevicheria y Marisquería 7 Mares
This is the place to go for cheap encebollado (a tasty seafood, onion and yucca soup). Bowls - served caféteria-style - are only around US$2 and make an excellent lunch.
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ChaCha
This cheap Argentine eatery serves pizza, pasta and empanadas at outdoor tables. Readers and travelers continually recommend it.
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Chifa Mayflower
Celebrity chef Martin Yan, believe it or not, called this busy Chinese restaurant the best in town (check out his autographed photo by the door), and whether you agree or not, it's definitely a great deal. Lots of veggie options.
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chiQuito
This intimate and artsy café makes for a perfect lunch or coffee break during a leisurely walk down to Guápulo.
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Churrascaría Tropeiro
With 10 types of meat, three types of salad and an all-you-can-eat policy, how can you go wrong?
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Coffee Tree
This place is fast becoming a Mariscal hit, thanks to its house-roasted coffee, good food and outdoor tables.
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Corvina Don 'Jimmy'
Open since 1953, this is the Mercado Central's most famous stall, serving huge portions of corvina (sea bass). Ask for it with rice if you don't want it over a big bowl of ceviche. Everyone from governors to diplomats has eaten here. The Mercado Central is between Esmeraldas and Manabí.
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Cucurucho de Santa Clara
Aimed squarely at tourists and affluent quiteños, this gourmet restaurant occupies the historic Santa Clara market building, with elegant tables interspersed beneath adobe brick arches. It's Ecuadorian cuisine at its finest. Go for the Sunday buffet for a real treat.
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Dimmi, di si
The owner-chef here cooks up delicious fresh pasta, pizza and other traditional Italian fare.
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El Buho
From the folks that brought you Mea Culpa (but wouldn't let you in wearing jeans), comes El Buho, an excellent café inside the Centro Cultural Metropolitano, with delicious sandwiches, burgers, ceviches, salads and more.
