Must see restaurants in North Coast & Lowlands

Owned by a Spanish chef (Amalur means ‘Mother Earth’ in Basque), this trim, minimalist restaurant is a major step up from your average Ecuadorian small…

Ariceli, also Mompiche's yoga instructor par excellence, is known for her wickedly divine desserts, including lemon pie, a vegan crumble, and a chocolate…

This amenable grill in the center of Manta’s nightlife area is a great place for a filling parillada (grilled meats for one, enough for two) and a glass…

A crisp and formal setting with a varied menu of well-prepared international dishes, vegetarian options and criollo (of Spanish influence) specialties. It…

A charming team of young locals (who also run the hostel in the same building, and are all keen surfers) serve up mouthwatering burgers, salads and…

On a pleasant pedestrian lane set back just a short distance from the malecón (and Parque de la Madre), this amiable hole-in-the-wall offers frothy…

This simple beach restaurant serves up shrimp or freshly caught fish with a sea view. It was one of the few businesses to survive the earthquake, and…

The 'Shak' serves up pizzas, burgers, filling breakfasts and plenty of rum cocktails to a fun-seeking foreign crowd. Its California dreamin' surf vibe is…

Beyond the uninviting decor you’ll find a decent steakhouse specializing in beef and chops. The thatched courtyard seating is preferable to sitting inside.

Formerly in the main square, Willy's has moved to a side street since the earthquake. Run by a sweet family who serves up tasty grub.

This basic comedore on the main drag, across from Farmacia Rogers, no longer has sweet seaside views, but it remains a dependable choice, with filling…

Near the heart of the nightlife, the popular Beachcomber is a favorite for its grilled meats. Dine in the lush backyard garden or on the open-sided front…

One of a handful of Chinese restaurants right off the main plaza. Of the options we visited, it seemed the cleanest and was also the busiest, which we…

A popular place for young and old with old-fashioned wood booths, a checkered floor and a satisfying assortment of cold drinks, sandwiches and other snack…

Formerly called Suly's, this pizzeria has a nice mix of Italian faves like lasagna, spaghetti, pizza and overstuffed calzones.

Tie-clad waiters serve up tasty Ecuadorian fare in this slick and starched eatery by the cathedral.

This is a good supermarket for stocking up on provisions. In addition to this downtown locale, there's another branch next to the bus terminal (Terminal…

Out in Las Palmas, this casual open-sided beachfront restaurant serves delicious seafood dishes like encocado de langosta (lobster in coconut milk) and…

One of several new cafés overlooking the Plaza Cívica, La Tunda has a large menu of ceviche, lasagna, pastas and hamburgers, as well as breakfast plates…

This charming little spot in Las Palmas is a local favorite for its home cooking. Enjoy daily lunch specials (fish soup, plus chicken, beef or pork dishes…