In Quito, people don’t usually like to eat on the go: they prefer long, drawn out meals with family and friends. Sometimes, however, that just isn’t an option, and “fast food, Quito-style” is a growing industry. There are plenty of McDonalds’, Burger Kings and KFCs, but if you want something new, give these quick eats a try:
Empanadas:
King of the fast snacks, the empanada (“em-pa-na-da”) is a long-time Quito favorite. You can get them from street vendors when there is a big event going on (such as a soccer game) but otherwise you’ll find them in bakeries. Ecuadorian empanadas are dough filled with any combination of beef, chicken, cheese and vegetables and then folded over and baked. Ask the vendor what’s inside. Ecuadorians have their own style of empanadas, but also like those from Chile and Colombia. If you’re looking at a variety of empanadas, the large, fluffy ones are Ecuadorian, the small, yellow ones are Colombian, and the smooth, squarish ones are Chilean. Typically, an empanada costs about $1.50 US.
Shawarma
Brought to Ecuador by Middle Eastern immigrants, a shawarma (“sha-war-mah”) is a hot, meaty sandwich served on a pita. Shawarma stands are found anywhere that gets a lot of foot traffic. Look for the upright rotisserie with several pounds of spiced chicken breast (they’re always chicken in Ecuador, unlike in other parts of the world) sizzling away as it spins. Shawarma places only sell shawarmas and beverages, usually beer or soft drinks. A shawarma costs about $2.25 US.
Mote con Chicharrón (hominy with pork skin):
Quiteños (natives of Quito) go nuts for mote con chicharrón (“mo-tay con chee-cha-roan”). It is usually sold by little old ladies walking around with a cook-pot of the two main ingredients: mote (hominy), which is soggy, white corn and chicharrón, which is sort of like a salty pork rind with some meat still on it. The salty, meaty flavor of the chicharrón offsets the mote, which is really quite bland. It is sold in little plastic bags, with the mote on the bottom and the chicharrón on top. A little bag will cost about a dollar (US) but won’t do if you’re really hungry.
Papas con Cuero (potatoes with pork skin):
Available at special events like soccer games and in markets popular with lower economic classes, papas con cuero (“pah-pas con kwe-roh”) is not for the faint of heart. It consists of small potatoes (papas) in a greasy stew with bits of pork skin and fat (cuero, which means skin or leather). If you’re not used to it, it can be somewhat unappetizing-looking, but the Ecuadorians love it. Papas con cuero shouldn't cost you more than a dollar.
Next time you’re in Quito, if you’re hungry and brave enough, give one of these local favorites a try! You’ll be glad you did.
