Quito's Huecas: Where Locals Actually Eat
Quito's best huecas, the hole-in-the-wall spots where locals eat: hornado, ceviche, caldo de bagre and empanadas de viento, picked by a Quito chef.
Food & Drinks | Oct 27, 2026
In Quito, the best meals often happen in places with no sign, no menu in English and plastic stools instead of chairs. Locals call them huecas, literally "holes": small, humble, often family-run spots that have been cooking the same dish, the same way, for years or even decades. You don't go to a hueca for the décor. You go because everyone in the city knows that's where the real food is.
These are the huecas where Ernesto, a Quito chef and the founder of Bondabu, actually eats.
Key takeaways
- A hueca is a humble, traditional eatery, usually specializing in one dish and loved by locals.
- The best huecas are often inside markets or tucked into residential streets.
- Most huecas are daytime spots. Doña Anita, in La Floresta, is a rare one that's open at night.
- Bring cash, come hungry and order what everyone else is ordering.
What is a hueca?
In Quito slang, a hueca is a small, unpretentious place to eat, the kind of spot you'd walk past without noticing. What makes a hueca special isn't the setting but the food: one or two dishes perfected over years, often by the same family, at prices locals can afford every day. Finding a good hueca is a point of pride among Quiteños, and everyone has a favorite they'll defend to the end.
Quito's best huecas: a chef's picks
1. El Hornado de Don Galo: Mercado de Santa Clara
Hornado, slow-roasted whole pork, is one of Quito's signature dishes, and Don Galo has been roasting it inside Mercado de Santa Clara for decades. Expect crispy skin, tender meat, llapingachos (potato patties) and the tangy agrio sauce on the side. Want to know more about the dish? Read our guide to Ecuador's hornado.
2. Caldo de bagre at Mercado Chimbacalle
Chimbacalle is one of Quito's most historic neighborhoods, in the south of the city, home to the old train station. In its market, you'll find one of the most authentic bowls of caldo de bagre in the city: a hearty catfish soup that's a true Quito classic. It's the kind of meal that tells you more about the city than any museum.
3. Pepe 3 Cevichería: Jipijapa-style ceviche
Ecuadorian ceviche is a world of its own, and Pepe 3 serves a great ceviche in the style of Jipijapa, a town in the coastal province of Manabí, at a very fair price. It's proof that you don't need to go to the coast to eat great coastal food. For more, follow our Ecuador ceviche trail.
4. Empanadas de viento Don Armando: near the National Assembly
Empanadas de viento are huge, puffy fried empanadas filled with cheese and dusted with sugar, usually eaten with a hot drink. For Ernesto, Don Armando makes the best in the city, close to the National Assembly building. Sweet, salty, crispy and impossible to share.
5. Doña Anita: La Floresta
Doña Anita has a little bit of everything, and it's one of the very few huecas in Quito that stays open at night. That makes it the perfect stop after a drink in La Floresta, when you want real Ecuadorian food instead of another bar snack. Our Quito nightlife guide has the bars to go with it.
How to eat at a hueca
- Bring cash. Many huecas don't take cards.
- Order the specialty. If the place is famous for one dish, that's what you order.
- Go early. Market huecas often close by mid-afternoon or when the food runs out.
- Share the table. Huecas are small, and sitting next to strangers is part of the experience.
- Don't expect English menus. Point, smile and trust the cook.
Bondabu tip: if you're not sure what to order, ask the person next to you what they're eating. Quiteños love recommending their favorite hueca dish.
Eat Quito's huecas with a local
Huecas are hard to find on your own, and that's exactly what makes them special. Our Quito food tour takes you to the markets, stalls and hidden spots where locals eat, in a small group with a local guide.
About the author
Ernesto is a chef based in Quito and the founder of Bondabu, where he designs food and culture experiences in Quito and Mexico City.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hueca in Quito?
A small, humble, traditional eatery, usually specializing in one or two dishes and loved by locals for its authentic food and low prices.
Are huecas safe to eat at?
The best huecas have been feeding locals for years. Choose busy places with high turnover, where food is cooked fresh, and you'll eat very well.
What should I order at a Quito hueca?
The house specialty. Classic hueca dishes include hornado, caldo de bagre, ceviche and empanadas de viento.
Are huecas open at night?
Most huecas are daytime places, especially those in markets. Doña Anita, in La Floresta, is one of the few open at night.
Do huecas accept credit cards?
Many don't. Bring cash.
