It is popular with working people, is always busy, and the food is good. I will spend $3.00 on a bolón and eggs, juice, and instant coffee there.
So, after breakfast, I work until lunchtime, which is usually 1pm here. At first this was a tough adjustment, but now I’m used it. Because I work in a business area, there are so many options for almuerzo (lunch). All the restaurants have signs outside with the menu. Almuerzo is interesting in that the menu changes daily, but there are only two entrée options. They make a set amount of food, and when they run out, the restaurant closes for the day or you have to order off the regular, pricier menu.
For $3.00 you get jugo, sopa (soup), a plato fuerte (main entrée) with two options, and a postre (dessert). That’s a pretty good deal! I have eaten many almuerzos from $2.75 up to $8.00. This is the standard wherever you go for lunch, whether it is in a big city like Quito or a smaller, rural town, like San Miguel de los Bancos. Almuerzo is a standard thing you will encounter all over Ecuador.
We’ve discussed the options for jugos, so let’s look at sopas (soups). These alone make a great meal, but it’s just the first course. Sopa can range from lentils and quinoa to cheese and potatoes, minestrone, chicken or beef soup with potatoes and vegetables, to my personal favorite, encebollado.
Encebollado is a fish stew that is originally from the coastal areas, but has become an iconic dish for the nation. It is a hearty stew of tuna (not the kind from a can, but big chunks of fresh tuna), onion, spices, and yuca.
