By Sara Moore As a self-proclaimed food aficionado and an ardent explorer of unique dining experiences, stumbling upon Eva Cafe was a stroke of pure luck. Nestled inside the cozy lobby of the Santa Fe Hotel, this small cafe-style restaurant instantly won me over with its warm and inviting atmosphere. With an extensive menu featuring delectable desserts, refreshing drinks, and tantalizing snack foods, Eva Cafe became my go-to spot for an indulgent culinary journey. Led by the

By Sara Moore I discovered a jewel in Manabi. Approximately 30 minutes from Manta, this fabulous restaurant discovery is on the outskirts of Montecristi. Located on the upper slopes of the Montecristi mountain, 200 meters above sea level. This amazing location gives visitors an awesome panoramic view of Montecristi, Manta and the Pacific Ocean.

By Rolanda Stinson We all know that on the coast seafood is king and local Ecuadorian classics like ceviche and encebollado are staples here in Manta. But I hope that if my food articles are showing you anything, it's that Manta has a little more to offer when it comes to international food. Over the last few months, I've written about Argentinian, Mexican, and Italian food here in Manta. With this issue, I will continue with the international food theme and introduce you to

By Rolanda Stinson Have you heard of a restobar? Well it’s exactly what it sounds like - a restaurant and a bar in one. Believe it or not, Manta had a pretty large restobar scene before the pandemic. I arrived here during the downturn of the pandemic and never really had a chance to experience Manta in all its glory. I heard that Manta had a very lively nightlife before the pandemic. As of 2022, the city is reopening and with that comes back the nightlife scene. Many of the c

By Rolanda Stinson-Smiley On the coast of Ecuador, a popular food staple is ceviche. In North America, we think of ceviche as raw seafood...

Encebollado is a traditional Ecuadorian fish stew commonly served at breakfast time. This rich stew has been recognized as the national dish of Ecuador. The translation of the word “encebollado” means ‘cooked with onions,’ to put it simply. However, the flavor of this tasty dish cannot be summed up that easily. With a host of toppings and accompaniments, it is a lot more complex than fish and onions.

Believe it or not, Manta has more to offer than just seafood. I’ve found that barbecue, sausages, and arrays of grilled meats are very common in many of the restaurants here. One of the best restaurants in town is El Resero Restaurante. El Resero is a steakhouse with an Argentinian influence. The name “El Resero” literally translates to “the herder”. “Los Reseros” are what cattle herders in the early 1900s were called in Argentina. These gauchos (cowboys) were very important

It’s no secret that Manta is a seafood hub. Being one of the largest port cities in Ecuador, Manta has been hailed as the tuna fishing capital of the world. Canned tuna is one of the primary exports from Manta and walking along the Malecon you can see the many boats going out to sea filled with fishermen. So, it’s to be expected that one can get some of the freshest and most delicious seafood here. In the seven months that I’ve lived here, I have made it my mission to eat all