Hearty Ecuadorian Lunch

Restaurant Ecuador
2923 W. Diversey Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

While I’m sure Restaurant Ecuador would be great in the evening with dinner, there is something that truly makes you feel like you are dining in another country when you have lunch here. Maybe it was how the bright light hits the well-decorated wall and blue tiled counter or maybe it’s the soccer game playing in the background. Maybe, it’s the fact that I am not a Spanish speaker and there was not a fellow white person in the room. Maybe it was my mighty appetite that usually hits around lunchtime that made me crave a big hearty lunch. Most likely, it was all of the above. Thank god for Restaurant Ecuador.

Sitting right on the northern border of Logan Square and Avondale sits this great little restaurant. From outside, it doesn’t look like much. From the inside, you will find locals (presumably Ecuadorian, mostly) enjoying this very hearty cuisine. There really is no other word to describe it. It’s extremely flavorful, filling and very lean. I did not find the Ecuadorian food here to be unhealthy in any way (within moderation). If you’re watching your waist, feel free to waddle down here and enjoy yourself.


In Ecuadorian meals, it is traditionally to have three courses: a soup, an entrée served over rice and finally a dessert. For soups, you could always dive right into trying the Caldo de Pata or Beef feet soup with chickpeas. Not that adventurous? A safe, yet interesting option is the Caldo de Salchicha, which is an Ecuadorian pork sausage soup. If soup wasn’t enough for you, one little appetizer that I would recommend is the tortillas de papa. This is one potato pattie that is served over a salad. It is light and flavorful.

The menu has an extensive list of different, tasty looking entrees. Seafood fans, you are in luck! This menu has 16 different seafood dishes for you to choose from. These include a fish and plantain tamale to a fish and plantain soup to a clam cocktail.


If you’re more of a land animal fan, I highly recommend the Seco de Chivo. This dish is goat stewed in a tomato-based sauce and served over rice. Like every other dish here, it comes with plantains. This stew was one of the best goat I have ever had as far as flavor is concerned. It was savory and the tomato really melded well with the goat. The texture, however, was still a bit tough. Understandably, goat is often a gristly meat, but with enough stewing (or braising) it can get fall off the bone. However, let this not deter you. If goat isn’t your thing, try the Llapingacho, which is two potato patties and two eggs with a peanut sauce over rice. Peanuts may throw a few people, but peanuts are often found in Ecuadorian food.

As a nice change of pace from some of the more upscale and more note-worthy restaurants in the neighborhood, Restaurant Ecuador still provides a lot of charm and great food. This place certainly shouldn’t be overlooked if you need a nice hearty lunch.


Getting down to Brass Tax:

BYOB
Date place? Yes.
Friend Hang out? Yes.
Recommended dish: Seco de Chivo
Price Range (2 People): +/- $30