Globalization Goes Latino - Eat Local

I walked into the newest mall here in Guayaquil to see just how far globalization has come. First the name – City Mall! And then the food court, where I can eat such Latin American classics as: Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, Quiznos and McDonalds. By the way, I can go around the corner for Burger King, Tony Roma’s, TGI Friday’s and Chili’s. Are there any Ecuadorian restaurants left in Ecuador?

Of course, these are all mall food-court staples but couldn't they find at least a few local fast-food places to join the ranks of these international chains?

I'll admit that there is a nice bit of comfort knowing that in a strange country, you can stop in a familiar place and have the exact same sandwich you get when 2 blocks from home. But as these white-washed restaurants start to force out the smaller and more authentic Ecuadorian places, it starts to drag down the appeal of any nation. Who wants to travel somewhere only to be surrounded by the same things as home? It kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

To be fair, some of these franchises do offer a little Latin American cuisine hidden away in their standard menus. You can get a serving of rice and beans as a side at KFC. Other than a few added extras, the menus are mostly all North American. Of course, by its very nature, fast food is generally not supposed to be any sort of representation of quality cuisine. I mean really, nobody goes to any fast food joint because they want traditional or home-cooked meals. So if you are looking to find some good Ecuadorian food, the mall isn't the place to find it.

To get real Latin American food in Ecuador, find restaurants that serve up fresh bowls of tangy seafood ceviche, cheesy crisp llapingachos, fried plantain slices, or rich goat stew (Seco de Chivo). The ultimate culinary experience in Ecuador is to experience a whole roasted cuy (guinea pig) purchased from a street vendor. That's a bit more interesting eating. But do they have to keep the teeth and claws on it when they roast and serve it?

Not only will you find that these dishes are far more delightful than the typical mall-food fare, the prices are usually quite a bit more reasonable. Don't feel that getting authentic food is going to be too expensive. That's actually where the better deals are found.

I'd love to be able to direct you to the "best" restaurants to find some excellent Ecuador food, but there are so many to choose from that I really can't list them all. Since I started off mentioning Guayaquil, I have a few suggestions for visitors. Embarcadero 41, El Cafe de Tere and La Canoa all have amazing local dishes.

So next time you are in Guayaquil (or any other city in Ecuador), try to find someplace unique to eat rather than settle for the closest outlet of Carl's Jr or Domino Pizza. Your stomach will thank you.