El Hueco

Location:
Near Quito, Quito, Ecuador

Restaurant

By Paul

To experience the near “extinct” grilled guinea pig (cuy) you have to venture out on an hour bus drive from Quito to the small town of Sangolqui. The place sees only occasional tourists, so you can experience it in a very traditional way. You can watch them preparing the guinea pigs on a large barbeque in front of the restaurant, some stuffed on sticks and others butterfly-style on the grill. They look a little unusual but quite delicious.

El Hueco is a simple restaurant, absent of any decoration, except for two kitschy paintings, one showing a fantasy scene with unicorns, the other an idyllic village in the Swiss mountains. The smoke from the barbeque penetrates into the restaurant, adding even more local flavor to the dark room.

The only dish available consists of a quarter cuy, papas, salsa de maní and chicha.

Cuy is eaten with bare hands and as it is nearly impossible to get the meat from the small bones with knife and fork, so don’t bother. All parts of the cuy can be eaten (except for the bones of course), even if the head might need some assistance from a cold Pilsener. There is an extra plate in the middle for the bones.

Prices:
Lunch: Budget

Price Description: ¼ cuy with potatoes and sauce 4$

Regulations: No smoking

Dress Code: Unknown

Reservation: Unknown

Park Options: Street parking