Quito · Ecuador
Self-guided food tour Centro, Quito
A self-guided food walk through Centro, Quito. You get a private guide 24 hours before your start, then walk it alone over up to 3 days, tasting up to 7 dishes and paying each vendor directly.
Vendor details verified on 27 Sep 2026 · Researched by BestByLocals Research Team
About the area
Quito's Centro Histórico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of steep streets, colonial churches and plazas, high in the Andes. This route runs from the food stalls of the Mercado Central to the Plaza Grande and San Francisco, tasting highland and coastal staples: potato patties, fried corvina with ceviche, figs with cheese, roast-pork sandwiches, plantain breakfasts and Ecuadorian chocolate.
Some of the places on the walk
- Dulcería Colonial
- Hasta la Vuelta Señor
- Las Corvinas de Don Jimmy
- Llapingachos De María
- Restaurante y Cafetería Modelo (Centro Histórico)
- Yumbos Chocolate (San Francisco)
Listed alphabetically — not in walking order. The full route, addresses and dish prices are in your guide.
Before you buy
- Las Corvinas de Don Jimmy is closed on Sundays
- Around these holidays some stops close or get very busy: Carnival, Holy Thu–Good Fri, Christmas–New Year.
Food and dietary notice
Cross-contamination is likely, so the walks are not recommended if you have food allergies. We can't cater for religious dietary requirements and we don't state whether anything is halal. Where we know a dish contains pork, beef or alcohol we say so, but that is not conclusive — check directly with each vendor. You take part at your own risk.
If you have a severe or life-threatening allergy, we recommend you don't take part.
What you get that a PDF doesn't
- Opening hours checked with the vendors and on Maps on 27 Sep 2026.
- Closed days and public holidays handled day by day, so you know what's open on each day of your walk.
- Spare stops, in case one is shut when you get there.
- A multi-day access window: 3 days.
- One size here: Express.
Our guide or a free list?
When a free DIY list is enough
If you only want one famous dish in Quito, a free list or map is enough.
What the guide adds
The guide plans walking routes through Centro, checks closed days, and says what to order at each stop and what it costs, so you can eat well at your own pace.
Choose your tier
- Express$156–7 tastings3 days access$15Coming soon
Your guide opens in your phone's web browser — no app needed. You'll need mobile data or Wi-Fi to open it and for map directions. Once opened, it also works through short gaps in signal. Access ends automatically at the end of your N-day window. N is the number of access days for your tier: Express 3 days.
This destination isn't on sale yet.
Prices in USD. Taxes are calculated at checkout by Lemon Squeezy. Prices are for the guide only. Food and drink aren't included — you pay each vendor directly, at their prices.
Quick answers
- What is the Centro food walk?
- A self-guided food walk through Centro, Quito. You get a private guide 24 hours before your start, then walk it alone over up to 3 days, tasting up to 7 dishes and paying each vendor directly.
- How much does it cost?
- From $15 (Express: 6–7 tastings, 3 days) to $15 (Express: 6–7 tastings, 3 days). The guide price doesn't include food — you pay vendors directly.
- Are any places closed on certain days?
- Yes — please check before you pick your start date: Las Corvinas de Don Jimmy is closed on Sundays; Around these holidays some stops close or get very busy: Carnival, Holy Thu–Good Fri, Christmas–New Year..
- Do I need mobile data?
- Your guide opens in your phone's web browser — no app needed. You'll need mobile data or Wi-Fi to open it and for map directions. Once opened, it also works through short gaps in signal. Access ends automatically at the end of your N-day window. N is the number of access days for your tier: Express 3 days.
- Is it suitable for allergies or dietary requirements?
- Cross-contamination is likely, so the walks are not recommended if you have food allergies. We can't cater for religious dietary requirements and we don't state whether anything is halal. Where we know a dish contains pork, beef or alcohol we say so, but that is not conclusive — check directly with each vendor. You take part at your own risk. If you have a severe or life-threatening allergy, we recommend you don't take part.
- Can I cancel?
- Yes, free of charge until your guide is sent (24 hours before your start). After that there are no refunds. If you buy less than 24 hours before your start, the guide is sent immediately and can't be refunded.
- Can I change my start date?
- You can change your start date once, free of charge, by emailing support@getbestbylocals.com any time before your guide is sent (24 hours before your start). Once the guide has been sent, the date is fixed.
People also ask
- Is it worth doing a food tour in Quito?
- If you like trying many small dishes, yes: a self-guided walk through Centro lets you taste local favourites at your own pace, over several days.
- Is it expensive to eat in Quito?
- You pay each vendor directly for what you eat; the guide shows the price of each tasting before you order, or says when to check at the counter.