Quito Street Food Tour: Local Bites, Flea Market & Chocolate

Summary

Quito’s flavors from market stalls to secret corners with local stories

You’ll wander Quito’s real streets with a local guide who knows every shortcut and snack stall. Taste hot empanadas, exotic fruits, seafood bites, and finish with Ecuadorian chocolate and cocktails. Expect laughter, new flavors, and glimpses into everyday life most travelers miss.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was nervous about eating street food in Quito. But that faded fast—our guide Andrés greeted us with this easy grin and led us straight into the kind of market where you hear vendors calling out in Spanish and smell fried corn even before you see it. First stop: a stall so tiny I almost missed it, where we tasted empanadas still hot from the oil. I burned my tongue a little (worth it), and Andrés just laughed and handed me a napkin. He seemed to know everyone—people waved or called his name as we wandered through the back streets.

The route twisted past murals I’d never have found alone—one of them was peeling, but somehow that made it better. We passed the Basilica of the National Vow, its spires poking through the city haze for just a second before we ducked down another side street. At one point, we stopped at a fruit stand where I tried naranjilla juice for the first time. Tart and sweet at once—hard to describe, but I keep thinking about it. The flea market was chaos in the best way: old radios stacked on tables, women selling woven bags, kids weaving between stalls. It felt like everyone knew each other except us, but nobody minded us being there.

Lunch was ceviche from a plastic bowl at a seafood counter—cold and bright with lime—and then came chocolate tasting in this narrow café where you could smell roasted cacao before you even sat down. The bartender made me a cocktail with some local liquor (I forgot the name; Andrés tried to teach me but my pronunciation was hopeless). By then I’d stopped worrying about anything except how full I was getting. The whole thing took maybe three hours? My feet were tired by the end but honestly, I didn’t want it to finish yet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Quito's street food and sights

• See Basilica of the National Vow exterior
• Walk through main central park
• Stroll folkloric street

Top questions

How long is the Quito street food tour?

The tour takes around three hours and covers about 3 kilometers on foot.

Is pickup included for this Quito food tour?

No standard pickup is included, but you can request pick up and drop off service when booking for a shorter walk.

Are drinks included during the tour?

Yes, all stops include soft drinks or juice tastings; one cocktail is also included (with non-alcoholic options available).

Can children join this Quito street food experience?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers during the walking tour.

Is this street food tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

No; travelers should have at least moderate physical fitness as it’s a walking tour of about 3 km.

What foods will I try on this Quito street food tour?

You’ll taste empanadas, exotic fruits like naranjilla, seafood ceviche, chocolate, coffee, and more local bites.

Does the tour visit any famous landmarks?

You’ll glimpse the Basilica of the National Vow from outside as part of your route between foodie stops.

What’s included

Your day includes all food at four different stops—hot snacks like empanadas, fruit tastings at local stands, fresh seafood dishes served right in the market atmosphere—and ends with Ecuadorian chocolate plus one cocktail (or soft drink). A friendly local guide leads you through downtown’s flea market streets and back alleys; pickup can be arranged if needed for less walking.