Vegan-friendly
Organic
Honey
Ecuadorian

Serves a set lunch comprising soup, main dish, small dessert. Offers cooking classes. Free Wi-Fi. Mostly vegan with the exception of honey. Open Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:30pm.


Venue map for Quinua
© OpenStreetMap contributors

32 Reviews

First Review by joakimikaoj

DDDennis

Points +1279

Vegan
16 Sep 2023

Great set menu

Had a really nice set menu in this cozy place. It consisted of soup, rice platter and a small desert. It also came tasty fruit juice and you can fill yourself up with hot tea.

It looked and tasted like the chef put great effort into it. Not your typical soup kitchen.

madijuana

Points +91

Vegan
30 Jun 2023

Yummy, filling, big portions, lots of veg

Quinua was really delicious and gave me a big big big portion of food - a soup, a lovely array of Veggies, a juice, a tea and a little postre for $4.75. It was nice to have a plate where the chefs had thought about the Veggies and created something nice rather than the basic. I only give it a 4 because some of it was still kinda basic, the rice a bit stodgy and it's a little on the expensive side (for me), but it's up there with one of the best meals I've had in ecuador. I would go again if I was in the area but I wouldn't go too far out of my way for it 🙂 it was very filling though and very nutritious. Also it was all vegan.

Updated from previous review on 2023-06-30

Pros: Filling, Different from the normal veg dishes you get, Nutritious

Cons: Slightly more flavour wouldve been nice

kayabrown

Points +101

Vegan
17 Jun 2023

Cheap and filling

Not the most flavourful food I have ever had but still very nice. For about $5 you will get a soup, main, juice, tea and small dessert. Excellent value for money and everything was vegan. We came here twice and enjoyed our meal on both occasions! Nice to enjoy some typical Ecuadorian food as a vegan.

Updated from previous review on 2023-06-17

GeovannyMedina

Points +15

Vegetarian
29 May 2023

Muy buena

Excelente lugar, atención y comida.

unruly_traveller

Points +287

Vegan
07 Feb 2023

Amazing food!

Such a great place. After taking a 9 hour overnight bus, we showed up here an hour before they were opening and we were beat. They let us in early and served us breakfast. It was a huge thing of rice, veggies, and a mock meat with a vegan empanada and tea. So good, so filling, and very healthy! They also have a lot of cool natural body products and snacks. Breakfast was great - I bet their lunch/dinner is even better!

Pros: Great atmosphere , Healthy food, All vegan

MerelKoster

Points +52

Vegan
28 Oct 2022

Cute spot en good food

We took a taxi from the other side of Quito to eat here. When we arrived (5pm) it looked closed. We saw some lights burning but the door was locked and the gate in front of the door was closed. Disappointing of course, but right when we were about to leave the owner of the restaurant opened the door and asked if we wanted to eat (or something along those lines. My Spanish is terrible).
Moral of the story: don't get discouraged if the place looks closed before 6.30pm. Just knock on the door.

Anyway, about the food. There is no menu to choose from. You eat whatever they made that day, I believe. We got tea, fruit juice, creamy soup (not sure what kind. A potato, avocado type thing?), a plate with various items (empanada, llapingachos, salad with lupine beans and avocado and quinoa), rice, and something sweet. All very good!

And very affordable (5 dollars).

Would recommend!

AaronLifford

Points +38

Vegan
09 Jun 2022

Great lunch spot

We got the Complete Lunch, which was lots of great vegan food for an affordable price.

Pros: Affordable , Vegan, Tasty

Veganvoyagers

Points +1798

Vegan
11 Apr 2022

Local Ecuadorian cuisine

We are SO glad we tried this place, the food was delicious and authentic. When you walk in, they hand you a soup and drink and the main dish is just whatever they made for the day. There were a few sides that had incredible flavor and the mains were tamales and empanadas. The cooks are local Ecuadorian women and they grow all their food and any leftover money goes back into the community. Don’t miss this place! PLUS it was suuuuuuper affordable- I think we paid like $5 per person

Updated from previous review on 2022-04-11

AlexandraPico

Points +232

Vegan
18 Jun 2021

Quick filling lunch

For $3.50 I got a tea, soup, rice, veggies and empanada. It was delicious and very filling. Friendly staff. Nice environment.

BrunaCastro

Points +24

Vegan
23 Feb 2021

Muy rico

Varias opciones de almuerzo por un precio accesible y todo delicioso, muy saludable y completamente vegano.

Pros: Venden productos naturales

whitesiroi

Points +1587

Vegan
20 Feb 2021

Bueno

Good place, price are very reasonable

LisaSpykers

Points +6814

Vegan
06 Feb 2021

Lovely restaurant, service, and food

Good vibes in this restaurant (which is also a shop selling fresh produce and items such as flour, nuts, and tea). We had one of the menu of the day meals which was a tasty veggie soup followed by a plate of brown rice, fried spinach, a corn salad, and a mixture of seitan and veg rolled up in potato dough. The set meal came with a piece of cake, lemongrass tea, and a tree tomato juice. They had a couple of a la carte dishes so we ordered the dish of fried seitan pieces, corn, salad, and 2 tasty banana fritters.

We got some empanadas to go too that were made with what looked like crushed corn as a dough. So delicious!

EbonySage

Points +92

Vegan
19 Apr 2019

Filling Lunch!

I had the menu del dia which consisted of a soup, mixed plate, dessert, beverage, and tea for $4.75.
The food was good, very filling, and definitely a fair price for the quantity. I would definitely recommend this place as it gives you the opportunity to have a traditional Ecuadorian meal but veganized.
My experience was made extra special by an Ecuadorian family who invited me to come sit and dine with them when they saw I came in as a solo traveller.
Wonderful food, wonderful company!

Pros: Traditional Ecuadorian cuisine made vegan, Fair prices, No worrying about cross-contamination with animal-

claudia.fay

Points +34

Vegan
11 Apr 2019

Simple and home style

Quinua was a great little find. I had one of their set menus that comes with soup, main course, tea and dessert. It was local, healthy and delicious food and wasn’t very expensive. To me it was like being at my grandmother’s and being spoiled with a home cooked meal. I loved the experience and even took a piece of cake to take away!

DouglasMcCaffrey

Points +862

Vegan
06 Mar 2019

Very tasty and affordable lunch.

We visited today for lunch and had a very nice relaxing lunch. The menu is very reasonable the set menu which includes soup, rice, salad, juice and a small dessert. The atmosphere is very chilled and the staff were friendly and helpful. The only thing that I was disappointed to see was that they sell honey and honey related products. (Which would make this place not vegan)

Pros: Good portions , Heathy tasty food, Relaxing atmosphere

Cons: Sells honey

ircharles

Points +273

Vegan
22 Nov 2018

Nice Atmosphere

Amazing set lunch that was affordable...

DanielHell

Points +31

Vegetarian
22 Sep 2018

daily menu. top

nice place with nice staff and a daily healthy fresh cooked menu, best place for veggies in the mariscal area

rogerluis

Points +185

Vegan
31 May 2018

Healthy clean food

This is one of the oldest vegan restaurants in Quito.
It offers a set daily menu. It is very healthy, prepared with organic ingredients.
You won't find oily junk food here.
You can get some organic veggies and local cruelty free products.
Staff is very friendly.

Pros: Organic, Healthy

Cons: Sales honey some times

emzie1983

Points +678

Vegan
19 Feb 2018

Tasty and cheap

We went here the other day for lunch. We had the set menu, which included vegetable and rice soup, main of soya meat, rice and bean salad, small dessert of stewed spiced fruit, juice and tea. All of this for $5.
The food wasn't very strongly flavoured or seasoned, but was healthy and filling. Staff were friendly (but didn't speak English). The restaurant set up is pleasant to sit and relax in
There a few nice looking items for sale in a small grocery section - baked goods, beans, grains, etc

Pros: All vegan, Healthy, Value for money

whatupleo

Points +36

Vegan
05 Feb 2018

amazing

Beautiful restaurant amazing food wish my visit to Ecuador could of been long enough for me to take a class

EmilyNoelle

Points +470

Vegan
20 Apr 2017

Fabulous!

We had a great lunch at Quinua. You order an almuerzo- set lunch- and you get a massive portion of healthy and delicious food. Our set consisted of fig juice, a segundo, dessert, soup, and tea!
You have to order at the cashier and wait for your tray of food.
Everything was reasonably priced as well!
We are definitely coming back!

Updated from previous review on 2017-04-20

Pros: Well priced, Great portions, Vegan!

Arlen

Points +428

Vegan
09 Apr 2017

MACROBIOTIC VEGAN

I was really surprised and thrilled to find a Macrobiotic restaurant with simply prepared, delicious cuisine with cooking classes offered.
The chef owner, Luz, brings in organic home grown vegetables fom her family farm and really does them justice.
The prices are reasonable and the location is a meeting place for interesting characters.
Have fun!

pamlovesyams

Points +57

Vegan
29 Mar 2017

:)

Un lugar muy lindo. Fui a Quinua el 25 de marzo 2017. Toda la comida es vegana. Mi compañera de viaje y yo nos bajamos del taxi y estábamos buscando el restaurante; pregunté a una mujer que dónde estaba. Con suerte, trabaja allá! Fuimos con ella adentro. Fue muy amable. Llegamos un poco después de las 11 am. Tuvimos que irnos de Quito a las 12, y cuando supieron las cocineras, pudimos comer prontísimo. Estuvo rica.
$5 tres platos:
Una sopa ligera
Una torta de choclo y carne vegetal y ¨queso¨...¿?. ¡excelente!
Unas verduras saltadas de buen sabor de ajo
Una pequeña ensalada de habas y tomates
Arroz integral
Jugo
Té (podías beber cuánto quisieras)
Postre: una jalea de fruta dulce y ácida con pasos y sabor de jengibre. Riquísima

La comida, bien; no muy impresionante. Regresaría, pero solo después de probar la comida de otros restaurantes de Quito.
''''''''''''''''''''''''
A really cute, cozy place. I went to Quinua the 25th of March, 2017. All of the food is vegan. The person I was with and I got out of our taxi and were looking for the restaurant; I asked a woman that was on the sidewalk with us and it turned out she worked there - what luck! We went inside with her. She was really friendly. We went a bit after 11 am. We had to leave Quito at 12, and when the cooks knew, we were able to eat promptly. It was good food.
$5 for a three-course meal:
A light soup
some sort of ¨cheesy¨ corn and veggie and fake meat casserole thing (really good!)
Some sautéed vegetables with a nice garlic flavor
A small fava bean/veggie salad
Rice
Juice
Tea (as much as we wanted)
Dessert: a tangy fruit jelly that had raisins and a nice ginger flavor.

The food was good; not super impressive. I would return, but only after trying the food other restaurants in Quito have to offer.

Pros: Servicio rápido y amable - quick, friendly service, Barato - cheap, Comida saludable - healthy food

Cons: Jugo mediocre - mediocre juice

Collier

Points +93

Vegan
21 Jan 2017

Great food Best Value

This family by-passes the trendy high priced with a view concept and instead makes great food at a great price. I wouldn't go anywhere else in this area for any meal. Help support a great place :)

Pros: Value, Good portions

Cons: It's not a franchise in other places :)

ManGaveNames

Points +162

Vegan
11 Sep 2016

authentic and yummy

They don't speak English, but they are friendly and helpful. The food was very flavorful, filling and inexpensive. It was nice to feel like I don't have to be left out of eating real Ecuadorean food. You should try it!

Ryecatcher

Points +2092

Vegetarian
15 Jul 2016

Legit option in Quito

It's a spacious "house" where Quinua is located in. There are plenty of tables; for warmer days there are outdoor seating options.
They offer a daily changing menu which consist of entree, main and dessert, although entree and dessert are only small bites.
The day I was there all the ingredients were fresh and the menu was healthy and sufficient. In comparison to other eateries nearby Quinua is rather expensive (4,75$, whereas you can easily find a menu for about 3$). However, the quality is slightly better than elsewhere, the atmosphere is nicer and the staff are more knowledgable (don't speak English though).
You'll get free refill (tea only).
They sell organic vegetables and some other vegan stuff (bars, seeds, vegetable milks aso.) as well.

Pros: quality of food, staff cares about you

KeliKeach

Points +55

Vegan
04 Jun 2016

All VEGAN

I ate here several times and always enjoyed the food. The soups are my favorite item. There are signs on posters saying vegetarian, but to my knowledge it's all vegan. I was staying in the San Juan neighborhood by La Basilica near Old Town and I would either walk (25-30min) or take a 2.25 cab ride there. Lunch was $4.75

Pros: Vegan, Nice staff

Cons: Only Spanish Speaking




This page has been viewed 10505 times.