¡Cuenca Eats!
A Culinary Guide to the Flavors of Cuenca / Guía gastronómica bilingüe de los sabores de Cuenca
Released in 2026
Full color print editions available locally in Cuenca at these locations:
- Carolina Bookstore: Hermano Miguel y Presidente Córdova in El Centro (Google Map)
- Tourism Office: Parque Calderón
Digital and audiobook versions are available on Amazon and Audible:
- amazon.com/dp/B0G4JGCNHB
- Or just click the yellow button below
Las ediciones impresas se venderán:
- en la librería Carolina Bookstore: ubicada en la calle Hermano Miguel y Presidente Córdova en el centro de la ciudad (Google Map).
- Oficina Turística (iTur): Parque Calderón
Las versiones digitales se venderán a través de Amazon.
Local Flavor, Global Curiosity | Sabor local, curiosidad global
This book was born from walking Cuenca’s streets, talking with vendors, and tasting what the city offers—not from rankings or ratings.
Este libro nació de caminar por las calles de Cuenca, hablar con vendedores y probar lo que ofrece la ciudad—no de clasificaciones ni puntuaciones.
We trust crowds. If the police, work crews, or grandparents are eating there—it’s probably great.
Confiamos en las multitudes. Si policías, obreros o abuelitas están comiendo allí—probablemente sea buenísimo.
A Book for Locals and Wanderers | Un libro para locales y exploradores
Explore 100+ traditional Ecuadorian foods, drinks, fruits, snacks, and desserts—plus over a hundred handpicked restaurant reviews.
Explora más de 100 comidas, bebidas, frutas, bocadillos y postres ecuatorianos—además de más de cien reseñas seleccionadas de restaurantes.
Learn what Cuencanos eat, where they go, and how you can join in.
Descubre qué comen los cuencanos, a dónde van y cómo puedes unirte a la experiencia.
Eat Well. Wander Far. | Come bien. Deambula lejos.
This is our love letter to Cuenca—written through the tastes, textures, and shared tables of this extraordinary city.
Esta es nuestra carta de amor a Cuenca—escrita a través de los sabores, texturas y mesas compartidas de esta ciudad extraordinaria.
Use this book to start your own journey.
Usa este libro para iniciar tu propio recorrido.
EXCELLENT
Based on 20 reviews at
(Click on the logos to read the reviews on these sites.)
Just a fantastic overview of Cuencan food
I’ve traveled to 75 countries around the world and find that I connect best to a culture through their food. The food tells you where they came from, what they value, and where they’re going. I have met more locals in restaurants than anywhere else. I am a foodie who travels…
Dr. Li’s book ¡Cuenca Eats¡ has made me hungry to visit Ecuador again and made me feel like I missed out on so much the first time I was there. I remember gawking at strange fruits in the market wondering what they were, how they were prepared, and what they taste like…this book tells you that!
I remember looking at menus unsure what the various things were and just going for some random choice (or something familiar I’m ashamed to admit), now I have a list of truly Ecuadoran dishes I’m desperate to try! And I could probably live for a week just trying the street food described here!
And for a tourist unsure where to go, Dr. Li gives a great list of options that will have you chatting with locals and leaving the tourist traps behind.
This book will be going with me my next trip to Ecuador!
A food guide that still surprises a long term resident
After nine years in Cuenca I assumed I’d eaten at every place worth knowing. Cuenca Eats proved me wrong. There are several spots in this book I had walked past without noticing, and a few I had no idea existed. James organizes by category in a way that maps to how Cuencanos actually eat. The bilingual layout is a nice touch for sharing recommendations with friends. Worth it whether you’re new to the city or have been here a while.
A must read for “Foodies” and “Language Learners”
“Cuenca Eats” is easily one of the most thorough and well-crafted guides to traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. The fact that it’s written in both Spanish and English makes it a double win—it’s an incredible resource for anyone looking to practice their Spanish while exploring the local food The level of detail is impressive. The author doesn’t just explain the dishes; he recommends specific restaurants to ensure you’re getting an authentic experience. Whether you’re a local, an expat, or just visiting, this book is a must-have.
Good food + cultural context = Delicious
I have lived in Cuenca for more than three years and learned more in this book than in all my own gastronomic experiences because the author writes not just about the food, but about that food’s place in the history, culture, and daily life of Cuencanos. It takes a deep curiosity to unearth those insights, and the author wove them into an interesting, easy-to-digest (pun intended) literary snack.
Delightful at multiple levels
What a delightful book. This is more than a food guide; it also provides insight into the people and culture of Cuenca and Ecuador. Having lived abroad many years (including Latin America), I do not know many expats who have “worn local clothes,” ie, really integrated into the local scene and gotten to know the people, speak their language, and dive into their culture (and food). The English/Spanish simultaneous reading is helpful to those of either language, and makes it even more interesting to those who speak both. But back to the food: this is a foodie’s delight. Bravo!
Sobre el autor: James Li
Dr. Li es médico de emergencias y profesor asistente jubilado de medicina en la Facultad de Medicina de Harvard.
Pasó gran parte de su vida viajando y trabajando en el mundo en desarrollo y en las regiones silvestres de América del Norte. Después de años de escribir para revistas médicas, ahora escribe y produce música por diversión y cuenta entre sus pasatiempos favoritos algo que su esposa llama “puttering sin presión”.
Su música se lanza bajo el nombre del artista, Cipherdash, y se puede encontrar en los principales servicios de transmisión. Escuchar su música en streaming es gratis. Quienes deseen apoyar su trabajo pueden comprar sus álbumes en echointhewires.com.
Aquí disfruta de una taza de leche de cabra recién exprimida en la Feria Libre.
What’s Inside | Lo que encontrarás
Part 1: The Big Food Picture – cultural insights, markets, food types, and customs
Primera parte: El Gran Panorama Gastronómico – cultura, mercados, comidas y costumbres
Part 2: Restaurant Reviews – street food, almuerzos, breakfasts, seafood, vegetarian spots, and special occasions
Segunda parte: Reseñas de Restaurantes – comida callejera, almuerzos, desayunos, mariscos, lugares vegetarianos y ocasiones especiales
Chapters dedicated to drinks, desserts, fruits, and vegetarian options
Capítulos dedicados a bebidas, postres, frutas y opciones vegetarianas
Two Languages, One Shared Table | Dos idiomas, una misma mesa
Every page is bilingual—English in black, Spanish in green italics.
Cada página es bilingüe—inglés en negro, español en cursiva verde.
Perfect for expats, locals, travelers, and Spanish learners alike.
Perfecto para extranjeros, locales, viajeros y estudiantes de español por igual.
Discover the Real Taste of Cuenca | Descubre el verdadero sabor de Cuenca
Cuenca became South America’s first World Food Capital in 2024—but locals have known the truth for generations.
Cuenca fue nombrada la primera “Capital Culinaria del Mundo” en América del Sur en 2024, pero los cuencanos lo sabían desde hace generaciones.
This is not just a restaurant guide. It’s an invitation to wander, taste, and understand the city one meal at a time.
Este no es solo un libro de reseñas. Es una invitación a deambular, saborear y conocer la ciudad, una comida a la vez.
Send a message | Enviar un mensaje
