Iche

San Vicente, Ecuador

In Ecuador’s Manabí province, this pioneering restaurant is part of a larger project: a laboratory, culinary school and incubator for new ideas, set up in the wake of the earthquake in 2016. Its focus is the region’s extraordinary cuisine and cultural heritage, with a menu that’s rooted in Manabite flavours and know-how (cooking on a wood-fired clay comal, say, or grinding spices by hand). Look out for classic dishes like the viche de guariche, a red mangrove crab stew, and homemade seasonings like sal prieta, made with native corn. While the kitchen respects the old ways, it isn’t afraid to innovate, whether it’s topping a carpaccio with salsa ice cream or creating a beach-inspired ceviche, with clam and watermelon. The rural hilltop setting is magical, with distant views of the Pacific – well worth the potholes you’ll encounter on the way.

Key Information

• Average price per person $38
• Tasting menu from $45
• Lunch: Thurs – Sun Dinner: Weds– Sat
• Visit Iche's Website

Location

San Vicente y Via San Isidro Km 4, San Vicente, Manabí, 131102