La Cafetería 593 — Restaurant in Houston

The cafe is located inside a business office building, second floor, just FYI. Now for the review, the food was just ok, we ordered the flag “La Bandera” which has a little bit of everything. The “Guatita” needed a bit more nut flavor (too watery). The shrimp ceviche although the server said it was nice and cold turned out to be room temperature. The “Fritada” plate was just Ok. It was evident by our table and other that food was coming out before the drinks (needs improvement). Deception came about when asked for more ice the manager/owner came out and said “can I owe you, don’t have much”. Not sure if this establishment has a full kitchen or just warmers as it is located inside a suite of an office building. At the end, service needs to improve to pass drinks right away (like 99.99% of eateries) and to have sufficient bags of ice. May give them a second chance after a couple months. Finally the “pan de yuca” is nothing to rave about. Definitely not as fresh as NATURISIMO in Miami or Ecuador , it had way too much baking powder. This is Houston - never...

Finding this restaurant was a bit of an adventure—it's not apparent from the outside. But once you enter the building, take the elevator to the second floor, make a left, and you can’t miss it.

As soon as we walked in, we were seated right away, and the enchanting aroma of Ecuadorian food filled the air, drawing us in.

I ordered the Hornado, and my partner had the Ceviche de Camarón. The Hornado was beautifully plated—succulent, slow-roasted pork, glistening with crispy edges, laid over a bed of hominy. Golden, caramelized plantains and crispy potato cakes added a rich, comforting contrast. A fresh salad of crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onions brightened the plate, with creamy avocado tucked on the side. Every bite looked as good as it tasted.

My partner loved her ceviche and finished every last bite, a testament to its freshness and flavor.

If you're looking for an authentic Ecuadorian experience or craving a taste of home, this hidden gem is...

Yo soy un gringo married to an Ecuadorian. We're always searching Houston for Ecuadorian food to fill the void her mom leaves when her parents heads back to Ecuador, and we finally found it! Everything was delicious! We tried el ceviche, el encebollado, la frita, la menestra con carne, y el tigrillo, and it was all exactly as I know it from mi suegra or my couple trips to Ecuador. My wife and all her siblings agreed and also loved everything! The nicest owners and staff, and the experience was very cool! A couple commentors seem put-off by the fact it was on the second floor of an office building. My take: none of the photos from the owners try to hide the fact, and it's a one-of-a-kind food experience in the city, which is nearly impossible to say in Houston. It felt like being invited over for dinner and a lunch meeting all in one!

Again, food was fantastic! You won't be...