Salón Tres Estrellas
A family-run restaurant founded in 1952; the freshly roasted guinea pig takes an hour to prepare, making it a classic choice for cuy in Cuenca.
Opened in 1952, this family-run restaurant is located on the eastern stretch of Calle Larga, not far from the Pumapungo Museum (Museo de la Banco Central). The signature dish is freshly roasted whole guinea pig (cuy), which takes at least an hour to roast and is served with spiced potatoes, rice, and vegetables. Diners suggest calling ahead to order or ordering as soon as you sit down; alternatively, you can visit the museum first and return to eat. It can be paired with mote pillo (scrambled eggs with hominy), and the beef tenderloin is also recommended. It has a Google rating of 4.6 with over a thousand reviews. The average spend is about 10 to 30 USD. It is only open until the afternoon on Sundays, and Monday hours vary by source, so please call to confirm before heading out.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 12:00–22:30; Sun 12:00–16:30; Mon hours vary, confirmation required
Nearby sights
- Todos Santos Ruins & Museo Manuel Agustín Landívar
- Museo Pumapungo & Inca Ruins
- Puente Roto & Tomebamba River (El Barranco)
- Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes
- Church of San Blas
- Museo de las Conceptas
- Museo Remigio Crespo Toral
- Old Cathedral (El Sagrario)