After noticing a demand for authentic Latin American cuisine in Vermont, Alberto Alejandro Castro Guaman opened an Ecuadorian restaurant at 476 Main Street in Winooski last November. Castro Guaman, 38, said the menu at Sabor Ecuatoriano — also called Sabor 593 — is small but highlights some of Ecuador’s most popular dishes.
Castro Guaman is from Bucay, Ecuador, a small town in the coastal province of Guayas. Before he opened Sabor Ecuatoriano, he said, he often cooked for his friends from various Central and South American countries. They encouraged him to launch the restaurant.
“There are many Hispanic people here that like [Ecuador’s] food,” he said in Spanish. By dishing out Ecuadorian stews, salads and comfort foods for lunch and dinner, Castro Guaman said, he wants to serve Vermont’s Latin American community and expand Ecuadorian representation in the local restaurant scene.
Diners can choose among traditional stews such as encebollado (made with seafood) and guatita (a tripe specialty); and lighter dishes such as shrimp ceviche. Another popular item is papipollo, or fried chicken served with fried potatoes, salad and herbed mayonnaise. Beverage options include creamy and tangy drinks made with mango or soursop, another tropical fruit.
Castro Guaman said he hopes to add more menu items in the future. The restaurant will have a bar by the end of July, he said, and offer karaoke on weekends. Find updates and current hours on Facebook.
This article appears in The Cartoon Issue • 2026.
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