Serving authentic Ecuadorian food in Elephant and Castle, Costa Azul is a small restaurant based in a converted railway arch. The relaxed ambience of the space make it a brilliant spot to visit with friends and family alike, regardless of the occasion, but one thing that’s guaranteed at Costa Azul is that you’ll be tasting Latin American food which packs a punch. In an area of London where there are a number of other South American restaurants to compete with, Costa Azul holds it ground as a spot that’s particularly worth a visit.
The restaurant looks pretty stylish from the outside, conforming to the London trend of setting up base in a curved railway arch. However once you head inside, there’s a feel of hustle and bustle to Costa Azul with lots of café-like tables squeezed into the space and a bar sitting at the far end. The eager staff are on hand to help you with the menu which is written entirely in Spanish.
When it comes to food, the short but sweet menu encompasses most staple Ecuadorian dishes as well as some more general South American classics. Dishes vary from fish soup(sancocho de pescado) or crab and coconut soup (sopas de cangrejo ) all the way through to roast chicken and pork. On top of this there are further tempting meaty dishes such as carne asada, where beef is grilled in a marinade and given a good amount of char before being thinly sliced. Costa Azul’s chuleta de cerdo is also a favourite, and sees a beautiful pork chop cooked in spices. The generous portions mean that regardless of what you choose from the menu, you will leave feeling stuffed.
The food is accompanied by a variety of different beers, alongside the standard drink offerings including a selection of soft drinks too.