El Inca Plebeyo, located in Islington, offers a vibrant fusion of traditional Ecuadorian cuisine with contemporary touches. This family-run restaurant opened in 2015 and is helmed by Chef Jorge Pacheco, born in Loja, Ecuador, with experience training in a Michelin-starred London kitchen.
Inside, the space is cosy and eclectic, featuring a tiled bar, exposed brick walls and hanging rattan lights. Ecuadorian influences abound, with woven table materials, traditional hats and guitars adorning the walls, creating an inviting and authentic atmosphere.
The El Inca Plebeyo menu runs all day long, serving bottomless brunch, lunch, dinner, as well as late-night options. The menu showcases fresh, bold flavours with dishes such as sea bass ceviche marinated in tiger’s milk, prawn and scallop ceviches and hot starters like tamal - corn dough filled with pork and steamed with coriander sauce - and ripe plantain with homemade cheese and truffle oil.
For mains, enjoy options like barbecue beef ribs with potato purée, whole grilled baby chicken marinated in yellow chilli with sweet potatoes and house chimichurri, and steamed sea bass stew with coconut cream and mixed peppers. Sides include cassava fries, panko-coated mushrooms and steamed broccoli.
The dessert menu at El Inca Plebeyo features unique creations such as quinoa pudding with caramelised sugar, coconut and vanilla ice cream, chilli chocolate fondant, and morochos - white corn cooked with golden raisins and royal cacao. To drink, signature cocktails are the place to start. The 'Pano Qusa', for instance, takes inspiration from the story of Tena and Pano (a brave indigenous warrior), offering up a blend of white rum, fresh mint, lime, and prosecco.
Ideal for birthdays, dates, casual meet-ups, and celebratory brunches, El Inca Playa offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Dog-friendly and child-friendly, this lively spot blends Ecuadorian flavours with a relaxed London vibe interpreted through a more modern lens.