This is certainly no place for anyone on a low carb diet. I´ve had meals, and not a few, where I´ve been served rice, bread and potatoes on the same plate. The food in Ecuador is...well, bland. We´d celebrate if there was pepper on the table. But, it is filling and very cheap. I ate lunch almost everyday at the same restaurant - Cafe Libra - Soup, meat with rice, dessert and juice for 2 USD. 
My best meal by far though was at an Argentenian restaurant in Quito - Mi Viejo Arrabel. If you´re ever in Quito, you must eat here. Filet mignon with a grande cerveza for 12 USD.
In Peru, I´ve been eating at tourist places almost everyday and eating a lot of spaghetti. Seems to be their national dish.
The most unusual thing that I´ve eaten would be Quy - Guinea Pig, which actually is the national meal in Ecuador and seems quite popular in Peru, as well. It´s also quite expensive. They put it on a spit whole and roast it up. Can´t say it was the most delicious thing I´ve ever eaten, but it wasn´t too bad. The only problem was getting to the meat. There´s lots of bones and very little meat and the skin is as tough as rubber. I had to toss a coin with my eating partner to see who got the brain and unfortunately I won. They say the brain is the best part but I wouldn´t agree. The only way to get the brain out is to hold the head up to your mouth and suck it out. Yummy!
