FAQ
Your questions
Looking for an Ecuadorian restaurant in Montreal, a Latin bar, fresh ceviche, homemade empanadas, soups and grilled meats, halal cuisine with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options? Here are the answers to the questions we get asked most often.
Where can you find the best ceviche in Montreal?
At Kawsay, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Our Ceviche Jipijapa — shrimp, squid, mussels and white fish marinated in lime, served with homemade chifles and salprieta — is our signature dish, alongside the mahi-mahi ceviche. All our ceviches are made to order, just like on the Ecuadorian coast.
Where to eat the best empanadas in Montreal?
Our empanadas de verde are made in-house with green plantain, then filled with melted cheese or finely diced shrimp. Crispy, golden and served with cilantro aioli, they are on both the dinner and brunch menus.
Is Kawsay a halal restaurant?
Yes. All the meat served at Kawsay is halal. We are proud to offer authentic Ecuadorian cuisine that everyone can enjoy.
Are there gluten-free options?
Yes. Much of Ecuadorian cuisine is naturally gluten-free, since it is built on yuca, plantain and corn: ceviches, yuca muchín, tonga, choclo asado and several main dishes. Please tell your server about any allergy or food intolerance.
Are there vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. The menu includes vegetarian dishes (cheese empanada de verde, yuca muchín, choclo asado, maduro asado, Montuvia salad, vegetarian Moroclo) and vegan options prepared on request — just ask your server.
What is Ecuadorian cuisine?
A cuisine of two worlds: the coast (ceviches, green plantain, peanuts, seafood, encebollado) and the Andes (corn, potatoes, locro de papa, canelazo). At Kawsay, these traditional recipes are reinterpreted with a contemporary touch and local Quebec ingredients.
Is Kawsay the only Ecuadorian restaurant in Montreal?
Kawsay is one of the very few Ecuadorian restaurants in Montreal and the ceviche and empanada specialist on the Plateau-Mont-Royal. Food, Andean cocktails, Latin brunch and cultural events: all of Ecuador in one place.
Where is Kawsay and how do I get there?
At 3723 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, on the Plateau-Mont-Royal, a few minutes’ walk from the Sherbrooke and Saint-Laurent metro stations. Street parking nearby.
What are the opening hours?
Dinner: Wednesday to Friday from 5 to 11 pm, Saturday from 5 to 10 pm. Latin brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Hours may vary during special events — check our Google page or Instagram.
How do I book a table at Kawsay?
Online with our “Book a Table” button (Libro reservations), by phone at 438 817-8479, or in person. Reservations are recommended on Fridays and Saturdays.
Do you take groups and private events?
Yes. Kawsay welcomes groups, celebrations and private events (corporate evenings, birthdays, launches). Write to us through the Contact page to plan your event.
What is Kawsay’s Latin brunch?
Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm: bolones, tigrillo, llapingachos, encebollado, empanadas, pancakes, Ecuadorian fruit juices (maracuyá, naranjilla, blackberry), signature lattes and Ecuadorian michelada.
What is the difference between Ecuadorian and Peruvian ceviche?
Peruvian ceviche is served “dry”, with its leche de tigre, corn and sweet potato. Ecuadorian ceviche is served juicy in its lime, tomato and orange marinade, with chifles (crispy plantain), popcorn and salprieta. More generous, fresher, more indulgent: for many, Ecuadorian ceviche is simply the best ceviche there is — come and compare at Kawsay in Montreal.
Is Kawsay a Latin bar in Montreal?
Yes. Kawsay is both a restaurant and a Latin bar on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the Plateau-Mont-Royal: signature Andean cocktails, pisco, beer and wine, Ecuadorian fruit juices, and a Latin music vibe — salsa, cumbia, reggaeton. The ideal spot for a Latin happy hour, a night out with friends or a party.
Looking for a Latin restaurant in Montreal?
Kawsay is an authentic Latin American restaurant in the heart of Montreal, specializing in Ecuadorian cuisine: ceviche, empanadas, soups, grilled meats, Latin brunch and cocktails. Steps from the Quartier des spectacles and the Latin Quarter, it’s the place to discover the flavours of South America.
Do you serve Latin soups?
Soups are at the heart of Ecuadorian cuisine. On the menu: encebollado (tuna, yuca and pickled red onion soup — the national dish), caldo de bolas (broth with stuffed green plantain dumplings) and locro de papa (potato soup with cheese and avocado). At brunch, you’ll also find guatita.
Do you have dishes with beans (frejoles) and lentils?
Yes. Our grilled meats and fish are served with menestra — the typical stew of legumes from the Ecuadorian coast (lentils or frejoles beans) — or moro (rice with lentils), with roasted plantain. It’s the comfort of Manabí home cooking.
Do you serve grilled meats?
Yes: grilled rack of lamb with chimichurri, grilled tuna steak, duck breast, pork tonga and Manabí-style chicken seco. All our meat is halal and grilled to order, served with rice, menestra or moro and roasted plantain. A true Ecuadorian-style parrilla on the Plateau.
Which sauces (salsas) come with your dishes?
Everything is homemade: ají criollo (our cilantro hot sauce), salprieta from Manabí (peanut, toasted corn and annatto), chimichurri, cilantro aioli for the empanadas and roasted red chili honey. Ask for your favourite salsa at the table!
Can Kawsay be booked as a reception venue for corporate events?
Yes. Kawsay can be privatized as a reception venue in Montreal for your corporate events: company happy hour, office party, product launch, team dinner or private reception. Group menu, Ecuadorian bites, cocktail bar and Latin music, right in the Plateau-Mont-Royal. Write to us via the Contact page or call 438 817-8479 for a quote.