Costa Azul

Ecuadorian restaurant · Elephant and Castle

Costa Azul

Ecuadorian restaurant · Elephant and Castle

102A Rockingham St, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6PG, United Kingdom

Highlights

A menu featuring traditional Ecuadorian small plates, platters & drinks in an easygoing setting.

102A Rockingham St, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6PG, United Kingdom Get directions

@costa_azulelephant

@infatuation

"Like lots of restaurants in Elephant and Castle, you’ll find Costa Azul under a railway bridge. Once inside the Ecuadorian spot, you’ll find a low-lit and a DJ Dash-soundtracked (Salsa Sensual, Vol 1) room full of steaming hot bowls of parihuela. Said seafood stew is a generous thing—rings of squid, prawns, moist and flaky tilapia—all in a salty, nourishing broth. At just over £20, it’s a hearty portion for one. The lunchtime crowd is a happy mix of South American locals, delivery drivers in need of recharging, and gluttonous singletons but it’s worth coming by on the weekend too when Costa Azul’s specials (including ceviche) are on the menu." - jake missing, sinead cranna

The 15 Best Restaurants In Elephant And Castle

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@infatuation

"Like lots of restaurants in Elephant and Castle, you’ll find Costa Azul under a railway bridge. The Ecuadorian spot is out on its own in a secluded arch on Rockingham Street, but once inside you’ll find a low-lit and a DJ Dash (Salsa Sensual, Vol 1)-soundtracked room full of steaming hot bowls of parihuela. Said seafood stew is a generous thing—rings of squid, prawns, moist and flaky tilapia—all in a salty, nourishing broth. At just over £20, it’s a hearty portion for one. Or, as many families and stern solo diners with a serious appetite do, happily combine with a plate of strip steak, eggs, plantain, and rice. The lunchtime crowd is a happy mix of South American locals, delivery drivers in need of recharging, and gluttonous singletons. But it’s worth coming by on the weekend too when Costa Azul’s weekend-only specials (including ceviche) are on the menu. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Jake Missing

Costa Azul - Review - Elephant and Castle - London - The Infatuation

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@eater

"Costa Azul is one of the few Latin American restaurants in Elephant and Castle to specialise in Ecuadorian food, very much with a coastal bias. It’s the seafood that brings groups of people here every Thursday — Sunday evening: in soup, in stews, in rice, grilled, boiled, fried, in ceviche. Specifics: encocado mixto is a coconut rich stew of prawns, squids and mussels on rice; a super arroz marinero is essentially the same again, but mixed in with wet rice to a slightly-drier-than-risotto consistency with a side of sea bass fillet, breaded prawns and crab claws." - Adam Coghlan, James Hansen, Jonathan Nunn

London’s Best Seafood | Best Fish and Oyster Restaurants in London - Eater London

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DR Rahm

Google

When I looked at the list menu, it seems like the foods are overprice, but actually it's worth the price! I ordered the seafood fried rice, it's tasty! I haven't found any other restaurant where I can have seafood fried rice with satisfying piece of prawn, squid, octopus, etc. The portion also big so I can take away some foods left. Staffs are helpful and friendly. No wonder I saw a lot of people come to the restaurant.

Nikko

Google

The place was packed when I visited on Sunday at 1. I got served very promptly. I was recommended the fried prawns as starter and encebollado for main. Both were great. The encebollado had tons of tuna.

D. W.

Google

Visited in July 2024. I’d marked this place on my map as one of the numerous South American restaurants in Elephant & Castle to try (drawn from various lists online) and it didn’t disappoint. The clientele was almost exclusively Spanish speaking, which was a good sign. Pro tip - on a Friday you can get a fresh whole crab soup (a thick, creamy seafood infused soup with onion and cassava) at a very reasonable price. You’ll be provided with a board and crab mallet, which is fairly intuitive to use (just be strategic in your bashing or you’ll have shards of shell everywhere). I also had a salchipapa (sliced fried sausage on chips) which was probably superfluous after the soup. Beverage wise, I opted for a freshly blended lulo/Naranjilla juice. Some of the export beers were unavailable, but I hope to try these in future.

Kelly Kelly

Google

The food we ordered was great! I highly suggest ‘Menestra’ for those meat lovers out there!! However, Saturdays are really busy and we did have to wait a while to get waiters attention. I recommend to come before peak times 👌

Marty Smith

Google

Great Ecuadorian food experience. Buzzy busy family atmosphere and generous hearty food at a good price. I came here for my birthday and had a very good experience. Would recommend booking in advance, especially on weekends which are extra busy as they serve special dishes.

Jackie Tapia

Google

I went here the other day with my husband and ordered some food. The food had a great appearance but the moment we took a bite it barley had any flavour. It was like eating cardboard. If they want to improve I suggest to change chefs

Khwezi K

Google

This place is a vibe!!! Went on a Friday night, don't know if there's karaoke every Friday or not but there was when I went with a dedicated singer. However the mic did get passed around and there were English songs to select too. But I went there mainly as I heard great things about their seafood. And indeed it did not disappoint; I got the pescondo freitas??? May have butchered that but it was fried/grilled whole tilapia. So fresh, so yummy with generous helpings. My friends all went for the mixed seafood platter that had prawns, squid, mussels and king prawns, which i sampled too and that was gorgeous. They do do steak and chicken if you don't like seafood but honestly just went there for the seafood. I couldn't finish mine but they plated it up for me beautifully in a take away container (with a £1 charge for the container). Will definitely go again as i saw a crab dish i want to try.

Cassie L

Google

A lovely little place tucked under one of the arches. Lots of customers inside speaking Spanish so that was a good sign already. The food was SO GOOD and generous sized portions, and the decor and music added a great vibe.