Costa Azul

I had previously visited a different Costa Azul branch back in 2020 and unfortunately had a poor experience one that put me off the brand entirely for years. However, a friend recently recommended I try the Elephant and Castle branch, assuring me it was a completely different experience. I must admit, I was hesitant, but I’m genuinely glad I gave it another chance. This branch exceeded all expectations. It’s a cosy Ecuadorian restaurant, and although we visited on a busy Saturday without a reservation, we were seated immediately no waiting, which was a pleasant surprise. I ordered the Carne en Palito con Maduro Frito (grilled beef served with yellow fried plantain and salad). The portion size was just right for me as I have a small appetite. The beef was cooked to perfection, medium rare, just as I like it. The salad was fresh, and the fried plantain was golden and delicious exactly how it should be. My friend had the Arroz Chaufa Mixto, a special fried rice dish with soy sauce, mixed seafood, chunks of beef, red peppers and peas. He absolutely loved it. The flavours were fresh, vibrant, and the portion was generous enough to take half home! For drinks, my friend chose the Maracuyá (passion fruit) natural juice, which was refreshing and flavourful. I asked for a still lemonade, as I can’t have fizzy or carbonated drinks for health reasons, and the team kindly accommodated my request with no issue. It’s the kind of attention to detail that makes a real difference. This visit has genuinely changed my perception of Costa Azul as a brand. I’m proud to leave this review and highly recommend the Elephant & Castle branch. I sincerely hope the other locations follow the excellent standard set here.

It was my first time visiting this restaurant and I will certainly be back. The food is of a high quality, and the portion size is fantastic. If you have not tried Ecuadorian food before, I would highly recommend that you give it a try as they have options on the menu for everybody. Latin American food at its finest! I visited on a Saturday afternoon, and it was quite busy, which is always a good sign. I liked the atmosphere and service was great and we did not have to wait too long for our meals etc.

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.

Best fish I’ve ever had!

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.

The cuisine was extremely mediocre. The Ecuadorian dishes lacked character—both the meat and chicken were dry, and the gambas were mostly unseasoned. Side dishes were bland at best, offering little to elevate the meal. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly loud. While this might appeal to those looking for a lively karaoke night, it's certainly not the place for anyone hoping to enjoy a conversation. This should be clearly stated in advance to manage expectations. On a more positive note, the portions were very generous, and the staff was friendly and attentive.

This place was an absolute vibe! Between the live music, DJing, and karaoke, the energy was incredible. It was amazing to see everyone getting up to dance and sing—it really made the experience so much more fun and lively. The food? Top tier. The portions were BIG, which was a huge plus. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. If you’re looking for great food and an even better atmosphere, this is definitely the place to be!

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.

Delicious Latin American food, very good prices and no service charge. It might be a little hard to find but it is totally worth persisting until you get there. They have a lunch menu with different options which changes daily. The food is freshly prepared there for you and the portions are generous.

If you look down the road you'd never guess this place was down here. (Its not the same place as the picture on yelp) It's a local haunt for latinos who often go there and get 1 menu of the day to share between two because the portion sizes are so enormous! So it's no glamour whatsoever and CASH ONLY. If you order straight from the menu dishes are about £13-£20 BUT you won't be disappointed as you get a massive amount of food & it all tastes good. Generally meat/fish with rice, salad, chips. The trick however is to ask the Waitress what the menu of the day is - you'll have an option for starter and an option for main plus you'll get a drink and it's all for £9. Now if you're a BIG eater then that may be good for you, but otherwise do it Latino style and just get 1 menu of the day to share & that turns into a lunch meal of £4,50 each for 2ppl. & that's what I call affordable!