The Qanela restaurant is located in the heart of Urubamba just two blocks from the Main Square. Brainchild of Yudy Calderon, the idea behind Qanela is to offer simple dishes made with locally sourced Andean ingredients so visitors to the region can enjoy and try the incredible variety of produce from the region.
The Qanela restaurant is a good option for a laid-back lunch or dinner in a casual setting. This is a family business run by Yudy, her daughter Mariela and her sister Ana Maria and as such has a nice family feel. They source their ingredients from the local communities and sell weavings from a nearby womens cooperative.
For starters, share the tasty native Andean potatoes served with traditional ocopa, rocoto and uchucuta sauces or the refreshing vegetarian option of mushroom ceviche marinated in yellow pepper.
Our favourite mains included tenderloin medallions in a three mushroom sauce. The meat was tender and cooked to perfection and the locally sourced mushrooms in the sauce gave the dish a lovely earthy flavour. This dish is served with a traditional quinoa ‘pesque’ which is like a risotto made from quinoa with cheese and milk.
The Andean trout in caper sauce is also a nice option if you want to try the local Andean farmed trout which is delicious. If you’re looking for a heavier option the chicken breast stuffed with camembert cheese and served with mashed potatoes looked great!
Without a doubt this is one of the best restaurant options in Urubamba for desserts. Don’t miss the incredible ‘tarte tatin’, slices of carmalized stewed apple on a sponge base made with Yudy’s grandmothers’ recipe. This melt in the mouth dessert is served with ice-cream and is a nice sweet end to your meal! The Bailey’s chocolate mousse with almond praline is also divine…
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- We recommend Qanela if you are looking for a simple, laid-back meal that is freshly made with all local Andean ingredients.