A taste of Costa Rica: authentic food and culinary adventures

Costa Rica is best known for its nature and wildlife, but what about its food? This tropical country between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts takes breaths away with its lush jungles, gorgeous beaches, and sense of adventure. Still, foodies will find a delicious menu of Costa Rican dishes that will tantalize their taste buds and take them on a culinary journey full of explosive flavors. Prepare for a mouthwatering experience as we dive into the food and drink of Costa Rica!

The best food and drink in Costa Rica

What makes Costa Rican food stand out? The country’s generally hearty, mild dishes consist mainly of beans and rice, present in every traditional meal. Fish and seafood are at the top of the menu, while vegetarian dishes often include plantains and cassava, a root also known as the tropical potato.

Costa Rica‘s cuisine is characterized by fresh, readily available ingredients that are inexpensive and nutritious, and its signature dishes reflect the country’s culture and influences. When you visit the Caribbean coast, you will notice Jamaican influences reflected in the food, alongside an incorporation of Spanish and Indigenous traditions.

Snack bars, known locally as sodas, are very popular and offer simple, freshly prepared dishes like casado, burgers, and sometimes desserts – they are therefore ideal places for a break on your tour. Here, we run through some of the best local dishes to try as you explore the country far and wide.

Gallo pinto: a national dish for breakfast

Roughly translating to ‘colorful rooster’, gallo pinto is considered the national dish of Costa Rica and is mainly eaten for breakfast. It is made of rice, red or black beans, cilantro, peppers, garlic and onions, and is often served with scrambled or fried eggs and plantains. With this hearty, nutritious breakfast, you are guaranteed to be strengthened for a day of activities and adventures. An important ingredient in gallo pinto is salsa Lizano, a popular sauce made from vegetables and Creole spices. It smells spicy and has a sweet and sour taste, and has been produced by the Lizano family in Alajuela since 1920.

Casado: a lunch platter full of flavor

Also considered a national dish, casado is probably Costa Rica’s most traditional lunch. It was given its unique name, which translates to ‘married man’, as women would prepare this dish for their husbands to bring to work. It consists of meat, chicken or fish, and the usual serving of rice, alongside black beans, plantains, vegetables and salad. This balanced composition can vary so that, for example, pasta salad or French fries are sometimes eaten with it. These ingredients are both plentiful and readily available, making Casado an inexpensive and filling meal.

Ceviche tico: Costa Rica’s fresh seafood

You’re probably already familiar with ceviche. This dish, which originated in Peru, has long been found on European menus. However, ceviche tico is a Costa Rican version of which there are several variations. It consists of crab or raw fish such as tilapia or corvina in a marinade of lime juice, chili, coriander, garlic, onion and black pepper. Ceviche tico is a fresh, simple dish served with tortilla chips, plantains or crackers, and as with casado, it uses inexpensive ingredients.

Addictive snacks: patacones and chifrijo

In Costa Rica, you’ll find plenty of options to satiate your hunger between meals. Patacones, twice-fried plantain slices, are particularly popular. They consist of unripe, green plantains, sliced and flattened then fried and salted. They are served with a form of garlic sauce known as mojo de ajo. Patacones are eaten as a snack (with or without toppings) or as an accompaniment to other dishes.

Meanwhile, chifrijo is a unique Costa Rican dish whose name combines its two main ingredients: chicharrones (fried pork rinds) and frijoles (black or red beans). It also contains rice, seasoned tomatoes, pico de gallo, and tortilla chips arranged in a bowl. It gained popularity back in the 1990s when its creator, Miguel Ángel Cordero Araya offered them as a snack in his bar in San José. Today, you can find them just about everywhere in Costa Rica.

Desserts and sweets: tres leches, bienmesabe and more

Sweets and desserts are a must-try on any foodie trip, and one to Costa Rica is no exception. On a hot day at the beach, treat yourself to a cooling granizado, refreshing shaved ice topped with syrup, condensed milk, and fresh fruit. If you’d prefer something a little creamier, try atol de naranja, an orange pudding with freshly squeezed orange juice, brown sugar, butter, and freshly grated orange. The whole thing is garnished with mint and cinnamon sticks to give the pudding some depth. Easy to pick up and carry around while sightseeing, empanadas with fruit filling are also particularly tempting bite-sized treats.

If you go weak in the knees for cake, then you won’t be disappointed by a slice of tres leches. This moist, baked delicacy consists of sponge cake and three types of milk, which are completely absorbed as the cake sits in the fridge. This dessert is another national dish of Costa Rica, and is sometimes compared to the Italian tiramisu.

If you love rice pudding, ask for arroz con leche, which is flavored with cinnamon, cloves and sometimes lemon leaves. Some families also make this popular rice pudding with mashed rice. It’s a delicious, comforting dessert to enjoy with a Costa Rican twist! Meanwhile, bienmesabe is a Spanish dish, said to be of Arabic origin and very popular in the Canary Islands, but also savored by Costa Ricans. It consists of ground almonds, honey, egg yolks, sugar syrup, cinnamon and grated lemon, and is often served with ice cream or cat’s tongue to round it out.

Costa Rican drinks: coffee, fresco de frutas and agua de sapo

Now that you’ve satisfied your hunger, it’s time to explore Costa Rica’s drink offerings. Beer is very popular and you’ll find the local variant, chicha, at festivals and in the countryside (a non-alcoholic version is available, too). It was drunk by the Incas, so as you enjoy its rich flavors, you’ll feel like you’re having a taste of Costa Rican history. Rum and especially guaro, both made from sugar cane, are also popular. The latter is the Costa Rican version of Brazilian cachaça, and is enjoyed both neat and in the form of cocktails such as Miguelito, Guaro Sour, Coco Loco and Pura Vida.

The rich variety of fruit available in Costa Rica means that fresh juice is a must-try. Just about everywhere you wander, you’ll come across stalls selling freshly squeezed juice from mango, pineapple, papaya, soursop, passion fruit, melon, guava and more. If you enjoy richer smoothies and shakes, you’ll want to try batidos, a drink made with fruit and water or milk, or fresco de frutas, made with a mix of fruit juice, water, syrup and ice. For a lighter and very local experience, you could otherwise quench your thirst with pipa fria (coconut water). And, when browsing the drinks menu in Costa Rica, don’t be put off by the name agua de sapo (frog water): this refreshing, traditional drink originated in Puerto Limón on the country’s Caribbean coast, and is made with water, ginger, lime, sugar cane and cinnamon.

Of course, the country has more to offer than just its cold drinks: heavily sweetened Arabica coffee with milk is a delightful indulgence for both travelers and locals to enjoy. Coffee has been grown on volcanic soil in Costa Rica since the 18th century; it is considered highland coffee since it grows at an altitude of at least 1,600 m, and its cultivation is protected. You will notice that this coffee tastes mild and spicy, even nutty, due to its slow ripening.

Culinary festivals and events in Costa Rica

Experience the pura vida lifestyle at one of the many festivals in Costa Rica! Food plays an important role across these, and gives special insight into the different culinary influences that have prevailed here. You’ll find all manner of regional ingredients and traditional dishes offered in abundance, ripe and ready for you to dig into – we’d recommend chatting to our experts in Costa Rica for tips on the best time to travel, if you want to experience one of these festivals for yourself.

The best food festivals in Costa Rica

In mid-March, the Festival de la Fruta takes place in Orotina, where you can sample the best fruits and vegetables in Costa Rica. Aside from sinking your teeth into fresh fruit, you can take cooking classes to learn how to prepare delicious dishes; other features include a market, workshops, music, and horseback riding parades. In November, coffee fans should head to the Harvest Coffee Fair in Frailes, where you can sample delicious brews as well as soak up the cultural atmosphere, filled with traditional dance and music.

Barbecue lovers will be in good hands at the BBQ Fest in Pedregal, where you can watch grill masters as they marinate and smoke local meats. Meanwhile, the Food Fest Costa Rica brims with food trucks offering both traditional and international dishes. Another unique option to explore is the Tamal Festival in Aserrí, which is all about traditional tamales – parcels made of corn dough, wrapped in banana leaves and filled with ingredients such as meat and cheese. Lastly, if seafood is more your thing, travel in December and visit the Ceviche Festival in Puntarenas, to enjoy different variations of this national dish and taste the freshness of its ingredients.

Other festivals in Costa Rica for food lovers

The year kicks off with one of the most exciting and highly anticipated festivals, Las Fiestas Palmares. This two-week spectacle begins with a soccer match and lantern parade, but it is best known for music, dancing, bullfighting (don’t worry: the animals are not harmed) and food. Apparently, so much beer is sold during this time that it’s almost Oktoberfest! It’s peppered with stands and food trucks, selling delicious dishes from sweet to savory.

Music is also on the agenda at the Envision Festival in February/March. The focus on spirituality and connection with nature makes this unique celebration very special. It hosts yoga, wellness and sacred ceremonies that conjure up an almost-magical atmosphere, and a selection of local organic food is available for your enjoyment. Meanwhile, at the ever-growing Festival Internacional de las Artes (FIA – the Festival of the Arts), visitors can combine their love for music, art and traditional local food. If you want to experience it, you’ll have to choose your travel dates carefully as it only takes place every two years in July.

The second half of the year sees the Limón Carnival take place, paying homage to the Afro-Caribbean side of Costa Rica. In October, the town of Limón on the south Caribbean coast hosts exuberant parades, Caribbean rhythms that invite you to dance, and tasty Caribbean food (of course!). Immerse yourself in this unique culture and celebrate the sheer diversity of Costa Rica!

Make it happen

To explore this fascinating world of food and drink in Costa Rica, contact our local experts and tell them all about your dream foodie trip. They will be happy to put together a personalized itinerary for your next escape.