Best Restaurants in Costa Rica 2026

Gallo Pinto

The national breakfast of rice and black beans fried together with Salsa Lizano, sweet peppers, and cilantro. Served with eggs, sour cream (natilla), and fried cheese. Every Costa Rican household has a slightly different recipe passed through generations.

Where to try: Any soda (local restaurant) at breakfast, nationwide

Price: $4-7

Casado

The classic Costa Rican lunch plate containing rice, black beans, cabbage salad, fried sweet plantains (maduros), and a protein choice (beef, chicken, fish, or pork). The name means 'married man' — implying home cooking. The most affordable and authentic dining experience.

Where to try: All sodas nationwide for lunch

Price: $6-10

Chifrijo

Costa Rica's beloved bar snack invented at Bar Muñoz in San José: layered rice, beans, fresh tomato pico de gallo, and chicharrones (crispy fried pork), topped with avocado and lime. Served in a glass and eaten with tortilla chips.

Where to try: Bar Muñoz (original), any sports bar in San José

Price: $6-10

Ceviche Tico

Costa Rican ceviche differs from Peruvian style — fish or shrimp cured in lime with sweet peppers, cilantro, and mild seasoning, served with crackers. Tilapia is the most common fish. Best fresh at coastal towns.

Where to try: Mercado Central San José, coastal restaurants, Mariscos Rogelio (Puntarenas)

Price: $6-12

Olla de Carne

A traditional Sunday beef and root vegetable soup simmered for hours with chayote, potatoes, cassava, corn, and plantain. The quintessential home-cooking dish that restaurants rarely match. The soup of Costa Rican grandmothers.

Where to try: Traditional sodas, home cooking, Sunday family restaurants

Price: $8-12

Rice and Beans (Caribbean Style)

The Caribbean coast version cooked in coconut milk with Caribbean spices is entirely distinct from mainland gallo pinto. A UNESCO-recognized Afro-Caribbean dish brought by Jamaican workers, traditionally served with whole fried fish and patacones (fried green plantains).

Where to try: Any restaurant in Puerto Viejo or Cahuita, Caribbean coast

Price: $8-15

Grano de Oro Restaurant

Housed in a restored Victorian mansion, this award-winning rooftop restaurant serves innovative cuisine blending Costa Rican ingredients with international techniques. The romantic setting and impeccable service make it San José's premier fine dining destination.

Calle 30, Paseo Colón, San José

Soda Tapia

This beloved San José institution has served authentic Tico food since 1950. Generous portions of casado, gallo pinto, and traditional stews attract locals and tourists alike. The no-frills atmosphere and friendly service embody Costa Rican hospitality.

La Sabana, San José

Taco Bar

This lively taco joint in Tamarindo serves creative tacos, burritos, and Mexican-inspired dishes with fresh ingredients. The casual atmosphere, reasonable prices, and late-night hours make it a favorite among surfers and backpackers.

Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste

Mercado Central

San José's central market offers dozens of sodas serving authentic Costa Rican breakfasts and lunches. Navigate the maze of stalls to find casado, gallo pinto, and fresh fruit juices at rock-bottom prices favored by locals.

Avenida Central, San José

Café de los Deseos

This bohemian café in San José's Barrio Amón offers artisanal coffee, creative breakfasts, and light meals in a charming courtyard garden. The artistic atmosphere and quality coffee make it a favorite among locals and expats.

Barrio Amón, San José

Silvestre

This acclaimed restaurant showcases modern Costa Rican cuisine using locally-sourced, organic ingredients. Chef Santiago Fernández creates innovative dishes that honor traditional flavors while presenting them with contemporary flair in an elegant setting.

Barrio Escalante, San José

Café Mundo

This Barrio Amón café-restaurant occupies a converted mansion with courtyard seating. The diverse menu spans Mediterranean, Asian, and local flavors with excellent vegetarian options. Popular for both lunch and dinner with a sophisticated yet casual vibe.

Barrio Amón, San José

Soda Lidia's Place

Puerto Viejo's most famous soda serves Caribbean-style rice and beans, fresh fish, and generous portions at local prices. Miss Lidia's welcoming smile and authentic flavors keep customers coming back for over 20 years.

Puerto Viejo, Limón

Empanadas

Fried or baked corn masa pastries stuffed with cheese, beans, chicken, or beef. Sold by street vendors outside schools, markets, and bus terminals nationwide. The cheesy version (queso) is most popular.

Find it at: Street vendors outside markets, bus terminals, school zones

Tamales Costarricenses

Costa Rica's tamales are wrapped in banana leaves rather than corn husks, filled with masa, rice, pork, vegetables, and olives. Made traditionally for Christmas (December-January) but available year-round at markets.

Find it at: Mercado Central, ferias de agricultor, December vendors everywhere

Chorreadas

Sweet fresh corn pancakes made on a griddle, similar to crêpes but with a corn flavor. A traditional snack sold at roadside stands throughout the Central Valley, eaten plain or with natilla (sour cream).

Find it at: Roadside stands in the Central Valley, especially on weekends

Agua de Pipa

Fresh young coconut water served directly from the coconut with a straw, sold from pickup trucks and beach stands throughout coastal areas. The ultimate tropical hydration at $1-2 per coconut.

Find it at: Beach towns, Pacific coast roadsides, Caribbean beaches

Palmito Sandwiches

Heart of palm sandwiches on white bread are a uniquely Costa Rican street snack, sold at markets and festivals. The crisp, mild heart of palm with mayo and tomato on cheap white bread is comfort food Tico-style.

Find it at: Mercado Central San José, local festivals

Mercado Central San José

The atmospheric 1880 covered market houses dozens of soda stalls serving the cheapest casado and gallo pinto in the capital, plus fresh produce vendors, butchers, fishmongers, and spice sellers on the ground floor. Arrive before 10AM for the freshest produce.

Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday-Saturday

Feria del Agricultor Curridabat

The best of San José's Saturday farmers' markets has organic produce vendors, artisan cheese makers, specialty honey producers, prepared food stalls, and excellent tropical fruits. A genuine community gathering that represents food-loving Costa Rica at its best.

Hours: 5:30 AM - 1:00 PM Saturdays

Mercado Borbón

A less-visited alternative to the main Mercado Central offering excellent tropical fruit sections, Caribbean spice vendors, fresh herb sellers, and a traditional atmosphere. Less touristy and more authentically Tico than the main market.

Hours: 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday-Saturday