Costa Rican Cuisine
When you come to Costa Rica and you want to explore the local cuisine, you’ll realize that it’s much more than just ‘Rice and Beans’.
Since I have moved to Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica I have tried so many local dishes. I love their food because it’s flavored with lots of herbs and lime.
In Tamarindo we have many people that are selling from their car and we have lots of sodas and restaurants. If you go to the local ‘fiestas’, ‘bailes’ and ‘rodeos’ you’ll find many local dishes.
The ‘Rice and Beans’ are called ‘Gallo Pinto’. Gallo Pinto is the typical breakfast. The rice and beans are mixed together and are served with fried or scrambled eggs, chopped beef, fried plantains and tortillas. The Costa Rican Salsa ‘Salsa Lizano" is used to pour over the Gallo Pinto. You’ll find Gallo Pinto in any restaurant or soda. Although it is popular as breakfast, it is served all day long.
The most common dish in Costa Rica is ‘Casado’. It literally means ‘married’. Casado is white rice with a side of black beans, cabbage salad, fried plantains and a choice of chicken, fish pork or grilled/sautéed steak. Some casados come with grilled onions or extra vegetables. You’ll find casado in any soda.
Arroz con pollo(chicken) or arroz con camarones (shrimp) is a very popular Costa Rican dish. You’ll find it on every menu and at any celebration. They call it ‘arroz con siempre’ (rice with always). The dish is served with lettuce, tomato and lime juice salad and French fries.
Chicharones are chunks of juicy fried pork. They are associated with Christmas, holidays, town fair celebrations and anytime friends gathers at bars. Look for the chicharrones sign outside of the local sodas.
Chifrijo is a layered dish of rice topped with black beans, chicharrones, pico de gallo (tomato salsa with onion, cilantro and lemon) served with fresh tortilla chips. You can eat chifrijo in the local sodas.
Ceviche is a popular, light and refreshing boca. Fresh raw fish is marinated in lime and mixed with diced red onion, cilantro, and some red pepper. The acid in the citrus cooks the meat. It is served with soda crackers or fried plantains. The Costa Rican ceviche is made with local tilapia or corvina. Can be found in every restaurant and soda.
Patacones are crispy fried plantains. They are served as a side dish or they are eaten as a snack.
The main ingredients of the unique Costa Rican cuisine are rice and beans, fresh meats and seafood. Exotic fruits are used in their snacks or refreshing drinks. Most of the ingredients are locally grown so you’ll eat fresh and healthy food.
Since I have moved to Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica I have tried so many local dishes. I love their food because it’s flavored with lots of herbs and lime.
In Tamarindo we have many people that are selling from their car and we have lots of sodas and restaurants. If you go to the local ‘fiestas’, ‘bailes’ and ‘rodeos’ you’ll find many local dishes.
The ‘Rice and Beans’ are called ‘Gallo Pinto’. Gallo Pinto is the typical breakfast. The rice and beans are mixed together and are served with fried or scrambled eggs, chopped beef, fried plantains and tortillas. The Costa Rican Salsa ‘Salsa Lizano" is used to pour over the Gallo Pinto. You’ll find Gallo Pinto in any restaurant or soda. Although it is popular as breakfast, it is served all day long.
The most common dish in Costa Rica is ‘Casado’. It literally means ‘married’. Casado is white rice with a side of black beans, cabbage salad, fried plantains and a choice of chicken, fish pork or grilled/sautéed steak. Some casados come with grilled onions or extra vegetables. You’ll find casado in any soda.
Arroz con pollo(chicken) or arroz con camarones (shrimp) is a very popular Costa Rican dish. You’ll find it on every menu and at any celebration. They call it ‘arroz con siempre’ (rice with always). The dish is served with lettuce, tomato and lime juice salad and French fries.
Chicharones are chunks of juicy fried pork. They are associated with Christmas, holidays, town fair celebrations and anytime friends gathers at bars. Look for the chicharrones sign outside of the local sodas.
Chifrijo is a layered dish of rice topped with black beans, chicharrones, pico de gallo (tomato salsa with onion, cilantro and lemon) served with fresh tortilla chips. You can eat chifrijo in the local sodas.
Ceviche is a popular, light and refreshing boca. Fresh raw fish is marinated in lime and mixed with diced red onion, cilantro, and some red pepper. The acid in the citrus cooks the meat. It is served with soda crackers or fried plantains. The Costa Rican ceviche is made with local tilapia or corvina. Can be found in every restaurant and soda.
Patacones are crispy fried plantains. They are served as a side dish or they are eaten as a snack.
The main ingredients of the unique Costa Rican cuisine are rice and beans, fresh meats and seafood. Exotic fruits are used in their snacks or refreshing drinks. Most of the ingredients are locally grown so you’ll eat fresh and healthy food.
