A Comprehensive Costa Rica Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes You Can't Miss

10/1/20251 min read

a white plate topped with a salad on top of a table
a white plate topped with a salad on top of a table

Costa Rica Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes for Every Traveler

One of the best ways to experience Costa Rica is through its food. Known for fresh ingredients, simple flavors, and hearty portions, Costa Rican cuisine is both comforting and full of character. Whether you’re exploring San José or relaxing by the beach, here are the dishes you can’t miss.

🌞 Gallo Pinto – The Classic Breakfast

The national breakfast dish, gallo pinto, is a mix of rice, beans, onions, and cilantro. Served with eggs, plantains, cheese, or sour cream, it’s a staple that gives you the perfect start to a day of exploring.

🍽️ Casado – The Everyday Meal

Casado, meaning “married,” is the classic Costa Rican lunch plate. It usually includes rice, beans, salad, plantains, a tortilla, and your choice of protein (chicken, beef, fish, or vegetarian). Think of it as a little bit of everything on one plate.

🐟 Ceviche – Fresh and Flavorful

Costa Rican ceviche is light, tangy, and refreshing. Made with white fish (often tilapia or sea bass) marinated in lime juice with cilantro, onion, and bell peppers, it’s the perfect dish for hot days by the coast.

🍌 Patacones – Crispy Plantains

These twice-fried green plantain slices are crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Often served with beans, guacamole, or pico de gallo, patacones are the ultimate Costa Rican snack.

🥘 Olla de Carne – Hearty Beef Stew

A traditional family dish, olla de carne is a slow-cooked beef soup with chunks of potato, cassava, chayote, carrots, and corn. It’s pure comfort food, especially on cooler mountain days.

🥭 Tropical Fruits & Natural Juices

Costa Rica is paradise for fruit lovers. Don’t leave without trying fresh mango, pineapple, papaya, guava, or rambutan. Order a natural juice (“fresco natural”) for a refreshing, local experience.

🍮 Tres Leches Cake – Sweet Ending

For dessert, tres leches is a moist sponge cake soaked in three types of milk, topped with whipped cream. It’s rich, sweet, and absolutely worth it.