Food in Costa Rica is characterized by the fact that its cost is higher than in many countries of Central America, but lower than in Europe and the United States. It is worth noting that the cost of food depends on whether you will consume local or imported products: the cheapest is to purchase them at farmers' markets. If you choose to buy imported wine, expensive meat products and other goods brought to the country from abroad, then your food costs will increase by 2-3 times.
Food in Costa Rica
Costa Rican cuisine has been influenced by Spanish and Native American culinary traditions. The Costa Rican diet consists of meat, fish, legumes, vegetables, fruits, rice, seafood (oysters, shrimps, crabs).
In Costa Rica, hot black beans flavored with garlic and various spices (frijolesnegros) are worth trying; unsweetened fried green bananas (patacones); Puff pastry pies with sesame seeds stuffed with cheese, vegetables, chicken or potatoes (empanados); rice with beans and vegetables (casados); baked fish (laplancha); boiled sea fish with lemon juice, coriander and onions (ceviche); thick soup with beef, vegetables, spices and various herbs (olladecarne); ground beef dish with vegetables, tomato puree and garlic (picadillo).
Sweet tooths can enjoy fried sweet bananas with cheese (platanosmaduros), exotic fruits (passionfruit, mango, papaya, maranona, mamones), pastries and cakes.
Where to eat in Costa Rica? At your service:
- cafes and restaurants where you can order Costa Rican and other cuisines (Chinese, Mexican, French and other restaurants are open in the country);
- restaurants of international fast food chains (KFC, McDonalds), “sodas” (local fast food establishments), LasBrasas (a large chain of eateries offering their visitors to taste traditional local cuisine).
Local dishes are practically not flavored with exotic spices, but a bottle of ketchup or chili will be present on your table in any restaurant.
Drinks in Costa Rica
Popular Costa Rican drinks are coffee, herbal tea, refrescos (a refreshing drink made from water, fresh fruit and sugar), fruit juices, rum, local coffee liqueur, beer. Beer lovers will be able to taste Imperial, Bavaria, Pilsen, and rum lovers - Centenario, Platino, Cacique, Abuelo.
Food tour to Costa Rica
Traveling to Costa Rica, you will visit picturesque farms and coffee plantations, taste Costa Rican dishes both in restaurants and in local villages visiting the locals.
Holidays in Costa Rica will reveal local splendor for you - mountain peaks, active volcanoes, dense wet jungles, wonderful nature, national parks, caves, waterfalls, magnificent beaches, unusual Costa Rican dishes.
