| The traditional cuisine of Costa Rica is somewhat | | | | on most restaurant menus, especially in coastal |
| simplistic when compared to some of the other | | | | areas. The quality of corvina served isn't normally |
| south-american countries. That is not to say that | | | | as good as the other types of fish available, so |
| you'll ever have to go hungry or eat | | | | when possible you'd be better off ordering the |
| unsatisfactory meals when visiting Costa Rica: | | | | red snapper or tuna instead. Even though Costa |
| there are many high-quality restaurants - | | | | Rica is one of the major exporters of lobster and |
| especially in tourist locations - that can cater to | | | | shrimp, these may be harder and more expensive |
| almost every taste. If, however, you're visiting | | | | to find than you might first assume. |
| the more remote areas of the country or wish to | | | | Costa Rica also produces vast quantities of beef |
| familiarize yourself with authentic Tico (the | | | | for the international market, but sadly, with the |
| colloquial term for a Costa Rican native) cuisine, | | | | exception of the better (and more expensive) |
| you'll come across meals such as the gallo pinto. | | | | restaurants, the quality of steaks for example is |
| Gallo pinto is basically a combination of beans and | | | | often rather poor. In recent years, however, as |
| rice; an integral part of a normal Tico daily meal. | | | | the international tourism has grown, an increasing |
| Rice and beans are also served separately at a | | | | amount of restaurants have quite successfully |
| regular basis. You can get gallo pinto and other | | | | integrated meals to their menu that better fit the |
| traditional foods at the costa rican equivalent of | | | | requirements of tourists. Nowadays there's also |
| diners called 'sodas'. For a very cheap price you | | | | some international cuisine available, with some |
| can for example order a casado, which is basically | | | | restaurants specializing in italian, mexican and asian |
| a blue plate special normally consisting of | | | | foods. |
| ingredients such as tomatoes, salad, fried | | | | Many tourists that come to Costa Rica expecting |
| plantains, possibly a tortilla as well as either meat, | | | | world-class fresh coffee often get disappointed |
| fish or chicken. Sometimes the casado also | | | | by reality. While it is true that the coffee industry |
| comes with some cheese or a boiled egg. | | | | produces prime-quality coffee beans, most of |
| One of the absolute best things about costa rican | | | | them are reserved for export and the traditional |
| food is the wide variety of fruit available - not | | | | coffee served for Ticos is somewhat weak and |
| only are they more fresh than what you'd ever | | | | too sweet for most tourists' tastes. Some of the |
| be able to get from your local supermarket, they | | | | better restaurants and hotels do offer coffee |
| are also very inexpensive. Most merchants will | | | | better suited to most gringo and european tastes, |
| gladly let you sample their offerings - mangos and | | | | with a number of quality blends available. Black |
| fingerling bananas especially are better than what | | | | coffee is called cafe negro, but if you want yours |
| you'd ever be able to get stateside. | | | | with milk, order cafe con leche instead. In the |
| Seafood is also a usual sight on a Tico food plate. | | | | majority of restaurants the milk is served warm |
| One of the most commonly available types of | | | | and separate from the coffee. Ask for con leche |
| fish is the Corvina, or sea bass. Tuna, pargo (red | | | | aparte if you want to be certain you get your |
| snapper) and dorado (mahi mahi) are also found | | | | milk separately. |