Wetin You Go Chop and Drink for Costa Rica: Food Lover Guide

Costa Rican food, plain and simple

Costa Rican cooking, wey dem often call *comida tipica*, dey fresh, e get body and e dey built around rice, beans, plantain and tropical produce. E no dey heavily spice like other Latin American kitchens, so the taste dey clean and comforting. The local motto pura vida (pure life) dey carry over to the table too: relaxed, generous and simple.

Signature dishes wey you must try

• Gallo pinto - the national breakfast of rice and black beans wey dem fry with onion, cilantro and small Salsa Lizano, dem go serve am with eggs, fried plantain and *natilla* (sour cream).
• Casado - balanced afternoon plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain and protein like chicken, beef or fish. Expect to pay 3,500-5,000 colones (about 6-9 USD).
• Olla de carne - slow-cook beef and vegetable soup with yuca, plantain and chayote.
• Ceviche - usually corvina (sea bass) wey dem cure for lime with cilantro and onion, dem go chop am with soda crackers.
• Chifrijo - bar snack of rice, beans, crispy pork (chicharron), pico de gallo and tortilla chips.

Street food and snacks

Look for empanadas wey get cheese or beans filling, patacones (twice-fried plantain), and *gallos* (small filled tortillas). Around markets you go see fresh fruit like mamon chino (rambutan), guanabana and pejibaye, na starchy palm fruit wey dem chop with mayonnaise.

Wetin you go drink

• Coffee - Costa Rica pride. Try am from regions like Tarrazu, dem often brew am through cloth *chorreador*.
• Refrescos naturales - fresh fruit drinks wey dem blend with water or milk; cas, tamarindo and mora na favorites.
• Agua dulce - warm drink wey dem make from melted *tapa dulce* (unrefined cane sugar).
• Beer - Imperial and Pilsen na the everyday lagers.
• Guaro - the national sugarcane spirit, the base of *chiliguaro* shot.

Practical dining tips

• Soda na small family-run eatery and the best value for authentic food.
• Tipping: 10% service charge plus 13% tax dem usually don include; rounding up dey appreciated.
• Tap water safe for most tourist areas, but ask for remote zones.
• Afternoon (almuerzo) na the main meal; sodas fit sell out of casados by mid-afternoon.

Stay connected for Costa Rica

HelloSIM eSIM go keep you online for maps, menu translation and restaurant booking no roaming fee the moment wey you land.