Gallo Pinto

They say ‚There is nothing more Tico (term for local Costa Rican) then Gallo Pinto‚, and its true. Most‚ days in Costa Rica begin with a plate of Gallo Pinto, a dish that consists of rice and beans sauted with garlic, onions and cilantro, often served with 1-2 fried or scrambled eggs and a sausage on the side. If you want to eat Gallo Pinto like a true local, you have to pour some Lizano salsa over your rice and beans and enjoy the meal‚ with a cup of freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee.

Casado

At dinner time,‚ Costa Ricans savour another‚ traditional dish called Casado. Casado is a perfect combination of rice, beans, fried plantains (type of not sweet banana), cabbage and tomato salad, and a piece of fish/meat. You‚ll find a simple version of Casado in every local restaurant (known as a ‚Soda‚) and maybe a slightly different interpretation at the restaurants catering to tourists.‚ 

Ceviche

Not just a Costa Rican specialty, but a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of both Central and South America. Ceviche is made from raw fish cooked in lime/lemon juice with onion, cilantro, salt, pepper and other optional ingredients like bell peppers, celery, and tomatoes. It is served as an appetiser and eaten with salt crackers or plantain chips. The beauty about ceviche is that it has so many variations in Costa Rica and each one tastes slightly different than the other. There is red snapper ceviche, tuna ceviche, mahi mahi ceviche, marlin ceviche, a mix of shrimp, octopus, clams ceviche and many more!

Tiradito

You may be thinking ‚ceviche!‚, but we recommend exploring the world of the tiradito.‚  Much like sashimi and carpaccio, a tiradito consists of thinly sliced pieces of seafood dressed in a light sauce. The combinations are endless, but we recommend starting with a salmon or sea bass selection. These spreads are often accompanied by lightly-fried cassava chips and other garnishes.

Tamales

When it comes to Costa Rican snacks, Tamales are probably the most traditional and delicious. Tamale is a dish‚ made of masa (a starchy corn-based dough) mixed with vegetables, meats and/or cheese, which is steamed or boiled in a‚ banana leaf. When ready to be consumed, tamales are opened, seasoned with Lizano salsa and eaten with a fork or by hand. Tamales are particularly popular over the festive season, so look out for it when‚ traveling to Costa Rica around Christmas time.

Chicharrónes

Chicharrónes are a‚ popular snack‚ not just in Costa Rica but across Latin America. Chicharrónes are‚ essentially‚ deep fried pork rinds, the skin part of the pork, served with lime juice, fried yucca, and/or cabbage salad. There is absolutely nothing healthy‚ about them and they probably carry very little nutritional value, but these crispy, crackly, juicy pork bits are a wicked treat that‚s impossible to resist. You can never have just one‚

Carne Asada

Carne Asada is Spanish for‚ meat (specifically beef) on a stick. Typically consumed as a late night snack, but also served‚ as a dinner main, Carne Asada is another Costa Rican favourite. It is often eaten with tortillas along with other local favourites like black beans, onions, guacamole, etc.

Sopa de Pejibaye

Pejibaye is the fruit of a peach palm tree, and is often consumed on its own or with a bit of mayonnaise. Alternatively, the thick fruit can be blended into a soup that offers a vast profile of nuanced Costa Rican flavors. The pejibayes are blended with a savory broth to make a creamy, delicious Tico dish that will awaken your palate and give you something to talk about back home.

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches cake literally translates into ‚Three Milks‚, ‚ and‚ is a popular traditional Costa Rican dessert. Tres Leches is a‚ sponge cake/butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk:‚ evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream for over three hours. The cake is then stored in the fridge until it is ready to be consumed. Depending on the recipe Tres Leches cake might also come with an additional layer of whipped cream and a garnish on top. It‚s spongy, it‚s sweet, and it‚s delicious!