16 Delectable Foods & Drinks To Savor When in Costa Rica

Costa Rican food is all about utilizing fresh, organic, locally grown ingredients infused with a dash of local culture and tradition. Simple, yet exceedingly vibrant ingredients in perfect amalgamation for that distinct Costa Rican flair we all love.

Rice and beans are considered local staples. Plantains, usually fried, a popular snack or side dish in many restaurants. Proteins typically include cuts of beef, pork, chicken, farmed fish like Tilapia or fresh seafood.

On this trip, we covered the Alajuela province near the majestic Arenal Volcano. Prepare your taste buds as we introduce these fine Costa Rican eats at some of the places we tried at the vibrant town of La Fortuna.

#1 Casado

The term means “married man” in Spanish with reference to what married men typically eat at home. A wholesome dish of steamed rice and beans served with fried plantains, mixed vegetables, and a choice of protein usually beef, chicken or pork.

#2 Gallo Pinto

Pretty similar to the Casado except the beans and rice are cooked together with some spices. The beans brings added color and flavor to the rice and makes an enticing meal with some meat and of course, fried plantains.

#3 Ceviche

Fresh cuts of raw fish (a lot of cases Tilapia) marinated in lime juice, chilies, cilantro and other spices. The acidity of the lime chemically “cooks” the fish, making it white and opaque with a delicious infusion of flavor. Tastes amazing with some rice or fried tortilla chips.

#4 Arroz con Leche

On our ride to the hotel, we came across vendors selling servings of Arroz con Leche in plastic cups. Basically, it is Costa Rica’s rendition of rice pudding, except it is not made with minute rice. According to our driver, his wife makes this dessert and the meticulous process requires a lot of love and attention as the rice is slowly cooked with milk and flavored with a hint of cinnamon.

#5 Agua Dulce

Back in the days when coffee is not as readily available, locals make this drink as an alternative caffeine fix to jump start their day. Sugar cane juice is extracted from fresh sugar cane and allowed to simmer, reduce and eventually turn to caramel. Once cooled, solid chunks of caramel is dropped in hot milk and allowed to melt.

#6 Chorreada Dulce con Natilla

A delicious pancake made with ground up sweet corn, lightly greased and then grilled. Simple as that! The charred crust adds a delicious flavor contrast with the natural sweetness of the corn. Slice it up like pizza and top it off with some sour cream, or maybe with some chilies or salsa.

#7 Sopa de Mariscus

Nene’s Restaurant
Adventures in Costa Rica, 21007, 702, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

A delicious soup made with stewed tomatoes and a mix of fresh seafood like shrimp, crab, fish, squid or more depending on where you get it from. Enjoy it while it’s hot and savor the slight acidity of the soup base elevated with a touch of sweetness and brininess from the fresh seafood. Add some chilies and cilantro for some added kick. The dish tastes delicious by itself or as a side with a full meal of Casado or Gallo Pinto.

#8 Costa Rican Hot Chocolate

Yellow Bark
Oeste 75 Sur de la Iglesia la Fortuna 50 | Avenida 702, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007, Costa Rica

A cafe favorite for my wife and I wherever we travel, and Costa Rica does it right. What elevates the Costa Rican variety is the locally grown and harvested cocoa beans that has this distinct chocolate flavor that we enjoyed. Most of the hot chocolate we tried is served dark, so you can sweeten it up the way you like it. For us, it is perfect the way it is, such as the strong chocolate flavor is not overwhelmed by the added milk or sugar.

#9 Tres Leches

This lovely dessert is nothing more than a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. It’s an extremely light cake that is made to absorb the milk without getting soggy. The texture just melts in your mouth, and the flavor simply delicious.

#10 Imperial Beer

If you’re in Costa Rica experiencing the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, you should at least try the country’s most popular brand of local beer, Imperial. Silky smooth and refreshing with a hint of refined bitterness. It’s the perfect accompaniment to any Costa Rican gastronomic feast.

#11 Chocolate Liqueur

Choco Museo
Costado Sur del Parque de, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

Comparatively tastes like Baileys, only better. It’s the best of both worlds combining the rich flavors of Costa Rican chocolates with high quality liquor for a truly opulent drinking experience. Best served on the rocks or straight after it is chilled.

#12 Arroz con Camarones

Yellow Bark
Oeste 75 Sur de la Iglesia la Fortuna 50 | Avenida 702, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007, Costa Rica

Arroz con Camarones or shrimp rice is a traditional Latin dish made with rice cooked in shrimp broth and sautéed with spices, tomatoes, peppers and fresh shrimp or prawns. This dish just oozes with amazing flavor with just the right spicy kick. At the Yellow Bark, this dish is served with plantain chips and a refreshing salad topped with avocado slices.

#13 Grilled Steak and Shrimp

Nene’s Restaurant
702, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica

While grilled meat and seafood isn’t inherently Costa Rican, there’s something about how Latin Americans fire up their meats and do it just right. A far cry from the local staple of rice and beans, yet something more of a carnivorous indulgence is surely a treat when visiting this area. Prime cut rib eye steak seasoned perfectly and grilled with perfect medium doneness. Jumbo shrimps, just amazingly fresh and delicious.

#14 Coconut Shrimps with Mango Sauce

Lava Lounge
142, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Coconut crusted butterflied pieces of fresh jumbo shrimp deep fried to golden brown perfection. When it comes to shrimp, bigger is always better especially when cooked beautifully. Crunchy, flavorful, and teeming with a taste of the Caribbean tropics with crunchy coconut bits and sweet sour mango sauce complementing each other. At the Lava Lounge, the shrimps are downright huge and tasted quite fresh.

#15 Patacones

Pollo Fortuneño
200 m este del Parque, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Whether eaten as a snack or as a delectable side dish, these deep-fried green plantains can really make your taste buds party. Texture is just perfect and deliciously crunchy. We tried this mouthwatering delicacy at a restaurant called Pollo Fortuneño which is kinda hard to miss walking around La Fortuna with the smell of delicious grilled chicken and their big red sign.

#16 Fruit Smoothies or Batidos

Treat yourself with a refreshing glass of fresh fruit smoothie to cool yourself down on hot and humid days in the tropical rainforest. One of our favorite things about Costa Rica is the abounding availability of fresh ripe tropical fruits that is perfect for afternoon smoothie breaks. Naturally sweet and downright refreshing. What a treat!