Food of Costa Rica
Costa Rican food is simple, fresh and gently seasoned, built on rice, beans, plantains and tropical produce. The casado plate, with rice, beans, salad, plantain and a protein, is the everyday lunch, and gallo pinto starts the morning. Coffee, pineapple and fresh juices are national pride.
- Main dishes (7)
- Breakfast (4)
- Street food (4)
- Soups (2)
- Salads (2)
- Desserts and sweets (4)
- Drinks (4)
- Fruits and produce (7)
Staples
- rice
- black beans
- plantains
- corn
- yuca
- chicken
- pork
- fish
Signature flavors
- cilantro
- sweet pepper
- culantro
- Salsa Lizano
- lime
- garlic
Main dishes
Plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad and meat.
Key ingredients: rice, beans, plantain, chicken
Rice with chicken, peas and carrots.
Key ingredients: rice, chicken, peas
Beef and vegetable stew with root vegetables.
Key ingredients: beef, yuca, corn, chayoteRice, beans and fried pork bar-style plate.
Key ingredients: rice, beans, pork, pico de galloDiced potatoes in a savory sauce.
Key ingredients: potato, onion, peppers
Fish cured in lime with cilantro and peppers.
Key ingredients: fish, lime, cilantro, onion
Fried green plantain disks served with beans.
Key ingredients: plantainBreakfast
Rice and beans sauteed with onion and pepper.
Key ingredients: rice, black beans, cilantroFull guide →Hand-patted corn tortillas.
Key ingredients: corn masaSweet corn cake.
Key ingredients: corn, sugarCorn tortilla with melted cheese.
Key ingredients: corn masa, cheeseStreet food
Corn pastry with beans or cheese.
Key ingredients: corn masa, beans, cheeseFull guide →
Corn masa wrapped in banana leaf.
Key ingredients: masa, pork, riceFull guide →Shaved ice drink with syrup, milk and ice cream.
Key ingredients: ice, syrup, ice creamFried cassava sticks.
Key ingredients: cassavaSoups
Black bean soup with egg.
Key ingredients: black beans, egg, cilantroTripe soup with vegetables.
Key ingredients: tripe, vegetablesSalads
Heart of palm salad.
Key ingredients: hearts of palm, tomatoCabbage and tomato salad.
Key ingredients: cabbage, tomato, limeDesserts and sweets
Milk-soaked sponge.
Key ingredients: sponge, milksFull guide →Cinnamon rice pudding.
Key ingredients: rice, milk, cinnamonCoconut candy.
Key ingredients: coconut, sugarCoconut flan.
Key ingredients: coconut, eggs, milkDrinks
Famous mountain-grown coffee.
Key ingredients: coffeeHot drink of unrefined cane sugar.
Key ingredients: panela, water
Cinnamon corn drink.
Key ingredients: corn, cinnamon, milkFull guide →Tart cas fruit juice.
Key ingredients: cas, sugarFruits and produce
Costa Rica is a leading exporter.
Key export crop.
Sold at roadside stands.
Common at breakfast.
Full guide →
Used for juice.
Full guide →
Lychee-like rambutan.
Fruit of the coffee plant.
Dish guides from Costa Rica
More cuisines of Central America
Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.
- Casado Tico: Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Arroz-con-Pollo: Kobako, CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Sancocho de espinazo de cerdo: Daguerreroa, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Cebiche de corvina: Picanteria karol, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tostones: AMartiniouk, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Gallo Pinto: Gmasmcal, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tapa de empanadillitas: Tamorlan, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tamal oaxaqueño: Georgina Meneses, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Pastel de Tres Leches: @joefoodie, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Horchata de chufa 2: Photocapy, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- കൈതച്ചക്ക: Suniltg at Malayalam Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- 14-QWSTION-BANANATEX-STRIPPING-LAUSCHSICHT: BANANATEX, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Mangos - single and halved: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Carica papaya - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-029: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Guava pink fruit: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Buds on branch of rambutan tree: DXLINH, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Roasted coffee beans: MarkSweep, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
