Costa Rica » Dining in San Jose

Costa Rican cuisine is known for being tasty, yet fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruits and vegetables. The main staple consists of rice and black beans, which in many households is eaten at all three meals during the day.

For breakfast, Costa Ricans favorite dish is gallo pinto, which consists of rice, cilantro, onion, and black or red beans mixed together and sometimes lightly fried. A locally-produced sauce called Salsa Lizano is often used to add a hint of spice to the dish. (Natilla, a Costa Rican sour cream, is sometimes also added for variation).

For lunch, the traditional national dish is called a casado. It again consists of rice and beans, though this time they are served side by side instead of mixed. There will generally be some type of meat (carne asada, fish, pork chop or chicken) and a salad to round out the dish. There may also be some extras like fried plantains or a piece of white cheese in accompaniment.A typical Costa Rican Dinner consisting of egg on chicken with rice and beans, vegetables, fried plantain, and cooked bananas.