If your travels are heavily determined by the food you love, then you’re not alone. In fact, a lot of travel is driven by food, and people’s desire to try authentic versions of their favorite dishes from back home. When traveling anywhere, the first thing I do is explore the cuisine, and look for any local restaurants offering a taste of their country’s unique flavors.

 

Costa Rican food may not be as famous as Mexican or other Latin American cuisines, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. In fact, you may find their cuisine quite familiar if you’re a fan of Mexican or other Latin American cuisines, as there is a lot of crossover between the available foods of these countries. Before you find yourself sat a Costa Rican beach front resort gorging on the incredible local cuisine, be sure to do some exploring first to find out what you like best.

 

Here’s a look at Costa Rican cuisine, as well as a look at what they drink, and where you might find them, or even how to make them.

 

Influences

While the food in Costa Rica has its base in pre-Colombian times, the modern cuisine here has been heavily influenced by Spanish and Afro-Caribbean culture. To describe Costa Rican cuisine, one often finds that differences are distinguished between it and other Latin American cuisines. Costa Rican isn’t as spicy or spiced as Mexican cuisine, and it isn’t as centered around meat as Brazilian and Argentinian food. 

 

The simplest and most adequate description we’ve come across for Costa Rican cuisine is that it’s savory, wholesome, and hearty, with big portions of fruit or vegetables.

 

Casado

The Casado is the typical tico or tica lunch, and bears remarkable resemblance to the typical breakfast called Gallo Pinto. Unlike many of the other dishes which we’ll look at, the Casado is a remarkably simple dish which can be prepared at home with only a little experience in the kitchen.

 

Like many dishes of neighboring countries, the staple of this dish is beans and rice, although served side by side and not mixed in like the Gallo Pinto. On top of this, it’s typical to see these other elements on the plate:

 

- Finely diced red bell peppers

- Fried plantains

- Cabbage salad

- Tomato

- Carrot

- Meat (can be any kind of meat or any meat substitute) with grilled onions

 

Making this for the family before you go to Costa Rica may save you a lot of time if you have picky kids.

 

Tamales

Despite sharing the name, tamales in Costa Rica are vastly different from their counterparts in Mexico. You probably won’t find them at your Costa Rican beach front resort restaurant, as they’re usually made for special occasions such as Christmas or a wedding, but they can often be found at farmer’s markets, so keep an eye out.

 

Tamales in Costa Rica consist of boiled plantain leaves stuffed with corn meal mix, a variety of beans and vegetables, saffron rice, and pork. Although variations of all sorts are common in this dish, you might even find vegetarian or vegan versions available at some of the eco-retreats.

 

Find Costa Rican tamales at your local Costa Rican restaurant, or if you’re feeling adventurous look up a recipe online and make them yourself.

 

Ceviche

While ceviche has famously been associated with Peru, Costa Ricans are just as much fans of it. Treated as a boca (appetizer), the abundant fish life off the coastline of the country makes this a worthwhile try, and a treat for those who like seafood. This is something you should be able to find at every Costa Rican beach front resort.

 

As with Peruvian ceviche, Costa Rican ceviche consists of fresh raw local fish marinated in citrus juice with finely chopped herbs (such as coriander), veggies, garlic, hot pepper, onion, and celery. If you’d like to try ceviche before you get to Costa Rica, be sure to find somewhere near the sea to ensure it’s freshness, otherwise catch your own fish and make it yourself.

 

If you don’t like fish, or are vegetarian or vegan, you will be excited to find out that a vegan version of this dish exists usually with mango replacing the fish. This is just as, if not more delicious than it’s fishy counterpart.

 

Drinks

As one of producer’s of the some of the finest coffee in the world, it’s no surprise that Costa Rican coffee is something you can find locally. Get yourself a bag before you go over to truly experience the difference in the freshness of the beans, and be sure to do a coffee plantation tour if you’re a fan of the bean.

 

Other drinks famous to Costa Rica include Guaro and Chan, but both are best enjoyed on this side of the border.