Food · San José · Costa Rica
What to eat in San José
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define San José, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andres Alvarez, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Gallo pinto, Casado and Olla de carne. Sodas are small, family-run restaurants serving Costa Rican home cooking; a casado with a fresh fruit drink is an affordable midday meal. Restaurant bills include a 13% sales tax and a 10% service charge by law; check the bill before tipping extra.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Gallo pinto
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill by law, so additional tipping is…
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Breakfast · Vegetarian
1.Gallo pinto
Rice and black beans fried together with onion, sweet pepper and coriander, the national breakfast. It is served with eggs, fried plantains, sour cream (natilla), fresh cheese and tortillas, often with Salsa Lizano.
Where: Any soda or hotel breakfast; the sodas in the Mercado Central serve it from early morning.
Dish
2.Casado
The standard lunch plate: rice, black beans, salad, fried plantain and a choice of chicken, beef, pork or fish, sometimes with picadillo (chopped vegetable hash). Its name means 'married man'.
Where: Sodas throughout the city, especially the counters of the Mercado Central at lunchtime.
Dish
3.Olla de carne
A hearty beef soup with chunks of yuca, chayote, corn, plantain, carrot and other root vegetables, often eaten at weekends.
Where: Traditional sodas and family restaurants; it is a weekend favourite.
Snack
4.Chifrijo
A bar dish layered in a bowl: rice, beans, fried pork (chicharrón) and pico de gallo, eaten with tortilla chips. Its name combines chicharrón and frijoles.
Where: Bars and casual restaurants throughout the city, as a boca (bar snack) with beer.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Sopa negra
A black bean soup flavoured with coriander and onion, usually served with a hard-boiled egg in the bowl.
Where: Sodas and traditional restaurants, especially at lunch.
Dish
6.Tamales
Costa Rican tamales are made with corn dough filled with pork, rice and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. They are a Christmas tradition, sold in pairs (piñas).
Where: Bakeries, markets and sodas, especially in December.
Snack
7.Arreglados
Sandwiches of soft bread or puff pastry filled with meat, cheese or chicken, a typical snack at bakeries and cafés.
Where: Bakeries and sodas across the city, with coffee in the afternoon.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Café chorreado
Coffee made by pouring hot water through grounds held in a cloth bag hung on a wooden stand (chorreador). Costa Rica grows high-altitude Arabica in the Central Valley, Tarrazú and other regions.
Where: Traditional sodas and specialty coffee shops in Barrio Escalante and the centre.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Agua dulce
A warm drink of unrefined cane sugar (tapa de dulce) dissolved in hot water or milk, popular at breakfast and on cool mornings.
Where: Sodas and market counters, especially for breakfast.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Guaro sour
A cocktail of guaro, the local clear sugar-cane spirit, with lime juice and sugar. Guaro is the national spirit and is also drunk neat or with soda.
Where: Bars throughout the city and in Barrio Escalante.
Food experiences
Soda lunch
Sodas are small, family-run restaurants serving Costa Rican home cooking; a casado with a fresh fruit drink is an affordable midday meal.
Coffee farm tour
Coffee farms on the slopes of the Central Valley, near Alajuela and Heredia, offer tours that follow the bean from plant to cup, with tastings.
Craft-beer evening in Escalante
Barrio Escalante has a cluster of craft breweries and taprooms serving Costa Rican beers with bar food.
Quick bites and street food
- Gallo pinto — Any soda or hotel breakfast; the sodas in the Mercado Central serve it from early morning.
- Chifrijo — Bars and casual restaurants throughout the city, as a boca (bar snack) with beer.
- Arreglados — Bakeries and sodas across the city, with coffee in the afternoon.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Gallo pinto, Sopa negra, Café chorreado, Agua dulce and Guaro sour. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurant bills include a 13% sales tax and a 10% service charge by law; check the bill before tipping extra.
- Lunch is the main meal for many locals, and casados are the best-value option.
- Ask for 'refresco natural' for a fresh fruit drink made with water or milk.
- Salsa Lizano, a tangy brown sauce, is on most tables and is the classic seasoning for gallo pinto.
- Tap water in San José is generally safe to drink.
Tipping
Restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill by law, so additional tipping is optional. Tip tour guides and drivers a few dollars per person per day.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pura vida | All good / hello / thanks |
| Con mucho gusto | You're welcome (with pleasure) |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Me pone la maría? | Could you turn on the taxi meter? |
| Tuanis | Cool / great (slang) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is San José famous for?
Gallo pinto, Casado, Olla de carne and Chifrijo. Rice and black beans fried together with onion, sweet pepper and coriander, the national breakfast.
+Is San José good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Gallo pinto, Sopa negra and Café chorreado.
+Do you tip in restaurants in San José?
Restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill by law, so additional tipping is optional. Tip tour guides and drivers a few dollars per person per day.