Back to Costa Rica

Typical Food
You will be pleasantly surprised by the Costa Rican food. Costa Rica is a culinary melting pot with foods from dozens of European, Asian, and Latin American countries. There are a great variety of restaurants the most common of which are Italian, Chinese, and typical Costa Rican. The "comida tipica" or typical Costa Rican food is neither spicy nor unfamiliar. It almost always contains rice, beans, corn, vegetables, meat, chicken, or fish, and corn tortillas. Breakfast frequently features a delicious mix of rice and black beans known as "gallo pinto," scrambled eggs, toast, and whatever natural tropical juice you desire. It is always easy to find tropical fruits such as papaya, watermelon, pineapple, banana, mango, and cantalope.

Desserts
Common deserts are caramel or coconut flan, pudding, and a cake called "tres leches."

Coffee
Costa Rica produces the world's finest coffee. Beans for local consumption are usually roasted with sugar to make a thick, dark coffee that is not at all bitter. Traditionally, Costa Ricans serve this coffee half and half with milk. After you taste it you won't be able to leave without taking several bags with you.