Costa Rica has several traditional foods, such as gallo pinto, a savory dish of rice and beans served for breakfast. Tamales, small packages of cornmeal and stewed meat, are prepared at Christmastime, while sweet chiverre squash pastries are a staple at Easter. Our advice is to head for a soda – a Costa Rican diner – and try a little bit of everything on the menu. 

Costa Rican cuisine is mostly mild and savory. Spicy food is uncommon, and traditional dishes go heavy on the Latin American favorites of rice, beans and local produce. Small diners, called sodas, serve up generous portions of homemade meals, and are very economical; you’ll pay $3-$5 for a full plate of food and a natural fruit drink.

Gallo pinto – black beans and rice, seasoned with onion, sweet pepper, cilantro and Lizano sauce – is considered Costa Rica's national dish. Two of Costa Rica's most typical holiday foods – miel de chiverre (squash honey) and tamales – are true delicacies worth trying.