Obviously it won’t be fun traveling around on an empty stomach. We are always excited to try out different food whenever we go to a new place. Costa Rica has a lot of American influence so you will easily find pretty much everything that you want, but that won’t be the case in remote regions. However, food can easily eat up the travel budget if you are not careful with your choice of restaurants. During our trip, we made sure to not overspend on the food and try to eat local cuisine as much as possible and cherish the true taste of Costa Rica.

Below we have compiled a list of places we went to eat which were affordable and filling.

La Fortuna

Soda La Palma

This is just 10 minutes out of La Fortuna on the way to Arenal National Park. They have amazing milkshakes, especially papaya. The portion is big and makes a great snack. You can also buy empanadas at a fairly reasonable price. Sit back and sip on your milkshake while enjoying the view of Arenal Volcano in the backdrop.

Soda La Mesa de Mamá

This is another option if you don’t mind driving 15 minutes past Arenal National Park. The coffee here was like a premium latte that you get anywhere in North America, but at much lower price point. Costa Ricans love their Casado and this place definitely knows how to make one of the best ones. If you don’t know, Casado is Costa Rica’s main dish and it primarily contains rice and beans along with salad and chicken. To complement Casado, we also ordered a plate full of white sauce pasta which exceeded my expectations.

Pizza Ranch La Fortuna

We were strolling around the lively town cenetr of La Fortuna when we found this pizza place. I found their personal pizza to be a very good deal given the size and the price. I would recommend getting two personal pizzas rather than one medium if you are very hungry. You won’t be disappointed.

Indian Curry

This definitely came as a surprise to us. We were not expecting to see any Indian restaurants in Costa Rica. Since we found one at the center of La Fortuna, we decided to pay a visit, why not? If you are a fan of Indian food, then you will enjoy the spicy curry and some roti to soothe your taste buds. If you do decide to check out this place, then prepare to shed some extra cash as it’s quite expensive compared to local sodas.

Rio Celeste

Soda Y Rancho Doña Irma

We went for a day trip to Rio Celeste and that’s when we found this roadside soda. It was a perfect day, slight rain showers and a perfect temperature. If you are there in the morning, then definitely try their breakfast (eggs with tortilla). It was one of the most delicious omelets I had in Costa Rica. Make sure you listen to the birds while enjoying the meal. We got lucky as we had an up close encounter with a collared aracari.

Monteverde

Soda La Cocinita de Lety

You would have guessed the pattern now. This was another amazing soda we found in Monteverde and I was glad we did as they have an amazing casado. The place is small and it has only about 6 parking spots which are quite tight. I would recommend walking to the place if possible.

Villa Burger

After having Costa Rican food for a few days, we were craving for some american fast food. Villa burger is just what we needed. They have varieties of burgers and hot dogs which won’t squeeze your budget. Their jumbo hotdog is quite large and it served as a full meal for me even though I was very hungry. If you are driving out of Monteverde, just pack an extra jumbo hot dog for your next meal. You won’t regret it.

San Jose

Being the capital city, San Jose offers a lot of options when it comes to food. There are a lot of bakeries in the city along with pizza places and McDonald’s. We stayed there for two days so we tried different places.

MIXT

If you are vegan, then you should not miss this place. They serve salad bowls, wraps, quinoa and a bunch of other healthy options including fresh drinks. MIXT has a very good ambience in the middle of the city so you can sit and enjoy your meal. To top it off, their customer service was excellent.

Rincocito Azteca

This is a Mexican place with very delicious and affordable chicken over rice. We liked it so much that we got an extra portion packed for later. They also have amazing quesadillas along with a variety of juices and milkshakes. The interior walls are covered with traditional Mexican artifacts which gives it an added touch of authenticity.

Ready Pizza

This was the only place that I didn’t really like. The pizza was just ok for the price. It’s a good option if you cannot wait and have to grab and go. They have ready to go pizzas. Americans and Canadians can compare that to Little Caesars but not as good.

Panederia

As I mentioned before, you will find a lot of bakeries or Panderia in San Jose. They are almost on every corner and they all sell a wide variety of cakes and pastries. If you are craving for some fresh baked goods then just hop into one of these.

Restaurante Sam Jeon

San Jose has diverse food spots. We found this quiet oriental place to have chicken noodle soup. When we went there the door was not open, but we had to ring the bell and someone would open the door for you.

Casa Colonial

This was our last meal in San Jose before heading out in the morning. We stayed at a nearby AirBNB so we thought of just grabbing a bite for breakfast. We expected to shed some money here as it looked very elegant. This is actually a hotel restaurant which is also open to the public. It was surprisingly cheap, filling and delicious with a touch of fine dining. Definitely try their omelet and coffee.

Quepos/Manuel Antonio

Baldi Fresh

If you are going to Manuel Antonio park then you cannot miss the stretch of restaurants on the roadside. These are medium sized restaurants that serve pretty much everything from food to alcohol. A word of advice, food is very expensive inside Manuel Antonio park, even more expensive than these nice restaurants outside. We left the park starving and we stopped at Baldi Fresh. We only ordered a papaya milk shake at first, but it was so refreshing that we decided to order some food as well. Finally, we decided to get one serving of quesadilla and we were glad we ordered it.

Soda Sanchez

Apparently, Soda Sanchez is rated one of the best sodas in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. We were traveling via bus so this was very convenient as it is located just a few steps from the Quepos bus terminal. Because of its location and popularity, this place tends to get busy and you might not find a table to sit and eat. Give yourself some time and you will surely find a spot.

Whether you’re a foodie looking to try new dishes or a budget-conscious traveler looking to save money, our guide to affordable Costa Rican food has got you covered. With our curated list of top must-try eateries, you can savor the best of local cuisine without breaking the bank. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to indulge in delicious dining experiences on a budget!