Tin Jo is located on Calle 11, between Avenidas 6 and 8, and is a Pan-Asian restaurant serving a wide variety of specialties from China, Japan, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, and others. Tin Jo offers attentive service, and a wonderful culinary tour of these countries in an exotic atmosphere. Some of the dishes are served in edible rice-noodle bowls, and the pineapple shrimp in coconut-milk curry is served in the hollowed-out half of a fresh pineapple. Other dishes not to miss include the salt-and-pepper shrimp, beef teriyaki, and Thai curries. Tin Jo is also a great option for vegetarians.
Across town at Avenida 2 and Calle 15, Nuestra Tierra features authentic Costa Rican cuisine in a rustic and fun setting. Friendly waiters in costume serve generous homemade meals. Dishes include fish specialties, incredible salads, tasty casados and traditional favorites such as chorreadas (pan-grilled corn cake served with cheese or sour cream), and tamales. Food is sometimes served in a banana leaf, and musicians will sing and play at your table. This is an enjoyable, affordable and delicious choice for a meal while in San Jose!
Also in San Jose is Machu Picchu, offering authentic Peruvian cuisine in a traditional atmosphere. Machu Picchu is an unpretentious little restaurant that has become one of the most popular places in San Jose. Be sure to try the causa limena, which is lemon flavored mashed potatoes stuffed with shrimp, the ceviche, which is excellent, aji de gallina, a dish of shredded chicken in a fragrant cream sauce, and octopus with garlic butter. The restaurant is located at 2nd Avenue and 32nd Street.
Outside of the city, Costa Rica offers an equally diverse selection of wonderful eateries for all tastes and budgets. Look out for the ’sodas’, usually a combination of a family run restaurant, and a convenience store that sometimes doubles as a bar or disco after the sun goes down. Sodas provide an inexpensive and authentic alternative to a traditional restaurant, and are very much unique to Costa Rica.
Located at the beautiful Los Suenos Marina in Jaco on the central Pacific coast, El Galeon features some fantastic tropical cuisine, in an open air covered setting with views of mega yachts that will leave you breathless! A creative menu and attentive wait staff combine to make dining at El Galeon a very enjoyable experience.
Also along the Pacific coast in Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste, is the elegant Cala Moresca restaurant. Located at the stunning Cala Luna Resort, and overlooking the swimming pool, the restaurant serves a complex variety of cuisines, from traditional cuisine of Guanacaste Province, to seafood and fish specialties. This is a unique fusion style of gourmet cuisine with a European touch, which makes the Cala Moresca a good choice for a special meal to remember.
In addition to many fine dining establishments within the area’s luxury resorts, the Guanacaste region also offers numerous little sodas and beachfront cafes for a quick snack, a meal on a budget, or a relaxing lunch with a great view.
Regardless of the location within Costa Rica, whether in the city, on the beach or in the rainforest, visitors will be pleasantly surprised with the variety of restaurants and places to eat on offer. A good meal is relatively inexpensive and there is always a great selection available, making dining an enjoyable part of your Costa Rica vacation.
Ellie Cominos is a travel expert and a content associate and travel guide writer for BookIt.com® - the online travel company offering discounted hotels and vacations wherever you are FROM! Visit the BookIt.com ® Travel Guides for additional travel information including articles, reviews and helpful travel tips.
