Costa Rica has one of Latin America’s most underrated cuisines. This tiny country packs a powerful punch of flavors for you to experience and fall in love with the place. The culinary landscape of Costa Rican food has rapidly evolved from innovative takes on traditional dishes to a generous sprinkling of unique local ingredients.
Costa Rican restaurants promise some of the worthiest spots for you to take a flavorful journey. Costa Rican cuisine is about local ingredients like fresh fish, pork, beef, rice, beans, corn, tropical fruit, and vegetables. Some of the specialties of the town are Gallo pinto (fried rice and black beans with Salsa Lizano), sweet plantains, and Pepito sandwich.
1. Mofongos
Mofongos was established in 2009, and since then, it has been offering its customers in Southern California the savory culinary tradition of Puerto Rico. The restaurant gives you the experience of the unique blend of native Taino, Spanish, and African cuisine, which defines their Comida Criolla.
The restaurant provides an eclectic, artistic, yet traditional Costa Rican food experience.
It is the only place that serves a full Puerto Rican menu in Los Angeles County. This is your stop if you want affordable, authentic food with fast service and a great atmosphere.
Owner and Chef: Augusto
Email: info@mofongosrestaurant.com
Address
5757 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone: (818) 754-1051
Fax: (888) 858-4697
Hours
11 am – 10 pm (Mon-Sun)
Visit the website to order online https://www.mofongosrestaurant.com/
2. Rincon Chileno
The restaurant is a flavor bank of Costa Rican extensive spices. The menu has a wide range of items to choose from which can easily combat your boring days with exciting flavors that are rest assured to steal your heart. Rincon Chileno makes every meal an interesting experience.
Address
4354 Melrose Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 666 6075
Hours
Monday: Closed
(Tue-Sun) 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
To order online: http://rinconchilenola.com/
3. Escala K-Town
The menu here is an excellent combination of Colombian and Korean dishes. The restaurant has delicious food with good music.
Pubs and cocktail bars are the perks.
Location
Historic Chapman Plaza
3451 West 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90020
213 387-1113
Opens at
Mon-Fri 11:30 am
Saturday & Sunday Brunch: 11 am
Website: http://www.escalaktown.com/
4. El Cochinito Restaurant
It is a quintessential restaurant that offers authentic homestyle Cuban food.
Some of the delicious dishes here are slow-roasted/fried pork (Lechon Asado), breaded steak (Empanizado), and avocado salad (Aguacate). The sincere service and flavorful food make it a true gem.
Chef and owner: Gladys
Address
3508 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 668-0737
Hours
Tue-Sat
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Closed on Monday
Website: http://www.cochinitola.com/
5. Guisados
The mouth-watering traditional homestyle Mexican braises on handmade corn tortillas are enough to make this place a must-visit for a foodie. The restaurant is open for takeout/delivery, Dine-in & Dine-out, Lunch, and Breakfast.
Address
Guisados, 2100 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA, 90033, US
323.264.7201
Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8 am – 9 pm
Fri & Sat: 9 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 9 am – 8 pm
Breakfast is served daily: 9 am – 11 am
Website: http://www.guisados.co/
6. Cha Cha Chicken
The restaurant was established in 1966. This is a Caribbean restaurant with a Latin Fusion added by its Latin owner, Elvira.
The restaurant bottles its very own Spicy Jerk Sauce, makes original Jerk Chicken Enchiladas, Coconut Fried Chicken, and Chicken burritos, and caters to all.
The place is just a block away from the beach, which gives it a cool and relaxing environment.
Address
Santa Monica
1906 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica Ca. 90405
(310) 581-1684
Hours
Sun-Thurs: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Website: https://chachachicken.com/
7. Versailles Cuban Food
Versailles’ traditional Cuban dishes, including its signature dish, Pollo Versailles – juicy roasted chicken burrito marinated in garlic Mojo sauce, tasty sandwiches, and delicious seafood, make it one of LA’s most popular restaurants.
Address
1415 S. La Cienega Blvd
(310) 289-0392
Hours
Mon-Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
8. Jaragua
Established in 2007, Jaragua offers a wide variety of authentic Salvadoran food, including El Salvador’s national dish, Pupusas. They are handmade from fresh corn or rice masa and filled with some of your favorite ingredients.
Also, check out the Copper Still Bar’s new addition, offering drinks handcrafted by Mixologist Nancy Kwon. Pre-prohibition-styled drinks with fresh ingredients are the specialty.
Address
4493 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 661-1985
Hours
Mon-Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat-Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Website: http://www.jaraguarestaurant.com/
9. Irazu
Irazu Costa Rican Dining is your stop for authentic and delicious Costa Rican food. The great selection of dishes makes its feature on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” very obvious. You get to choose between breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the day.
Some of the popular entries include the tilapia taco platter, the empanadas, the Costa Rican sandwich, and plenty of vegetarian options.
The beautiful outdoor patio of the Irazu gives you a place to relax and socialize. You can also book private dining rooms for special occasions like birthday parties and coworker get-togethers. The amazing catering and delivery services offered by Irazu Costa Rican Dining always allow you to enjoy the bold and rich flavors of Costa Rican cuisine.
Address
1865 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252-5687
Email: questions@irazuchicago.com
Hours
Wed-Sat: 11:30 am – 9 pm
Sun – Tue: Closed
Website: https://www.irazuchicago.com/
10. Grano De Oro
Cuisine: French, Latin, European
The lovely atmosphere, amazing food, and incredible customer service make Grano de Oro one of the best Costa Rica restaurants. Other than being located in one of the top-notch hotels in town, the restaurant also has elegant decor, an intimate setting, and knowledgeable staff who make your overall experience in the restaurant amazing.
Head to this classic restaurant for a romantic date in a cozy setting with your loved ones. The expert chefs use the freshest ingredients to serve you the flavorful food that will savor your mind. Specialties include steak tenderloin, tres leches, and signature pies prepared with perfection and unique flavors.
Location
San José Province, San José, Costa Rica
Hours
Mon-Sun: 8 am – 10 pm
11. Lubnan
Cuisine: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Lubnan brings you a slice of Lebanon in Central America with perfectly prepared food and decoration. It is one of the nicest Mediterranean cuisines run by a friendly owner who is excellent at customer service.
The specialties in this Restaurant include mezze platter, Tabouleh, hummus, and lamb kebabs which taste incredibly authentic. Their baklava & kunafa are worth tasting.
Location
Frente a la Torre Mercedes Benz,
Paseo Colón, San José, Costa Rica
Hours
Mon-Sun: 11 am – 5 pm
12. La Esquina De Buenos Aires
Cuisine: Steakhouse, Latin, Argentinian
The restaurant takes you to Buenos Aires as soon as you enter with its charming decoration and wonderful atmosphere. The place serves the best steak and offers a dining experience like no other in town.
Warm, friendly, and attentive staff. The bar service and wine collection perfectly complement the food. Some specialties include carpaccio appetizer, salmon-filled ravioli in dill sauce, and sea bass. A decadent chocolate bomb and banana crepe are recommended as the perfect wrap-up for your meal.
Location
Calle 11, San José, Costa Rica
Hours
Mon-Sun
11:30 am – 3 pm
6 pm – 10:30 pm
13. Tin Jo Costa Rica Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian
The beautiful artwork, intimate setting, and superb preparations make this fantastic place one of the most charming restaurants. Centered in the heart of San Jose, it is a top choice for a date, family outing, or business meeting.
The exquisite & flavorful convergence of traditional cuisine with traditional Asian cuisine is a treat to the senses.
Location
Calle 11, between Avs. 6 and 8, Calle 11,
San José Province, San Jose, Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Hours
Mon-Sun
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
6 pm – 10 pm
Website: https://tinjo.com/?lang=en
14. Nenes
Cuisine: Latin, Seafood, Costa Rican
The restaurant was established in the middle of 1994 with the simple idea of creating a different restaurant for the town and for the town.
Some of these specialties include ceviche appetizers, steak served on a fiery platter, herb-crusted salmon, and jalapeno fillet. The seafood dishes are fresh & flavorful, with a nice selection of wines and beverages to complement your food. The pleasing atmosphere, fancy decoration, and relaxed vibes make the place the best for a beautiful outing.
Owners: Greiving Lopez Corrales & Cristian Castro
Location
Costa Rica, 21007, 702, Alajuela Province,
La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica
Hours
Mon-Sun: 10 am – 11 pm
Final Note
Now that you know all about in-town go out and enjoy a flavorful culinary storm on your platter and relish an unforgettable foodie journey in this beautiful country!
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Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
