Restaurant Quality and Costs

As with prices anywhere in the world it depends what you want and the kind of ambiance and décor of the restaurant. We find that a good meal for two in a nice restaurant runs about $40.00. A buffet can run $23.00 per person. A fast food place is roughly the same as in the States. There are also many restaurants called “Sodas” which offer low cost, but good food. Frankly I have never eaten in a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King or Pizza Hut in Costa Rica but I have eaten in a few sodas. I happen to be a gourmet eater, preferring fine restaurants with French, Continental, Middle Eastern or Greek food but I can tell you that I would far prefer to eat in a “soda” than any American fast food restaurant. The food quality is reasonable, the service is fast and done with cheerfulness and above all, they are clean. You can get a decent burger and fries in a soda for less than at McDonalds and they almost resemble those old fifties’ drive ins. One of the things I like most about Costa Rica is that the restaurants are vastly cleaner than those in the U.S., the employees are intelligent, respectful and friendly, and even the toilettes are kept clean.

Recommended Restaurants

As stated above, I prefer ethnic restaurants of the Continental, French, Middle eastern and Greek variety. For this reason I list some of those (in San Jose) first. You will notice that many of them are in the upscale areas of Escazu, Santa Ana and San Pedro.

As we improve this website we’ll have phone numbers, directions and websites for as many of these restaurants as possible.

Lebanese / Mediterranean

Beirut Best in town for baked lamb & hummus. Excellent, varied menu. Toni Mouakar (owner)  296 9622 beirutrest@hotmail.com

Brazilian Steak house

Fogo Brasil Where waiters bring barbecued meats to your table on skewers. Also includes excellent buffet and salads.

European

El Balcon de Europa  This is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s the oldest restaurant in Costa Rica (1909) and chef Jean Pierre is a master. Take a look at his kitchen.The cleanest and best-run kitchen anywhere.  221-4841 balcon2europa@yahoo.com.mx 

Indian  Taj Mahal in Escazu serves very good quality curries, tandooris and also American/ European, steaks etc. 228 0980   close 11pm

Japanese There are several excellent Japanese restaurants including Fuji (San José – Sabana Norte) Matsuri (Curridabat and Santa Ana) Samurai (Escazú and Santa Ana) Shogun (Santa Ana)

Steak and Chop Houses 

Tony Roma’s is at the entrance to Escazu just off the expressway.

Outback Steakhouse is in Santa Ana and clearly seen from the expressway.

French

Le Monastere (Escazú)

Café Parisien, Downtown in the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, never closes and is one of the best locations in town to people watch.

Delis and Bagles

Bagelman’s (Escazú and San Pedro)
New York Deli (Pavas)
Wall Street (Escazú and Santa Ana)

The Spoon has some of the best cakes and pastries anywhere. Four locations in the San José area.

Peruvian

Macchu Pichu Here’s something different but nice. (San José & San Pedro) 

VEGETARIAN 

La Mazorca and the RestauranteVegetariano of San Pedro are located near the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro.

SIGLO XXI 300 meters west of POP'S ice cream in west Sabana is a vegetarian Chinese restaurant.

Vishnu has a couple of locations in downtown San José and another in Heredia.