Dining Etiquette

Mealtimes are occasions for lengthy and lively conversations in Costa Rica. Table manners vary from family to family, but in general, both hands should be kept above the table, not in the lap. Most people eat three meals a day, and many have midmorning and afternoon coffee breaks or snacks. The evening meal is generally the main one.

There are several staples that are a part of most meals in Costa Rica, but the two that most often appear on every plate of the day are rice and beans. Corn tortillas and salsa Lizano also make an appearance at most meals. The three main meals of the day are well-balanced and often made from scratch with great care and love. It’s not uncommon for everyone to come home for lunch, including schoolchildren – family is very important in Costa Rican culture. A typical Costa Rican breakfast is a plate of gallo pinto, eggs, homemade corn tortillas or fresh bread from the bakery, sweet plantains and natilla or local cheese, such as queso turrialba.

A typical Costa Rican lunch is a casado – a plate of rice, beans, protein, salad (usually something with cabbage) and sweet plantains. It can also include tortillas, yucca, avocado, pico de gallo and fresh or fried cheese. Other typical lunch options are arroz con pollo (rice with chicken, or shrimp, mixed seafood, pork or mixed vegetables), ceviche, sopa negra (black bean soup), sopa de mariscos (seafood soup) or olla de carne (beef stew), just to name a few.

At dinner in Costa Rica, you’ll find the same dishes served at lunch. However, during special occasions, celebrations or family gatherings, a big barbecue or pig roast might take the place of the typical dinner spread. An invitation to one of these social gatherings is a real treat.