Eat Like a Local

Costa Rica has one of the highest standards of living in Central America, but the average citizen is not buying $10 appetizers and $30 entrees in trendy tourist eateries. People eat delicious but reasonably priced meals in the ubiquitous "sodas" of Costa Rica. Finding a soda here has nothing to do with soft drinks. It is a small restaurant or food stand that offers modest but often delicious Casados at affordable prices. Casado roughly translates to "typical meal of the day." The Casado pictured here fits that description: red beans and rice, fried plantains, grilled onions, cheese and a small piece of steak might constitute one of these meals -- often available for as little as $4 USD. Eating every meal this way could become bland. After all, these plates look very similar from town to town. But cheap, filling Casados will do wonders for your budget.