Costa Rica car rental and San Jose Dining

Reward your taste buds during your upcoming trip to San Jose and spend an evening out at one of the city's many eclectic restaurants and eateries. San Jose has a rather amazing collection of restaurants serving cuisines from both near and abroad, providing travelers in Costa Rica car rentals with plenty of palate pleasing options to enjoy. From local rice to exotic spices, there's something for everyone at the restaurants of San Jose.

A new revolution of food

Costa Rican cuisine has never really stood out as one of the world's most engaging meals; travelers in Costa Rica car rentals can expect to enjoy rice and beans with almost any offering. But that doesn't mean you won't find a culinary masterpiece or two inside San Jose's bustling collection of restaurants. In recent years, some contemporary and creative chefs have made it their mission to educate and enlighten Costa Rican diners, especially in the country's capital city. Promising results can be found around every corner, so don't be afraid to order something different during your night out.

Lovin' the local cuisine

If you're looking to sample some local cuisine during your upcoming vacation to San Jose, Avanti Costa Rica Car Rentals recommends heading to a soda, which is the equivalent of a diner in the United States. Here, you'll find plenty of good, cheap, Tico food. As mentioned earlier, anticipate a helping of rice and beans (mix them together and you've got gallo pinto) at every meal. For breakfast, travelers in Costa Rica car rentals will enjoy eggs and steak over their gallo pinto; lunch normally consists of a casado or “blue-plate special.” This meal is served with a salad of cabbage and tomatoes, fried plantains, and your choice of steak, chicken or fish. And to top it all off, don't forget to order a fresco (fresh fruit drink). Costa Rican frescos are simply to die-for, providing travelers in Costa Rica car rentals with a refreshing way to quench their thirst. These drinks are made from all sorts of tropical fruits, including mangoes, papayas, bananas and carambola.

Stop at a fruit vendor for a quick snack

Looking for a fast snack during your upcoming visit to San Jose? Well, forget about fast-food joints - in Costa Rica, a quick snack almost always involves fruit from a local vendor. Travelers in Costa Rica car rentals will find a fruit vendor on almost every street corner in downtown San Jose, especially during the months of April and June. If you're the adventurous type, Avanti Costa Rica Car Rentals recommends sampling a green mango with salt and chilli peppers - the flavors are guaranteed to get your taste buds talking! Another common street food worth sampling is called a pejibaye. This bright orange palm nut is boiled in a large pot and then eaten in much the same way as an avocado. It tastes a little bit like squash.

Dining with a view in San Jose

Travelers in Costa Rica car rentals will discover a myriad of unique dining experiences in San Jose, the most magical of which is inside a miradores. These hanging restaurants are located on the cliffs of the city's surrounding volcanoes and provide patrons with an unbelievable view of the city and surrounding landscape. While the food at these establishments isn't always spectacular, the atmosphere and ambience most certainly is. Miradores can be found in Aserri, as well as in the hills above Escazu,

Late night eats

San Jose boasts a number of 24 hour eateries, the best of which is Cafeteria 1830. Chelles, which is a bit seedier-looking, also boasts some great late night chow. Finally, if you're feeling a little homesick, you can find a Denny's at the Best Western Irazu on the highway out to the airport, as well as a second location beside the Hampton Inn at the airport.