16 Best Restaurants Near San Jose Costa Rica

Exploring a city’s food scene is an adventure on its own, and San Jose, Costa Rica, has a lot to offer. From local dishes to international flavors, there’s something for everyone. As someone who loves trying new foods whenever I travel, I’ve put together a list of the best restaurants near San Jose.

San Jose is the heart of Costa Rica, known for its rich culture and delicious food. Whether you want to try traditional Costa Rican meals at a local spot in the Central Market or enjoy a meal with a stunning view of the Central Valley, this list has you covered.

You’ll find a variety of dining options, from cozy places like Chubascos near Poas Volcano National Park to fancy spots like Sikwa that mix local flavors in new ways. Each restaurant offers a special taste of Costa Rica.

Join me as I share the 16 best restaurants near San Jose. Whether you’re a food lover looking for your next great meal or just want to know where to eat on your trip, this guide will help you find the best spots.

Key Takeaways

San Jose is the cultural heart of Costa Rica, and it has many things to see and do. The gastronomical prowess of having various cuisines in one city is at the top of the list. Even visiting the local market is an excellent way to explore what Costa Rica offers in terms of cuisine. Here are my key takeaways on the best restaurants near San Jose. 

• The Central Market in San Jose is the best place to try Costa Rican local dishes. Many sodas ( traditional local restaurants) at the markets serve different foods. Try out Soda Tala for the best Talapinto. 
• If you visit Pas Volcano National Park, there is a restaurant down the mountain called Chubascos that serves delicious meals. It’s a rustic cabin, but it serves large portions and takeout.  
• A visit to Ram Luna restaurant is necessary for the best San Jose Central Valley view. It’s a way out of town, but the restaurant offers a shuttle to pick you up and drop you off at San Jose. 
• If you want some street food, head over to Jardin de Lolita. Several restaurants share the same open space but serve different cuisines.  

16 Best Restaurants Near San Jose

Whether you are looking for fine dining or somewhere to try different cuisines, restaurants near San Jose will satisfy you. Also, visit the local sodas and central markets, where you will find food stands. I discovered that the sodas and the market stand to serve generous amounts of very delicious Costa Rican dishes. 

Creating a list of the best restaurants near San Jose took work, as there are so many good ones. However, here are my recommendations for the best 16. 

Taj Mahal Heredia (my choice for price)

 

Open: 12–10 PM daily. 

Location: Mall Oxigeno, Heredia, San Jose. 

Taj Mahal is a great Indian restaurant not far from the San Jose airport. Their pollo coco curry and rice are superb. Taj Mahal also caters to vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free customers. My husband was happy with their butter chicken, which I now believe is his favorite Indian meal. 

You’ll also love the restaurant’s excellent service and significant meal portions. and they pricing is considerably decent.

Soda Tala

 

Open: 6 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday. 

Location: Central Market, San Jose. 

It’s one of the most famous sodas (traditional food stalls) in Costa Rica, founded by Natalia Cervantes. You’ll get one of the best versions of the famous Costa Rican breakfast, gallo pinto. Soda Tala serves Talapinto, a couple of slices of fried sausage (salchichón) on top of a thin egg omelet with chives at the base. The mixture is on a large portion of pinto. 

Since several sodas are in the Central Market, Soda Tala is at the edge of the market. Its entrance is between flower shops. You simply must have a casado anytime you visit Soda Tala. After your meal, you can order any fresh juice of your choice. 

It was amazing how the staff would shout orders from the first floor, and a lift would bring the food from the second floor. Soda Tala is an excellent place to mix with the locals and learn more about Costa Rican culture. 

Bacchus

Open: 12 PM to 10 PM daily. 

Location: 200 east and 300 north of the Montes Gas Station, Santa Ana, Costa Rica. 

I loved the restaurant due to its variety of local fish. It’s an Italian restaurant with great pasta, pizzas, and a mix of Costa Rican dishes. The seafood section offers. 

• A mix of corvina, shrimp, and octopus tossed with tagliolini pasta
• Jumbo shrimp in a Barolo wine reduction
• Sea bream cooked in lime

As you wait for your meals, admire the incredible art collections on the walls of Casa Quitirris, which houses Bacchus restaurant. 

Enboca Restaurant 

Open: 12-10 PM from Monday to Saturday, but closes at 4-5 PM. 

Location: San José, Nunciatura. 

The restaurant is next to the national stadium, so you cannot miss it. Enboca has a pleasant atmosphere and decent vegetarian options. I loved their arroz con leche, while my husband went for the shrimp carpaccio. 

Their chef combines Latin and Mediterranean flavors, giving you a delicious treat. I would also try the Enbocas wine-braised short ribs or the grilled octopus. 

Chubascos

Open: 11 AM to 6 PM. 

Location: 5 miles south, coming down from the mountain. 

It’s the go-to restaurant for anyone visiting Poas Volcano National Park. Chubascos started as a small hut in 1982 and is now a rustic wood cabin restaurant. You can have your first meal at this restaurant before embarking on your day’s adventures to Poas Volcano. Ask for their coffee and Costa Rican traditional breakfast. 

The restaurant also makes great meals, and most people come for lunch at the end of their day’s adventures. I always request casado, a rice platter, beans, chopped meat (picadillo), cheese, eggs, and meat stew. You can also order take-out to eat when you return to your hotel. 

The restaurant has dance music from 3.30 PM to 5.30 PM every Saturday. 

Restaurante Silvestre

Open: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Monday to Saturday. 

Location: Amón neighborhood, San José. 

The restaurant is in an old remodeled house in Barrio Amón. Run by chef Santiago Fernández Benedetto’s, you’ll enjoy some delicious local and international cuisines. The chef who has traveled the world making cuisines will surely surprise your taste buds. 

You can request to sit outdoors in the afternoon, but I recommend you make dinner reservations to avoid missing a place to sit. I loved their empanadas stuffed with egg yolks, chives, and ricotta cheese. The chef also makes a delicious arroz guacho in the Guanacastian style. 

Botaniko

Open: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Tuesday to Saturday),12:00 PM – 5:00 PM(Sunday). 

Location: Guachipelin, San Jose. 

Argentine chef Sebastián La Rocca uses local ingredients to prepare the best Argentinian cuisine. The menu is gluten-free, and the foods don’t contain saturated fat or dairy. Botaniko’s most famous dishes include chicken and skirt steak, roasted pineapple, and smoked aubergine. 

You can have your lunch at the restaurant’s covered outdoor dining space. The surrounding tall trees ensure that you have your meals in perfect breeze. The restaurant can handle large parties so don’t hesitate to invite your friends. 

La Divina Comida 

Open: 11 AM to 11 PM daily. 

Location: Avenida Escazu, San José. 

It’s a Peruvian restaurant with creative dishes and excellent service. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating area. You can’t miss it, as it is near CIMA hospital and Multiplaza Mall. A lot of their meals are either Peruvian or American Cuisine. 

The restaurant only has a few vegetarian options, but they have some great vegetarian bowls. Some of the meals I recommend include:. 

• Country risotto
• Tiradito bachiche with five different types of fish
• Grilled octopus and Caribbean ceviche
• Raw tuna over rice and avocado. 

Sikwa

Open: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM Tuesdays to Fridays. 

Location: C. 41, Los Yoses, San José. 

Sikwa is a small intimate restaurant in Barrio Escalante fit for those looking for some fine dining. Chef Pablo Bonilla will amaze you with Costa Rica’s indigenous cuisine. He uses local ingredients to prove that Costa Rican dishes are as interesting as other cuisines. 

In 2023, Sikwa was the first restaurant to be among the 50 best in Latin America. Use your hands instead of cutlery to get the authentic feel and taste of Chef Pablo’s dishes, such as the tamal de yuca, which is creamed cassava. My best meal was the mouthwatering pork belly in chilipinol adobo sauce with pejibaye (peach palm) tamal. 

Ram Luna

Open: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Tuesday to Friday), 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Saturday and Sunday). 

Location: Aserri, from 5 Km South on the road to Tarbaca.

Ram Luna offers a beautiful view of San Jose’s Central Valley and its scenic mountains as you enjoy delicious meals. It’s a beautiful mountain-top restaurant with a chef using fresh local ingredients to make tasty meals. 

On some nights, you will watch fantastic traditional Costa Rican culture dances. The restaurant has a shuttle that picks up and drops off guests from San Jose if they book on time. Meals are on the buffet so you can choose from various Costa Rican dishes. 

La Granja

Open: 8.00 AM to 3.30 PM but extends to 8.30 PM on Fridays to Sunday. 

Location: The main road to Pavas. 

I was excited to hear that San Jose also had a La Granja restaurant. We had a great experience at La Granja in Florida, and La Granja San Jose meals were as good, if not better than those in Florida. The Peruvian restaurant served tasty food with fresh, local ingredients. 

My husband loved their desayuno casal ( a mix of rice, beans, scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and fried platano). I went for the chicken, beans, vegetables, and rice, which I had help clearing as the portions were too large. 

Maxi By Ricky

Open: 12:00 PM–10:30 PM daily. 

Location: Santa Ana, 350 meters south of Broadway Beauty. 

My husband loves this homey restaurant because he can watch sports while having the rondon (Caribbean coconut milk stew). The stew also contains mixed seafood or fish, plantains, yams, chile panameño and cassava. 

Ricky’s also serves Costa Rican foods, such as shrimp with Gallo pinto or fried rice and patacones. The peanut chicken was also excellent. Complimentary chocolates were a great surprise, and I loved them. A great addition was the Caribbean music as we had our dinner. 

Chef Che Cafe & Bar

Open: 8.00 AM to 9 PM (Wednesday to Saturday), 8.00 AM to 3 PM (Sunday to Monday). 

Location: The Alameda, San Jose. 

The cafe started as a small soda shop before transitioning into a restaurant. It is known for having various dishes but is most famous for the Mexican-style empanadas. The chef offers exquisite American and Mexican dishes. Other outstanding meals include Italian frittatas, crepes, hard tacos, and burgers. 

We went there for breakfast at least three times. I couldn’t get enough of Garcia’s (chef and owner) pancakes and empanadas. He doesn’t fry the empanadas the Mexican way but bakes the dough with wheat flour and butter, resulting in a crispy and flaky pie crust. 

Tin Jo Asian Restaurant

Open: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. daily. 

Location: C. 11, Avdas. 6–8 San José. 

It is another great Asian restaurant in San Jose. You only have to mention a meal from any Asian country, and the chef makes it for you. They mainly specialize in Vietnamese, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Indian cuisines. Each country has its own room with a different theme. 

Tin Jo restaurant is usually bustling, so making a reservation is wise to ensure you get a table. The Thai shrimp with pineapple curry in coconut milk is a must-try next time you are in San Jose. 

Another excellent dish you should try is the Chinese mu shu stir-fry with crepes. Samosas can also be ordered for takeout as snacks on your wild adventures in Costa Rica. I recommend ordering meals to share, as the restaurant serves large portions.  

Café Rojo

Open 12:00–8:30 PM (Monday–Friday), 10:00 AM–8:30 PM (Saturday and Sunday). 

Location:  Downtown San Jose on Avenida 7. It’s in a greenhouse. 

Having never tried Vietnamese cuisine before, Café Rojo did not disappoint. You should try out their Báhn mí with any toppings of your choice. The trout and pork dishes are also quite impressive. 

You will love how they serve every meal with fresh ingredients such as herbs, vegetables, and a sauce of your choice. The cafe serves delicious vegan desserts, including banana cake, bread and chocolate cake. 

Cafe Rojo is a coffee house where you can taste local Costa Rican flavors. 

Jardín de Lolita

Open: 12:00 PM–10:30 PM but closes an hour earlier on Sunday. 

Location: Avenida 3, Barrio Escalante. 

You will love this collection of different restaurant stands with a centralized outdoor and semi-outdoor seating area. The restaurants serve quality but quick eats, including Japanese cuisine, burgers, sushi, fish & chips, and pizzas. The staff prepares the meals and serves them from shipping containers. 

It’s the best place to buy street food in San Jose.

Aside exploring the best restaurants, if you’re planning a stay near the San Jose Airport, you should check out our review of Fairfield By Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela.

Conclusion

San Jose has a lot to offer in terms of gastronomy. You will not go hungry in San Jose, no matter your taste or preference for food. There are a lot of good restaurants within and near the city. 

What were your favorite restaurants near San Jose? Please share your experience.