What I love about Playas-del Coco is that there is something for everyone. You can find good restaurants serving great food even when travelling on a budget. The meals are high quality, and you will get fulfilling portions.
Key Takeaways From This Article
Playa del Coco caters to both high-end vacationers and budget travellers. Meals are an important part of any vacation. Hence, knowing where you can get good meals at an affordable price is good. Here are my key takeaways on budget restaurants in Playas del Coco.
- While most restaurants will accept credit cards, you should carry some cash for the smaller restaurants.
- Restaurants that serve seafood charge a bit higher for lobster dishes.
- Most budget-friendly restaurants are on the main street or near the beach, saving you on fare.
9 Best Budget Restaurants in Playas-del-Coco
I’ve included a list of my top nine reasonably priced Playas del Coco eateries below.
It’s not true that Sodas (the local name for restaurants serving local Costa Rican dishes) is the only place to get budget-friendly meals and drinks. There are well-established restaurants where you can still get a good meal at a lower price.
Soda Mar Y Tierra
Location: Near the Agua de Lechuga Condos.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 7 AM to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 AM to 4 p.m.; closed on Mondays.
Soda Mar Y Tierra is one of the most budget-friendly restaurants in Playas-del-Coco. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Breakfast: You can choose American or traditional breakfast, French toast, coffee, or juice for $6.50.
- Lunch/dinner: There are many options, including the catch of the day with rice dishes, casado, and burgers for $7–17. If you opt for lobster dishes, expect to pay $28 to $38.
Coffee Corazon
Location: Main Street, 50 meters from the beach.
Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM daily, apart from Wednesdays.
It’s a coffee shop and bistro bar with free WiFi. Coffee Corazon uses only premium Costa Rican coffee beans to make coffee. They also serve lunch, brunch, and dinner. I loved their sandwiches and omelettes. It’s a great place to have vegan and vegetarian dishes.
It’s the best place to have breakfast for families with kids, as toys, books, and games keep them busy. The restaurant has an A/C that keeps the indoor space cool on hot days. But you can also sit in their outdoor sitting area.
Le Coq
Location: Next to the casino on the main street.
Opening Hours: 12–7.30 PM, daily.
Looking for some vegan dishes? Le Coq offers the best vegan dishes, and you must try their vegan garlic aioli option. I was surprised to get a complete meal with a drink at $15.
Le Coq is famous for its Lebanese cuisine, and you must try out its falafel wraps, which start at $5. My husband had chicken shawarma with garlic potatoes and fresh mango juice for $11.
Here are a few meals and their prices:.
Chicken shawarma | 8 |
Pork loin in Lebanese spices | 7 |
Kafta kebab | 7 |
Hummus made from scratch + pita bread | 7 |
Falafel snack | 6 |
Soda Teresita
Location: It’s in front of the park, near the beach.
Opening Hours: 6:30 AM to 10 PM every day
Popular with tikos and tourists, this local restaurant has the best local food. Soda Teresita serves sumptuous and large portions, which is why it is popular. You can have your breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Soda.
I loved their casado, which was fish (or any other meat choice) with fresh plantains, rice, beans, and salad for $7.
For breakfast, try their eggs, plantains, and gallo pinto (beans and rice) dish. The Soda Teresita main menu mainly consists of local Costa Rican dishes for lunch. Their prices are lower than most of the other restaurants in Playas-del-Coco.
Donde Claudio and Gloria
Location: Beachfront restaurant.
Opening Hours: Sun-Fri 7 AM–9 PM & Sat 7 AM–10 PM.
It’s a legendary restaurant that has been in existence since 1954. Donde Claudio Y Gloria has a breakfast and dinner menu. But I would always go for dinner to watch the sunset, as I had my fish fillet. You can sit on the sand and have your dinner. Alternatively, sit in the dining area with a view of the sea.
They have all types of seafood, and it’s always fresh as they catch it from the sea. The menu is diverse and incorporates international cuisines.
Chorotacos
Location: The restaurant is in front of the Luperon Supermarket.
Opening Hours: 11 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri, closed Saturday and Sunday.
Best for Mexican cuisine at affordable prices. Chorotacos is a fast-food joint specializing in various taco specialties. You can get fish, chicken, pork tacos, or burrito bowls. The meals are prepared by their chefs as you watch.
You can get a burrito bowl or three different tacos at $7.
Java
Location: Pueblito Norte, La Chorrera Road.
Opening Hours: 7 AM to 5:30 PM every day.
Java not only serves breakfast but also has budget-friendly lunch options. I took a chicken panini and a mango granola smoothie for $5. They also serve a variety of smoothies, protein shakes, Belgian waffles, egg muffins, paninis, and fresh salads. Every meal on their menu is under $10.
Johann Bistro
Location: Close to the beach and near the park.
Opening Hours: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM ( Mon-Thur), 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM (Fri-Sun).
The best place for sushi or delicious sandwiches is in an air-conditioned space. You can opt for their chicken Caesar salad for a light lunch—the best place for affordable local Costa Rican dishes. Don’t miss out on their crepe.
After your meal, you can have a healthy drink or a smoothie.
Tortuga Bar
Location: Beachfront.
Opening Hours: 10 PM to 11 PM every day.
It’s a popular beachfront restaurant where you can get cheap food and drinks. Meat and pizza snacks can cost you up to $15, while seafood ranges up to $19. Lobster dishes, on the other hand, cost $26.
The setting is casual and great for catching up while taking the Costa Rican chiliguaro shot.
Sabor, Mexico
Location: Las Palmas area.
Opening Hours: Monday, 10 AM to 10 PM; Tuesday – Friday, 9 AM to 10 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 10 PM.
Has larger portions than all the other Mexican cuisine restaurants. Their burrito is so large that you must split it between two people. I loved their tiramisu and ordered their cheesecake for takeout. Sabor a Mexico has very nice desserts and offers Latin American cuisine too.
You can go for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner. Their tacos are also delicious, and the staff is very friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does a breakfast cost in Playa del Coco?
A hearty meal in a standard restaurant is between $5 and $7. In most restaurants, $7 is enough for breakfast, including coffee or tea with a pastry and egg.
2. What is the most eaten food in Costa Rica?
Gallo pinto, casado, and arroz con pollo are the staple foods of Costa Rica. The main meal is rice, beans, and plantains. It is not surprising to find most restaurants offering gallo pinto on their breakfast menus.
After a delicious meal, you can explore one of Costa Rica’s natural beauty with our guide to the 7 Best Waterfalls Near Playas-del-Coco
Conclusion
A good meal on a budget is possible in Playas del Coco. Several budget-friendly restaurants offer excellent meals. Most restaurants work with local ingredients, making their food cheaper.
Have you ever visited any of the budget-friendly restaurants mentioned in this article? Please share your experience and mention any other budget-friendly restaurant you know in Playas del Coco.