Coming to Costa Rica as a vegan, I thought I’d be eating rice and beans every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was wrong. I won’t lie and say that being vegan in Costa Rica didn’t come with a few challenges, it did, but it was not very difficult and definitely not impossible. For vegetarians, its a breeze, almost everyone in Costa Rica knows about a vegetarian diet, and its actually relatively popular compared to the US. Vegan, however is not as well known, but I was never found a situation where I didn’t have anything good to eat.
The Food
These first few meals are various forms of vegan “casados”. This is probably the most common dish served in Costa Rica. Although most Costa Ricans make their casados with some form of meat, you aren’t missing out on much by not having it. A casado basically has all the necessities of a perfectly balanced meal, traditionally it is made of rice and beans, a salad, fried sweet plantains, and a protein.
Let’s start with the basics. This is going to be your go to meal if you don’t plan on eating out often. Rice, beans, grilled vegetables, and salad. Very basic, very cheap, and very easy to make. Although it is a very basic meal, it doesn’t taste like it. The fruits and vegetables in Costa Rica are as fresh and ripe as can be. Another version of the basic meal. Everything you need to fuel your body on one plate, ready in 10 minutes or less. I just want to reiterate how much better the fruits and vegetables are compared to the US. Everything tasted like it was homegrown because most of it probably was.Another plate very simple to make plate with a few more additions. The diced vegetables on the top left of the plate is a must try, called “picadillo”, absolutely amazing. The strange yellow looking blob under that is fried banana, which they have in the US, but I’d never tried it. It was surprisingly good. This is one of the casados I had at a restaurant. A few more ingredients and a little bit more style, but still a very delicious and nutritious meal.This was probably the best version of the casado that I had while in Costa Rica. As you can see, it is not really anything fancy. All you need is fresh, ripe, and whole foods to make an amazing meal. I’d also like to point out the potato like vegetable next to the salad. It is called yucca, its very similar to a potato, and just as delicious.
Next, is a meal that most vegans from the US probably know pretty well. Most people in general probably know it pretty well. Spaghetti. Spaghetti Pomodoro specifically.
Spaghetti, plain and simple. One of my personal favorite meals back home, so it helped me from getting too homesick. Just spaghetti again, but this time with rice. Because they eat rice with almost anything. Spaghetti mixed with some veggies at one of the restaurants we went to. Spaghetti may not be a staple of the Costa Rican diet, but it is popular. Some of the best spaghetti I’ve had in my life. This was one of the only veggie options at this particular restaurant, but it was good enough that some of those that ordered a non-vegan option told me they’d wished they’d have ordered this instead.
For those too lazy to cook but too cheap to fine dine, I recommend the “sodas”. Everywhere you go, theres likely to be a few “sodas” which basically means really good, probably cheap food. Similar to “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants in the US, these sodas made up for their lack of showmanship with taste.
This is one of the veggie sandwiches I had special made in one of the sodas. I asked if they had vegan options, (“¿Tiene comida vegana?”- very important phrase to know) and she asked if I minded getting something off menu. Apparently the chef was vegan, so he knew what he was doing when he made this very very tasty sandwich. Some fajitas vegetarianas at another soda we tried. Be warned, “vegetariano” can mean both vegan or vegetarian so always double check.
For those who don’t mind to pay tourist prices, there is some great food at most of the “fancier” restaurants.
I honestly don’t remember what this dish is called, and I don’t really even know if its a typical Costa Rican food, but I do know that it was delicious. I found this gem in the first week at a restaurant called “Parrillita de Pepe” This was literally just called “Vegetariano” or “Vegetarian” in English, even though it was vegan. Absolutely amazing and found at a small chocolate shop/cafe called “Sibu Choccolate Escazú”.If there is anyone out there that thinks vegans only eat salad, just know that this was the only full sized salad I ate the entire time, and this salad absolutely blew me away. It was at a restaurant that worked in a similar way to Subway with lots and lots more options. I don’t know the name of the restaurant but this may have been the best salad I’ve ever had. IA vegan burger with a side of potatoes. A Costa Rican version of one of my absolutel favorite meals. This was served with a “red bun”; I’m not sure what the difference is other than it is red, but it tasted great. This was at a restaurant called “Orpho’s” and it had great service, and a great location on top of a hill that made it the perfect spot to enjoy a cruelty free meal and watch the sunset.
I saved this one for last because not only was it one of my favorite meals, it was everywhere from some of the fanciest restaurants to the cheapest sodas. Patacones y Frijoles.
Often served as an appetizer for many to share or a meal for one. This is a very simple recipe, but one I’m going to bring back with me to the US. First, slightly cook a peeled plantain. Then smush it flat. Then fry it. Serve with refried beans, guacamole or avocado, and pico de gallo. I highly recommend this meal.
Fruit! There is so much fruit in Costa Rica that I’d never even heard of!
Not only are there many many different types of fruit, almost all of them are better than in the US because of the tropical lands and almost all of it being grown and bought locally. I especially recommend the mamones chinos and the guanábana.
General Tips for vegans planning a trip to Costa Rica.
If you don’t speak spanish, learn these phrases.
I am a vegetarian -> Soy vegetariano/a
I am a vegan -> Soy vegano/a
I do not eat meat (or chicken or fish) -> Yo no como carne (o pollo o pescado)? (For some; chicken or fish aren’t considered “carne”, so be careful.)
I do not eat eggs -> Yo no como huevos
I do not eat/drink milk -> Yo no como/bebo leche
Is there milk? -> ¿Hay leche?
Is there butter? -> ¿Hay mantequilla?
Is there meat? -> ¿Hay carne?
Bring or buy some snacks! This is just a general tip for anyone traveling, you never know when you’ll get hungry and not have any chance to eat anytime soon. I recommend granola bars, peanut butter, chips, or fruit!
Never be afraid to ask questions! While not every restaurant I went to or every person I talked to understood veganism, something US vegans likely understand well already, everyone was very nice and accommodating. You may find a restaurant that doesn’t have many options, but if you ask, you may just receive a special off menu item thats better than anything on menu, and its cheaper. (Happened to me twice)
Being vegan in Costa Rica did take some extra planning, I did have to pay extra attention when going out to eat, and I did end up eating a lot of rice and beans. However, at no point did I ever regret being vegan. I still ate great foods, I still made new friends, I still got to experience a completely new culture and language, and I still didn’t have to contribute to the death of any animals. That sounds like a win in my book.
A-State Costa Rica 2019 