As someone who travels often, when I go to a new place I always like to try the types of food that they are known for. Instead of going to the local McDonalds, I would rather be a little bit more unique and, as long as it’s safe, eat some of the local food.
There is just something about getting the taste of the true culture in other places that makes me realize how blessed I am to be an American.
Obviously, the type of food that most people would consider to be exotic would be the Peruvian food that you can find throughout Costa Rica. More than likely you will be visiting San Jose or maybe even staying there and they will have numerous Peruvian restaurants in that area. However, if you won’t be visiting San Jose, most beach towns will have them as well.
Anyhow, in San Jose, I would say that the most convenient and easily accessible Peruvian Restaurant to downtown would be La Palma. It is on the corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 9. It is a fairly fancy dining place. You will find some fine wines to accompany the meal there. This restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.
One of the newest Peruvian restaurants would have to be La Fortaleza in San Jose. It has been open only since the summer of 2005 which means that the establishment still has a nice clean look to it. The food is good and it is a slightly more casual than La Palma. You will find it at the corner of Calle Central and Avenida 7.
If you are staying on the west side of San Jose or wanting a good mid-day Peruvian exotic meal I would highly recommend Macchu Pichu. You will find some of the best Peruvian beer I have ever tasted, called Cuzquena. You will find that this restaurant comes highly recommended by several other guides for Costa Rica delicacies. Supposedly the food is outstanding and quite affordable.
When you visit these restaurants you should expect a wide variety of flavors. Since there are so many immigrants and the Inca heritage you will find that the flavors and ingredients can come from several different continents even. For this reason, you should be able to find something that fits your style. It is on par with that of French, Indian, or Chinese cuisines in the options you will have. For example, if you are like me and like a little bit of a spicy kick to your food, you can talk to your waiter or waitress and certainly find something like this for you. Those of you that are mild eaters will not be left out either though!
