Costa Rican food is based on a small group of familiar staples used in many combinations: rice, black beans, maize, plantains, vegetables, eggs, meat, and seafood. The result is generally straightforward and comforting rather than heavily spiced, with fresh produce playing a central role.

Gallo pinto is perhaps the country's best-known everyday dish, while casados bring rice, beans, salad, plantain, and a protein together on one plate. Caribbean Costa Rica adds coconut, ginger, and Afro-Caribbean flavours, creating a noticeably different regional tradition.