The Best Street Food Markets and Stalls in Costa Rica

Laurie and Brian Beatty are the friendly owners of the Eat My Taco food truck in Tamarindo. They make to order killer tacos with cheese-coated tortillas using only the freshest ingredients. Their truck is always parked outside of the Langosta Sports Bar on Friday evenings and at the Tamarindo Feria on Saturdays. They are also available for hire for group events, such as weddings and reunions. If you see the Eat My Taco truck it is highly recommended that you grab at least two tacos.

Owned by a sweet young couple, the Shrimp Hole is a tiny, but inviting little shack with a cozy deck, one street up from Tamarindo Beach. They serve sustainably and locally sourced shrimp and seafood dishes such as the must-try Bahn Mi sandwich, and a shrimp over rice plate with salad and your choice of one of the several delicious homemade sauces. They also make a variety of very refreshing lemonades to wash all the shrimpy goodness down.

Perfect Burger is a converted red VW camper burger food truck in Tamarindo. Aptly named, the chef and owner is serving up several different perfect burger options. There is even a black bean burger to satiate the vegetarians out there. The meat is 100 percent Nicarguan beef that is fresh and never frozen, and the buns are savory with a hint of sweet homemade brioche. All the ingredients are fresh and sauces, like the pesto mayo, are made in-house and truly bring the whole burger together. Treat yourself to a perfect, made-to-order burger for only $6.

On the first Saturday of every month some of the best local eateries in Tamarindo bring out their specialties to share at the Tamarindo Street Food Fiesta. What’s more, all dishes are $6 or less, making this is an excellent way to get a taste of Tamarindo while enjoying live music and mingling with the locals. A few regulars at the Tamarindo Street Food Fiesta are Matty’s Deli, The Shrimp Hole, Eat My Taco, and Perfect Burger. New vendors are selectively chosen each month to participate, so each visit is slightly different, but always delicious.

Ben’Tana is the embodiment of Costa Rican street food: they serve some traditional Costa Rican and American “bar-food” dishes with a delicious twist, as well as burgers and sandwiches. All burgers and sandwiches are served on artisanal bread and topped with creative combinations of freshest ingredients, such as plantains, pineapple, local cheese, and homemade salsas and sauces. The menu is sure to make your mouth water.

La Ventanita Meraki is a fantastic fast food—but not chain—restaurant in San Jose. They serve up gourmet burgers, choripan, pulled pork sandwiches, thick cut French fries, and even homemade natural sodas, among many other tasty choices. There are also a ton of sauces to accompany the French fries and pretty much anything else you order.