Top Ten Grocery Items in Costa Rica
Top Ten Grocery items to pick up in Costa Rica (that won’t break the bank);
Costa Rica, like the rest of the world these days, is no longer cheap. Gone are the days of well priced restaurant meals, services (for the most part), or household items.
Their version of a dollar store, is wall to wall packed with thousands of items imported from China, and there you can find all sorts of good deals. So if you’re looking for a stapler, or, any other kind of knick knack, you’re set there. But for good, whole food, nice meals, and activities, Costa Rica is no longer a spot where you can “live like a Queen”.
The stunning and powerful nature of Costa Rica remains the same. The pricing, does not.
That said, Costa Rica is like my second home, and I love it. Over the years, I’ve collected many favorite go-to’s for my grocery list. They satisfy a nice mix of nutrient dense food and treats that are nothing but tasty.
Here is a list of my Top Ten Favorite items to pick up again, and again and again:
Mangoes
Nutrient dense, and far superior taste and texture compared to North America.
Avocados
Like the mango, the avocado is also far superior in taste and texture compared to most other parts of the world.
Watermelon
I haven’t had a bad watermelon in Costa Rica, ever. Also, it provides the hydration needed when sweating all day.
Limes
They don’t really have lemons in Costa Rica, so wherever you’d use a lemon, you’ll be using a lime. They are so refreshing in water, on fish - both cooked and raw, and honestly, most things that you’d eat here.
Papi Tosty Potato Chips
You need to buy these exact ones. These chips are life changing. The best chip you are lucky enough to pull from any regular bag anywhere else in the world? The entire batch, is this chip. Delicious and fatty like other chips, but a crisp dry-ness to them that I’ve not seen emulated anywhere else. Also, they have the golden brown, that you normally only find once in a while in other chip bags. Admittedly, they are extra addictive.
Cocanas
These cookies are a nice pick me up, and we especially enjoy dipping them in our coffee.
Chicken Breast
Red meat in Costa Rica tends to be hit or miss, but chicken breast is usually very local and very fresh.
Fresh Fish
The key to buying fish in Costa Rica, is the same key in any part of the world - find yourself a local who can tell you where to get the fish that’s caught fresh, and sold, local and fresh. We have a “pescadoria” five minutes from our casa, and a trip there ensures we are coming home with just-caught, and decently priced, fish.
Rice
The most obvious staple in most people’s pantry. And rice complements most dishes here in Costa Rica.
Lizano Salsa Sauce
Last but not least, this bottle of the traditional Costa Rican sauce (found in every single store) - Lizano Salsa, is at once salty and a bit sour, and super tasty on most things - chicken, meat, rice, guac etc etc…You’ll find yourself experimenting with what you can put it on (my latest, pizza).