Pizzeria Torino/Soda Maravilla – near Juntas, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

There are 2 basic types of eating establishments in Costa Rica: restaurants and sodas. A restaurant is what you think it is – a place to order and be served the food of your choice from a menu.

A Soda serves what is known as "typico" or the typical Costa Rica cuisine. The basic plate is called a "casado" which literally translates to "marriage", and so it is. There is a "marriage" of rice, beans, a salad (usually with a base of cabbage) and then a meat of your choice. The Soda you visit may do their own variations such as adding a fried mature plantain, some picadillo (small chopped vegetable, salad like thing, usually ayote or potato with herbs & spices. Sometimes mashed potatoes & maybe a fried egg.)