Where To Eat In Playas del Coco Under $10
Eating out on vacation can consume your budget quickly, especially in a town like Playas del Coco where food is priced similarly to what one would pay in the United States or Canada. A meal at one of the restaurants away from the beach can easily cost between $15 and $20, without drinks and not including seafood or steak. However, there are a few hidden gems for those looking to eat out on a budget.
These budget-friendly restaurants in Playas del Coco all offer high-quality, delicious food for under $10, making them the hot spots for cheap eats in Playas del Coco.
1.) Le Coq
Located next to the casino on main street, Le Coq is the place to go for a fresh, fast and delicious lunch. They specialize in Lebanese cuisine and are well-known in town for their falafel wraps, which start at only 2.500 colones.
While the wraps themselves are plenty filling, they give you the option to make it a combo with a drink and either garlic potatoes or a salad for just 2.000 colones more.
Our Recommendation: A Chicken Shawarma wrap combo with fresh mango juice and garlic potatoes, 5.500 colones
Location & Hours: Main street next to the Casino, open from 11:30am to 10pm Monday through Saturday.
2.) Che Sirloin
It may be a bit surprising to see a restaurant known for steak on a list of cheap eats but, in fact, about half of the menu costs under 5.000 colones, including Mexican-style tacos, burgers, empanadas (only 1.000 colones!) and sandwiches. They also offer a daily lunch special that includes an entree, drink, and dessert, usually for just 5.500 colones.
Our Recommendation: the Rib Eye Sandwich (3.500) with a side of onion rings (2.000). Be sure to ask for their house BBQ sauce!
Location & Hours: Pueblito Sur, 830am to 830pm. Closed on Thursday.
3.) Chorotacos
Chorotacos is a fast food-style restaurant stand specializing in…you guessed it…tacos. They offer a variety of specialty tacos, made with chicken, pork or fish. Their menu also includes taco salads, burritos and burrito bowls, all prepared fresh in front of you. Mix and match 3 tacos for 3.600 colones or, if you’re super hungry, go for a hearty burrito bowl.
Our Recommendation: Chicken taco salad (3.250) with a Tamarindo juice (750)
Location & Hours: in front of the Luperon supermarket. 11am to 8pm Mon-Fri, closed Saturday and Sunday
4.) Panaderia Tutu
In general, bakeries are the place for go for a budget lunch in Costa Rica as they all usually have empanadas and other snacks for 1.000 colones or less. However, Panaderia Tutu takes this a step further by offering pizza…which actually happens to be some of the best pizza in Coco.
Our Recommendation: Ham and mushroom pizza
Location & Hours: next to the bus stop in front of Plaza Nino. Hours not posted.
5.) Java
Java is one of the hot breakfast spots in Coco but they also have several lunch options including fresh salad, paninis and a filling smoothie menu. Or, call it brunch and indulge in their delicious Belgian waffles. Either way, nearly everything on the menu is under 5.000 colones
Our Recommendation: Chicken panini or, for a light lunch on the go, Mango Granola smoothie (2.200 colones)
Location & Hours: Pueblito Norte, 7am to 5:30pm every day
6.) Street Vendors
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, skip the restaurants and walk towards the beach. From the intersection in front of the soccer field and souvenir shops, you’ll often find vendors offering meat (usually pork or chicken) on a stick, served with a tortilla. Wander down a little further and you’ll often run into someone selling green mango, a local treat that’s delicious topped with lime and salt.
Our Recommendation: Grab a stick or two of meat, some mango, and a “pipa fria” (coconut) and head to the beach
Location & Hours: varies, usually at the intersection in front of the soccer field near the beach, occasionally in front of Zi Lounge on busy nights.
What are your favorite cheap eats in Playas del Coco? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!
