Written by Nikki Solano
Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
The information about casado below is an excerpt from our full Costa Rica Food Guide. To learn about other types of Costa Rican food, visit our free food guide:
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What is casado?
A typical Costa Rican lunch or dinner
Want to dine like a Tico? That’s easy; order a casado in Costa Rica. Literally meaning “married”, this popular Costa Rican dish serves rice and beans beside one another on a plate. If you want to include meat, fish, or vegetables with your meal, you can order casado con pollo (casado with chicken), casado con carne (casado with beef), casado con cerdo (casado with pork), casado con pescado (casado with fish), or casado vegetariano (vegetarian casado).
Casados are always accompanied by a two or three side dishes, which vary from day to day and across establishments. Popular casado side dish options include ensaladas (salads, such as green salad, pasta salad, and Russian salad–more on these below), vegetales mixtas (mixed vegetables), aguacate (avocado), pure de papas (mashed potatoes), platanos fritos (fried plantains), nacho chips, French fries, hard-boiled eggs, and tortillas.
Unlike gallo pinto, which sees rice and beans mixed together and served for breakfast, casados always deliver white rice and ether red or black beans separately on a plate for lunch or dinner.
Where to try casado in Costa Rica
All Costa Rican restaurants that serve Costa Rican cuisine–from authentic soda restaurants to more touristy establishments–offer the option to order casado.
How to pronounce casado
CAH-SAH-DOH
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
How to pronounce casado con pollo
CAH-SAH-DOH / CAHN / POY-YOH
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
- Con: 1 syllable
- Pollo: 2 syllables / equal emphasis on both syllables
How to pronounce casado con carne
CAH-SAH-DOH / CAHN / CAHR-NAY
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
- Con: 1 syllable
- Carne: 2 syllables / equal emphasis on both syllables
How to pronounce casado con cerdo
CAH-SAH-DOH / CAHN / SAIR-DOH
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
- Con: 1 syllable
- Cerdo: 2 syllables / equal emphasis on both syllables
How to pronounce casado con pescado
CAH-SAH-DOH / CAHN / PAYS-CAH-DOH
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
- Con: 1 syllable
- Pescado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
How to pronounce casado vegetariano
AH-ROSE / BAY-HAY-TAHR-EE-AH-NOH
- Casado: 3 syllables / light emphasis on the second syllable
- Vegetariano: 6 syllables / equal emphasis on all syllables
QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you tried casado in Costa Rica? What did you think?
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