San José has many hidden jewels, many places that are unknown to foreigners and even to locals that don’t take the time to discover this city; you will be surprised to find some great restaurants and bars in downtown San José, and here we give you six awesome restaurants right in Costa Rica’s capital city that you should definitely take the time to try:

1) Coconut: Many people complain about how hard it is to find traditional Chinese food in Costa Rica, well, Coconut will solve this problem for you. The place is simple, and it’s located is Street 11, Avenues 10 and 12 right across the Arenas Skate Park; the flavor, however, will surprise you. The place is famous for the pork dishes, it is simply amazing. An interesting fact about Coconut is that it doesn’t have a fixed schedule, it usually opens from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., but this is not set on stone, since it is a small business they sometimes run out of pork at which point they close. The best way to avoid disappointments is by calling 2223-8869.

2) Espacio Picante: We continue with Asian cuisine. “Spicy Space” is located 150m east from the Soda Tapia in San José, or between Streets 38th and 40, 2nd Avenue. The specialty here is the hot pot, also known as steamboat; if you haven’t experience this before, it’s basically a hot pot of stock that is set in the center of the table and you can add the ingredients you want; different and delicious at very reasonable prices.

3) Tin Jo: This one is a more popular option, Tin Jo serves Asian fusion gastronomy, inspired in flavors from China, Thailand, India and Japan. Great service, plenty of vegetarian alternatives and they have added some gluten free options as well.

4) La Esquina de Buenos Aires: Now we switch to an Argentinian restaurant. Small and cozy, the only complaint we usually here about this restaurant is that it is hard to get a table since it is usually crowded. If you are looking for a great steakhouse in Costa Rica you should definitely try La Esquina de Buenos Aires.

5) Fritos Korean Food: Yes, more Asian gastronomy, but it is really good so it deserves its spot in this list. This restaurant is located in the Central Avenue and Street 11. This is a very simple, restaurant, don’t expect anything fancy, it serves “soda” style but it is clean and the food has great flavor.

6) Tenedor Argentino: Located in 2nd Avenue close to the National Theater, this Argentinian restaurant that also serves “fast food”. The specialty is the famous Milanesa. The place is small but nice, with a very relaxed atmosphere.