Puerto Viejo Restaurant Tips by sean420 Top 5 Page for this destination

Chile Rojo: Chile Rojo - Excellent Curries

Immensely popular spot which is packed every night. The curries are all really good but could have been more spicy. They offer a breakfast special ($4) which are good as well. They also do an all you can eat sushi ($12) on Thursday nights but I've heard from several people that the service is unusually slow and they only bring you one or two pieces of sushi at a time.

Favorite Dish: The chicken curry with rice was pretty darn tasty!

Address: on the main road through town

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

@t E's Restaurant (Rockin' J's): @t E's Restaurant - A fun place to hang out

A fun place to hang out with some of the cheapest beers in town. The BEST margaritas in all of Puerto Viejo (be sure to order with a premium tequila). They also have a 50oz giant margarita for $16. The food is pretty good as well. I recommend the chicken skewers which come with a really good peanut dipping sauce. Pad Thai and the Thai peanut chicken (huge portions) were out of this world. The tacos al pastor were also good but needed some salsa or something as they were a bit dry. Quesadillas were good but smothered in a bit too much cheese

Favorite Dish: Thai peanut chicken = YUM

Address: 800 meters south of Puerto Viejo

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Lizard King: Lizard King - Good food but slooooow service

We ordered chips and guacamole, tacos, and enchiladas. The chips and guacamole took a loooong time to arrive (30 minutes) and then we didn't get our main courses for another 30 minutes after that. The food was all really good but I wouldn't recommend it based on the slow service.

Address: 100 meters south of the main center of puerto viej

Comparison: about average

Phone: (506) 750-0614

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 2

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.lizardkingresort.com/

Bread and Chocolate: Excelent sandwiches!

Fantastic sandwiches -
jerk chicken = really good
grilled cheese and salad = wow!

The chocolates are completely out of this world.

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Stanford's: Stanford's - dont bother

We were promptly brought our drinks along with our appetizer of guacamole and chips. The guacamole was good but the chips were pretty soggy with the oil used to fry them. We then waited for a really long time for our arroz con pollo. It was almost as if they had to wait for the rice to grow and the chicken to hatch and mature so they could make our meal. I don't know if the cook forgot or was taking a long break, getting high or what. We saw other dinners waiting quite some time as well. I guess when the tips are included in the bill there isn't much incentive for fast service. We won't be going back to Stanford's.

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 1

Theme: Local

Cafe Rico: Cafe Rico - BEST coffee ever!

The BEST coffee I've had anywhere! Yummy fruit salads with yogury and granolla. Fresh fruit drinks. The huevos rancheros are also recommended. Rodger, the owner is very attentive to his customers. It also attracts some unusual people based on the sign out from that advertises "conspiracy consultations".

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Coffeehouse

De Paso: Good and inexpensive food at De Paso

De Paso - One of our favorites. We ate there about four times. Great, inexpensive place close to the beach with a sand floor. The best tacos we had in Puerto Viejo. The guacamole, chicken dishes, and steaks are also all good.

Address: Just past Salsa Brava next to Cut Bak

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Diner

El Dorado: Great place to people watch

The top spot on my list of favorite places for beers, cocktails and people watching. The nachos are good but defiantly not a low calorie meal (lots of cheese). Pizzas are good as well as the casados. Cocktails are decent and they have a happy hour every night where you can get 2x1 of a few select drinks.

Favorite Dish: Decent pizza and casados are available

Address: on the main road throughh town

Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: 506-750-0604

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Jungle Love: Good food in Playa Chiquita

Nice ambiance and good food

Favorite Dish: The chicken chipotle was EXCELENT

Address: In Playa Chiquita about 4km south of town

Comparison: about average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Eclectic/International

El Loco Natural: Awesome meal and entertainment

The best meal I had in Puerto Viejo was at El Loco Natural. Located on the second story of a building this open air restaurant serves excellent Thai and caribbean fusion dishes. Some nights they also have live caribbean style music. Best to get there early as this place fills up fast and people tend to linger and listen to the music.

We had orderves, cocktails, 3 beers, and entrees and it came to about $24/person including tax and tip

Favorite Dish: Peanut citrus sauce over rice and vegetables - soooo good!

Address: above the color caribe souveneer shop

Comparison: about average

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Eclectic/International