2 Best Restaurants in Alajuela, Central Valley

Tasty, hearty, filling Tex-Mex food and a gregarious owner make this basic downtown joint a great place for lunch or dinner. Everybody seems to know everybody else here—this is a favorite hangout among the area’s expat community—and you’ll be welcome, too. Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, and tacos make up the fare, all spiced up or simmered down according to your wishes. The kitchen is always happy to prepare a vegetarian version of any dish, too.

Perched on a ridge several miles north of town, El Mirador has a sweeping view of the Central Valley that is impressive by day but more beautiful at dusk and after dark. Get a window table in the dining room, or one on the adjacent porch if it isn't too cool. The menu, which includes lomito (tenderloin) and corvina (sea bass) served with various sauces, and several shrimp and chicken dishes, plays second fiddle to the view; you may want to stop in around sunset for drinks and appetizers instead of dinner. There are at least two other restaurants nearby with similar names and views—this is the one we recommend. It’s on the main road, close to the Buena Vista Hotel.