Sodas by exotic chicken

Before I came to Costa Rica I thought that a soda was a bottle of pop, but a soda in this country is something much different. A Costa Rican soda is a tiny restaurant which serves flavourful, locally-grown, simple food.  This blog describes the characteristics of a Costa Rican soda.

Sodas are constructed of many different materials. The roof is made from mismatched tin pieces. lt covers an outdoor seating area. The kitchen is secured by 4 inch padlocks. Wooden windows can be raised when the owner pulls a string. The design of a soda is simple and affordable.

Sodas are colorful. One soda in Puerto Viejo was painted red yellow and blue to match the Colombian flag.  We went to a cute pink soda in Manzanillo.  Another soda in BriBri was called chocolate soda and painted brown.  Some sodas have neon lights; others have hand-painted signs.  Each soda we went to was unique in its design and colors.  

Sodas are plentiful and conveniently located. Some sodas are located on the beach; others are on the side of the road.   They can be found on street corners and near bus stops.  It seems that sodas are almost everywhere. Whenever you are hungry, you will find a soda nearby.

Sodas cook and serve simple, flavorful food. The basic menu consists of rice and beans. You can also order cheese empanadas, plantains, eggs, sliced bread, and grilled meat or fish.   Batidos are fruit smoothies made with papaya, strawberry, banana, pineapple, watermelon, or tamarindo.