One night I got the urge to try something different, and my wife in her eternal wisdom said “why not one of those new places up by Colono (the big hardware store)”. There’s a reason I listen to her; she has good ideas. TripAdvisor had good things to say about this place, and I saw on their Facebook page that they offered smoked ribs and got a hankering to try them.

It was a good decision indeed. The place was packed even at 8 PM on a Tuesday in what is far from the busiest week of the year. After eating there I understand why. For one, even though the place was full we were attended to promptly by the wait staff and our food was delivered in a timely manner as well. The portions were huge, the prices very reasonable, and most importantly it was delicious!

Photo courtesy of Pollo Fortueño

For example for around $10 US I got half a pound of ribs, four patacones (imagine a small tortilla made from flattening a piece of green plantain), refried beans, a homemade tortilla, banana ceviche, and a bottle of coke (combo pictured above). It was so much food I couldn’t even finish it all. The cocktails were also well made and very reasonably priced. Also they have a good selection of Costa Rican craft beer, always something I consider important!

As a point of comparison (and reaffirming that my recommendations are based on value) I once ate at a place that is fifty meters up the road and has the same general cuisine; the prices there were close to double what I paid at Pollo Fortueño (and the portions smaller).

I got to meet the owner and discuss a bit of his theory for the restaurant. He is originally from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica (a region famed for its cuisine) and said he wanted to provide food that was tasty, but at a price that made it accessible not only for budget minded travelers, but also for the locals that tend to suffer by the inflated prices that come from gouging tourists. His idea seems to be panning out. I saw just as many Ticos eating there as I did foreigners. In particular the portions are generous and diverse.

Pollo Fortueño has fast become one of my personal favorites in La Fortuna. If you’re in the mood for barbecue this is the place to eat at in La Fortuna.