Chifrijo

A traditional Costa Rican dish — Chifrijo is the beloved bar snack born in San José, a bowl that stacks rice, beans, crispy chicharrón, and pico de gallo into one glorious mess.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 35 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Costa Rican KitchenCategory
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A traditional Costa Rican dish — Chifrijo is the beloved bar snack born in San José, a bowl that stacks rice, beans, crispy chicharrón, and pico de gallo into one glorious mess. Its name fuses ‘chicharrón’ and ‘frijoles,’ and it was invented to keep people snacking (and ordering drinks) through the afternoon. Scoop it up with tortilla chips for the full experience.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat, add the pork pieces, and fry, turning occasionally, until deeply golden and crisp, about thirty minutes. Season with salt and drain on paper towels.
  2. Warm the beans with their broth and the lizano-style sauce in a small pot.
  3. Toss the tomato, onion, culantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt into a quick pico de gallo.
  4. Build each bowl in layers: warm rice, then beans with broth, then a generous pile of chicharrón, then pico de gallo and avocado cubes.
  5. Serve immediately with tortilla chips for scooping.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The beans should stay soupy — the broth is part of the magic. If you want shortcut chicharrón, use store-bought fried pork rinds and warm them briefly in a dry pan.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook35 min
Servings4
CategoryCosta Rican Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →