A place where expat retirees can eat standing up “butt to butt”

From time to time I like to write articles about different aspects of Costa Rica’s culture including unique eateries, especially ones that not many expat retirees know about.

La culo con culo (butt to butt) or Los parados (the standing ones), as this unique place is know as, is located in the Uruca neighborhood just northwest of downtown San José.

Actually “el culo con culo,” as it is affectionately known, is on the west side of the Uruca Sports Plaza. It has been in the same location for 53 years. When seen this small establishment looks just like most Costa Rica sodas (small food stands). This unique place is so popular among ticos that over the years its fame has spread only by word of mouth. No advertising or signage has never been necessary.

At lunch time it is jammed-packed with clients whose cars, trucks and even motorcycles line the adjoining streets. The prices are very reasonable and the food is great. Some of the most famous dishes are: tortilla sandwiches or gallos as they are called here, gallo de sausage, minced potatoes, gallo pinto (rice and beans) and many more typical delights. The patrons say similar dishes served at other sodas ‘cannot hold a candle’ to the food here.

The reason this unique soda is called La culo con culo is that most of the time there is standing room only and it seems like people are packed in “butt to butt” and cannot move.