The story
Chifrijo was created on 22 October 1979 by Miguel Cordero at his bar, Cordero's Bar, in Tibás, a district just north of central San José. As he told it, he simply combined what was in the kitchen in one bowl: beans and crispy fried pork with fresh pico de gallo and tortilla chips. The name joins chicharrón (fried pork) and frijoles (beans). Most places now add rice and avocado, though Cordero's own bar leaves them out. He registered the name as a trademark in 2002 and warned off some imitators, but the dish spread to bar menus across Costa Rica anyway. He died in 2020.
On the Meridish menu
Chifrijo was the starter course on menu No. 15 on October 15, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Rice, beans and crispy pork with fresh tomato salsa and tortilla chips, all in one bowl. A bar owner in this suburb of the capital threw it together in 1979.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
- ticotimes.net/2018/11/09/off-the-eaten-path-corderos-bar
- nacion.com/el-pais/fallece-miguel-cordero-creador-del-chifrijo/VBRA64J7BBFI3KO3EB6GNXOOKQ/story
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
