El Chile Rojo is a little hole in the wall on the main road across from the ATEC office. After weeks in Costa Rica, my fellow city girls and I were yearning for some delicious Thai and were thrilled to find Chile Rojo. The delightful, yet slightly cramped open restaurant plays great music in a casual candlelit atmosphere.
The restaurant serves delicious and beautifully presented Thai food, although portions are small for it's comparatively higher prices. My friend and I each ordered Thai Chicken and Tofu Salads, (1300 colones), that were about a third the size of a typical entreé salad. Daily specials are listed on the board outside, with exotic offerings like barracuda or dessert crepes. Saturday is sushi night, with delicious vegetarian rolls for about 1300, and a large sushi sampler for a great value at 2800. Happy hour is from 6-8 PM nightly, when you can get two drinks for about $3 US. The Piña and Mango Coladas are too strong and the ice is not blended in--opt for a great Mai Tai instead.
Overall, El Chile Rojo is one of the best decently priced restaurants in Costa Rica. If you're a little sick of the typical casado, head here for a little taste of the upscale.