Equus

We have been here a few times now. We can’t get past the combination plate with beef, pork and chicken. Personally, I think the chicken is the best. It is very flavorful and tender. The beef can be a little chewy at times. Then add some tortillas, rice, and beans for a fabulous meal at a good price.
The rustic cowboy style barn, cut logs for sitting, and the fireplace raging in the middle cooking the food makes for a great atmosphere while waiting for the food. As the place is open and rustic I would not wear white clothes and they might get a little dirty.
Finally, this is a more locals location than a tourist location and parking can be a little challenging. Even if it is on a main road.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside but it’s a very lovely place on the inside and it’s the best meal we had in Costa Rica. We absolutely regret not finding a way to come back before the end of our trip. Perfectly cooked in front of your eyes in the wood fired stove, all for amazing prices. I couldn’t recommend it more!

Roadside bbq on the west end of the lake. Order the mixed grill. Smaller size was still huge for 2 people. Comes with tortillas, beans and a tasty condiment. Really cool chimney grill they cook the meat on.

We pulled over on a whim on our way to La Fortuna from LIR airport and it was a highlight of our 5 day trip. The food was AMAZING, service was quick and friendly. They even let us check out the discoteque in the back that has been closed since covid. Saw some beautiful birds, enjoyed an amazing view of Lake Arenal and filled up on our favorite food of the trip!! We got the mixed plate and although all of the food was amazing, we highly recommend the pork ribs. We were chasing that flavor/tenderness the the next 5 days! PLEASE stop here!

We stumbled across this roadside restaurant on our way to our stay and we're really glad we did! Authentic open-fire bbq that relies on the kiss of the flames to develop brilliant layers of authentic flavors without the need for seasonings and sauces. Along with the pickled onions and peppers on fresh, warm corn tortillas and hand-squeezed lemonade, this was the perfect meal to cap off a long day of traveling.

The best BBQ I’ve had in Costa Rica. The meat is phenomenal, we loved the ribs! Delicious beans and plantains as well.

Found this rustic restaurant close to our place in Lake Arenal. Bbq pork is a must order - I thought the chicken was dry but the bbq pork was great! Service was also great. Looks old but I appreciate how clean the place is.

Stopped for a quick snack as we headed into La Fortuna. Tried the chips with beans & onion/jalapeño, plantains and french fries. Everything was delicious. Beans were so good and topped with the onion/jalapeño mix even better. Plantains were perfection and fresh fries cooked crispy, just the way we like it. Forgot to take a pic until the end, sorry! Plan to stop back by on our way out to try the BBQ.

This place is great. Service was excellent and fast. Beer was cold. We got the pork ribs and they were fresh off the wood fire oven served with some amazing beans, rice, and salad; they serve onions with jalapenos with the meal. Big portions filled us up and sent us home with leftovers. The view from the balcony is an amazing one of the lake. The owner is a super nice guy. There is an old bar behind the bbq that's all stone work and a blast from the past!!

We've visited this rustic restaurant 3 times on our way to/from LA Fortuna and Puerto Viejo/Limon. What a great discovery. This place has THE BEST ribs and wings in Costa Rica... no BBQ Sauce needed here! They're cooked in an old fashion brick oven that gives them an amazing smoke flavor along with the delicious marinade. The service is amazing too! Take a trip back in time with all the historical cultural artifacts hanging in the restaurant. The owner patiently took the time to tell us how the restaurant used to be a trading post and how each artifact was used, and this was during a busy time in the restaurant. He also suggested that we tour the "disco tech" in the back. We explored it while we waited for our food. It shut down during COVID and is yet to reopen. But, you could tell some fun times were had there! Btw... the chicken breast was great too, and you get a bonus... view of Lake Arenal! I've added photos, the last shows my husband imitating Michael Jackson in the disco tech!

We had the medium meat platter, with a side of plantains. One of the best meals we've ever had! On vacation from Ontario and it beats the smokehouses back home by far! We will be back!

Unique open (but covered) dining experience with a view of Lake Arenal. Authentic and delicious food, our steak was cooked over a wood fire, the service was great! Very friendly family run for 30 years.
Get the mixed plate with ribs!

Exactly what I was looking for in Costa Rica. A hole in the wall place with all the character of local. The smell of burning wood barbecue is intoxicating. The food was amazing and the view of the lake is peaceful. And the people were welcoming and inviting.

The food and service here was excellent! I am so glad we stopped! The atmosphere was great. The grande mixed plate was delicious and plenty for the two of us to have left overs.

Rustic with a view. Super friendly staff, Miguel and his wife. BBQ was delicious....Recommended.

Amazing place to stumble upon. Great priced food, super delicious, amazing owners, and the coolest Vibe I've ever gotten from a place. Make sure you go down the back path to see the nightclub built right into the jungle!

We passed by Bar Restaurante Equus several times while adventuring around the Arenal area. It didn't really attract my attention but one of the locals suggested we would like it, so on our way back to the coast, we stopped in. I am so glad we did!

Parking can be a bit tight, we ended up parking down the road, despite having a small parking area. It is a popular place with the locals and for good reason. Rustic is accurate but so is barbecue heaven. Smoked in a fire pit behind the bar, you can smell the lovely wood smoke waft through the restaurant, which has a great view to the lake across the road.

We ordered the medium meat platter so we could try as much as possible. The chicken and beef were very flavorful but the short pork ribs I ate until I couldn't fit anymore in. The beans were highly recommend, so those too and yes, the best baked beans in Costa Rica. The fresh squeezed lemonade was a great choice to wash it all down. So much food, the portions are for a hungry man!

We have already decided our next trip, probably every trip to Arenal, will include a stop at Bar Restaurante Equus! I highly recommend it, if you love bbq.

Food was delicious! We got the chicken and pork. Plus the view of the lake right across from the restaurant was so cool! Highly recommend!

If you didn't know you'd drive right past this place. Don't!!! Most authentic Costa Rican food I've had. People that work here are so nice.
Food is amazing, like SERIOUSLY AMAZING 👏. The chicken is tender and juicy. The pork is smoked perfectly and has so much flavor. The beans are some of the best of my life and the pickled onions and jalapeños you could eat like candy. Skip all those other resort restaurants. Come here for some of the best food.
The building itself is honestly one of the coolest places I've seen in all my travels too.

We really enjoyed the mixed meat platter. The pork ribs were to die for. This place is a hidden gem. Great view too!