T-Rex Restaurant

NOTE: T-Res Restaurant & Soda recently re-opened under new name & management and, unfortunately, the HUGE meals are no longer. But they have been replaced by a lighter menu more appropriate to accompany the recently opened wading pool and water park just across the street. Consider this a HISTORICAL post of how things once were. Life goes on…

T-REX RESTAURAT & SODA

Steven Spielberg set Jurassic Park in Costa Rica, imagining the action on an island off the South Pacific coast. The opening scenes feature Isla del Coco, a remote and wild place that stands in for the fictional Isla Nublar. Spielberg considered filming there but chose other locations due to limited infrastructure at the time.

Maybe that’s why the towering dinosaurs at Plaza Ventanas feel oddly fitting. They stand among jungle-covered mountains, blending fantasy with the real landscape. These prehistoric giants draw plenty of attention and frame one of the area’s favorite spots—T-Rex Restaurante y Soda.

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TREX RESTAURATE Y SODA

If hunger hits hard and you need great food at a fair price, head straight to T-Rex. It’s the only spot in the area where I couldn’t finish my meal—and that says a lot. One place in Uvita comes close, but I’ll save that story for another time. After long workdays, RE/MAX staff often end up here, too tired to cook but too hungry to wait.

You’ll find T-Rex at Plaza Ventanas, just north of the dinosaur sculpture. Look for the massive SUSHI sign—it points to a different place, but T-Rex sits right below. Parking is easy. The large gravel lot out front never fills up.

T-Rex statue — T-Rex Restaurant sits just behind the big Costa Rican flag.

Parking is plentiful – either in front of the restaurant or all around Plaza Ventanas. Mountains and jungles surround the T-Rex restaurant with toucans, scarlet macaws and howler monkey often seen and heard in the immediate vicinity.

One of the best things about T-Rex is how welcoming it is to dogs. You can bring your pup inside, as long as they’re tied down. This setup often sparks some hilarious bark-offs between dogs under the tables. Sometimes a stray wanders in, adding to the chaos. It might stir up a bit of noise, but it’s all part of the fun. The staff doesn’t seem to mind, and most diners just laugh it off. It’s casual, lively, and full of character—just like the rest of Plaza Ventanas.

Dog in restaurant — T-Rex is a dog-friendly restaurant, which is very helpful as otherwise the pooches would need to be locked in the car with the windows open, or tied up outside.

THE SETTING, VIEW AND SURROUNDINGS

The restaurant has two open sides allowing views of the plaza and the surrounding jungle. Very often a light refreshing breeze flows through the space. At times, a real primeval view is presented especially in the wet season – low clouds and mists rolling through the surrounding hills and jungles – it makes for a surreal experience. Adding to the surrealism are the statues that surround the restaurant – the massive T-Rex stands just meters away while the equally impressive Triceratops, famous from local Instagram photos, sits at the far end of the plaza. Smaller jungle animals and long extinct dinosaurs are scattered around the carpark and vicinity of the establishment. Tropical flowers and landscape plants surround the outside walls of the open sections. Toucans, macaws and howler monkeys are often seen and heard in the vicinity, while I have also seen blue morpho butterflies shining in the distance.

triceratops statue — A giant Triceratops on the opposite end of Plaza Ventanas.

THE DECOR

The inside is decorated with vivid murals of Costa Rican animals and jungle plants which blend perfectly with the surrounding plants and the palapa roof trims. The owners went out of their way to create a very nice atmosphere, capturing and reflecting the tropical surroundings of T-Rex.

THE STAFF

The staff is pleasant, attentive and helpful, never leaving you waiting for too long after taking your seat. They frequently check to make sure everything is great.

THE FOOD

The food is excellent and the portions are MASSIVE (the leftovers are often packed for tomorrow’s lunch or shared with the dog). My go-to favourite is the Cordon Bleu with a side of mashed and rosemary potatoes, and sometimes with a side of patacones (but only if I am very hungry, as they are a HUGE portion). The reviews for other dishes are equally great. Fish, meat, casado, rice and breakfast dishes are available – and kids will love the colorful menus, decorated with animals endemic to the local area.

Restaurant meal. — This was one of my favorites in T-Rex.

T-Rex restaurant menu. — Kids loved the colorful menus with a variety of local jungle animals scattered around the pages.

THE DRINKS

As this is more of a quick dinner versus a long dinner or lunch restaurant for us, we had not tasted many of the drinks. But the beer is always cold. And our large group who was there to watch the recent FIFA World Cup games was happy with the drink selections and quality, which included shots, beers and cocktails.

WILL WE COME BACK?

Absolutely – this restaurant has the triple combination of convenience, quality and quantity that is hard to come by in the local area – many restaurants offer great food but small portions, or offer large portions but the food is fairly average. This place is great for special occasions or sporting matches. When we are short on time, or it is late in the day, we dine here. When we are very short on time, o rit is very late, we order dinner takeaways. And I do not see that changing anytime soon!

Our local area has been declared a culinary center of Costa Rica. And the Ojochal surrounds in particular holds several restaurants that have been labeled as world-class! The variety of foods, amazing ambience and decors, and great service from the dozens of local eateries are a treasure. The variety & service add a touch of modernity & class that is not expected in our wild area. Imagine living here and experiencing both the wilderness, pristine beaches, lush jungles and tropical animals AND modern luxuries and amenities that provide a sharp contrast that keeps your life here interesting, engaging and full of variety – it all starts with an email or phone call to RE/MAX We Sell Paradise Or maybe you want to start by browsing hundreds of properties available our local area?