By Gate in Terminal A, the burger here hits hard on price
Toro Gourmet Burgers sits airside in Terminal A, past security and right by the main gate cluster, and it runs 24 hours a day. The menu leans straight American: burgers, fries, soft drinks, and the usual sauces. Expect sit-down pricing in the $$ range for what tastes closer to fast-food than “gourmet.” If your flight is at 02:30, this is one of the few places still serving hot food.
Figure on paying around US-style airport pricing for a basic burger-and-fries combo, then adding a few extra dollars once you tack on cheese, bacon, or a larger drink. Multiple flyers mention that cheese and bacon add-ons are the fastest way to blow past what you’d pay for a better burger in San José or Alajuela. That said, the kitchen gets food out quickly, which helps on 45-minute turns between regional departures.
Quality reports are mixed: several reviews say the burger “tastes like any fast-food burger” and occasionally comes with a slightly overcooked patty. Lukewarm fries pop up in comments, too, which sounds like standard airport heat-lamp timing. If you’re hungry at 06:00 before a US-bound departure and don’t want to think too hard, it’s a predictable option, just not a great value.
Regulars on Costa Rica travel forums often tell people to get their burger fix in town and save the colones at SJO. A few repeat flyers mention sharing one combo between two people to soften the hit, then grabbing extra snacks at the duty-free convenience spot near Gate A3. Portions are adequate for one, but not huge for the price.
Tip: If you’re on a budget, skip add-ons like bacon and cheese and drink water from a refillable bottle; that alone can cut your Toro bill by several dollars per person.