People who make their first visit to Panama often wonder about the Panama foods. What kind of Panama foods can a visitor expect to eat in Panama? Well, because of Panama’s location, the country is where you can find a vast array of tasty and fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and fish. When you combine these with the influences from the native Indians, Spanish, American and other Latin American countries, what you’ll get is great Panama food that varies from the ultra-exotic to the familiar.

What Panama Foods Are Popular In The Country

When you are having your breakfast in Panama, you can expect to be served with Panama foods consisting of corn tortillas, deep fried, and heaped with eggs and fried meat. If you don’t feel like you can eat this, eggs and toast with good Panamanian coffee will come to you easily. You can also have some fresh fruits if you like.

A typical meal in Panama includes meat, coconut rice and beans with locally grown vegetables and fruits such as squash, yucca, and plantains. Because Panama is a coastal country, the Panama foods here always include excellent fresh seafood Fish come from either the Atlantic or Pacific coasts, and you’ll be amazed at the variety of fish coming in. Most restaurants offer almost all types of seafood for tourists and the locals as well.

The most popular Panama foods are a Panamanian stew packed with vegetables and chicken (Sancocho), savory flour pastries filled with potatoes, cheese and meat (empanadas), and a yucca roll, fried, with meat and boiled egg stuffing (carimanola). There is also the Tamales, a kind of Panama foods which is composed of corn dough and meat, covered in banana leaves, and boiled. The leaf, when boiled, brings out a pretty good flavor.

Panama Foods – Snacks and Sides

For your Panama foods side dish, you will appreciate the yucca frita, which is fried yucca served with your meal. The yucca frita tastes like the tropical French fries. You may also be served with plantains, which may come to you 3 ways: patacones are green plantains cut crosswise and have a little bit salty taste in it. The maduros are fried mature plantains the taste of which is slightly sweeter, and the tajadas are plantains cut lengthwise, baked, and sprinkled with cinnamon. The ceviche is one of another popular Panama foods consisting of chopped raw fish and shrimp mixed with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Then marinated in lime juice.

Panama Foods – Where To Eat If You Want To Save

Panama foods are not exactly cheap, because Panama is not a cheap Central American country. What makes eating in Panama easy is the fact that its national currency is American dollars, so all costs are calculated in US$. But if you are trying to save money on Panama foods, you can try eating in a fonda or roadside stall. They also serve good Panama foods in these places – even the most authentic.
If you like to drink beer, you can choose from the various brands – Panama Cerveza, , Atlas, Balboa and Soberana. You can buy Panama beers for as low as $0-.35 in the supermarkets. The price is higher in restaurants – about $1. The country also has the Panama seco, which is a fermented sugarcane liquor.Enjoy your Panama foods.

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Visitors to Panama will not find Panama food an issue, because you will find that traditional Panamanian cooking is not different from the cooking of Central America. The main staples are rice and beans with lentils, served with meat, fish and chicken. This is followed by the yucca (cassava) and plantains as secondary staples.

What To Eat In Panama food

Panamanians are proud of their national dish, the sancocho. It is a chicken soup with root vegetables such as yucca and plantains and flavored with coriander. Being a popular Panama food, sancocho is commonly served to tourists and visitors to Panama, followed by arroz con pollo (chicken with rice). There is plenty of great tasting seafood some of which are exported to other places. And they are generally cheap, particularly the lobsters and prawns. Ceviche is another Panama food that is served as an excellent appetizer. It is a spicy dish of raw fish or sea food marinated in lime juice with hot pepper and onions. There are fruits, fresh and abundant, which you can buy from local markets.

Regular breakfast in Panama consists mainly of fried Panama food such as eggs, sausages and patacones – plantains fried, flattened and fried a second time. Also served are tortillas de maiz and hojaldres (fried dough). Panamanian popular snacks are ensaymadas, tamales, carimanolas or el enyucados, which are fried balls of manioc dough filled with meat. Tamales is a Panama food, a mix of maize porridge, vegetables and pork or chicken wrapped in banana leaf and boiled.

Where To Eat In Panama food

If you are in Panama City, you will find no shortage of classy and expensive restaurants that serve Panama food, also Greek, Chinese, Italian, American and Japanese dishes. Out of the city, almost every town has at least one Chinese restaurants, a favorite of vegetarian tourists and natives alike. The cultural influence of US in Panama foods is shown in the citywide availability of US style fast foods serving hamburgers, french fries and hotdogs. There is usually a 5% tax to pay on meals in restaurants, although tips are expected only in more expensive places or whenever you are accorded a good service.

You can find canteen-like self-service restaurants where Panama food is cheaper but filling. They are located almost everywhere: on the roadsides and near the street corners. In bigger towns, some restaurants have waiter service where a main dish may be priced at US$5-10. In remote areas where there are no restaurants, you can always find someone in the village who is ready and willing to cook a Panama food for you. Just inquire from the locals and give them time to prepare.

Panama food is accompanied by drinks

Panama food is always accompanied by drinks and the most popular are beer, coffee water and fruit juices. Coffee in Panama is generally good especially when prepared espresso-style and taken black. But due to hot and humid Panamanian climate, people prefer to take cold drinks such as beers, juice, milk shakes .and iced water. Water in Panama City and the other towns are good and safe to drink.You will really enjoy Panama food.

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Panamanian Food has always been popular in Panama. Panama which is strategically located and is the backbone of a service oriented economy shice the seventeenth century. During these times the Portobolo fairs were held by the Spanish when the galleons arrived from Europe brining merchandise to the new territories including gold and silver. With the construction of the Panama Canal the monetary system switched to the US dollar in 1904.

In Panamanian food the Carimanola is a roll that is made from boiled, ground Yucca that is filled with chopped meat and boiled eggs and fried just prior to serving. Empanada are similar to a Cornish pastry. You can find empanada’s made from either flour or corn and filled with cheese, chicken or meat. Tortillas are made from ground maize and fried like pancakes. Tamales are very popular with locals and made from boiled, ground corn, spices and pork or chicken. Tamales are then wrapped in banana leafs and boiled prior to being served. Patacones are fried, green plantains that have been crossways cut into pieces, salted, pressed and fried. Tajadas or Platano Maduro are ripe plantains that are sliced lengthwise and baked with cinnamon.

Panamanian food festivals

Festivals and traditions are prevalent in Panamanian food. Many festivals occur around the Christmas holiday beginning on December 8 celebrating the Immaculate Conception coinciding with Mother’s Day. On these holidays traditional Panamanian food that  is served includes pavo or turkey, relleno or stuffing and arroz dulce which is tamales made with cornmeal and Arturu sauce, capers, prunes, meats and spices wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled. Fruitcakes are the most popular Panamanian desert.

While many of the Panamanian food combinations used in Panama may sound odd they are actually quite good. They will combine avocado and chicken consommé with whipped cream for a soup. They will also use cilantro, mint, onions, lemon juices and other spices in their fish soups.

Panamanian food influence

Panamanian food is also influenced by its neighboring countries and they have used other influences to incorporate and create unique as well as traditional dishes. While there is no true cuisine that is unique to Panama you will find their diversity of fruits, seafood, vegetables and cereals and how they combine them to present something quite different than you will not find elsewhere.

In Panamanian food special attention is paid to the dish being visually attractive. They develop a balance of proportion and color that is quite unique. While meat is one of the most important ingredients in a Panamanian food you can find some very good vegetarian selections.

Panamanian food beverages

Panamanian food Beverages include many beers that are brewed in Panama including Cerveza, Altas, Soberana and Balboa. In Panamanian food Balboa is a stout, dark beer while the others are lighter beers. You can buy beer in Panama for about thirty-five US cents in supermarkets and one dollar in restaurants. But if you are not a beer drinker then you should try Seco which is a fermented sugar cane liquor that is mixed with milk to create a cocktail. One of the popular Panamanian food.

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There are many savory recipes that you will enjoy in Panama food.Whether you are planning a trip to Panama or just want to experience the culture in your home food can be a way to do this fully. In Panama the cuisine is diverse ranging from ultra-exotic to the familiar.

Panama food – Breakfast

To start the day in Panama for breakfast the Panama food you might have a corn tortilla that is deep-fried and loaded with eggs, meats and other good local items. Alternately fresh fruit is always a favorite in Panama for breakfast along with toast and true coffee from Panama.

The typical meal in Panama food will include meat, beans and coconut rice served with local vegetables and fruits. Examples of these include plantains, squash and yucca. The fact that the islands of Panama provide expansive coasts makes the addition of fresh seafoods, coconut and mango typical embellishments found in many meals.

Panama food – Stew

In Panama food the stew or Sancochi is made with meat, generally chicken, and vegetables. The Empanada is a savory flour or corn pastry that is filled with meat, potatoes and cheeses. Carimanola is a fried yucca roll that is stuffed with meat and boiled eggs. Tamales are boiled corn dough pockets that are stuffed with meat and served in banana leaves. All these make great main dish choices that have the true flavor and feel of Panama.

For more of a snack you might try fried yucca root or yucca frita which is the Panama food equivalent to French fries. Plantains can be served in three different ways. Green plantains are cut crosswise and salty and fried and called Patacones. Sweater fried plantains are the mature fruit and called Maduros. Tajadas are plantain that are cut lengthwise and baked, sprinkled with cinnamon.

In Panama food Gallo pinto is a rice and bean dish that is often mixed with pork and not to be confused with a dish of the same name served in Costa Rica. Ceviche is chopped raw shrimp, fish, or conch that is mixed with tomatoes, onions and cilantro then marinated in lime juice. Ceviche is served with fresh tortilla chips and is a very popular menu item.

For desert in Panama food you will find Pasel de Tres Leches or Tres Leches Cake which is a cake that is soaked in three types of milk including cream, sweetened condensed and evaporated. Raspados are snow cones that are topped with sweet syrup and condensed milk.

Panama food – Beverages

Beverages include many beers that are brewed in Panama including Cerveza, Altas, Soberana and Balboa. Balboa is a stout, dark beer while the others are lighter beers. You can buy beer in Panama for about thirty-five US cents in supermarkets and one dollar in restaurants. But if you are not a beer drinker then you should try Seco which is a fermented sugar cane liquor that is mixed with milk to create a cocktail.

If you are in Panama the US dollar is the national currency so you do not have to worry about conversion. While Panama is not the cheapest country in Central America it is very affordable to eat good Panama food.

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The basic Panama foods consist mainly of rice, seafood and vegetables. This is because Panama has a very strategic location that contribute greatly to its agriculture, coastal horticulture, fishing and livestock production.  The traditional Panamanian foods is influenced largely by its Latin American neighbors, and also by the American culture because of the building of the Panama Canal. You can find American fast food restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonald’s and KFC in Panama City, and there are also not a few places where you can savor the tastes of Panama foods. Restaurants are in abundance all over Panama – from Panama City to the larger towns in the country.

Panama foods is spicy and flavorful, but not as spicy as the foods of its Latin American neighbors. The cooking depends largely on garlic, onion and cilantro. But there is always a bottle of hot sauce that awaits visitors who want to have a taste of more spicy Panama foods. All the restaurants, which are attractions themselves, are proud to serve you their cuisine and you can choose among the Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, American and Afro-Carribean dishes. And they are all reasonably priced.

Traditional Panama foods or meal will not be complete without plantain, a kind of vegetable, which you can buy anytime in Panama. This is not a seasonal vegetable. To prepare this plantain, you have to peel it, slice and then fry. Then you press it and make into patties and fry again. Plantains are served in every street and restaurant in Panama. A green fried plantain is called patacones, while the ripe one is called tajadas. These Panama foods is always available during fairs and sports activities.

Another of the Panama foods that is very popular because it is the national delicacy of the country is the sancocho. It is a spicy stew, with chicken and starchy root vegetables such as yucca or cassava. Delight your visitors by serving them a bowl of sancocho with white rice.

There are many more Panama foods that are traditionally prepared and served to visitors and tourists and even to their families. They are listed below.

Panama Foods- Breakfast

Tortillas – made from thick corn dough and filled with eggs or cheese.
Hojaldras – Panamanian doughnuts.
Carimanola – a roll made from yucca plant with meat and boiled egg filling
Ceviche – little sea bass, cooked with spices and lemon juice.

Panama Foods-Dinner

Tamales or burritos – a dough of grounded corn filled with chicken or pork filling.
These are wrapped in banana leaves and boiled with spices.
Arroz con Pollo – a rice dish with chicken which you can find in any restaurant.

Panama Foods-Dessert

Raspados – snow cones that you can buy in different flavors.
Batidos – tropical fruit milk shakes. This refreshing Panama food is served in
restaurants, resorts, spas and every street of Panama. The natives
sometimes call it chichi.

The popular drink in Panama is beer. It is consumed to get freshened, rather than to get intoxicated. There are locally brewed beers as well as imported ones. If Panamanians join a drinking session, they usually turn to locally produced rum, called the seco herrerano, or just seco.

IF you plan to visit Panama, make sure to include in your itinerary the places where you can easily find these delectable Panama foods.

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Panama Food popularity

Panama is one popular tourist destination that serves up a wide variety of Panama food from fruits and vegetables to fresh fish, shellfish, chicken and shrimps. The main staples are rice and beans, usually served with chicken and beef. You can find the best tasting Panama foods plus the finest wines and coffee in the country’s resorts and restaurants. There is no question about Panama’s restaurant scenes being so impressive, but some tourists sometimes prefer to get their meal from the Panama street vendors.

Panama Food from the street

These roadside stalls that sell street Panama food are called “fondas”. This is one of the most popular places where tourists grab a meal on the go. The fondas, resembling a kiosk, serve their food from glass boxes heated by light bulbs. Because almost all Panama foods sold in fondas are fried, it is very likely that these foods will leave a layer of oil in your hands. You can also buy soup from fondas and the most commonly served is the sancocho. It is a type of chicken soup flavored with onion and cilantro. When eaten with rice, you will feel satisfied and filled.

Panama Food during the festival

During Panama’s many festivals, sporting events or parades there is an abundance of street food. Look at every street corner and don’t be surprised by the many vendors selling anything from pineapple to sausages to raw pork feet pickled with vinegar and onion slivers. A favorite street Panama food is the carne en palito (meat on stick). The tourists and even some natives are interested to know how these thousands of vendors of carne en palito can make the taste of their products one and the same. They all say the taste of this Panama food is good.

These Panama foods from the street, although cheaper, are not appealing to some tourists because of the issue of cleanliness of the meats. There are others who buy them but make a request to the person who cooks the meat to cook it well. After all, you would not want your Panama travel to be ruined by poisoning from Panama foods from the street. Although you don’t expect yourself to eat street food as a daily habit, these Panama foods are a great way to get cheaper, tasty snacks on the go.

The steak dealers, as they call themselves, are mostly old men and women who set up at busy street corners and cook barbeque using old trash bins as grills. They sell any Panama food that can be fitted on a stick – pork, beef, chorizo, chicken and many more. The taco people sell toasted flour tortillas and stuff it with the meat of your choice plus multi colored salsas. The snow cone vendors are common on the streets of Panama, especially during hot summer months. The children simply love to surround his cart and buy his snow cones.

Fresh fruits are also sold on the streets. Some vendors have roadside stalls while the others have push carts filled with whatever fruits happen to look good and fresh – pineapple, mangoes, water melons and more. Fruit vendors usually come out on the streets in the morning one of the best Panama food.

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Panama Food is very tasty

Visiting Panama for the first time? Maybe you are thinking what kind of Panama food you are likely to find there, besides the places to visit and the activities to do in Panama. Panama is a tropical country, so it grows many tasty and flavorful fruits, vegetables and herbs. Their cooking is largely influenced by Spanish, American and other European countries, so you will find that Panama food is similar to what is eaten by people from the Latin American countries, only it is not as spicy.

Panamanian cooking is often done in oil (frying, sautéing). In its cuisine, the common Panama food are corn, fish, chicken, shrimp and shellfish dishes. There is a variety of fruits in the country although fresh fruits are not as commonly served in most restaurants in Panama. You can buy them in outdoor markets and at fruit stands along the main roads. There are fruits that are familiar to you and there are some that you can find only in Central American countries like Panama.

Following are some Panama food served in Panamanian homes.

Panama food – Breakfast In Panama

Panama food served during breakfast is often made up of corn tortillas with eggs and fried meat, with the world famous Panama coffee. If you don’t go for this kind of food, you can have fresh fruit, eggs and toast and coffee.

Panama Meals

For meals, Panamanians usually have meat, coconut rice and beans plus local fruits and vegetables such as yucca, squash and plantains. Panama food is very vibrant with seafoods embellished with mangoes and coconuts. Other common dishes are the (1) Sancocho, a stew packed with chicken meat and vegetables, (2) Empanadas, corn or flour pastries with fillings usually composed of meat, potatoes and cheese, (3) Carimanola, fried yucca roll with meat and boild egg stuffed in it, and (4) Tamales, boild corn dough with meat. This Panama food is served in banana leaves.

Snacks,Side Dishes and Dessert

Panama food for snack is mostly composed of fried yucca which are served like the tropical french fries. Some plantain dishes may be fried or baked and served as a side dish. Panamanians also eat Gallo Pinto and Ceviche for snacks For their dessert, the most popular is their Tres Leches Cake, a cake soaked in 3 kinds of milk – evaporated, sweetened condensed, and cream milk.

Panama food when eaten in restaurants, are not cheap, but the quality of food and the excellent service of restaurant staff can far outweigh the cost. Also, because the costs of meals are all in Panama’s national currency, the US dollars, you do not need to calculate the price of your Panama meal. However, if you are looking for lower priced Panama food, perhaps it will be a nice experience to eat the country’s authentic food from a “fonda” or a street stall.

For your drink, you can have beer or water. Beers in Panama cost about $0.35 in the supermarket, and $1 in restaurants. You can also try the seco, native liquor made from fermented sugar cane. Some people mix it with milk to lessen the bite, but others drink it as is. One of the best Panama food.

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Located in Central America, Panama gained its independence in 1903 and gradually it has been transformed into a passage of international commerce. Its society became more complex during the 20th century. Beside other aspects, Panamanian uniqueness is also given by is cuisine, more exactly by the way in which every meal is prepared in this region. Is seems that Panama has been blessed with a large variety of vegetables, herbs, and tropical fruits. Its cuisine is influenced by the Hispanic population, native Europeans, Indians, or by Chinese people. In Panamanian cuisine a lot of cooking traditions have been borrowed from Panama’s neighbors and developed from these neighbor’s traditional dishes. Despite the fact that there are no unique or specific preparation methods in Panamanian cuisine, it should be taken into account that attention to every detail plays a crucial role in this region. This cuisine contains a great diversity of cereals and vegetables. Another attention is given to the visual attractiveness of every Panamanian dish and to the real balance between colors and proportion, as well. Every traditional Panamanian dish is prepared differently than the others. Meat is the most important item belonging to Panamanian cuisine.

Panamanian cooking always requires various equipment meant to generate the most interesting and sophisticated dishes. Such kitchen utensils include cake pans, colanders, can openers, egg rings, poachers and holders, food pans and containers, as well as food scales, food scoops, fryer baskets and many other accessories. In case the food in transported you definitely need insulated food carriers or a set of kitchen linens and uniforms. Some of the items you need while cooking Panamanian food are: kitchen knives, juicers, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers, strainers, measuring cups or measuring spoons. The most common utensils are spatulas, serving spoons, turners, forks, kitchen knives, and scrapers.

Most Panamanian festivities occur during Christmas time. Here, the Holidays begin on December 8 when people celebrate the Immaculate Conception which coincides with Mother’s Day. On this occasion, the Panamanians serve some of their traditional food, such as pavo, which is Turkey; relleno, meaning stuffing; arroz dulce, and tamales which consists of a cornmeal made into a paste with Arturo sauce, prunes, capers, meats, and spices wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled. The most popular dessert from the Panamanian cuisine is represented by fruitcakes. Obviously, this does not mean that the family gathered around the table cannot serve Chicken with rice, Chickpea “Ceviche”, or different kind of soups or meat dishes. No matter how weird or complicated it may sound, in order to prepare an avocado soup you need only Chicken consommé, avocados, and whipped cream or evaporated milk. As for a fish soup, its preparation requires white fish, onions, parsley, celery leaves, lemon juice, pepper, salt, flour, and water.

Panama can give a new definition to versatility. This American country is what you call God’s favorite place. It has been bestowed with every gift of nature. It is that perfect getaway you had been looking for after months of “all work and no play”. Well you already must have turned into the “dull boy” then. Get set to recharge yourself at this very bed of nature.

Panama is the southern most American country known for its rich natural wealth. This country has a total population of around 3,360,475. It has been divided into nine provinces and ten cities altogether. The people generally follow Roman Catholic as a religion and speak Spanish in this region. However English is very much prevalent with almost everybody knowing this language.

The tropical climate and perfect holiday weather of the Panama will just do the needful for you. At Panama you can enjoy the beauty of the pristine beaches along side clear blue seas. You could admire the mighty mountains and be startled by their beauty every single minute. It is a different world altogether, away from the hustle bustle and pollution of big cities and towns; overall a perfect place to relax and de-stress yourself.

The country holds the best eco tourism sites of the world. The rich flora and fauna of this country will leave you awestruck. The multi canopied swamps that are present on one side of this country is a great tourist attraction. After years of seeing only bricks and walls all around, nothing could appeal to you as much as the abundant greenery of the Panamas. For all you adventure enthusiasts, the famous Canopy Adventure at Panama will take you through the enriching experience of ecotourism while rock climbing. That is you get to experience nature at an unbelievable close proximity. You could also plunge in for the amazing water adventure at the San Blas Archipelago.

Panama is famous for it’s “the golden toad”. The locals actually believe this gold skinned frog once found in this country in abundance to be a symbol of good luck and prosperity. No wonder, it is this golden frog that they use as their National Symbol. However this amphibian is believed to be extinct now.

When in Panama, how can you forget the “molas”? This is a fabric made by the natives of this country. They earn their livelihood by manufacturing and selling this fabric. Tourists from all around the world come here and buy these “molas” known to be a part of the Panama heritage. When at Panama, you just cannot miss the soothing local music. This music, again strongly influenced by Spanish music, will make that evening of yours where while relaxing you can forget just about everything and be drowned deep into its soulful rhythm.

Panama is the ideal place when you need to enjoy an amazing holiday and yet not burn a hole in your pocket. The place is extremely affordable unlike most of the holiday destinations in the world. It is extremely safe for the foreigners and the locals are all happy to help and very welcoming and warm. It has all tourism facilities that you could require. Be it with your family or friends, for that budget holiday of yours, choose the Panamas.

Panama City

AngelVia Argentina, Al Cangrejo , Panama City, 507-263-6868Named for its chef-owner, Angel Martinez, this lunchtime spot serves delicious meals inspired by the flavors and cooking of Angel’s native region in northern Spain. Fish and seafood gain emphasis in the restaurant’s cuisine and are served with expertly cooked fresh vegetables.

Caffe Pomodoro

Calle Eusebio A. Morales, Hotel Suites Las Vegas, Panama City, Panama 507-269-5836This upscale Italian restaurant serves Mediterranean favorites like grilled fish, pork, and every type of pasta imaginable. Start with fried calamari or beef carpaccio, and then try a pizza made with your choice of toppings. Pasta is mix-and-match, so you can have clam or alfredo sauce with linguine, fettuccine, or raviolis. For dessert, don’t pass up rich, creamy tiramisu or homemade cassata alla Siciliana – an ice-cream treat. Dine inside next to murals of Italian sights or surrounded by tropical vegetation on the patio.

Café El Barko

Calle Amador, Isla Flamenco, Panama City, Panama, 507-314-0000Seafood lovers should make a beeline for this restaurant, which enjoys a location on the tip of the Amador Causeway. Lobster, king crab, calamari, and octopus are all fresh and expertly prepared to bring out their delicate flavors. The house special is ceviche – fresh fish cured in lime juice. Diners also find pleasure in the excellent selection of sushi.

El Casco Viejo

Calle 50, Panama City,Named for the city district where it was founded more than 20 years ago, El Casco Viejo now has a location in the Financial District. Its exquisite French cuisine places an emphasis on fresh local fish. Start with pumpkin and mushroom soup or traditional French onion soup; then savor sea bass stuffed with lobster mousse or veal tongue in passion fruit sauce. Just make sure to save room for dessert crepes.

El Pavo Real

Calle 51 and Calle 50, Panama City, 507-262-2448This traditional English pub, which comes complete with atmospheric dark-wood panelling, is located downtown in Panama City’s financial district. Meals range from light to hearty – try an elegant salmon mousse, richly-flavored French onion soup, or, of course, vinegary fish and chips served in a newspaper cone. Darts, pool, and live bands provide welcome entertainment.

El Trapiche

Vía Argentina, Panama City, Panama 507-269-4353El Trapiche is constantly packed with locals – a testament to the authentic goodness of its Panamanian food. Try the Panamanian Fiesta combination plate for an excellent introduction to local cuisine. It begins with chicken soup, then moves on to sample-sized portions of seven other dishes, including shredded beef, rice and beans, and fried plantains.

Eurasia

Edificio La Trona, 1er alto, Calle 48, Bella Vista, Panama, 507-264-7859Award winning French-Asian fusion cuisine is presented here, with an elegant ambience to match.

Fusion

Avenida Balboa-Multicentro, Radisson Decapolis Hotel, Panama, 0833-0293 507-215-5000Combining the best of Asian cuisine with ingredients and preparation techniques from Europe, this restaurant is popular with hotel guests, but also with local residents. Once you get seated, look up – that’s the glass-bottomed pool over your head!

Gasthaus Bavaria

Calle 50, Panama City, 507-265-6772This festive restaurant is operated by a couple of German expatriates, who take great pleasure in sharing their delicious native cuisine. Schnitzel and bratwurst are served with sides of tangy homemade sauerkraut. Fresh salads, and seafood specials, including herring ceviche, also find a place on the menu.

Ginza Teppanyaki

Calle D El Cangrejo y Eusebio A Morales, Panama City, Panama This is an amazing Japanese steakhouse in Panama City, Panama. The restaurant is located a few blocks from the large Casinos and hotels in downtown Panama City. Teppanyaki is a Japanese style of cooking on a very hot grill fresh meat, poultry, fish, seafood and vegetables. Great place to check out next time you are in Panama.

Golden Unicorn

Cl 78 Ey Av 5 B Sur, San Fransisco, Panama City, 507-226-3838One of Panama City’s favorite Chinese restaurants, Golden Unicorn is located on the fourth floor of the Evergreen building adjacent to the convention center. Mildly flavored Mandarin and Cantonese dishes make up most of the menu, but there are some spicy Szechuan choices as well, and all are well prepared – no soggy broccoli or mushy peanuts. Service is friendly and prompt, too.

Hard Rock Café

Avenida Balboa, MultiCentro Shopping Complex, Panama, 507-208-2800A familiar favorite, Hard Rock Cafe has locations all over the globe. Highlights of the Panama restaurant include guitars from Styx, Chris Isaak, and Everclear, and various items of apparel from Madonna, Steven Tyler, Slash, and James Brown. The bar scene is lively, so you may find yourself with a memorable cocktail in hand – a fruity Riders on the Storm, minty Howling Wolf, or Lovely Rita margarita. When you’re hungry, burgers, sandwiches, and salads are always reliable.

Jimmy’s

Via España and Calle Manuel M. Icaza, Panama City, 507-266-1830This jumping joint serves food round-the-clock, making it extremely popular with locals and visitors alike. Even better, prices are eminently affordable. Order a sandwich or an authentic Panamanian meal from the self-service counter, or venture outside to the barbecue for grilled octopus or steak. Another reason Jimmy’s is so popular is its strong, hot, always-fresh coffee.

La CascadaAv Balboa and Calle 24, Panama CityOne of Panama City’s most unique dining experiences is available at La Casada (the cascade), named for the mini-oasis that surrounds diners. Colored lights illuminate tables, and a waterfall feeds a pond stocked with goldfish. The menu, an impressive 16 pages in length, features every conceivable fried or grilled meat and seafood.

Las Tinajas

Calle 51 #22, Panama City, 507-269-3840Conveniently located in the Financial District, this restaurant serves traditional Panamanian fare at lunch and dinner. Feast on tamales, frituras, carimanolas, and (the house specialty) sopa borracha, which translates as “drunken soup.” On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, patrons are treated to a floorshow featuring dancers in traditional garb.

Los Lagartos Restaurant

Lunch here alongside Chagres River at the Gamboa. As you dine, you’ll see huge ships floating by in the Panama Canal. If you ask the waiters, they’ll throw bread in the river below and you’ll be treated to a tropical wildlife food fight (crocodiles, fish, turtles and colorful water birds all vying for the bread pieces). We won’t tell you who always wins the fight.

Madame Chang

507-269-1313This sophisticated restaurant enjoys a superb reputation throughout Latin America. The decor blends Chinese and European sensibilities for intimate dining, and regional Chinese cuisines are all represented and, in some cases, combined. Try local San Blas crab spiced with ginger or “tit pang” – sliced beef in sizzling oyster sauce. Another favorite is siu mae, a tender Chinese dumpling stuffed with shrimp and beef. For dessert, both Western-style cheesecake and more traditional lychee nuts.

Mostaza

Av. A at Calle 3, Panama City, Tel 228 3341Featuring a cozy dining area with thick white tablecloths, candles, exposed brick walls, and cuisine so tasty even President Torrijos pops over occasionally for lunch from his offices 3 blocks away, this is another excellent eatery in Casco Viejo.

Like any good Argentine, co-owner Jose Forestier knows his beef, and even imports cuts like rib-eye and filet mignon from the U.S. Mostaza serves pasta, fresh grilled fish, and a few chef’s specialties such as bacalao, osobuco Corleone, and pork chops with passion fruit or guayaba sauce. $8-$18 for a main course.

Peperoncini

Calle 49 y Uruguay, Bella Vista, Panama City, PanamaPeperoncini di Mare is a restaurant created to enjoy a quality gastronomic experience, as demonstrated by the owner who has over 18 years of experience in the gastronomic world of Panama. The perfect balance between great food and an excellent atmosphere.

Pizzeria Athens

Calle 48 and Calle 50, Panama City, 507-264-1684This Mediterranean restaurant has two locations in Panama City – one at Calle 48 and Calle 50 in Marbella and another at Calle San Miguel and Calle 57. (The Calle San Miguel location is closed on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays, so you never have to go without your pizza fix.)

Like many fast-food joints, you must place your own order, but here you call the kitchen from a telephone located on your table. Vegetarians particularly appreciate Greek salads and roasted Mediterranean vegetables served in a cone. Other house specials include gyros, souvlaki, and hand-tossed pizzas.

Pizzeria Napoli

Calle 57, 2 blocks off Via Espana, Panama City, 507-263-8800This casually elegant pizzeria serves piping hot pies made to order, along with fresh pastas in homemade sauces. The food is excellent, and service is impeccable, making Napoli a popular spot with visitors and locals alike.

Restaurant 1985

Calle Eusebio A. Morales, Panama City, 507-263-8571A slice of Paris in Panama is how one might describe this elegant French restaurant, where fresh flowers, candles, and original artwork create an intimate atmosphere. In true continental fashion, you can order from “le menu” or choose à la carte.

Enjoy an aperitif as you study the encyclopedic menu. Then, start with creamy leek soup or hearts of palm salad, followed by pâté maison or spinach quiche (a house specialty.) Tenderloin steak au poivre and trout meunière are two of the most popular entrees. Vegetarians rejoice – 1985 has a huge selection of appetizers and entrees to suit your needs as well. It also boasts one of the best wine cellars in all of Latin America.

Restaurante & Bar Korea House

a half block off Via Espana, Panama City, 507-223-0176Connoisseurs of Asian cuisine appreciate the variety of dishes available at this restaurant, which is an easy walk from the Financial District. Korean and Japanese specialties are explained on the illustrated, multi-language menu. An excellent selection of fresh sushi also proves appealing.

Restorante Saltimbocca

Calle Alberto Navarro #4, El Cangrejo, Panama City, PanamaThis is not the common Italian food you find around; they have a very original and classic menu including pasta and roasted and grilled dishes. For lovers of “real” Italian food, this is perfect.

Rincon Suizo

Calle Eusebio A. Morales, Panama City, 507-263-8310The chef-owner of 1985 employs his culinary talents here to whip up traditional Swiss favorites. Swiss sausages, dill-marinated salmon, and cheese fondue make delicious appetizers, whilst wienerschnitzel with sauerkraut can’t be beat for a main course. A variety of pasta dishes aims to suit vegetarians.

Sushi & Martini Bar

Avenida Balboa-Multicentro, Radisson Decapolis Hotel, 0833-0293 507-215-5000Located in the Radisson Decapolis Hotel, the Sushi Bar doubles as a chic Martini Bar, and provides a relaxing escape from the crowds of the city. Sleek and inviting, the bar serves quality sushi and cocktails to a diverse, yet discerning, clientele.

Sushi Itto

Av Samuel Lewis, Calle 55, Plaza Obarrio, Panama City, 507-265-1136This sushi bar comes with a twist. In addition to traditional smoked salmon, octopus, and shrimp rolls, you’ll find “Panamanian rolls,” which incorporate local ingredients like mango, avocado, and cheese. Gyoza – those tasty little Japanese dumplings – also appear, alongside edamame, tempura vegetables, and stuffed squid. As a nod to non-seafoodies, several pastas and curries are available as well.

Tre Scalina

Calle 52, El Dorado, El Dorado Blvd, Panama City, PanamaAn intimate atmosphere and hospitality always combined with a trustful kitchen. The Italian owner of the Tre Scalini Restaurants in Panama Chef Giselle Borrell invites you to enjoy her authentic and famous kitchen. Specialty of the house: real Italian pasta in a gastronomic symphony by the chef.

New to Panama City

Benihana’s

Many of you have probably been to a Benihana’s in the US. If so then you probably enjoyed it and will be happy to know that one is now open in Multi-Plaza mall. In fact a Ruth Chris Steakhouse will open soon beside it as well.You will also be happy to know that the Benihana’s here is just like all the others. They have the same red/black décor, comfy booths, and great food. There are some differences in the menu like a Panama Special of chopped steak but basically it’s the same menu. And don’t worry about inexperienced Panamanian cooks stabbing you by accident, the cook have been brought in from Peru and have at least a year’s experience with this style of cooking.

They are open for lunch and have lunch specials from $9.50 – $15 if you want to try it out without spending a bundle. Benihana’s is not cheap but the food is awesome and the atmosphere exciting with the chefs throwing knifes around and starting things on fire in front of you. And the smell of the fresh ingredients cooking inches from your nose makes your mouth water.

Try the sushi sampler $8. It has 5 pieces of sushi. They also have vegetable tempura $4 and scallops $9 for appetizers. The Benihana special combo of steak & lobster for $29.95 is awesome. The Hitachi steak runs $16.95 and a seafood combo of lobster, scallops, and shrimps runs $29.95 as well. A main of chicken is $11.50 and shrimp about $16. All the mains come with mushroom/onion soup, salad w/ginger sauce and rice. You pay $1.50 more for fried rice which is delicious.Tel 302-6207

Argentinian Restaurants

Estilo Campo

Calle 50 y 68, San Francisco 226-5032

Gauchos

Calle 48 y Uruguay 263-4469

Los Años Locos

Calle 76, San Francisco 226-6966

La Estancia

Calle 50 y 64, San Francisco 226-3460

Martin Fierro Calle Eusebio A. Morales 264-1927

Restaurants in the Casco Viejo district of Panama City

Café NeriEvery neighborhood needs an Italian restaurant, and for Casco Viejo, Café Neri is it. A local hang out on the corner of Avenida Central and Calle 3ra, the outdoor patio is a great place to grab a few drinks with friends and watch the residents of Casco Viejo wander by.

Casa Blanca

An elegant, yet affordable restaurant inside of Hotel Colombia on Plaza Bolivar. The menu has an array of salads, fish and meats with indoor and outdoor dining available. There is live acoustic music every Wednesday and Saturday night.

Ego

A Peruvian fusion tapas joint on Plaza Bolivar that can go toe-to-toe with any restaurant in the City for cuisine and chic. Offering both inside and outside dining areas, the shrimp brochette is highly recommended!

Granclement Ice Cream

You may have to wait in line to get your cone, but the lovely French couple that run Granclement ice cream shop will make up for it by giving you a free taste of as many of their 30 spectacular homemade flavours as you can handle; fom traditional chocolate, to Madagascar vanilla or rosemary. Located next door to Café Neri on Ave Central between 3a and 4a.

Las Bóvedas Restaurant

Set in the vaults of Plaza Francia’s old-Spanish seawalls, Las Bóvedas Restaurant serves fine French cuisine that usually includes fresh fish, mixed meats, and New York steak. There is live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Macarena

Authentic Spanish tapas restaurant, set up with a traditional dining room on one side and a contemporary tapas bar on the other. On Calle Primera near Plaza Francia.

Mostaza

A popular Casco Viejo restaurant known for its meats and San Blas lobsters. Cozy yet elegant, you can dine inside or on the outdoor tables in front of the stunning and historical Arco Chato.

S’cena

Located in front of the old Union Club and above Platea jazz bar is S’cena, an elegant restaurant that serves continental meets Spanish cuisine. The menu offers an aesthetic mixture of meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes and a great selection of wine.

René Café

A brand new restaurant/art gallery. Dishes include a variety of seafood and meats, and vary seasonally. Located next to the Iglesia de Catedral, one block from Plaza Catedral, next to the Centro de Salud. www.Renecafe.com Phone: (507) 262-3487.

Casuale

Fine dining in Casco Viejo. This colonial home turned restaurant, blends an old-world feel with modern, elegant cuisine. Hours vary so call for reservations. Located on Calle 1ra, in the University Club building. Phone:(507) 228-1017.

Casa Suri

Bordered by the walls of the famous colonial remnant Arco Chato. Ecclectic, cozy. Excellent steaks, paella, and seafood at reasonable prices. Located on Calle 2nda in the San Felipe Gallery.

Restaurants in Boquete

In Boquete you’ll find restaurants specializing in cuisine from many different countries. Among others, there are very good Japanese and Italian. The restaurant diversity caters well to foreign travelers looking for variety. There is fine dining available for romantic evenings and celebrations. In addition, there are many lower budget options as well where you can get a full meal for around $3!!

Arco Iris Grill in the Valle Escondido Complex

Eat there for an unforgettable fine dining experience!

Bistro Boquete

Main Street, Downtown Boquete, Chiriqui, Panamá(507) 720-2596(507) 720-1017eat@BistroBoquete.co The Bistro Boquete is a quaint little bistro restaurant right on main street in the middle of town. The restaurant owner is an American named Loretta. Before the Bistro Boquete, Loretta owned a successful restaurant in Aspen Colorado that catered to celebrities and even the president of the United States. Not surprisingly, the Bistro Boquete has a stellar menu of exceptional quality. It serves one of the best filet mignons available in Panama (At the time of this article the filet was priced at $8!!!) This refreshing little restaurant has an extensive selection of foods and beverages to accommodate different budgets

Taqueria Antojitos

The best Mexican food in Boquete can’t be found on main street, although decent Mexican food can be. The best Mexican is a couple blocks off of the main on the same cross street as the Bistro Boquete. This little hole in the wall restaurant serves authentic Mexican food. Maritrini (the owner) greets every guest with a welcoming smile. It’s difficult to go wrong on the menu, but the fajitas are a definte favorite. The Taqueria is a low budget option with exceptional food offerings. Don’t miss this place!

Panamonte

Tel: 720-1324www.panamonte.comThe Panamonte Inn Restaurant is simply the best place to eat in Boquete and one of the best in Central America. Several publications have even said that it is the best in Panama (Capital Chef, Washington D.C.). People come to the Panamonte to indulge themselves with the inventive and consistently superb creations of award-winning chef Charlie Collins (who has catered some of the most important events in recent Panamanian history), whose gourmet cuisine combines indigenous dishes with a vast international culinary experience (mainly Scandinavian and New American cooking styles). Only the freshest and highest quality produce is used, such as the local Black Angus beef and trout caught from the Caldera River. Collins created the menu and oversees the dining room which features fresh fish including trout, salmon, and corvina (sea bass), as well as New York steaks, rib-eyes, fillet of beef, plus grilled pork chops, and Mignon de Cerdo (Grilled Pork Mignon).

There is a delicious shrimp and plantain appetizer and a lemon meringue pie that is famous. In the Panamonte you will find Boquete’s finest wine list with French, California, and Chilean varietals well represented. The service is top notch: extremely attentive and delicately courteous. You can either enjoy your meal in the 1940-style formal dining area with its floral motif or in the bar/lounge with its two roaring stone fireplaces and overstuffed couches and wicker chairs that add the right degree of casual comfort. The bar menu is more casual like burgers, empanadas, and chicken brochettes.

Yalty’s Boquete Country Inn

A block and a half off main street, this accomodating B and B offers some of the best breakfasts in Boquete. It tends to be a little pricey ($4-$5 so still not bad), but the food is well worth it. Try the banana pancakes, the strawberry waffles, or the crepes for a perfect way to start your day.

El Sabroson

This restaurant is great for both the budget traveler and also those searching for authentic Panamanian food. Patrons of this main street restaurant can eat a full meal for around $3. Some meals here can cost much less. The food is very decent, though not exceptional (excluding price considerations of course).

Amigos Restaurant

Tel: 720-2714

Amigos Restaurant is the local version of a pub for many of the new residents of Boquete. At any time of the day you will encounter members from the ex-pat community enjoying a meal, swapping real estate stories, having a beer or just hanging out. In the evenings, you can sometimes find younger costumers playing some pool or having a go at the fusball table or a game of darts.

It makes a good spot to just have a beer and many young tourists pass by as it is conveniently located in the center of town. A good place to have a nice American style breakfast, a plate of well prepared patacones, a decent hamburger with chips or onion rings, and the meal of the day at lunch time can normally be considered a typical Panamanian dish. The quality of the food is not entirely constant but the special dish of the evening tends to be fairly pleasant. Several of the staff are Kunas from San Blas.Christmas lights and torches decorates the grounds and give it a peculiar appearance in the evenings.

Palo Alto Restaurant

Tel: 720-1076Another first class gourmet and upscale restaurant in Boquete is the Palo Alto Restaurante. It offers a varied international menu based on a fusion cuisine which includes Mediterranean, Chinese, Greek, Thai and Italian. In Palo Alto you will encounter a refined and peaceful atmosphere just beside the scenic Caldera River. As it is a bit out of town it does not tend to get crowded and this can play in your favor giving you an added touch of intimacy although at times it can translate into a slower service.

The dining area’s high ceiling provides a fresh and airy environment that is complemented by brick floors, glass walls and local art. Some of the dishes that will tempt your senses are spaghettini with roasted vegetables, barbecue baby back ribs, Greek ladopsomo (pita bread with feta) or Red Snapper in a Thai Pepper sauce. The also have fantastic salads, fresh trout for lunch delicious sandwiches and burgers (try the Swiss burger with mushrooms and sautéed onions).

Restaurante Machu Picchu

Tel: 264-9308You may struggle to find a restaurant with typical Panamanian food but surprisingly Boquete has 2 Peruvian sea food restaurants and the newest one is Machu Picchu. The Peruvian chef, Aristóteles, first achieved fame in Panama City with a restaurant under the same name. There are more than 50 entrees and a bit more than 25 appetizers.

Make sure to try the heavenly rich red Chupe de Camarones (Shrimp) and do not miss the exquisite fried Calamari. For a main course, the sea bass with black butter and capers is just gorgeous as are the creamy jumbo prawns gratin. If you do not favor sea food, they serve meat and chicken dishes too. During weekdays try to make the most out of the fixed price lunch for $5.50. It is decorated with Peruvian art and traditional details. The light yellow and blue tones give it a relaxing and warm environment. Expect superb attention as the staff is amongst the best trained in Boquete and the chef often visits each table to chat with diners.

Pizzería a Mi Modo

Tel: 6-523-1628Pizzeria a Mi Modo is definitively the best pizza restaurant in Boquete and it naturally benefits from being established in Panama’s breadbasket: a wide selection of fresh and high quality ingredients is available to choose as toppings, giving you an opportunity to have your dream pizza just as you want it, or as they say “A MI MODO”. Its blue and white checkered painted walls and relaxing music give it a casual and informal atmosphere, making it the perfect place to hang out with a group of friends. Carlitos and Blanca, the owners, have truly mastered the art of producing the finest pizzas in town. At very affordable prices you as well may want to indulge yourself with generous portions of lasagna and spaghetti. Pizzeria A Mi Modo offers a friendly and family orientated environment (you may even have Naomi, the owners 4 year old, visit and play at your table) and if you decide to go and eat at the pizza restaurant for a second time it is very probable that your name will be remembered.

Nelvis Café

Tel: 6-578-6528A typical Panamanian cafeteria frequented by locals and tourists seeking to have a taste of what Panamanians normally eat on a day to day base. The menu usually offers several preparations of rice and beans, meat, chicken, fish, basic salads and a choice of soup. Plantains are mandatory. Very positive comments are often heard about their fried chicken and the price makes it seem that it is almost cheaper eating out than to be buying groceries. Nelvis Café serves breakfast and lunch and it is one of the cafeterias in town frequented by the locals who do not have a chance to go home during meal times, but who want to feel they are eating a home made meal.

Delicias del Perú

Tel: 720-1966Another Peruvian restaurant that pays tribute to its homeland, Delicias del Perú specializes in the sea food, although it does have several meat dishes. The environment at this restaurant is very nice and has several eating areas: a couple of private rooms, the open dining area, a medium sized balcony with forest and river views and an intimate wine cellar area on the lower floor. It is famous for its different ceviche preparations and we also highly recommend the calamari and squid for an appetizer.

For your main course you should try any of the corvina (sea bass) preparations: stuffed with shrimp or accompanied by langostinos, with asparagus and cream sauce, corvina negra topped with capers or corvina esmeralda with bechamel sauce, spinach and shrimps Or if you would prefer other types of meat try their fillete stroganoff, or ají de gallina, also a typical Peruvian dish. The staff is very polite and attentive and you should not have to wait too much for your meal even if the restaurant is full.

Punto de Encuentro: Olga’s

The perfect place to have the perfect breakfast in Boquete is also known as Olga’s. Their dishes are nicely presented and deliciously prepared. Their menu includes scrambled, pouched or fried eggs, French toast, fruit salad, oatmeal, waffles, cheese and ham sandwiches and pancakes. They also prepare gorgeous omelets with potatoes filled with onion, tomato, peppers, mozzarella cheese and ham. As its names suggests, it is regarded as a meeting place and Punto de Encuentro has a good amount of steady and frequent customers. Its terraza overlooking the garden areas also make it a nice place to start the day.

Other places to eat in Boquete are Dehli Barú, Roxana’s, Papa Ricco’s, Central Park, Genesis, Restaurante Lourdes, Il Panista, Al Zarana, Ana Sweets, Java Juice, La Casona Mexicana, Pizzería Il Salvatore, Pizzería La Volcánica, El Sabrosón…

Restaurants in Bocas del Toro – Isla Colon, Panama

Most places to eat are found on the main street, some are in hotels. They offer a variety of local and western dishes which may include beef, shrimp, chicken, fish, lobster, conch, octopus, etc. to name a few, with a any combination of vegetables, rice, beans, potatoes, French fries, lentils, plantain, and salad. Hamburgers and sandwiches are also available. Vegetarian diets are also accommodated. Dishes cost between US$3 to US$5 or more depending on what you eat.

The Om Café – Indian

Da Claudio (Laguna Hotel) – Italian, German & Caribbean

El Pecado – Thai & seafood

The Reef – American hamburgers and sandwiches

Bahia Hotel – Italian

Bocas del Toro Hotel – American, Caribbean and seafood

Alberto’s restaurant – Italian

Buena Vista Bar & Grill – – American, Caribbean and seafood

Liki Tiki – Mexican, caribbean & seafood

Don Chico – mixed buffet

Bumper’s Bar & Grill – Clam Chowder & fish