Panama has a rich culinary history that spans centuries. Its cuisine is the result of a complex mixture of indigenous, African and Spanish cooking styles. The Panamanian diet was greatly influenced by all three cultures when they first came together to form what we now know as Panama. If you want to try the best food in Panama City and have a delicious surprise that amazes your taste buds, keep reading.
What to eat?
The Panamanian cuisine is a mix of all the cultures who have come to settle here. Panama is a melting pot of cultures and the cuisine reflects this. Influences include the Spanish, Native Americans, African and Chinese. A number of dishes originate from these different cultures, with each one making its mark on Panama’s national culture. Here are a number of typical dishes and these are just some of the most representatives, but there’s plenty more to try if you have enough time:
Sancocho: A chicken stew made with tubers like otoe, yams and cassava, corn, green plantain with coriander leaves. Each region has a version of it, and they are all delicious. It is said that the sancocho panameño is the best cure for a hangover.
Chicharrones: These are fried pork belly or fried pork rinds. They can be served with fried manioc or plantain.
Ceviche: The origin story behind this national favorite is that it was created by local fishermen who needed to preserve their fish. They marinated it in lime juice, which gave it a unique flavor—and thus began one of Panamá’s most popular dishes. It is served with crackers, and it should be eaten very fresh.
Arroz con guandú: Rice with pigeon peas. The pigeon peas come in two colors, green and purple. The purple one, colors the rice, making it slightly purple and delicious.
Tamales: These are corn dough mixed with raisins and then stuffed with meat chicken or pork. The tamales are then wrapped in a banana leave, tied up very well and boiled until cooked. They are delicious! You definitely have to try them.
Panamanian cuisine
There are a lot of restaurants of traditional cuisine all around the city, these are some of the most popular ones, and in parentheses the neighborhood to find them:
Sabroso Panama (Causeway)
Mi Ranchito (Causeway)
Diablicos (Casco Antiguo)
Fonda Lo que hay (Casco Antiguo)
Las Clementinas (Casco)
El Trapiche (Perico Island & Via Argentina)
Parrilladas Jimmy (San Francisco)
The Best food in Panama City
If you want a place where you have different options, from local cuisine, fusion of international and local food and cuisine from almost anywhere in the world, these are the most popular restaurants, which are amazing. Anything you try in any of these restaurants is just delicious.
Tomillo (San Francisco)
Maito (San Francisco)
Le luminaires (Casco Antiguo)
Cantina del tigre (San Francisco)
International food
You can find all kind of cuisines from around the world in Panamá City. There are restaurants from all Latin American countries or even from the other side of the world. There’s a huge variety as this crossworld multicultural city gives you the best from everywhere. We will give you just a couple of ideas but if you feel like trying something from back home, or somewhere across the world, do not hesitate to ask or look for a specialized restaurant.
Peruvian food
- Nasca 21
- Segundo muelle
- La Jarana
- Mr. Limón
- Ají Limo
Indian food
- Sabor de la india
- Masala
Mexican
- Tacos la neta
Italian
- La Strega
Japanese
- Ajisen
- Miss Cho
- Makoto
- Nacion Sushi
Best burgers in town
If you feel like trying a great burger we hope you are in Panama for the burger week that’s organized every year. During this week you can try a special burger made by each participant restaurant for around 12 dollars and rank them to select the best one in town.
Some of the participants in the last editions and have all year round great burgers are:
- Hamburguesia (San Francisco)
- El Republicano (San Francisco)
- Esa Flaca Rica (San Francisco)
- Anti Burger (San Francisco)
- Casco Burger (Casco)
So, if you are looking for a great place to eat in Panama City, in this blog you have lots of options for all tastes and all budgets. All these restaurants have one thing in common: they serve great food and love to give you a great gastronomic experience while you visit our country. We hope you try some of these places and restaurants on your next visit to Panama so that you can enjoy the best food in Panama too!
So remember, when you are ready to visit the city, with a certified bilingual tour guide, who can really show you the beauties of this marvelous city of Panama, just click here and and Tour Now will send you a guide right away.
Let us take care of you.
