Panamanian Cuisine: Traditional Dishes
Complete guide to Panamanian food — corvina ceviche, sancocho, patacones, ropa vieja, arroz con pollo and more dishes you must try
Appetizers & Snacks
Ceviche Panameño
Fresh corvina chunks marinated in lime juice with red onion, cilantro, chombo pepper, and a touch of hot sauce. Served with crispy patacones. The star appetizer of Panamanian cuisine.
Patacones
Green plantain slices smashed and twice-fried until golden and crispy. Served as a side dish with almost everything in Panama, from ceviches to meats. The favorite snack of Panamanians!
Carimañolas
Yuca balls stuffed with seasoned ground beef, wrapped in a soft yuca dough and fried until golden. A traditional Panamanian snack perfect for breakfast or a midday treat.
Main Dishes
Sancocho Panameño
Panama's national dish. A comforting stew of free-range hen slow-cooked with yam, culantro (not cilantro), oregano, and corn. Every family has their secret recipe passed down through generations.
Arroz con Pollo
Annatto-tinted rice cooked with shredded chicken, olives, capers, peppers, and a sofrito of onion and garlic. A comforting dish present at every Panamanian celebration.
Ropa Vieja
Shredded beef slow-cooked in tomato sauce with onion, peppers, garlic, and Creole spices. Its name ("old clothes") comes from the appearance of the shredded meat. A Caribbean cuisine classic.
Desserts & Sweets
Raspao
Shaved ice drenched in natural tropical fruit syrups like tamarind, soursop, orange, and strawberry. Topped with condensed milk and a cherry. Panama's most popular street refreshment.
Drinks
Ron Abuelo
Panama's premium rum, distilled since 1908 in the Herrera region. From Ron Abuelo Añejo to the exclusive 30-year Centuria. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a tropical cocktail at sunset.
Where to Try Panamanian Food
Seafood Market
Panama City's Seafood Market is the perfect place to try fresh ceviche and seafood straight from the ocean. Located facing the Cinta Costera, it offers casual dining with skyline views.
Casco Viejo
The historic old quarter houses some of Panama's best restaurants, from traditional fondas to award-winning chef-driven restaurants fusing Panamanian cuisine with international techniques.
Local Fondas
Fondas are small family-run restaurants serving authentic homemade Panamanian food. Look for ones packed with locals — it's the best sign of quality. A full lunch costs between $3 and $5.
🍽️ Itodo Bistro Bar — Dovle Cincuentenario
Located on the ground floor of the Dovle Cincuentenario building in Coco del Mar, Itodo Bistro Bar offers signature fusion cuisine with Panamanian flair in a contemporary, elegant atmosphere. Perfect for our guests seeking a fine dining experience without leaving the building. Sophisticated ambiance ideal for special dinners.
→ View Itodo Bistro Bar detailsRestaurant Catalog
45 amazing options
8 Nudos
Mediterranean fine dining and seafood next to the Playa Escondida marina.
Ato Fusion Cuisine
Sushi and Asian fusion cuisine with cherry blossom ambiance in San Francisco, Panama City.
Azahar Panamá
7th-floor speakeasy with skyline views, secret entrance, and creative fusion cuisine.
Brutto
Upscale international cuisine with Asian influences at Multiplaza, Panama City.
Caleta
Michelin chef Lorenzo Di Gravio's restaurant at Sofitel Legend Casco Antiguo, Casco Viejo. Panamanian seafood with Mediterranean touches in the 1917 Club Unión building. Menu, photos and review.
Casa Florencia
Authentic Italian cuisine with artisanal pasta and wood-fired pizza in El Valle.
Casa Vela Portobelo
Afro-Antillean flavors and fresh seafood facing the historic bay of Portobelo.
Crepes & Waffles
Iconic Colombian crepes, waffles and artisan ice cream chain in Marbella, Panama City. 4 city locations. Extensive menu, moderate prices. Photos and full review.
Criollo Restaurant
Resort's main restaurant with international cuisine and fresh local ingredients.
Dolce Escondida
Cafeteria and artisanal gelateria perfect for refreshing afternoons.
Donde José
Intimate 12-course tasting menu with market ingredients — only 20 seats.
Dunas Beach Club
Vibrant beach club with live music and exceptional beachfront cocktails.
El Chiringuito Playa Blanca
Beach restaurant in Playa Blanca, 20 min from Buenaventura. Fresh seafood, ceviches and cocktails with your toes in the sand. Prices, menu and photos.
El Pato Loco Farallon
Local flavors and a relaxed beach atmosphere in Farallon.
Filomena Cucina di Mare
Italian seafood cuisine on the 6th floor of PH Yoo with Panama Bay views.
Fonda Lo Que Hay
Modern fonda with premium Panamanian home cooking — daily menu based on market finds.
Fonda Lo Que Hay
Traditional Panamanian dishes reimagined by an award-winning chef in Casco Viejo.
Hoyo 19
Golf course snack bar with views of the Nicklaus Design course.
Íntimo Restaurante
11-course tasting menu with local ingredients. #40 in Latin America's 50 Best. Only 28 seats.
Itodo Bistro Bar
Contemporary fusion cuisine on the ground floor of Dovle Cincuentenario, Coco del Mar.
Kayuco Restaurant
Beach club restaurant with ocean views and international food.
La Boucherie
Classic French Steak Frites in an intimate bistro in Casco Viejo with a secret sauce.
La Casa de Lourdes
Chef Lourdes Fábrega's Panamanian cuisine in a country house with gardens and mountain views in El Valle.
La Playita
Overwater restaurant on Isla Grande — fried fish, coconut rice, and Caribbean lobster.
La Pulpería
General store bar with tapas, exceptional cocktails, and a festive atmosphere in Casco Antiguo and San Francisco.
La Tapa del Coco
A gastronomic movement rescuing Afro-Panamanian cuisine, celebrating Afro-Colonial and Afro-Antillean traditions.
La Vespa Vista Mare
Fine Italian dining with panoramic Pacific and skyline views. Sunset terrace.
Las Anclas
Exceptional Afro-Caribbean waterfront dining on Portobelo bay.
Los Cañones
Afro-Caribbean cuisine facing Portobelo's colonial ruins — lobster, ceviches, and bay views.
Maison Kayser
French artisan bakery with croissants, pastries, and brasserie menu at Pacific Center, Coco del Mar.
Maito
Panama's top restaurant — contemporary Panamanian cuisine by chef Mario Castrellón.
Makoto
Upscale sushi and modern Japanese cuisine on a beautiful rooftop terrace in Obarrio.
Mansa
Premium steakhouse with American and imported cuts in Buenaventura.
Nacionsushi Coronado
Japanese-Peruvian-Thai fusion sushi at Coronado Plaza, near the Pacific beaches.
O'Pedro's Irish Pub
Lively Irish pub with craft beers, pub grub, and live music in El Valle.
Palapa Bar
Tapas bar and nightlife on the lake at Buenaventura resort.
PAUL Bakery
World-famous French bakery and bistro featuring croissants and baguettes.
Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar
Craft rum bar and Panamanian cuisine in a restored colonial building in Casco Viejo.
Petit Paris Bistró
French bistro with brunch, salmon toast, and crêpes in the heart of Marbella, Panama City.
Puntarenas Restaurant
Panamanian and international cuisine with Pacific views at Buenaventura resort.
Salvaje
Premium Latin American cuisine with sushi, steaks, and a vibrant terrace in the financial district.
Segundo Muelle
Panama's best Peruvian ceviche with ocean views at Causeway/Amador.
Tai Kai Sushi & Martini
Sushi, teppanyaki and Japanese cuisine at Buenaventura Resort, Playa Blanca. Live teppanyaki table, dinner under the centuries-old corotú tree. Menu, photos and review.
The Day Joe Died
Fusion restaurant in Casco Viejo, Panama City. Famous for avocado tartare, artistic hummus and neon-lit atmosphere. Menu, photos and full review.
Vista Lago
Lakeside restaurant with tropical gardens in Santiago de Veraguas.
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