Best Restaurants in Panama 2026

Sancocho de Gallina

Panama's national dish — a slow-simmered hen soup with culantro (Mexican coriander), yuca, ñame, and local herbs. Rich, hearty, and deeply comforting. Every Panamanian family has their own recipe.

Where to try: Traditional fondas and family restaurants, especially on weekends

Price: $5-12

Corvina Ceviche

Fresh corvina sea bass marinated in lime juice with red onion, ají chombo chili, and culantro. Panama City's seafood market serves some of the finest ceviches in Latin America using that morning's catch.

Where to try: Mercado de Mariscos, seafood restaurants throughout Panama City

Price: $5-15

Ropa Vieja

Shredded slow-braised beef with tomatoes, peppers, and onions served over white rice with patacones. The Afro-Caribbean influence on Panamanian cooking is most evident in this dish.

Where to try: Traditional Panamanian restaurants and fondas

Price: $6-12

Patacones

Double-fried green plantain rounds, smashed and fried again until crispy. Served as a side dish or topped with ceviche, pulled pork, or guacamole. Ubiquitous at every type of Panamanian restaurant.

Where to try: Everywhere — from street stalls to fine dining restaurants

Price: $2-5

Carimañola

Deep-fried yuca dough stuffed with spiced ground beef or cheese. Panama's most beloved street snack — golden-crispy outside, soft inside, eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Where to try: Street vendors, markets, and traditional bakeries throughout Panama

Price: $1-3

Arroz con Pollo

Chicken cooked with saffron-colored rice, culantro, peppers, and vegetables. The Panamanian version is deeply seasoned with local herbs and typically served at family gatherings and Sunday lunches.

Where to try: Fondas and traditional Panamanian restaurants

Price: $6-12

Carimañola

Deep-fried yuca torpedo stuffed with seasoned ground beef, chicken, or cheese. Sold warm from street vendor carts throughout Panama City, especially in working-class neighborhoods.

Find it at: Street vendors near markets, bus terminals, Casco Viejo streets

Empanada de Pipian

Fried cornmeal turnover with a variety of fillings from chicken to plantain. Different from South American empanadas — Panamanian style uses masa dough and is slightly sweeter.

Find it at: Morning street vendors, fondas, Mercado Nacional de Artesanías food stalls

Chicheme

Traditional sweet drink made from ground corn, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Served cold from street vendors — refreshing, filling, and distinctly Panamanian.

Find it at: Street vendors in markets and bus terminals, particularly Albrook

Hojaldras

Deep-fried dough puffs sprinkled with powdered sugar or salt — Panama's traditional fried bread eaten at breakfast with cheese or jam, or as a street snack any time of day.

Find it at: Morning street vendors, traditional bakeries, fondas serving breakfast

Tortillas de Maíz

Thick cornmeal cakes grilled on a comal, different from Mexican tortillas — substantial and eaten with butter, cheese, or alongside sancocho. Staple carb at traditional breakfast tables.

Find it at: Traditional restaurants, markets, roadside fondas

Mercado de Mariscos

Panama City's legendary seafood market on the Casco Viejo waterfront where fishing boats unload daily catches from Pacific and Caribbean. The market level sells wholesale fish while the upstairs restaurant serves the freshest ceviche in the city.

Hours: 6AM-5PM daily

Mercado Nacional de Artesanías Food Section

The artisan market near Miraflores Locks has a small food court serving traditional Panamanian street food and snacks — great for trying carimañola, tamales, and fresh fruit juices alongside handicraft shopping.

Hours: 8AM-6PM daily

Super Gourmet

Panama City's premier specialty food market in El Carmen with an extensive imported foods selection, local artisan cheeses and charcuterie, gourmet coffee, and a café section. Best for self-catering and food gifts.

Hours: 7AM-10PM daily

Feria de Boquete (Seasonal)

The highland town of Boquete hosts weekend farmers markets and the annual Feria de las Flores y del Café in January featuring fresh Geisha coffee, local honey, highland vegetables, and artisan food products.

Hours: January festival; weekend markets year-round