A "FOODIES” GUIDE TO PANAMA

On your first journey to Panama, you are probably wondering about what Panamanians eat and drink and the local delicacies to try on your vacation. Due to Panama’s diverse Spanish, American, Afro-Caribbean, and indigenous influences, Panamanian cuisine ranges from the international favourites to local exotic foods. You will find an array of regional variation in Panama, with the coastal regions offering seafood, coconut, and tropical fruits, and the inland areas being more focussed on beef, pork, chicken and root vegetables, served with a variety of Latin American sauces.

Dining out in Panama City

Breakfast in Panama

Panama breakfasts often consist of deep-fried corn tortillas served with eggs and other mouth-watering ingredients, including fried beef. If your heart is telling you eat more healthily, don’t there are a plethora of fresh fruits, eggs, and toast options available all over the country. American style breakfasts are also offered in most restaurants. And of course, a cup of Panamanian coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any morning fare.

Typical Panamanian breakfast

Main Courses

A typical Panama meal usually includes meat, coconut, rice and beans, served with local fruits and vegetables such as yucca, squash and plantains. You usually won't see much in the way of green salads or grains. The widely - offered platter called “Casado” is possibly the favourite Panamanian dish with a home-cooked favour, while the food of Panama’s islands and expansive coastline is vibrant with fresh seafood and tropical delights, such as mango and coconut.

Casado

Other staple main dishes include:

Sancocho: A Panamanian stew, full of chicken or sometimes beef and an assortment of vegetables.
Empanadas: Savoury corn or flour, meat-filled pastries with potatoes and/or cheese. They are sometimes served with homemade tomato sauce for an added touch of yumminess.
Carimanola: Which is fried yucca roll stuffed with meat and boiled eggs.

Sancocho

Tamales: boiled corn dough, stuffed with meat and wrapped in banana leaves. Even if you have tried these in other Latin American countries, try them again in Panama. Each country has its own recipes and food traditions and the Panamanian version is uniquely yummy.

Tamales

Snacks and Sides

Interesting side dishes complement the fish and meat. Locally available traditional foods like yucca and sweet plantain are used.

Sweet plantains

Yuca frita: Fried yucca root accompanies many Panama meals, offering the tropical version of French fries. 

Plantains: 
In Panama, plantains come three ways. Patacones are salty fried green plantains cut crosswise; Maduros are mature fried plantains (slightly sweeter) and Tajadas are baked plantains cut lengthwise and sprinkled with cinnamon. All versions should be sampled and are delicious in their own right!

Gallo pinto: This is Panama’s version of rice and beans that are usually mixed with pork.

Ceviche: 
Chopped raw fish, and seafood mixed with onions, tomatoes and coriander, marinated in lime juice. It is served with fresh tortilla chips and is widely served in the coastal regions.

Panamanian Ceviche

Desserts:
Tres Leches Cake is popular in many countries. It is a cake soaked in three kinds of milk, including evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and cream. 

Tres leches

Raspados

Panama beer brands are Panama Cerveza, Balboa, Atlas and Soberana. Balboa beer is a darker stout-like ale, while the others are lighter brews. Beer in Panama is super cheap whether you buy it in a store or in a restaurant, however Imported beers are more expensive. 
 

Balboa Beer

Panama seco is a fermented sugar cane spirit, often mixed with milk to lessen the strength.

Where to Dine

Panama isn’t the cheapest Central America country. Along with Costa Rica, in fact it tends to be the most expensive. That is because the local currency is the US dollar, which makes life easier. However, you can still find more economical options on roadside stalls or markets if you are looking for a more authentic option. Even so, restaurant prices are not as high as in Europe and charge around 25% less than in the U.S. 

Carimanola