A Guide to Panama Food Culture
Panama is a country with a diverse cultural heritage and a plethora of international influences. Whether or not you are a foodie, you are in for a treat! Thanks to its exposure to diversity, the food scene is full of delight surprises. No matter what your taste is, you cannot not find what you love here, and discover something new along the way.
To give you a list to start with, here are our top five favorites for one-of-a-kind, high quality food experiences in Panama.
- Donde Jose (Panama City)
Rumors say this is the best restaurant in Panama City, and you realize why it is so once you are there. "Donde Jose" is the brilliant brain child of Chef Jose Caries, who tells a story with each meal, selecting and naming dishes based on local folklore, culture, combined with his own creativity. Make sure to make a reservation before you go, otherwise, you won't get a table. Prepare to be blown away with foods, drinks, and a lovely Casco Viejo ambience. It is truly a culinary experience over a simple dinner.
- Milkiburguer (Boquete)
Fun fact about Milkiburguer: despite what the name suggests, it doesn't serve any burgers. As a matter of fact, the only thing they serve there is fried chicken – Panama's best fried chicken. Milkiburguer's chicken is so good that it is made in limited quantity each day, and when it runs out, the stand closes. While it is not centrally located, this is one of the most popular places for foodies in Boquete. Milkiburguer is a roadside stand next to a small grocery store on the road up to Los Naranjos. We recommend going early afternoon and get as many chickens as you can!
- La Vista Experience (Isla Taboga)
Part of eating in Panama is actually traveling there, hence the word "experience"! You will be invited on a chartered ferry with other dinner guests, welcomed with champagne, and taken to a small island about 20-30 minutes way from the city in the Bay of Panama. As you arrive, a restaurant is waiting, where 6 courses of fine dining are prepared for you, accompanied by wine. The trip will be finished off with a ride back to the mainland – all for $150 per person. This is truly an experience for a romantic date, special event, or even business excursion.
- Café Coca Cola
At the age of 143 years old, Café Coca Cola is the oldest restaurant that has been serving classic Panamanian and American diner-style dishes. The food is nicely done, affordable, and YES, delicious. Café Coca Cola is a place where you are bound to feel nostalgic. This is where you find yourself at the cross-section of Panamanian life and culture, while enjoying a club sandwich and Coke for less than $7.
- The "Mercado de Mariscos" (Panama City)
Also referred as the "the fish market" in English. This is the open-air paradise for all the seafood lovers and culture buffs who love to have a taste of authentic local flavors. The market consists of a central indoor location where you can buy raw fresh fish and seafood of other kinds, by the pound, and outside, there are about 20 ceviche and fish stands to choose from where cooked food to patrons are served. Prices are very affordable - $7 a pound for ceviche, $10-$12 for an entire fish fry. Imagine savoring the tasty seafood while sitting outside with a cold beer and doing lively people watching as the locals come and go! A truly Panamanian experience indeed!
