(Panamagringo) The food scene in Panama is constantly changing and evolving while keeping a strong hold on traditional cuisine as well. In Panama food can be found on nearly every street corner and borough to suit any palette as well as any wallet. If you are looking for traditional Panamanian food I highly recommend you check out El Trapiche in the El Cangrejo neighborhood on Via Argentina. Constantly filled with locals- evidence of the authenticity and quality of its Panamanian food-
El Trapiche offers everything genuinely Panamanian from the chicken soup to the deep fried corn tortillas, empanadas and plantains. You can expect to pay around $10 to $15 a plate at dinner in El Trapiche, but the quality of food and the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and neighborhood make it worth spending a little more than the Panamanian average. (For a complete review of El Trapiche check out this post.)
Street food is a typical commodity in panama and I highly recommend hitting up the vendor carts with fresh pineapples and mangos for a fresh snack that will alleviate some of the intense heat waves you might feel while touring the city. Bollos de maiz or Tamales are a super filling and tasty food that you can find on the streets or restaurants in Panama. They are the Panamanian equivalent of a Tamale; meat, peppers spices and sometimes olives encased in a layer of fresh corn meal then steamed inside of a banana leaf. If you opt for a fried empanada or tortilla from a street vendor I suggest you do it early in the morning (a nice quick and cheap breakfast at around 50 cents a pop) as they drastically lose their appeal after a couple of hours out of the oil.
In Panama food can teeter at the highest end of the budget as well. Restaurants like La Posta offer top quality seafood, steaks, Panamanian and fusion dishes; however, you will pay noticeably more for your meal here than most other dining hot spots in Panama City(anywhere from $40 and up for a dinner for two). La Posta is located on Calle 51 in Panama City and their menu, hours and other info can be seen on their web site.
One of my other favorites is Jimmy’s. Read about it by clicking here.