How much do restaurants cost in Panama?
Louis Seldon
The cost of restaurants in Panama is as much as you want to pay. Personally I eat at local restaurants / cafes. I DO NOT eat at U.S. chains.
My favorite places to eat in Panama City:
- Balboa Yacht Club, Amador beside Country Inn & Suites & FGI Fridays on the Panama Canal (typical Panama food +), great for sunset drink, week end live live music with local groups.
- Calle Uruguay has many good restaurants, clubs and...
The cost of restaurants in Panama is as much as you want to pay. Personally I eat at local restaurants / cafes. I DO NOT eat at U.S. chains.
My favorite places to eat in Panama City:
- Balboa Yacht Club, Amador beside Country Inn & Suites & FGI Fridays on the Panama Canal (typical Panama food +), great for sunset drink, week end live live music with local groups.
- Calle Uruguay has many good restaurants, clubs and bars. It is like the “South Beach“ of the city. Located one block east of Frederico Boyd & south of Calle 50.
- Vegetarian Restaurants in Panama City.
- Costa Azul Restaurant (typical Panama food +), on side street from Via España between the Continental Hotel & the Marriott Hotel, Banking District.
- Jimmy’s Parrilla Restaurant (typical Panama food +), two locations Banking District & San Francisco.
- Lung Fung (Chinese) Restaurant, Betania area, Vía Simón Bolívar (Transístmica) and Calle 62 C. Oeste Take a taxi. Parking is tight under the building, but there is a parking lot up the street. Taxi drivers know the name.
- Manolo’s Cafes, several in the city, Via Veneto (this one has the best prices), Via Argentina, etc.
- Martin Fierro (Argentine cruise), El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel.
- Me Gusta Comida Vegetariana is off via España on the side street between the Continental Hotel & Marriott Hotel (across the street from Restaurant Costa Azul on the “rounded“ corner).
- Mi Ranchito (typical Panama food +), on the first island on the Amador Causeway.
- Napoli Italian Restaurant, original off Avenida de Martes near the old Canal Zone & the new one south of Via España on a side street in Obarrio.
- Niko’s Cafes (buffet-cafeteria style), all over Panama City & Balboa.
- Pomodoro Restaurant Italian cuisine in a bohemian cafe atmosphere, located on the left side of the entrance to the Las Vegas Hotel lobby on Via Venetos.
- Rincon Aleman (German Restaurant), one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Tinajas Restaurant.
- Rincon Suizo (Swiss Restaurant), El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel.
- Rino’s Italian & International cuisine, Banking District, Ave Federico Boyd & Calle 49.
- Tinajas Restaurant, (typical Panama food with typical Panama dance shows most nights), one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Rincon Aleman Restaurant.
- The Wine Bar, on the right side of the entrance to Las Vegas Hotel lobby offers pizzas, great wines and other Italian menu item
s along with live music of local groups.
U.S. chain restaurants include TGI
Fridays, Bennigan’s, Hooters. We have many U.S. chain fast foods, incluidng : KFC, McDonalds, Subway, etc. (I don't eat at the U.S. Chains.)
The picture to the right is of my friend with Panama Wonton Soup, "Mayor Aleman", at a "Chino" cafe Mirador del Canal, in Paraiso, Panama.
Posted April 14, 2013
Lourdes Townshend
Bon appetit! To enjoy one of the vast variety of meals and restaurants in the city or throughout the country of Panamá all you need to have is an appetite. The biggest problem you will have is to decide what you want to eat, because every the food from possible country is represented in some way, shape or form.
And prices? Well, that´s the biggest surprise! As well as variety in places, so there is the variety...
Bon appetit! To enjoy one of the vast variety of meals and restaurants in the city or throughout the country of Panamá all you need to have is an appetite. The biggest problem you will have is to decide what you want to eat, because every the food from possible country is represented in some way, shape or form.
And prices? Well, that´s the biggest surprise! As well as variety in places, so there is the variety of prices, not to mention the 25% mandatory discount to every senior with a "pensionado" visa, or local retirees, or the 15% discount on fast food, like what you'll find in the malls, etc. Let´s take some specific examples from the Panamá Citiy area.
Breakfast at Riu Hotel, buffet style, all you can eat, one of the best in town: the largest variety of everything you can think of, from any kind of eggs, to fruits, to exotic yogurts, for the most demanding guest or diet, will cost $18.00 less the 25% pensionado discount, plus tax, plus tip. Can´t beat that. The same offer goes for any of the major hotels, including Marriot, CourtYard, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Hotel Ejecutivo, Hotel El Panamá, Hotel Miramar, Hotel Continental, Crown Royal, Gamboa Resort, Le Meridien, Rock Cafe, among many other choices, one more expensive than others.
Lunch: from Italian, to Middle East, to Asian, to exotic and all kinds of vegetarian, Mediterranean and gluten free meals. And of course, the Panamanian style, like Restaurante Las Tinajas, Mi Ranchito, Las Pencas, and others, plus the ones that you can find in the countryside, across the country, like in the towns of Coronado, El Palmar and Chitré, among others. Typical meals like carimañolas, tortillas, liver steak with grilled onions, and arroz con pollo, patacones and yuca frita are the favorite ones, at a very inexpensive prices.
Lunch prices vary from $6.50 to $75.00, depending where you eat. Example: At Waikiki Restaurant, which is close to the San Francisco area and not very sophisticated, but with excellent cuisine, you will find a complete lunch, including soup (excellent quality), dessert and drink (usually natural juices) from $6.25 and up, and you have 4 choices. And breakfast? All you can ask for. For example, one including coffee or tea, orange juice, eggs, oatmeal, steak and hojaldre could be around $8.
Dinner at hotels and fancy restaurants varies, and you find all kinds of ridiculously low prices. Also, fast food promotions, like $1 burgers, or $1.99 for two pieces of chicken. Example: Hotel El Panamá, dinner at the pool. An excellent prime piece of beef or chicken, made on firewood and accompanied by either rice, salad , potatoes or anything else, could go for $26.00+ without drinks or any extras. And it is a beautiful place, where you can enjoy going into the casino, walking to the nearby stores, or simply enjoying the pool and friends, or celebrating your anniversary. Another example could be restaurant Napoli, Italian style, situated in Obarrio; an excellent corvina (a Panamanian fish) for an average of $10.50.
Posted October 5, 2013
Penny Barrett - Fundacion Bid 4 Bouquete
Since others have answered this question giving you examples of the nicer places in Panama City I will tell you about the "tipicos" or Panamanian places.
Normally, the Panamanian tipico restaurants are only open for breakfast and lunch as most Panamanians eat dinner with their family. Many are cafeteria style. If not cafeteria style they typically have a pretty standard lunch menu -- rice, beans, salad, and your choice of a small piece of chicken, pork or...
Since others have answered this question giving you examples of the nicer places in Panama City I will tell you about the "tipicos" or Panamanian places.
Normally, the Panamanian tipico restaurants are only open for breakfast and lunch as most Panamanians eat dinner with their family. Many are cafeteria style. If not cafeteria style they typically have a pretty standard lunch menu -- rice, beans, salad, and your choice of a small piece of chicken, pork or beef. Sometime a "chicha" is included. A chicha is a concoction of fruit juice, water and sugar. The price for this lunch is usually around $2.50 - $3.00. If you want a big piece of fried chicken with the other sides, the cost is usually about $3.50. All in all, a good deal. Most people who are eligible for the 25% discount do not ask for it in this kind of place.
A tipico breakfast menu will have scrambled eggs, bollas (small meat balls), holaldres (spelling?) which is a sweet, fried dough sometimes translated as "pancake". Sometimes bacon is offered as well as fruit. And always good coffee grown in the province of Chiriqui.
Posted October 13, 2013
Esteban Guerra
The cost for a meal in restaurants in Panama City, Panama varies but the average is around US $15 for lunch. Fast foods like Burger King or McDonald’s cost around $8 for a burger meal. There are other restaurants where you can get a full meal for $4 or $5.
The cost for a meal in restaurants in Panama City, Panama varies but the average is around US $15 for lunch. Fast foods like Burger King or McDonald’s cost around $8 for a burger meal. There are other restaurants where you can get a full meal for $4 or $5.
Posted November 6, 2014
Diana Chacon
There are a lot of restaurants in Panama. A new restaurant opens almost every day, serving a different kind of food.
The ones that you think would cost a lot, many times do not really cost that much. It usually costs about US $30 per person for the high end entrée plate. I lived in New York, so to me, everything is really cheap here. These high-end restaurants have nice music; a waiter or a waitress will come to seat you, and they...
There are a lot of restaurants in Panama. A new restaurant opens almost every day, serving a different kind of food.
The ones that you think would cost a lot, many times do not really cost that much. It usually costs about US $30 per person for the high end entrée plate. I lived in New York, so to me, everything is really cheap here. These high-end restaurants have nice music; a waiter or a waitress will come to seat you, and they serve all kinds of food.
There is a really nice restaurant in Panama City in Torres Las Americas that I really like. When we went there, we spent about $65 for both of us, and that included the tip. They also have valet service, which is nice because you don’t have to go and look for a parking space. You usually need a reservation, but it is very easy. You just have to call in the afternoon and book your table, or you can also wait because there are lots of people who are coming and going as well.
There are also a lot of family type restaurants here in Panama City. We have TGIFriday, PF Chang’s, etc. The cost to eat at these family type restaurants would be around $15 per person. It is way less expensive to go to a TGIFriday in Panama than in New York. It’s about half the price here in Panama City. Here, I could order two appetizers and two margaritas for the same price as I would pay in New York City for one appetizer and one margarita.
There are also a lot of family type restaurants here in Panama City. We have TGIFriday, PF Chang’s, etc. The cost to eat at these family type restaurants would be around $15 per person. It is way less expensive to go to a TGIFriday in Panama than in New York. It’s about half the price here in Panama City. Here, I could order two appetizers and two margaritas for the same price as I would pay in New York City for one appetizer and one margarita.
We also have a lot of fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell and KFC here in Panama City, and again, they cost way less in Panama City than in New York.
Posted November 30, 2014
Michael A. Martinez - B & B Real Estate Nicaragua / Panama Real Estate Information
The cost of restaurants depends on where you are in Panama. I love the restaurants in Panama City because they are delicious but they are basically North American price. They maybe a little bit better but not when you get to the upscale and trendy restaurants. My favorite restaurant has the best steaks and it costs about US $32 for a prime rib. Things are growing rapidly here in western Azuero. Just recently, a new Italian eatery opened up here. It is...
The cost of restaurants depends on where you are in Panama. I love the restaurants in Panama City because they are delicious but they are basically North American price. They maybe a little bit better but not when you get to the upscale and trendy restaurants. My favorite restaurant has the best steaks and it costs about US $32 for a prime rib. Things are growing rapidly here in western Azuero. Just recently, a new Italian eatery opened up here. It is truly authentic Italian and their food is probably between $9 and $16 per plate. Their wine is probably around $4 a glass and I think their most expensive wine there is $30 per bottle. That is probably the most high-end restaurant now in Western Azuero unless you come to our boutique hotels.
There is a Panamanian restaurant here that is run by an American-Panamanian where you get good old fashioned fried fish, rice with lentils, and maybe a soft drink for about $10 to $12. Include the beer in there, too. If it is a smaller fish, you will probably get two beers, a nice fried fish, and that will be $10. This is for lunch or dinner.
For lunch, I recently went to Mariato, and I went to Maria’s restaurant on the highway there. She had me pick out the fish I had; which one she was going to fry for us. I was on a budget so I got a decent fish for $4 and that includes rice with chick peas, a drink, and a nice salad. I had the same meal at a more popular restaurant; I had a little bit bigger fish for lunch, two beers, and I paid total of $10 including the two beers. That place was packed with the most beautiful, handsome Latino people in very expensive SUV cars and everybody was having fried fish and drinking beers, and had surf boards on their cars. Some of them didn’t have rooms. And they are asking everybody if there were any more rooms available in our area.
Posted February 22, 2015
Jennifer Moloney Jones
The cost of eating out in restaurants here in Panama varies depending on what you want and where you want to eat. If you want, you can go to a cantina and spend US $2.50 on rice, peas, and chicken. You can also go to a gourmet restaurant in Casco Viejo and spend $150 for a meal for two. You can find international cuisine here. You will find superb chefs, and there is a great variety of food. Generally, the cost for a decent meal in a regular restaurant is about $15 for a main course....The cost of eating out in restaurants here in Panama varies depending on what you want and where you want to eat. If you want, you can go to a cantina and spend US $2.50 on rice, peas, and chicken. You can also go to a gourmet restaurant in Casco Viejo and spend $150 for a meal for two. You can find international cuisine here. You will find superb chefs, and there is a great variety of food. Generally, the cost for a decent meal in a regular restaurant is about $15 for a main course. Starters will cost you between $6 to $10, desserts maybe about around $4 to $6. There are about 10 top restaurants here in Panama City that would rank against the restaurants in London. Then you have a bigger selection of regular restaurants but they are all good, so you won’t get a bad meal. Actually, some of my favorite food is the local food and the restaurants are not even fancy. The restaurants may have only plastic tables and chairs, but the quality of food is great. It is very tasty and you can really get a taste of Panama from what they serve you.
My one big complaint here is the sushi. The sushi here in Panama always has cream cheese in it. I don’t know if that is Latin or American taste, but they put cream cheese in every single sushi you get. That is my only complaint about the food here. Otherwise, everything else is excellent. The seafood here in Panama is just superb. The thing you will pay the most for is lamb. Ironically, lobsters are just as expensive as you would expect elsewhere.
The restaurants in Panama City cost about the same amount you will spend in a restaurant in London.
Posted February 28, 2015
Duncan McGowan - Punta Pacifica Realty
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There is a huge price difference among the restaurants in Panama. Panama is developing as a culinary center and there are many restaurants opening. It’s actually quite surprising how they can all be in the same business. You can eat in a restaurant in Panama for as little as $8 per person. A more typical average meal can cost about $12 to $15 per person. Of course, we also have restaurants where you could pay $25 to $30 for one plate of food....
There is a huge price difference among the restaurants in Panama. Panama is developing as a culinary center and there are many restaurants opening. It’s actually quite surprising how they can all be in the same business. You can eat in a restaurant in Panama for as little as $8 per person. A more typical average meal can cost about $12 to $15 per person. Of course, we also have restaurants where you could pay $25 to $30 for one plate of food. It just depends on the category of the restaurant.
The way Panama City is laid out, most people live in apartments as opposed to living in houses so a lot of entertaining happens in restaurants. For example, if there’s a birthday party or an event that’s going on and you’re celebrating something, most people in Panama won’t have people over to their apartment, and would prefer to say, “Let’s meet at (a particular) restaurant.” Restaurants do well in Panama and there is a wide variety of types of cuisine and price ranges.
Comparing the restaurants in Panama City to where I lived in Toronto for 12 years, I would say that the restaurants in Panama City are much more economical. In Panama, you would pay about 50% of what you would pay in Toronto for the same quality and type of restaurant.
(Cafe Barko, Isla Flamenco, Avenida Amador, Panama City, Panama, pictured.)
Posted August 19, 2015