ExploFood · North America
What to eat in Panama
Five dishes to try in Panama, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Panama
Sancocho
Chicken soup with ñame root, corn and culantro.
How to have it: The national dish; eaten as a hangover cure and on Sundays, with white rice on the side.
Arroz con pollo
Yellow rice cooked with chicken, vegetables and spices.
How to have it: Served at fondas (cheap local diners) and family parties; comes with potato salad.
Ceviche
Raw corvina fish cured in lime juice with onion and chilli.
How to have it: Buy it in small cups at the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City; eat with crackers.
Patacones
Green plantain slices fried, flattened and fried again.
How to have it: The standard side with fried fish or meat; ask for them instead of fries.
Carimañola
Torpedo-shaped yuca fritter stuffed with seasoned ground beef.
How to have it: A breakfast item at fondas and bakeries, often with coffee.
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Questions
What food is Panama famous for?
Sancocho (chicken soup with ñame root, corn and culantro) comes first on our list, followed by Arroz con pollo, Ceviche, Patacones and Carimañola.
What is the national dish of Panama?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Panama is Sancocho: chicken soup with ñame root, corn and culantro. The national dish; eaten as a hangover cure and on Sundays, with white rice on the side.
Which dishes in Panama are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Patacones. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Panama?
Ceviche (raw corvina fish cured in lime juice with onion and chilli).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.