Top 5 Panamanian Foods: Panama City Street Cuisine

While you can find nearly every type of international dish imaginable in Panama City, it’d be a shame not to try some delicious traditional Panamanian food while you’re in this cosmopolitan cultural and financial hub. Amid your explorations of all the trappings of this thriving world-class capital city – think cultural heritage in Casco Viejo and at Panama Viejo, the lush Natural Metropolitan Park, Panamanian art at local museums – why not tuck into some of the top Panamanian food that the city is known for? Here are our favorite picks.

Hojaldras | Visiting Panama City before noon? Give this tempting breakfast bread a try. On the fried dough spectrum, it’s akin to a mini elephant ear that’s typically dusted with powdered sugar. You also might see them plain, with cheese or even garlicky criolla sauce. Pair it with a cup of aromatic Panamanian coffee and set off on your adventure.

Corn Tortillas | A very typical food in Panama, these delicious golden corn cakes have a subtle, satisfying crisp that makes them oh-so addictive. The masa dough is sometimes blended with queso fresco or just left plain. It’s then grilled in a bit of oil, topped with eggs, meat or nothing at all and served piping hot. A fantastic example of Panama City street food, indeed.

Carimañolas | These tasty little fried yucca rolls have won the hearts of Panama residents everywhere, so not surprisingly, you’ll also spot them being served at pretty much every restaurant, café, cafeteria, fonda and street vendor you set eyes on. The yucca is mashed, rolled and filled with ground meat, cheese, hard-boiled egg – or a combination of these – and then deep-fried. This traditional Panamanian food is served as an appetizer and sometimes at breakfast too. Fact: you’ll have a really hard time saying no to a second carimañola.

Chicheme | Locals love enjoying this very traditional corn-based beverage ice cold. Blended corn is mixed with condensed or evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Some compare the consistency to rice pudding so we’ll venture a guess that it may not be for everyone, but there are plenty that go crazy for it. Either way, you really do have to try it when you’re in Panama. Where else can you try an icy corn drink prepared according to an age-old native recipe?

Raspado | The Panamanian sno-cone, this street treat is the perfect answer to a hot day. Ubiquitous street carts churn out juice-flavored shaved ice topped with condensed milk. Popular flavors include maracuyá (passion fruit), piña (pineapple) and guayaba (guava). Watching the art of creating a raspado is almost as enjoyable as eating it – almost.

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