Food in Panama is very similar to that of other Latin American countries. Rice, beans and corn tend to be major staples. It is not particularly spicy, and you will often find they like to fry just about everything from fish to chicken to plantains. Because the entire country has fairly close proximity to the ocean, fish and shellfish are also common in Panamanian cuisine.
The greatest part about eating in Panama? It’s cheap. Go where the locals go. These cafeteria style restaurants and small rustic joints often serve up the best food for rock-bottom prices. They may not be the most glamorous joints, but it’s easy to find a big plate of rice, beans and pollo asado (roasted chicken) for about US$3. One of the best meals I had in Panama was Chicken and fried yucca cooked right up in a roadside hut.
Breakfast: Breakfasts in Panama tend to be simple. It’s easy to find eggs (huevos), omelets and pancakes at most places. The eggs will usually come with a fried corn tortilla (delicious). Coffee is grown in the highlands of Panama, so it is often local and delicious. Cafe Duran is a common brand found throughout the country. The coffee is strong, and if you want it with cream, make sure you order it “con leche.” You can also find smoothie like creations called batidos, which usually consists of banana or pineapple blended with ice and either milk or water. They are a refreshing and delicious treat for a hot Panamanian day.
Seafood: Ceviche (raw fish marinated and “cooked” in lime juice with other seasonings) can be found in many restaurants and is almost always delicious. In the highlands, fresh mountain trout can be found cooked a variety of ways. If you venture to the beach, make sure you sample the local seafood. In San Blas you will be delighted to find (or catch yourself) fresh smoked snapper and other delicious fish. Lobster and shrimp are also found throughout the country.
Plaintains Two Ways and other Fried Treats: Patacones (sliced and fried plantain) are a tasty treat, epsecially when they are hot and salted. Maduros, the sweet version of patacones, are plantains fried up in cinnamon and sugar and are a great way to satisfy that sweet tooth. Yucca Fritais fried yucca, which looks and tastes a lot like french fires with a slightly denser consistency.
Fresh Fruit: Of course, fresh fruit, while rarely served in restaurants, is abundant and can be found at low prices in markets and roadside stands throughout Panama. Pina (pineapple), bananas, passion fruit, mangoes and a variety of other tropical fruits are found year-round throughout the country. It’s a great way to bring balance to the fried foods you will often find on your plate. 
Pollo Asado: Pretty much everywhere you go and in every restaurant you will find pollo asado (roasted chicken) served. Sometimes it’s grilled, sometimes it’s baked, sometimes it’s in a sauce, sometimes it’s not, but it is almost always delicious. Some of the best pollo asado in the country is at Restaurante Chitre in Bocas del Toro. In any event, you can never go wrong with a plate of beans, rice and pollo asado.
Vegetarian Cuisine: It is admittedly slightly difficult to eat vegetarian in Panama, but it is by no means impossible. With rice and beans a major staple and a complete protein, it is probably the easiest way to avoid meat (though you may want to make sure the beans were not cooked with animal fat). While vegetables rarely make an appearance on plates in restaurants, fresh fruit and vegetables are always at the local markets and can supplement those good old rice and beans. And remember, corn and plantains are also found in almost every local restaurant and are vegetarian items as well!
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