Traditional food and drinks of Panama

Panama is a country with a rich and diverse nature, and the same applies to its cuisine. The Panamanian food reflects the history of the country: indigenous mixed with Spanish – the conquistadors arrived way back in 1501 – topped with Afro-Caribbean influence.

The cuisine and ingredients vary depending on location. On the Caribbean side, Panamanians eat more seafood and flavor many things with coconut, while in the mountainous interior, root vegetables, pork, and poultry are more dominant.

As Panama was part of Gran Colombia, there are similarities between the food in Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. So what are Panamas most popular foods? Check out our list of the 25 most popular Panamanian dishes and a description of each dish.