Panama abounds with restaurants offering delicacies from all over the world but very few of them offer typical Panamanian food and no visitor should leave without trying some of the specialities of the country. The restaurants Las Tinajas and El Trapiche offer Panamanian fare in comfortable surroundings.

The following is a list of typical dishes.

Sancocho - is probably the most famous Panamanian dish. It is a soup made from chicken, yucca or name with cilantro and spices. Some claim it has magical hangover curing properties.

Ropa Vieja ( Old Clothes) - is a tasty stew of beef and tomatoes

Carimanola - a roll made from ground and fried yucca, filled with chopped beef or chicken. The roll is then deep fried before serving.

Empanadas - these are something like a pastry turnover. Some are made from flour and others from corn. They can be filled with meat, chicken or cheese and are usually fried before serving.

Tortillas - are made from ground maize and fried like a pancake.

Tamales -are a very popular local delicacy. They are made from boiled ground corn with spices, chicken or pork inside. The tamal is wrapped in banana leaf and boiled before serving.

Tamal de Olla ( Tamal in a pot) - uses the above ingredients, but instead of wrapping them up in banana leaf, they are all cooked together in a pot.

Patacones - are made from green plantain which is fried, cut crossways in pieces, pressed flat and fried again

Chicheron - deep fried pork rind.