A Seafoodie’s Guide to Panama City
With Panama’s lengthy coastline, it’s no wonder that seafood figures prominently in Panamanian cuisine. This thin stretch of Central America is flanked by both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, meaning it has a ton to offer in terms of seafood.
Though I only had the chance to visit Panama City for a few days during a stopover, I was blown away by the quality and freshness of the seafood. I’m already planning a visit back so that I can indulge in more Panamanian cuisine! Panama has a long history of fishing and a culture that’s deeply rooted in its traditional foods.
While it might not seem like a foodie hotspot at first, Panamanian food - including it’s seafood - is definitely something to be sought after! If you’re looking for your next seafoodie travel destination, add Panama City to your list!
Mercado de Mariscos
At the core of Panama City’s seafood scene is Mercado de Mariscos. Panama City’s seafood market lies at the foot of the historic Casco Viejo district and is a hub of excitement in the city.
There are two parts to this seafood market: the traditional fish market where you can buy seafood that’s been freshly caught by the fishing boats in the bay. Or, there’s the “restaurant” area, where you can grab a seat and enjoy that same fresh seafood, prepared in whatever way you like and served with a cold, local beer.
The traditional market itself opens bright and early, usually around 5am when the fishermen bring in their catch. You’ll be able to find a diversity of options here including seabass, octopus, tuna, snapper, and so many more.
The restaurant area opens a little bit later in the day - usually just in time for lunch. Now, these restaurants aren’t fancy by any means. They’re more like hole-in-the-wall counters with plastic outdoor seating, but it is the best place to get fresh (and very affordable) seafood in Panama City.
And the vibes? Impeccable.
The seating area overlooks a local bay where fishermen leave their boats and the whole market is a popular hangout for Panamanians - so having lunch here is a great way to meet locals! Latin music blares over the speakers and there are a few TV’s scattered around, usually showing a local soccer game.
The specialty here is ceviche. It’s served in cups and and has a tangy, citrusy flare to it that just makes the flavour pop. You can get ceviche made with seabass, octopus, or shrimp and the best part is, each cup will only set you back about $2 USD.
If you’re hungrier for a bit more, you can grab one of many seafood platters. These platters generally include fried fish served with rice or fries. Similar to the market, the platters have a diversity of options including prawns, seabass, octopus, or mussels.
After you’ve visited the market, keep an eye out for these popular seafood dishes at local restaurants!
Top Panamanian Seafood Dishes
Ceviche
Even though ceviche originated in Peru, this dish is a Panamanian classic. Like I said above, you can easily find this at the seafood market and honestly, that’s the best place to get it. Ceviche will be good in local restaurants, but it will be super fresh and ridiculously cheap at the market. My favourite ceviche is, ceviche corvina, or seabass ceviche. Enjoy this with a cold beer and fried plantains for the ultimate Panamanian seafood experience.
Guacho de Mariscos
A local favorite. Guacho de Mariscos is a seafood stew made with yams, yucca, rice, mixed vegetables, and seafood including mussels, octopus, calamari, and shrimp. You can find this dish in almost every restaurant in Panama City.
Pargo Frito
Pargo frito, or fried red snapper, is a simple but delicious way to enjoy a meal from Panama’s shores. The dish features a whole, deep-fried red snapper, served as fresh as possible. Red Snapper is such a delicious fish that you don’t need to do much to make it taste great. It has a mild, delicate flavour, with a hint of sweetness. In Panama, fried snapper it’s commonly served alongside french fries and a variety of sauces.