Jan 21
Chiriquí Restaurants
In an effort to provide one place to see the restaurants I have been to in Chiriquí, I am starting this post. I will put a link in the Link area for Chiriquí Restaurants so that this post can be located easily. I will try to keep it current and remove restaurants that are no longer in business and add new restaurants that open that I have gone to.
As a note, the following will provide links to posts I have done on each restaurant. I will make an attempt to have the URL point to a post that has directions. There may be more than one post for any restaurant in the blog. I have tried to connect all posts to other posts by either a reference in the post or there will be a comment that will point to another post. By visiting other posts on the same restaurant, you will have an opportunity to see more of the food offerings that I have sampled.
This is not a perfect system, but this is a blog and not a Yellow Pages. As with all posts in a blog related to restaurants, they age and sometimes the quality of the restaurant’s offerings are not the same. Some restaurants improve and some don’t. If you go to any restaurant below, a comment on the most recent post might help other readers know how that restaurant is doing. At least then, all opinions will not be just mine. Many people have different tastes than I do.
Also, if there are restaurants that I haven’t been to that have been reviewed on another blog, I will be happy to list it with a link to that blog’s post. I trust most blogs more than I do ads.
FINAL NOTE: Any posts that contain menus and prices were current at the time of the post. The primary reason to show the menu is to give you an idea of what is served at the restaurant. Please do not bad mouth the restaurant because they may have changed the menu contents or prices.
Boquete Restaurants:
Amigo’s – This is a gringo hangout in Boquete. It has free wifi.
Antojitos Mexicanos Taqueria – This is my favorite Mexican food restaurant in Boquete. I have known Maritriny for several years now and she has become a good friend. I think here food is always fresh and I have always enjoyed what I was served.
Delicias del Perú – This was my favorite Peruvian restaurant in Boquete. It has been a while since I was there. The food was good, but what I really liked was the ability to eat overlooking a gorgeous scenic area.
Hotel Panamonte Restaurant – I have always had high quality meals here.
Las Ruinas Boquete Restaurant – On the right side of the Boquete highway, past Los Molinos going toward Boquete.
Machu Picchu – This is a Peruvian restaurant.
Oasis Restaurant – An upscaled restaurant on the river close to downtown Boquete.
Ou La La – I haven’t been there, but it is getting good reviews from those living in Boquete. Only open in the evening.
Palo Alto Restaurant – This restaurant is currently not open. The last Boquete flood took it’s toll on this restaurant, but I understand they plan on re-opening.
Papa Ricco’s Italian Restaurant – Great food. Worth the trip.
Pasteleria Alemania – I go here for the best chocolate chip cookies in Chiriquí and for the strawberry tarts.
Pompodoro – An excellent Italian restaurant.
Restaurante La Casona – Large menu. Worth a visit.
Roxane’s – This is a grill house. Menu is in the post.
Subway – Now closed.
Tammy’s Restaurant – My favorite item here is their hamburgers. Without a doubt, the are the best I have had in Boquete and equal the better in David. They have other offerings as well, among them being rotisserie chicken.
Concepcion:
Sol de Mar – Seafood and other items. I usually order the fried shrimp.
David:
a la Parrilla Cocina Rica – A steakhouse.
Barnard’s at the Airport – I haven’t been there in a while.
Casa del Churrasco – Not a bad place for a noon meal. Good buffet selection and reasonable price. I have never had an evening meal there, but understand it is good.
Cocina Rica – A good place to go to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Delicias Mexicanas – Mexican food, but not tot TexMex.
El Fogón – Personally, I have had hit and miss luck at this restaurant.
El Rey del Helado – This is an ice cream and sandwich shop.
El Rincón Libanés – I have always had a good meal here.
Gelato House – Nice place to go have a banana split. They have sandwiches also.
Hotel Nacional – There are a couple restaurants at the hotel. Here is the noon buffet.
Itanello’s Grill and Wine Bar – In Hotel Best Western David. Restaurant with an Italian flair.
JacKelita – A local Panamanian ice cream and sandwich shop.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) – Same as them all but this one has the Panamanian Chicken soup.
La Orquidea – On Via Boquete just past Majagua.
La Típica – Chinese buffet that I like.
Las Brasas – A good hamburger spot. Pretty good sized menu.
Los Naranjos – Hotel Los Rivera’s restaurant. A very nice addition to David’s restaurants.
Mar del Sur – Peruvian restaurant.
Marios Bar and Grill – My favorite hamburger place. I haven’t found anything here that I didn’t like. Prices are very reasonable.
Martha’s Mexican Restaurant – Open Friday evenings from 6:00 PM until 10:30 PM. I liked it. I will go often.
McDonald’s – Yep. David has one of them too.
Mosto Bistro – Excellent based on the first meal I have had there.
Mrs. Mendoza’s – Mexican food chain. I liked it. Good Margaritas.
Pizza House – Not bad. Worth a try. Close to downtown David.
Pizzeria Popeye – Formally called Pino E Renzo. – Same great pizza, Pino just decided he wanted to change the name since his associate Renzo is no longer associated with the business. This is the best pizza in David.
Pizza Hut – Davids own Pizza Hut.
Renegados – No longer open as a restaurant. If it comes back, I will post the link.
Restaurante El Chino – Camarena – I am told this restaurant features an ex Panama President’s chef.
Restaurante El Palacio Oriental – Many peoples favorite Chinese restaurant.
Restaurante del Hotel Castilla – A nice restaurant in the Hotel Castilla.
Restaurante Maná – Panamanian food, sandwiches and salads. Good food and reasonably priced.
Restaurante Rico Mar – Seafood with other items as well.
Rosita’s Hideaway – A small restaurant that I usually hit once a week. Limited menu, but very cheap and very good. (AUGUST 2009 will be the last month)
Stella’s Marina Restaurante – A restaurant I frequent often.
Taqueria Jalisco – Very good Mexican food.
Tambu Country – Due to my last experience there, I no longer go to this restaurant.
TGI Friday’s – A US Favorite.
The Steak House – One of my favorite Chinese restaurants.
Volcan:
Acropolis – Greek food. Only been there once, but I enjoyed it.
Dalys – Everyday food. Menu has a little bit of everything, like chili cheese fries. Breakfasts are great.
Polineth – Thai food. I enjoyed it very much.
28 responses so far Boquete Restaurants, Concepcíon Restaurants, David Restaurants, Dining Out, Panama Journal
Good list, Don Ray. Update from Boquete: Machu Picchu is closed. Palo Alto Restaurant has re-opened.
New Restaurants to try when you are in Boquete:
Restaurant Ou La La! and El Oasis.
Hi Wendy. I updated Machu Picchu. I have El Oasis on my list to try the next time I go to Boquete. I have never heard of Ou La La.
Don Ray:
I believe that chicken soup at KFC is call “sancocho”. If not, you should to try the real deal.
Jaime^
Hi Jaime. You are correct. KFC’s isn’t too good.
Why is Machu Picchu closed? Since when? I was there like 2 weeks ago.
I assume Windy is right. Is she or isn’t she? If it is open, I will change the wrightup back.
Don Rey,
I have never heard of Ou La La. Perhaps you heard of it under its earlier names at different locations. The owner-chef started Hibiscus, and it was quite good. Then came the place at a new shopping mall in Boquete, which didn’t work out. Now he has a new smaller place called Ou La La and it is excellent. The service is better, the food is great and reasonably priced, and Christoph seems much happier; A happy chef is a good chef.
Dan
Ok. I knew it in its original location. To be honest I was not impressed when it first started. Sometimes I had a good meal and sometimes it was only fair.
Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Melissa is correct – my sources were not. I went by Machu Picchu last night and it was very much OPEN!, alive and well and doing a good business. Which is good news! My usual trusty sources were not as reliable as my own eyes (and palate) – which from now on will be the only senses used by me for any reportorial comments! Please change your writeup and consider my knuckles rapped!
And by the way, I was on the way back from an excellent meal at Ou La La! (here’s the website, if you care to look: http://www.oulalarestaurant.canalblog.com.
Hi Wendy. No harm done. I removed the closed sign. Doubt if I will get to try the other restaurant. I don’t like having to eat the evening meal in Boquete and I usually eat light in the evening.
Hi Don! Thanks and sorry again. I’m the same way in the opposite direction: I don’t drive the road from David to Boquete at night, so I’ve learned to eat my major meal at noontime when I’m in David. One of my favorite stops on the way to David is for desayuno at Rest. Sabrosito’s in Algarrobos. Fresh huevos, excellent puerco, near-greaseless hojaldres and cafè for around $2.50. Fast and clean and always has a lot of Chiricanos eating there.
Hi Wendy. Thanks for the tip.
Yo Don, any idea where the organic food store is in David? I was driving from Boquete to David and saw a big green sign about 5 minutes from the Inter-Americana on the right hand side, but missed the details. – Mateo
Casco. Read this post. http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/05/05/organic-life-–-a-new-store-in-david/
Hello Don Ray,
this is a very nice website.
We want to inform you, that we (Dirk and Simone) opened up a new restaurant at Playa Las Lajas. The name is “El Mundo”. It is a beach bar-restaurant with one of the highest typical ranchos in Chiriqui. We offer international food and everyday fresh seafood.
We want to invite you as our guest.
Regards.
Simone and Dirk Zimmermann
Hi Simone. Thanks for dropping by. I don’t get out to Las Lajas often, but the next time I am there I will stop in.
Hola Don Ray ~
Been a while, but in need of your help again(!)
Have you, or anyone you know, or anyone subscribed to this site come across a restaurant that serves prime rib?? Short of going to The Outback in Costa Rica (if they even serve it there??), I’m at a loss. Prefer to stay in the Chiriqui Province…..
Our wedding anniversary is coming up in about 3 1/2 weeks and just got the urge to try and come up with a surprise (besides not wanting to cook). Back in the states, prime rib was a “traditional” Saturday night outing. We’ve just not been able to find anywhere here.
I saw that Las Brasas has it on it’s menu, but has anyone tried?
Just curious – and appreciate any input!
Gracias
Hi Dawn. Let me know if you talk to Las Brasas. You might also talk to http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/09/12/casa-del-churrasco/
I understand that they have a good selection of meat at night, but since they would not allow me to take a photo of the menu, I don’t know.
The only place I know that regularly serves Prime Rib is the “Shamrock” in Panama City. I think it’s around Clayton.
Wendy is probably right and a trip to PC may be called for. Prime Rib is not something that a restaurant can cook just for two people and it would have to have clients that order it regularly.
Ou la la? We were in Chiriqui last month, and we were very disappointed with all the restaurants to be honest. Machu Picchu was OK, but I would have to say the worst of them all was Ou la la. I cannot believe the reviews here from people who think this place is good? No one in our party (and we were with people we had just met) liked this place. First, with the concrete floor, dim fluorescent light, and the strange pictures on the wall this place had the atmosphere of a prison cell. The service was non-existent…the owner came over to our table with an unbelivable attitude problem and took our order down. Our drinks were served with no ice – do they not have an ice machine? And the food? Everything was extremely salty, the canned vegetables were mushy, and the fish was just carelessly prepared, bony, and messy. And my 8 year old son’s pasta was swimming in oil – but maybe that was to drown the cockroach that he found in his plate. I look back now and laugh, but we weren’t laughing that night. This place is terrible.
Hi Matt. Thanks for warning me. I have never been there. I don’t get to Boquete often and when I go, I want to only eat at places I trust.
machui pacchu is not closed. there is new res where the old papa ricco’s have not tryed yet
Hi Carol. I don’t know where the old Papa Ricco’s was.
Well, it seems there are at least two Dan Millers that read this blog page in 2009, but at the same time we agree on taste. I have eaten at Ou la la three times in my last two trips, and, yes it is fabulous. A good chef needs a good stove, a couple of skillets, a few pots and pans, and wonders can spring forth. Minimum amount of overhead, few folks to “help” you, pleasant surroundings, and a good wine selection, and man you are in business. Word of mouth will do all the advertising you need. Plan on being back in Jan. 2010 and will be a regular (with guests)at Ou la la’s. Dan
Don, next time you come up Boquete way, Stop at Las Ruinas, which is across from the Bresas Boquetanas housing area, on the Boquete Hiway. They have several daily specials. Baby back ribs, a fantastic Hamburgers,plus a great fish sandwich special. The Resturant is owned by Craig Jacobs, a chef from New York, and serves some great food. Tell him Don Sent you.
Hi Don. I have had several people mention Las Ruinas lately. It is on my list to be tried.
EL PANAMENO LE GUSTA LA COMIDA NATURAL Y CON SU SABOR LATINO, PIENSO QUE EL EXTRANJERO NO DEBE SER TAN EXIGENTE CUANDO VISITAN UN PAIS LATINO YA QUE LAS COSTUMBRES Y COMIDAS SE SUPONE QUE SON DIFERENTES A LAS QUE ESTAN ACOSTUMBRADOS A COMER EN SUS PAISES, LOS PRECIOS EN PANAMA SON SUPER BARATISIMOS, EN CHIRIQUI SE COME AL GUSTO Y CON SABOR MAS EN LOS RESTAURANTES DE FAMILIA DONDE HACEN EL MEJOR SANCOCHITO PANAMENO Y TAMALES CHIRICANOS .
SALUDOS
MARIA