Fonda Lo Que Hay

The venue is absolutely lovely. We got a cozy table by the window, which gave us a great view of the street and the people passing by—perfect for a little people-watching while we ate! We started with the Tamarind Margaritas, and they were fantastic. For our mains, we went with the roasted catch of the day served with patacones, and the grilled octopus with green curry and coconut rice. Both dishes were delicious, but the green curry sauce really stood out—it was so flavourful! For dessert, we tried the famous flan and the shaved ice with coconut sauce. I can definitely see why the flan gets so much praise—it’s rich, with a unique smoky twist that sets it apart from others I’ve had. Personally, I prefer a lighter flan at the end of a meal, but it was still a treat to try. It is on the pricier side, but without a doubt, this is a must-visit spot if you’re in Panama City.

Amazing fare. The tuna yuca tartare is truly unique as well as the beef guacho. Never had tried such dishes and they really represent a different and creative take on Caribbean and Panamenian food. Can’t wait to go back. It is hard to get a table unless you go early or at off times. Very good service too in one of the most. Picturesque areas of Panama City.

The food was delicious but unfortunately the experience was not good for so many reasons. 1. I ordered a second glass of wine. The waiter poured the remaining wine from a bottle but it was not a full glass the same as the first. He never came back to finish pouring. 2. We ordered cocktails but my husband’s order was wrong. This could be a language problem (but their English is very good) so he took a sip. He did not enjoy the flavour so he explained to the waiter who didn’t appear pleased. His original order arrived but they didn’t take the wrong order away. 3. I made a reservation a number of days ago to be polite. We were seated on a corner in a walkway by the kitchen and we were being bumped all night. This could easily be ignored until a waiter spilled food all down my husband’s back. It was mostly oil and leftover sauces. They were quick to assist but he was left with a very wet and messy back. We did our best to clean the shirt when we returned to our accommodation but without the correct chemicals, it was not possible and the $100+ shirt is now ruined. As we are travelling for 2 months, we will need to buy a replacement today. St the end of the evening, the account included everything. All the cocktails and nothing was removed as a gesture of goodwill for the mess that was created. It was not mentioned. It turned out to be a very expensive night.

This was the best meal we had in Panama and some of the tastiest food that we have ever had. Stand out dishes included the tuna carpaccio, the crazy clams, and the fried chicken with the most amazing puréed potatoes. The atmosphere was fun. Everyone was friendly. My teens really enjoyed it as well. I didn’t think to take photos until dessert, but the flan was impeccable and the kids loved the shave ice. I’m really surprised it only has 4.5 stars on here (we went to a restaurant last night that was much more mediocre and had 4.9 stars). My advice if you are visiting Panama (or a local!) make a reservation and check it out!

It was phenomenal! We love every dish, the service and vibrant ambiance! Highly recommend to try the tuna dish and empanadas, they can surprise you even with them! The wine list seemed to us a bit weird and messy, but still you can find good pairing there. Thank you!

You need a reservation but they got us a table with 30 min wait and no reservations. They have a nice patio in a garden setting. Service was very slow. Took long time for food that arrives at different times. The drinks were good. The veggie wrap was very interesting and had to be assembled. The quantity of food for each dish is small except for the pasta. Food was delicious but perhaps nothing out of the world. Not for a vegetarian at least.

Excellent food. The best. The a tropical salad was phenomenal. Passion fruit/tahini dressing. My friend’s OG Fish Empanada was good. I had the Caribbean Prawns with Tajadas, presented beautifully, cooked perfectly. Smoked flan for Easter. Perfect smokiness with the perfect balance of occasional crunch of salt. I would have given 5 stars. The major problem was the horrible service. My friend was served both her salad and empanadas in a timely manner. I waited 30 to 40 minutes after she was served, before I was served the prawns. Unacceptable. This was at lunchtime, just after 12 noon, and we were the second table seated. I watched others come and go before we finally finished our meal. Two hours. Ridiculous.

One of Panama's cities top restaurant! Their food is exceptional! Ordered 4 dishes! The 4 were top!