La Tapa Del Coco

"Chef Isaac Villaverde began celebrating Afro Panamanian cuisine and culture with a food truck, before eventually transforming his business into one of the most spirited dining spots in Panama City. At La Tapa del Coco, the menu celebrates the culinary heritage of enslaved Africans and their descendants who settled in Panama’s Caribbean region. Signature dishes include brothy octopus rice, a creative take on patty de carne (a turnover filled with spiced meat, thyme, and ají chombo), and the standout One Pot Colonense: coconut rice with pork ribs, beans, and fresh shrimp, served with green plantain chips and pickled vegetables." - Jorge Chanis, Rafael Tonon

"On any given afternoon, the patio of La Tapa del Coco in Panama City is full of both residents and tourists feasting on salt-cod fritters and clams in coconut-curry broth. Executive chef Isaac Villaverde, who also has a pop-up called Calypso Burger, explains that many dishes are riffs on those of his greatest culinary influence: his grandmother." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"I took Richard’s advice and made my way to lunch at La Tapa del Coco, helmed by Chef Isaac Villaverde as one of the few Afro-Panamanian-owned restaurant in Central America. Seating included a shaded patio in the city’s San Francisco district, and seeing nearby neighbors arrive to eat was a sign that I’d made the right decision. Like all countries that have been reshaped by slavery and colonization, Panama’s history is a complicated one, with Afro-Panamanian stories and cultural impact often left out of books and tourism marketing. That overlooked legacy can be tasted in Chef Isaac’s soul satisfying food, which is very intentional." - Kristin Braswell