Mai Mai

Local friends took me here for my last dinner in Panama City, and we had an amazing time. The space is super vibey and cool without being pretentious. Service was attentive and well paced, seating was comfortable and fun. We split a ton of stuff. Ceviche, fried fish, tuna maki, lomo saltado, gyoza. Everything was super tasty and well presented. Cocktail program had a lot of interesting options, I ended up with a twist on a dirty martini. I was really fun and delicious. Even got to meet the co-owners who were super friendly and gave us great recommendations for places to eat and drink on the rest of our trip, highly recommended!

This place offers truly delightful sushi. It’s impossible to imagine eating just a little when every dish bursts with flavor. I didn’t have a reservation, but they seated me at the counter, and honestly, that turned into a show of its own — watching the precise preparation of each roll was spectacular.

You don’t expect to find transcendent sushi in Panama. You expect heat, humidity, maybe a good rum, maybe a fish that still smells faintly of the sea. But Mai Mai flips that expectation on its head. Tucked away in the chaos and charm of Panama, this place quietly delivers what most high-end spots only promise — authenticity, precision, and heart. The sushi was clean, balanced, almost reverent in its simplicity. The ceviche? A lightning bolt of freshness — sharp, bright, unapologetically alive. Every bite reminded me why I travel. To be surprised. To be humbled by craftsmanship in the most unexpected corners of the world. Mai Mai isn’t trying to be Tokyo or Lima. It’s Panama — confident, generous, and wildly good. The service matched the food — effortless, human, and deeply proud of what they serve. They even forgave my poor Spanish and worked hard to explain everything to me in English! It was, without question, the capstone of my trip to see the Canal — a reminder that the world still has places where food isn’t just eaten, but experienced.

Let me start by saying I love fine dining experiences and this is byfar one of the best, not just in Panamá but in many places I have traveled globally. Although the evening started with a hiccup, everything was immediately addressed and remedied to end up with a beautiful dining experience at one of the best fine restaurants in Panama. The ambiance and decor set the mood for a luxury dining experience at Mai Mai. While difficult to find for newcomers, It is not hard to access. Located in the far left corner of the plaza, take the elevator in the back corner (not the main in the parking lot) to the top floor. As soon as you step off, you'll enter the vestibule where the automatic wall/ door will slide open, revealing a beautiful, modernly designed establishment. This is perfect for dates, business or a night out for a good time. The menu is extensive with unique Asian influence and Panamanian fusion. My favorite items on the menu were the Tom Yum noodles because they have the rich robust Thai flavors directly tossed into the noodles rather than drowned in broth, and the coconut octopus bun. These are two items remixed in a way that surprise the palate in ways I would have never imagined. I recommend going.

Cannot express how good this was. They had fresh tuna and we mostly ate tuna. Leonardo was an awesome server, and he had incredible recommendations. From the starter cocktails to the dessert, one of best meals we’ve ever had. We will think of this meal until we can have it again!

I was very excited to try this restaurant while on my trip to Panama City, unfortunately it left a lot to be desired. The good: The karaage and tiradito mai mai were both amazing appetizers. I feel like most of the karaage that I’ve tried in the past were a little dry and flavorless, but this was quite the opposite. The fish of the day for the tiradito was salmon. It was amazing and flavorful. The restaurant is very aesthetically pleasing and picturesque. All of the food was displayed nicely. The bad: The restaurant was quite loud, I could hear several conversations around me. Also the staff was not very personable and didn’t tell us the contents of the sashimi that we ordered. This could be due to a language barrier. With the sashimi moriasawe, I didn’t realize it only came with four types of fish. The fish itself was okay, but had a very mild flavor. Overall, I probably would not recommend this restaurant based on the service and the food that I ordered. Perhaps if I made different choices, I would feel differently.

Came right as they opened on a Tuesday. The girls on the rooftop didn’t let us sit by the nicer views because we didn’t have a reservation (we were the first ones there)… by the time we finished eating we walked out to an empty terrace. They would have known they didn’t have that many reservations and could have prioritized the customer experience more. The saving grace was that the food was delicious. It’s very tasty menu. Almost everything was delicious, the tuna roll was so fresh. I enjoyed the glass noodles. Had they gave us a good view, I’d give this place 5 stars. Hopefully they do better next time :)

The salmon tiradito and toro tartar were really delicious! Great combination of flavors and super fresh. The nigiris were good. Acevichado maki was alright. Pancetta rice was meh. Tres leches was ok. Prices are on the higher side but would definitely go back for the tartar and tiradito. The atmosphere is great with beautiful bars in and outside. The rooftop outdoor is definitely more fun and inside is more for a romantic dinner