El Trapiche

El Trapiche. Photo by Will Gray.

If you want to try a few local dishes then El Trapiche is a good place to go. The restaurant offers tables outside on a terrace or inside in a large room with a mock-up straw hut at one side. Service is a little slow, but the menu makes up for the wait as normal fare is mixed with items like Surtido de Piscadas (assorted traditional fried starters, $1.60) and the very tasty Tamal de Olla (traditional stew-like Hungarian goulash, $4).

Location:
Via Argentina y Ave 2a B Norte close to Via España
Panama City, Panama

Restaurant

Prices: Budget

Price Description: Entrees $5-9

Regulations: No

Reservation: Not necessary

Park Options: No

Reviews

Traveler Reviews of El Trapiche

Food and Service

Absolutely the best Panamanian food we have eaten in the last 6 years of visiting. The service is more than expected by ANY server in Panama. They usually are very rude.

Traveler from Orlando, Florida on Jun 24, 2009

Best Panamanian Food Restaurant

This was the best real Panamanian food that I had in the country. I stayed at Anita's Inn a half a block away and ate dinner here 4 times a week. The food in this street was excellent. Restaurants from every country.

john sinnot from Chicago on Mar 11, 2009

Panamanian food the way it should be

The place is located in a very popular street in downtown Panama (I forgot the name). It has a great outside terrace in which I sat for hours watching people go by their business while I enjoyed my meal and then afternoon coffee. If you want to try good Panamanian food in a safe, clean place, this is it! El trapiche has a very relaxed atmosphere (I guess you could say the wait staff is also pretty "relaxed", oh well, such is life in the tropics!). I visited Panama for a week and I ate here twice, I definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try a panamanian original classic. Good food, Cheap, great location.

Traveler from Miami on Jun 30, 2008

El Trapiche is a Trap - Awful

The food was sub-standard and not reflective at all of how delicious typical Panamanian food should taste. Short cuts, low quality ingredients, and no pride in preparation. Carimañolas used processed yuca dough rather than fresh and had virtually no meat inside, same for empanadas, patacones weren't crisp, yuca frita were also processed (looked like frozen French fries) and were undercooked. Service was lackadaisical. I could go on and on. Even as a tourist trap, this was low class. Should be stricken from all guide books.

Chuck from Born in Panama, now live in DC area on Mar 03, 2008

El Trapiche is a winner

The food is absolutely wonderful. Corvina con salsa de camarones, with extremely tasty side dishes, is exceptionally pleasing. A variety of delicious chichas will combat thirst on a warm, humid day. The restaurant staff is very pleasant and courteous, and all who visit Panamá will be favorably impressed. Conveniently situated, El Trapiche offers traditional Panamanian fare at a very reasonable cost, in a dining environment which those of us who knew the Panama of long ago recognize as culturally authentic. I wouldn't miss dining here while in Panamá.

Jonathan Guyot Smith from USA on Jul 19, 2007

Good Food and Atmosphere

We really enjoyed the dining experience. The food was excellent along with the atmosphere and prices were great. Four adults one 9 year old, cost $45 (included a $5 tip). Staff very friendly and polite. I thought that the service great. The interior was nice with the Devil's Mask and the tropical design of the interior.

Traveler from Florida, USA on Jul 11, 2007