Fonda Lo Que Hay

To sample local fare, don’t miss a stop at Fonda lo Que Hay, for soul-nourishing and highly photogenic updates of traditional Panamanian cuisine. This is hands-down one of the best restaurants in Casco Viejo, with top restauranteur José Olmedo Carles Rojas working diligently at the helm. Try the deliciously-dressed patacones (twice-fried plantains) or whatever else is available – the menu changes frequently but it’s always exquisite.

The name of this affordable establishment translates to ‘whatever’s around’ – this pop-up fonda featuring comfort food from Panama’s famous chef, José Carles, of his award-winning restaurant, Donde José (see below). While the latter is far more formal, Fonda Lo Que Hay is a great place to bring kids as it is cozy and casual.

The next evening, at Fondo Lo Que Hay, I tried the gaucho, a rice porridge with pork belly, egg, and tomato, before devouring the 74-hour-marinated, double-fried chicken (served with mashed potatoes and a sinful amount of butter).

A, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par102 utilisateurs American Trade Hotel & Hall Calle 10A Oeste, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par83 utilisateurs Fonda Lo Que Hay Panama City, Panama Ajouté par151 utilisateurs Selina Casco Viejo - Panama City Calle 12 Este, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par84 utilisateurs Restaurante Makoto Avenida Samuel Lewis con calle 59, Obarrio., Edificio Kenex Plaza Piso 11, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par66 utilisateurs Salvaje Restaurante y Rooftop San Felipe, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par54 utilisateurs Maito Calle 50, Panamá, Panama Ajouté par76 utilisateurs

We’re at a little hole-in-the-wall fonda or cafeteria, called Lo Que Hay (roughly translates to “what there is”) on a busy side street in Panama City’s old town centre, Casco Antiguo. If there wasn’t a small sandwich board out front, you might miss it as you walk by on the narrow sidewalks, distracted by the pedestrian bustle and the noisy, brightly painted diablos rojos, traditional Panamanian buses with blingy hood ornaments and splashy mural-style paintings of folklore and religious icons on every spare inch.

This fantastic, highly rated restaurant is the perfect place to go if you want to try a traditional taste of Panama. It offers excellent customer service and a fantastic, unwinding atmosphere, making it to the top of the list of the best restaurants in Panama City. Their menu changes on a regular basis to highlight traditional, local ingredients, with the exception of their most famous dishes, such as tuna carpaccio or fried chicken, which you definitely must try.

Also elevating the cuisine in the city while celebrating its roots and heritage is Fonda Lo Que Hay. The tiny casual space from chef José Olmedo Carles, who also operates the more formal Donde José, showcases reinvented Panamanian staples with bold, multicultural influences. Elsewhere, CasaCasco is a five-story venue with multiple restaurants and a rooftop bar, and Espacio Panama is an open courtyard space with an Argentinian-style grill and wood-oven pizza.

Fonda Lo Que Hay is an totally informal place in industrial style but the food is absolutely fantastic. The daily menu is based on fresh seafood and is written on a huge board, hanging on the wall. You can choose from eight dishes (which for me is perfect, because I don’t have to think for hours, what I want to try), all inspired by Panamanian cuisine but with a subtle accent, which combines and mixes diversity of cultures and tastes.

This Casco Viejo restaurant is located just off Plaza Herrera and is a full Panamanian fusion menu, changing on a regular basis so gotta check back in to see what's new. Like coffee shops are to Italians, fondas are to Panamanians. The unassuming pit stations where neighbors gather after hard periods at work and proprietors nod to regulars over steaming pots of beef stew are an essential aspect of daily life.

Nestled in the middle of Panama City’s Old Town is Fonda Lo Que Hay, one of the most famous restaurants in the city. Helmed by one of the most celebrated chefs in Latin America, José Olmedo Carles Rojas, Fonda Lo Que Hay offers upscale versions of traditional dishes. Our first dish was perhaps our favorite dish of the entire trip – Yuca Tostada con Carpaccio de Atun + Cevche de Cebolla.

The name of this restaurant literally translates to “what there is” in English, but they do a whole lot more than plate up some meh leftovers. Lo Que Hay was started by a well-unowned 5-star chef. On the other end of the spectrum from his other high-end restaurant in Casco Viejo is this street-fare inspired hole-in-the-wall spot that puts a unique twist on traditional Panamanian food.

A fonda is a type of roadside restaurant found throughout Panama, and chef José Olmedo Carles Rojas’s modern take on the concept earned a place on the 50 Best Discovery list. “We serve food that speaks about Panama, more than being strictly Panamanian,” the chef says. “Diners love our take on traditional concolón,” or the burned rice from the bottom of the pan.

Heralded by celebrated Chef José Carles, Fonda Lo Que Hay takes a more casual approach to Panamanian cuisine compared to its sister restaurant, Donde José. This place has rapidly become famous for its laid-back atmosphere and comfort food with a gourmet twist. It’s a celebration of Panamanian street food in a setting that encourages community and sharing.

Fonda Lo Que Hay – Edificio el Colegio, Calle Jose de Obaldia, Casco Viejo – This was my favorite dining experience in Panama City. This restaurant comes from renowned Chef José Olmedo Carles Rojas who started with a Chef’s table restaurant (Donde José) now closed. Fonda refers to casual roadside eateries, and Lo Que Hay, meaning whatever is available.

We recommend enjoying the creative proposals of one of the restaurants included in the list of the 50 Best of Latin America: Maito, Fonda Lo Que Hay, and Cantina del Tigre. If there is one thing the three have in common, it is that their menus reinvent and reinterpret traditional flavors, while remaining true to the Panamanian flavor.

For our last full day in Panama, we had made reservations at Fonda Lo Que Hay. However, much to our disappointment, our return flight from Bocas del Toro was delayed and we ended up missing the opportunity to dine at this much-celebrated restaurant featuring some of the best food in Latin America. Please go and tell me all about it!

From José Olmedo Carles of Donde José, this informal fonda might be the tastiest restaurant in Casco Viejo. The tavern like location with a long bar riffs on classic fonda fare like concolón, essentially the crispy rice at the bottom of the pan, served with smoked tomato sauce, or thin yuca tortillas topped with fish carpaccio.

Fonda Lo Que Hay is one of the top restaurants in Panama which is on the list of 100 best restaurants in Latin America. Of course, it is mentioned in the 36 Hours in Panama City, Panama article by the New York Times. Chef José Olmedo Carles had opened his legendary restaurant Donde José in this location when the pandemic hit.

La Fonda Que Hay was the best inexpensive restaurant we ate at in Panama City. It’s a little intimidating because you walk in the door and immediately have to order based on a white board listing the choices in Spanish. Then you hand your ticket to the t-shirt and short-clad chefs, who cook your food as you watch.

After researching where to eat, we decided to try out Fonda lo Que Hay. A small counter service, pop-up by a famous, award winning, Panamanian chef, José Carlos who owns a much more well known establishment, Donde José. On paper, it’s ideal: a casual, counter service restaurant by one of the country’s top chefs.

I feel confident enough to say that if you do not eat here when given the chance then you are a fool. You MUST experience this restaurant at least once in your life. Funny story…turns out that a great friend of mine back in Canada (who is from Panama) actually knows the owner…which I didn’t know until recently.

This vibrant eatery in Casco Viejo offers a constantly changing menu, inspired by the day’s freshest ingredients. You can expect to find innovative takes on classic Panamanian dishes, from plantain gnocchi to pork belly tacos. The casual, cheerful ambiance makes it a perfect spot to relax and unwind.

Fonda Lo Que Hay: For a true taste of local cuisine, this unassuming spot is a favorite among foodies and locals alike. The ever-changing menu keeps things exciting, and the dishes are made from locally sourced ingredients. Don’t let the simplicity fool you—this is Panamanian cuisine at its finest.

Fonda Lo Que Hay es un restaurante que sirve una Cocina que habla de Panamá en un ambiente relajado y diferente. Fonda Lo Que Hay is a restaurant that serves a cousine that talks about Panama in a different and relax environment. For more info visit the website or checkout Google Maps.

⭐️ Fonda Lo Que Hay: if you have one nice restaurant experience in Casco Viejo, make it Lo Que Hay. Run by world-renowned local chef Jose Olmedo Carles, he puts a modern twist on traditional Panamanian dishes. It’s a menu designed for sharing in a funky space with inventive cocktails.

Fondo Lo Que Hay is known for its drinks as well as its food. This restaurant serves traditional Panamanian food, including a lot of seafood. Some particularly enticing menu items include the Caribbean prawns in coconut sauce, served alongside slices of plantain, and the pork tamal.

This casual eatery was opened by legendary local chef José O. Carles and is a gourmet version of a fonda or local Panamanian cafeteria. The menu is refreshed every few months but it’s guaranteed to be delicious. The best place to sit is the inner courtyard garden.

Food that speaks of Panama Taking the HISTORY and EVOLUTION of Panamanian culture as a starting point, we seek to be REFERENCES in gastronomy and mixology worldwide and in this way contribute to the positioning of PANAMA as a gastronomic destination

In fact, this restaurant regularly makes the best places to eat in Panama and Latin America list. I thought the service could be a little better but the food more than makes up for it. Try the toasted yuca with tuna carpaccio and onion ceviche.

Lo Que Hay has become a fast favorite from Casco Viejo locals to high end chefs running the best restaurants in Panama!. So why is the food at this pop-up restaurant in such high demand?. The answer to that question lies in the chef!

Affordable, classic-but-with-a-twist Panamanian fare in a relaxed environment. Fonda Lo Que Hay offers delicious seafood for a very reasonable price. Check it out while you’re in town, but only for lunch and dinner.

This cozy restaurant serves up beautiful plates of upgraded classic Panamanian dishes. Your best bet is to come with a friend or two and order many different items to share. Trust us, you’ll want to try it all.

Read this post for a deep dive into drinking and dining in Casco Viejo, but don’t miss dinner at Fonda Lo Que Hay, beers at La Rana Dorada, and coffee at Unido.

Good restaurants to enjoy Panamanian cuisine and have a drink in the Old Town are Casablanca and Lo que hay (“whatever there is”).

The corn empanada was probably my favorite thing I ate on the entire trip. I also loved the crispy rice we ate.