Best Kosher Restaurants in Panama City
If you’re coming to Panama City, one of the first things you’ll want to understand is how kosher dining actually works here — where the restaurants are located, which areas make the most sense to stay in, and how to structure your days so everything flows smoothly.
Panama City has one of the strongest kosher food scenes in Latin America, supported by a well-established Jewish community and a surprisingly wide range of options. Once you’re staying in the right areas, kosher dining becomes simple to navigate.
Instead of giving you a long list of every place in the city, we’re sharing the restaurants we actually recommend. The ones that are well-located, reliable, and worth building your trip around.
Panama Travel Co. also offers a simple app where you can see kosher spots, filter by type — meat, dairy, bakery, supermarket, and more — and find what’s closest to you, so you’re not figuring it out on the go.
Kashrut in Panama
Panama’s kosher scene is uniquely simple to navigate thanks to a centralized kashrut system under Shevet Ahim. Unlike other destinations with multiple certifications, most kosher restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets in the city follow the same supervision, making it easier for visitors to eat with confidence.
For a full and updated list of certified establishments, you can visit the official Shevet Ahim website.
Best Meat Kosher Restaurants in Panama City
Adama
Adama brings an elevated kosher meat experience to one of the city’s most well-known restaurant spaces. Before becoming kosher, this location operated as La Papa — a popular local favorite — and many people still come back for one reason: the famous empanaditas.
Now fully kosher, Adama has reimagined the space into a more upscale, meat-focused restaurant. It’s a great option for a proper dinner, celebrations, or drinks and wine in a polished setting.
The menu focuses on quality meats and creative plates, including flatbreads from their specialty oven and a touch of sushi, giving it a modern and versatile edge.
Best for: date nights, celebrations, group dinners
PTC Picks: empanaditas, collipops, flatbreads, tira de rib eye, chocolate soufflé
Aria
Aria is a refined kosher meat restaurant with a strong mix of food, atmosphere, and nightlife energy. It’s a great option when you want a proper dinner that feels upscale, but still relaxed enough for a group night out.
The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, with a lively setting that works well for dinner, drinks, and hookah. The menu is broad and modern, featuring quality meats, creative appetizers, sushi, and Oriental-style dishes.
Aria is especially nice for travelers looking for a kosher meat restaurant that feels like more than just a meal — it has a full evening-out vibe.
Best for: groups, dinner, drinks, night out
PTC Picks: Peace & Love sushi, New York carpaccio, BBQ chicken sliders, ribeye steak
Lula’s
Lula’s is one of those places that just works when you’re craving something satisfying, casual, and easy. Located in Casco Viejo, it specializes in Israeli street food with a Latin twist — a unique bridge between Middle Eastern classics and Panamanian flavor.
You can expect staples like schnitzel and hummus alongside local touches like empanadas and plantain. It’s a great option for a relaxed lunch or casual dinner, especially if you’re spending the day exploring the old city.
The location is part of the experience. Lula’s fits perfectly into a Casco day: walk around, explore, eat well, and continue your itinerary without overthinking logistics.
Best for: casual lunch, Casco Viejo day, Israeli street food
PTC Picks: Oriental fried rice, homemade gnocchi with ribeye, French roll
Yoss Burger
Yoss Burger is a casual kosher meat spot built around bold flavors, generous portions, and street-food style dishes done well. It’s the kind of place you go when you want a filling meat meal that feels easy, tasty, and not too formal.
The menu starts with creative burgers, then moves into Israeli-style favorites like schnitzel and arayes, along with an Asian section featuring dishes like sweet and sour chicken, Thai noodles, and ramen soup.
Located in a prime kosher area and within walking distance from several key hotels, Yoss Burger is an easy stop for lunch, dinner, or a quick meat meal during your stay.
Best for: casual meals, families, quick meat dinner
PTC Picks: chili nachos, French burger, Asian salad, arayes
Best Dairy Kosher Restaurants in Panama City
Kava
Kava is one of the most popular kosher dairy restaurants in Panama, especially if you’re looking for atmosphere, variety, and a more polished night out.
Located in Obarrio, it has both a beautiful indoor space and outdoor seating, making it a great option for lunch, dinner, or a relaxed evening with friends.
The menu is known for Asian-inspired dishes, especially sushi, while also mixing in Italian favorites like pizza and pasta. That variety makes Kava an easy choice for groups, families, or anyone who wants a dairy meal with more than one direction.
The vibe is part of what makes it stand out — good music, stylish seating, and a lively but elegant atmosphere that feels very Panama.
Best for: dairy dinner, groups, sushi, stylish night out
PTC Picks: Rock & Roll, Delicia Kava, salmon tiradito, Pizza Vendetta, Planeta Kava for dessert
Aroma
Aroma is one of the easiest kosher dairy restaurants to recommend in Panama — casual, comfortable, and consistently good.
The menu focuses on well-executed dairy classics, especially fish, pastas, and salads, with additional options like pizza and sushi.
Located in Pacific Center, right next to Super Kosher and near key hotels like Residence Inn, it’s a very convenient choice for travelers staying in Punta Pacífica. The atmosphere is bright and family-friendly, the portions are generous, and the pricing is fair, making it a reliable spot for lunch, dinner, or an easy meal between plans.
Best for: families, Punta Pacífica, easy dairy meal
PTC Picks: : breaded corvina, fish dishes, sweet potato ravioli, Asian salad
Café con Teclas
Café con Teclas is a chic, aesthetic kosher café in Paitilla, created by Sarita Eses, whose creative style is felt throughout the space.
It’s more than just a place for coffee — it has a curated, boutique feel that makes it a nice stop for brunch, a light dairy meal, or a relaxed afternoon with friends.
The menu is café and brunch focused, making it a good option when you want something lighter, comfortable, and visually beautiful without going for a full restaurant dinner.
For travelers staying around Paitilla or Punta Pacífica, it’s also an easy local spot to experience a more stylish side of Panama’s kosher scene.
Best for: coffee, brunch, light dairy meal, aesthetic café stop
PTC Picks: Cappucino, La dolce Farniente, ‘Lo mejor que tenemos’ French toast
Jeffrey’s
Jeffrey’s is a go-to dairy spot that’s easy to come back to more than once. It has a relaxed café-style vibe and a menu that works from breakfast to light lunches — fresh salads, pastas, sandwiches, pastries, and solid coffee.
It opens early, around 7:30 AM, which makes it a great place to start your day, especially if you want something easy before heading out.
Grab breakfast, coffee, and a few pastries or snacks to take with you. It’s a practical stop if you’re heading out for a full day of exploring or don’t want to think about food later.
Best for: breakfast, coffee, pastries, easy start to the day
PTC Picks: Cheese tequeños, Super nachos, Dubai cake, Almond croissant
What to Know Before You Go
Because we’re deeply connected to the local Jewish community, we’re able to share the insider details that make a big difference when planning a kosher trip to Panama — helping you avoid common mistakes and navigate everything more smoothly.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Book ahead for dinner, especially during peak travel seasons like Yeshiva Week.
- Tipping is usually 10% in Panama City.
- Chalav Israel options are available, but not every dairy restaurant is fully Chalav Israel.
- Bishul Yisrael can often be requested, and local meat is generally Beit Yosef.
- Food may come out as it’s ready. Sometimes sushi, appetizers, and mains arrive out of order. If timing matters, tell the server clearly.
- Menus are often broad. Sushi, pasta, pizza, meat, fish, and Asian dishes can sometimes appear in the same restaurant.
- Delivery is common. Many restaurants deliver directly or through local delivery apps, which can be helpful for families, hotel stays, or Shabbat prep.
- Uber is easy and affordable, making it simple to move between restaurants and hotels
- Planning your meals ahead makes a big difference, especially if you’re combining restaurants with tours, synagogue access, Shabbat, or a packed itinerary.
Let Us Help You Plan It
Kosher food in Panama City is one of the things that makes traveling here feel genuinely easy. Once you know where to go — and stay in the right areas — you’re not spending your trip figuring things out. You’re just enjoying it.
If you want everything to feel seamless, that’s where we come in.
At Panama Travel Co., we don’t just recommend restaurants — we help coordinate the details. From restaurant reservations to full itinerary planning, we make sure everything is aligned before you arrive.
Because of our local relationships, we can also help secure tables at the most in-demand kosher restaurants, even during peak seasons when availability is limited.
We can help you:
- plan your itinerary day by day
- coordinate restaurant reservations
- organize Shabbat meals and logistics
- choose the right hotel based on kosher access
- arrange transportation and experiences so everything flows
