Average meal cost

Meals in Panama are generally cheap. From a $0.25 empanada to a $19.00 lobster dinner (16onz) you will surely find a decent meal to suit your budget.
A typical Panamanian desayuno, or breakfast, consists of a pair of totillas which cost around $0.10 - $0.15 in a fonda, a small mom and pop eatery. Carimañolas, fried yuca paste with a meat inside, will set you back around $0.25 while Panamanian chorizos, or sausages, will cost you around $0.30.

Lunch could cost you from $1.50 to around $7.00 or more if you are into the good things in life. The basic pattern in Panamanian lunches is: a serving of meat (any kind), rice, beans (or lentils, porotos, or any kind of grain), plantain, and salad. This is the lunch that most workers eat for about $1.50 to $2.00 a serving. You can also go to most local restaurants and get a chicken meal for around $3.00 to $5.00. A beef meal would cost you around $3.00 - $7.00 depending on the quality and the cut of the beef. Pork is also very popular for around $3.00 - $5.00.

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Comments:

What about oljadres(sp?)? Don't know the individual price on them, but they are usually served with breakfast. I have eaten them with a breakfast of 2 eggs, tasao, coffee and 2 oljadres from $1.45 to $1.75 in Volcan.

Oljadres are as near as I can tell made from a raised wheat flour dough that is deep fried into fluffy golden brown biscuits. Not sure how good they are for you, but they are hard to beat with a couple of eggs in the morning.

Posted by: Bill Baio at March 13, 2004 09:23 AM

Indeed! How could I forget about hojaldres. :) They are about $0.10 to $0.15. Quite cheap and tasty too. I also forgot about fried yuca which is legume but don't know an english name for it. VERY good with sausage or fried eggs. You can get those like for 3 pieces for $0.15 or something like that.

Posted by: Antonio at March 14, 2004 08:31 AM

Ojaldres with "queso blanco prensado" and "carne guisada" for breakfast! :-)

Any idea of how to call "queso blanco prensado" in English?

Posted by: Ramses Morales at March 14, 2004 06:17 PM

Yuca is officially known as Casava in English, but it is also known as Arrow Root and a few other names that slip my mind. However in the US in supermarkets its normally sold to Latinos so its normally labeled as Yuca there.

Queso Blanco would I guess just be named Queso Blanco if sold abroad. However it is like a cross between Mozzerella and Feta cheese in taste and consistency.

Posted by: Pelle at March 15, 2004 03:51 PM