Restaurants in Panama City: Key Takeaways
- Panama City has approximately 1,272 restaurants distributed across a variety of neighborhoods.
- Full-service restaurants are the largest category with about 600 venues in the city.
- Traditional American, Seafood, and Pizza cuisines represent major portions with over 100, 100, and 81 restaurants respectively.
Panama City's dining scene includes 1,272 restaurants. This article presents a detailed breakdown by area, category, and cuisine, explaining why numbers may vary by source and method.
Explore restaurant counts across Panama City's neighborhoods, types such as full-service and fast food, and popular cuisines from Traditional American to Asian.
For restaurant owners and managers seeking to understand market opportunities, exploring restaurant career paths and growth areas can be highly valuable.
Restaurants in Panama City: Key Takeaways- Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Area
- Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Category
- Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Cuisine
- Official Panama City Records and Registered Restaurant Businesses
- Restaurants in Panama City Listed on Google and Other Online Platforms
- Why Restaurant Counts in Panama City Vary and Conclusion
Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Area
Below is a detailed snapshot of how many restaurants each major Panama City area contains.
| Area | Number of Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Casco Viejo | 100 |
| El Cangrejo | 150 |
| Obarrio | 120 |
| Via Argentina | 80 |
| San Francisco | 90 |
| Punta Pacifica | 60 |
| Ancon | 50 |
| Bethania | 70 |
| Calidonia | 100 |
| Curundu | 60 |
| Rio Abajo | 50 |
| Juan Diaz | 80 |
| Panama Viejo | 40 |
| San Miguelito | 100 |
El Cangrejo leads with about 150 restaurants, making it a vibrant culinary hotspot. Other areas like Casco Viejo, Calidonia, and San Miguelito maintain strong numbers close to 100 venues each.
Neighborhoods such as Obarrio, San Francisco, and Via Argentina also contribute significantly with restaurant counts between 80 to 120 establishments, reflecting a diverse distribution across the city.
For a deeper understanding of industry distribution or looking to find top talent for your restaurant, neighborhood demographics and traffic can be decisive factors.
Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Category
This table illustrates how various restaurant types contribute to Panama City’s dining landscape.
| Category | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Full-Service Restaurants | 600 |
| Fast Food and Quick-Service Restaurants | 300 |
| Cafes and Coffee Shops | 150 |
| Bars and Pubs | 100 |
| Food Trucks and Street Food Vendors | 50 |
| Pop-up Restaurants | 20 |
| Ghost Kitchens and Virtual Restaurants | 2 |
Full-service restaurants dominate with roughly 600 outlets, offering extensive sit-down dining options. Fast food and quick-service venues also have a significant presence with about 300 locations.
Cafes, bars, and emerging formats like food trucks, pop-ups, and ghost kitchens add to the city's evolving and varied dining experiences.
Interested in staffing for your restaurant type? Review our guide to hiring restaurant staff fast for practical tips on efficient staffing.
Breakdown of Restaurants in Panama City by Cuisine
Panama City's cuisine spectrum is broad; here's the distribution by food type.
| Cuisine | Approximate Number |
|---|---|
| Traditional American | 107 |
| Seafood | 100 |
| Pizza | 81 |
| Burgers | 79 |
| Mexican | 54 |
| Italian | 31 |
| New American | 31 |
| Barbecue | 28 |
| Chinese | 20 |
| Japanese | 17 |
| Thai | 16 |
| Vietnamese | 5 |
| Mediterranean | 5 |
| Cuban | 4 |
| Indian | 4 |
| Korean | 2 |
Traditional American and Seafood cuisines are especially prominent with about 107 and 100 restaurants respectively. Pizza and Burgers also hold strong markets with 81 and 79 eateries.
Other cuisines like Mexican, Italian, New American, and Asian varieties add rich diversity to Panama City's culinary landscape, reflecting a global flavor profile.
Restaurant managers interested in learning more about the hiring process across different restaurant concepts should check out this comprehensive guide on steps in the hiring process.
Official Panama City Records and Registered Restaurant Businesses
The City of Panama City manages official records based on health inspections and business licenses to identify legally operating food establishments. These records provide a verified accounting of restaurants.
Registered venues represent the core of the city's dining inventory, assuring compliance with safety and operational standards mandated by local authorities.
Owners can benefit from creating accurate and attractive restaurant job descriptions to ensure compliance and attract suitable candidates.
Restaurants in Panama City Listed on Google and Other Online Platforms
Online platforms such as Google Maps list publicly visible and active restaurants, often presenting numbers differing from official records due to user updates and real-time business activity.
These listings focus on venues with an online presence and customer engagement, which may omit newly opened, temporarily closed, or unregistered establishments.
Cafes and coffee shops are increasingly popular—consider reviewing key barista job description requirements if hiring in this segment.
Why Restaurant Counts in Panama City Vary and Conclusion
Differences in data collection methods, classification criteria, and timing lead to variation in restaurant numbers. Official databases count registered locations, while some sources include informal or emerging dining concepts.
Overall, Panama City's restaurant scene is dynamic and diverse with over 1,200 venues, showcasing continual growth and a rich mix of culinary offerings that change over time.
Want to ensure your venue runs smoothly? Explore how to choose the right restaurant manager for your business and set your restaurant up for success.
