I stopped by late in the evening, about 30 minutes before closing & they were still incredibly welcoming. I had a few questions about the dishes, and they took the time to answer all my questions. I ordered the stew chicken everything was amazing. The chicken was perfectly cooked probably slow cooked because the meat practically melted off the bone. The sauce was delicious rich, brown, slightly sweet, with carrots and just a very mild kick of spice. Absolutely on point. The rice was cooked perfectly, and I loved the added peas. The cabbage had a pickled vinegar taste that paired really well with the meal. And I can't forget the plantain it was great too. OMG I'm definitely going back read more

See all

Food is very good. Very good! We had a reservation at 3pm when they just opened. All the food was made to order so we were in restaurant from 3-6PM. But had some great music and good company with the Chef RJ, Mercedes and their staff. My parents even got a little tour of the restaurant (upstairs) where there's a little lounge that can house 30 people or so We started out with the patacones, yuka frita, and ceviche. So good, reminded me of when my grandma's cooking. The ceviche was more on the sweeter side and was served crackers but we put it on top of the patacone and it was the perfect balance of salty and sweet. We also got a tamarindo, which was more on the sour than sweet side. And a sour sap, AMAZING! I would stop in here just for the juice. And everything is made from scratch. Next was the red snapper. Let me preface, I do not like cooked fish, but this... this was amazing. Finger licking good. The fish was cooked to a crisp that was so flavorful. Of course, if you haven't had red snapper before and you decide to order it, beware, LOTS of tiny bones. But this will be one of the best fish you'll have. And as grandpa said, you can never have too much lemon on the fish. Next, the arroz. Mom said this was traditional arroz con pollo with the green olives mixed in. But lined with the plantain, this dish had us ready to ROLL out. It was so good, very flavorful. The chicken? TENDER. Falling off the bone. The rum cake was soft, creamy and buttery. The rum sauce on top was to die for. You can taste the rum but it wasn't over powering. Even though we were busting at the seams and took home the arroz, we finished the rum cake. remember when I said everything was made from scratch? The cake and the frosting too. Absolutely delicious. Huge KUDOS to Chef RJ & Mercedes. Thank you for such a delicious meal! read more

Panama International Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

I called approximately three days in advance to make a reservation for 10 people at 7:00 PM. I was informed that a party of 20 would be arriving around that same time, so to accommodate the restaurant, I agreed to move our reservation up to 5:00 PM. When we arrived, the owner's wife was our server. As we began placing our orders, we were told that several menu items were unavailable, which was understandable. The menu also stated that seafood items would take approximately 45 minutes to prepare, which we were aware of and accepted. However, service issues quickly became apparent. About half of the table received their fish entrees within 15-20 minutes, while the other half did not. Although we understood the longer preparation time, the food arrived inconsistently. When our meals did arrive, we did not have silverware and had to repeatedly ask for it. Additionally, our drinks did not arrive until after the food was served. In my case, I received my meal after the 45-minute wait, but still did not receive my drink until about 15 minutes into eating, at which point I had to personally ask the owner. Several items that were ordered never arrived at the table. Dirty dishes were also left stacked on the table without being pre-bussed, so we ended up clearing them ourselves. One fish dinner was served with greens that were cold. We brought this to the server's attention; she brought out a replacement, but we were still charged for the greens despite the issue. We also attempted to order dessert, but our server never returned to the table, so we had to place the order with another server. When the desserts were finally ordered, the owner approached me at the table and stated that the party of 20 had arrived and that she needed our table. I explained that we had just ordered dessert and would leave once we received it. She told me we had 10 minutes. When we reviewed the bill, all items that never arrived were still included, as well as the charge for the cold greens. I explained this to the owner's wife, who stated that the greens were charged because she brought out a second serving, despite the original issue being that they were cold. We ordered six desserts total. When my uncle spoke with her about the bill, she stated she would comp one dessert but would still charge for the greens. However, when the revised bill was brought out, all six desserts and the greens were still listed. After I pointed this out, she took the receipt, corrected it, and apologized for the experience. At that point, she also explained that there was an automatic gratuity applied for parties of five or more, which totaled $150. She then mentioned that we NEED to add additional tip though it stated "optional." No additional tip was added. Overall, the experience was disorganized, uncomfortable, and disappointing, especially given that we made accommodations ahead of time to support the restaurant. The service, billing issues, and lack of attentiveness significantly impacted what should have been a positive dining experience. I'm aware that management responds to reviews. While I appreciate a response, this review reflects our actual experience and is being shared for transparency, not debate. read more

Recent addition to Long Beach. We loved this place in their old location which was far for us. We are very excited that they are right in our neighborhood. They are pretty new here, so I think they have few things to work out still. The service was a bit slow although we were the only ones there. Portions are not big for the price point but they have to survive and pay their bills in this prime location, but I'm not sure if this would draw me back in. So, I get it and these are the times we are living in. Mercedes is as wonderful as always. Definitely a big focus on the Caribbean dishes vs Latin ones. Few items were not available and I found that this happened at times in their old location as well. This will be a great spot for large parties and events and I think this will be a big focus for them as this place is huge. The exterior looks like it needs a little work. It looked dark and unwelcoming. Like I said, I'm sure they are still working things out. I wish them well and I hope they succeed. I hope for some less expensive specials and happy hour. Not a fan of crackers with Ceviche, but this is possibly traditional. Seafood was minimal in the ceviche and the price point didn't match the amount of seafood one would expect or hope to get. read more

See all

Is not easy to find panamanian food in the US. We visited this restaurant in on Wilshire but it was just opening for lunch so not much was available. I'm happy to be able to try it out and have it walking distance from our condo. Came in on a quiet Wednesday night. Met the owner, her husband is from Panama and makes some good empanadas and fried plantains. We tried the ceviche and also the ox tail. Both delicious. Bright yellow interiors wirh arches, it is festive and warm. If you're craving Caribbean leaning Panamanian food I'd recommend it. P.S. one of my fav is arroz con guandú, working I only get when I go back home . read more

See all

Came to Long Beach to try the stuffed fish however, they ran out as it is a very popular item on the menu. We instead got the fried snapper, jerk chicken, plantains, fried green plantains, and jerk Mac n cheese. Jerk chicken was nice and juicy with great flavor. The plate comes with rice and greens, but we had to get it with cabbage as they ran out of the greens. Also had a side salad. Jerk Mac N Cheese was really good and tasted great as the jerk flavor gave a special kick. Plantains and green plantains were fried to perfection. The fried snapper was so good. The fish was cooked perfectly as it was moist and the flavored seasoning were great. Was supposed to come with the greens, but as stated earlier they ran out. Would have been a 5 star visit, but as I said before they ran out of items, so it made the visit a little disappointing. Also, be patient waiting for your food as everything is made to order, and will take some time to prepare. The owner came to the table and explained everything and we will be going back, but we will definitely be there when they open to ensure we get exactly what we want to try. read more

See all

A Panamanian restaurant on Pine Avenue? Yes, please! What a great addition to DTLB offering culture and flavors of the Caribbean. I went on their grand opening on New Year's Eve and it was lit! The decor and energy of the place made me feel like I was in Panama. Our table was right by the DJ, percussionists and dance floor so we kept getting up and dancing when bangers came on. I really wanted to try the oxtail but I had to leave for another party in 30 minutes, so I had to order something quicker. The shrimp salad was just what I needed. There were 7 plump pieces of shrimp that were marinated in a red sauce, but it wasn't spicy. The greens were fresh and the house vinaigrette was light and delicious. The Yuca Frita were crispy, not greasy and had just the right touch of salt. The Carne Empanada was so good! I can tell the meat had been slow cooked and made with love and amazing spices. They only have non-alcoholic beverages at this time. I tried the Caribbean Breeze, which was a refreshing mix of coconut juice, lime and a little pineapple. The servers were very kind and attentive. I'll be back for the oxtail and for more dancing! read more

See all

It's a nice cute restaurant. Excellent customer service. Excellent food. I've been craving it ever since I had it. I had the fried red snapper. Mango wings. Passionfruit lemonade. Oxtails. Pantacones. Everything was delicious. read more

See all

Visiting this restaurant for LBBRW. There are very many areas her that still need work. That said, our visit was not the best. More than half the items on the menu were not available. Understanding that they are still getting their bearings we just accepted what they had available. The salad and soursop lemonade were delicious. Amanda, our hostess tried her best to explain the various dishes. She was great a very helpful. I saw who may be the owner engage with larger parties and not so much smaller ones. That made it feel very unwelcoming. Opening a new restaurant, you would want to engage with all your guests as best as possible. Being personable is key to attracting repeat guests. I'm not going to complain about the food, it was palatable and a lot of room for improvement. Every business has it's up and down days. So much potential here, in addition to being great addition to LB diverse food culture. read more

See all

They do serve wine and beer now (a prior review said no alcohol). Downtown new Caribbean restaurant read more

Great location, very nice music, ample space. Service was good, attentive staff. Delicious patacones, yuca frita, and mango wings! The picante really reminded me of Panama! I was unable to try some of my Panamanian favorites on menu, it wasn't available for second time in a row. read more

Very good service and food! Must try the rum cake! I love how the staff does good table touch.

This was a gem. The energy was good as well as the service. Red snapper was delicious Student jackfruit topped here bus come and try it. Definitely have to come back and try something else on the menu 10 out of 10. Highly recommend. read more

Panama International Restaurant - pollo Guisado was a instant reminder of good memories. Packed with flavor with every bite. 10/10. - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. First of all, the staff is incredibly warm and welcoming. You'll feel right at home as soon as you walk in. The food is SO GOOD. Our table tried all the empanadas - beef, curry chicken and seafood - and they are perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. The Pollo Guisado and the jerk chicken (get the mean greens!) were fantastic. The Jerk Mac & Cheese is gonna make you forget all about any other Mac & Cheese! Vegans and vegetarians - you're in for a treat. The Stew Jackfruit was rich and flavorful, perfect comfort food. It's such a pleasure to encounter thoughtfully prepared vegan selections! Only note was that despite a relatively early dinner time, they were already out of several menu items. But we certainly enjoyed what was available!!! This is food made with love. read more

This Place is Amazing. I usually have to go to Los Angeles to get good Caribbean Food. Thank God I only have to travel to Pine Avenue now. I usually order the Stewed Chicken and Jerk Chicken. The Chicken is so good. Never Dry. The Gravy is pure and saucy. Im thinking of a different word but its not coming to me. Haha. I met the owners. They are present and Super Nice. The location is clean and the vibes are definitely Caribbean/Central American. Not sure about the operating hours. I only go on Saturday night. Great Date Night. Prices are up there, but for me; its worth it because i dont have to drive far now. This is the type of place you can go before the club or take away when you want to eat at home. Ask for Amanda as the server. read more

The food was very high quality and authentic. I believe our sever was the owner and she was very kind. They have only been open in this location for 40 days but use to be in LA. I hope they start to get busier because they are definitely a great spot! We will be back. read more

See all

The atmosphere is so inviting and the music sets the Caribbean tone. The food was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We had the ceviche (fish, shrimp, and octopus). Delicious!!! I've never had octopus and this was . The fried snapper and jerk chicken, rice and peas, greens, cabbage perfectly seasoned. Let's not forget the Patacones!!!!!!! This restaurant is a must try. The service was great warm and attentive. A must try. read more

See all

Delicious!! So happy this gem is down in the LBC now. I had the oxtails and they were delicious!! they're small but the flavor is NOT! the kale greens were delicious and plantains were perfect. my only complaint, if you can even call it that, is no cocktails. But that's no biggie. The owner also came to our table and made sure our food was as expected. Great service and excellent flavor. I'll be back!!! read more

Panama International Restaurant - Oxtail, plantain, mean greens, rice and peas...FIRE! - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

The food was good, but everything else left a lot to be desired. The music was loud and intrusive -- we could barely hear each other across the table. When we asked the owner to turn it down slightly, they refused outright. That kind of dismissiveness toward paying customers is hard to overlook, and it's what will keep us from returning. **UPDATE:** What surprised me most was the owner Shaton's response to my feedback. She wrote that they "do not accommodate everyone's request" because they have live music and dancing, making it difficult to adjust the volume for all guests. Here's the reality: when my group visited on a Saturday night, we were one of only two tables in the restaurant. There was no live music. No one was dancing. We simply asked them to turn the background music down so we could hear each other across the table. Shaton, the disconnect between your justification and what actually happened that evening is hard to overlook. If this is how customer concerns are handled, I suspect you'll continue to receive reviews like this one -- and I genuinely hope you use them as an opportunity to improve. Your restaurant's long-term success may depend on it. read more

Well I'm not here to rain on any parade, but I must keep it a buck. The food was decent I'm Panamanian and nothing about it was authentic. The fried snapper was good the oxtails were very average. My server did all he could do with what he had to work with. The rum cake excellent, ate that at home. They make you pay for hot sauce for your fried fish. Please justify that to me. I get it, you make it yourself. Well get some red rooster or Louisiana hot sauce. Also need multiple chefs for faster service. Not sure it will last 6 months at this rate..one last thing my reservation was at 5pm and they had already ran out of items on the menu.. I wish them well but not likely I'll ever return.. read more

Last night we had the best empanadas here! You must order them. The jerk chicken and the oxtails were also so good. Everyone is so nice and they truly appreciate customers. I can't wait to go back! read more

We had reservations for 7pm on Valentine's Day and were told we could sit either at the bar or a table between 2 other tables, no big deal so we chose the table. The food was good but the service was horrible and super-slow. What appeared to be a host person and 3 servers could not handle a less than full house. We witnessed at least 6 couples leave because they were completely ignored after being seated. Servers do not regularly make eye contact, do not help each other out and literally disappear, not to mention that the host is pretty useless. One would think that they would capitalize on the slowness by serving more high-margin beer and wine, but they just don't seem to care. These people clearly do not know how to run a restaurant efficiently. What an embarrassment to the people of Panama, my wife especially! read more

The staff is friendly and the food is wonderful. My partner and I went for valentines day. We ordered jerk chicken and chicken stew. They made the jerk chicken mild and it was reallygreat. The rice, plantains and greens were wonderful. We will definitely be back. read more

Food was amazing! Sancocho, yucca balls (carimañolas), fried red snapper, the juices were all very tasty.

Amazing experience! Wonderful, delectable, full bodied food! Great, friendly, culturally vibrant service. Beautiful ambiance and music!

Very dissatisfied with the service and professionalism of the staff. They failed to mention that they were sold out of half the menu (and had no condiments). It took us close to 2 hrs to get our food and then they tried to rush us out of an empty restaurant. So many ppl left that evening because of the service. We should have done the same. I was really looking forward to the food and the experience. Unfortunately, it was not worth the money and my husband has no desire to return. read more

Absolutely LOVE this place! The food is amazing! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! Proud and happy to have a Panamanian restaurant here in Southern California and what better place than in Long Beach! read more

See all

Made a reservation for 8:45, showed up at 8:45, man greeting at the door let us know the kitchen was closed for the night... They are clearly very unorganized. Talked to a few people as they were walking out, they said the food was decent but the service was unbearable. They watched 4 tables walk out during the time there. Food looks nasty from recent reviews. Editing to respond to the owner. I'm not sure why you are trying to say the kitchen was not closed, the man working the door literally told us it was. He then went inside to "speak to management" to see if there was anyway our reservation could be accommodated, and then came back out and apologized and stated the kitchen was closed, again! We ended up going to Kings Fish House and had a great time seated at a communal table with other patrons that were turned away (with reservations) from your establishment. read more

Highly recommend ceviche. Chef said the recipe is called the tiger's milk and it has crab in it is very refreshing. the restaurant was very busy on valentines i had the snapper it was crisp and flaky I loved the scotch bonnet house made hot sauce I asked for my fish. My date enjoyed the Jerk chicken. Dessert choc marble banana cake was moist and super yummy. read more

Food and dessert are like Christmas . The whole red snapper was perfectly cooked moist and seasoned deliciously. Omg those dumplings were so sweet, buttery, and crispy! read more

See all

Great food as always. Love the ox tail and empanadas. Come support Mercedes and Rogelio in their newest establishment that replaces Caribbean Soul Kitchen Los Angeles. Long Beach is just a hop and a skip away from Los Angeles. read more

Panama International Restaurant - Inside of Panama International Restaurant. - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

I've been researching a trip to Panama and this restaurant popped up on my IG so I had to check it out, and I'm glad I did. The food was awesome. Ordered the whole fried snapper stewed. The snapper was fresh and crispy and it gravy was a nice add. The rice and peas was tasty cooked with coconut milk. First time having jerk mac and cheese which was flavorful and moist. Let me not forget the mango chicken wings which were very good. We had them add the homemade scotch bonnet pepper sauce for that sweet and spicy twist. If you are ever in downtown Long Beach, stop in and enjoy the food prepared to order. read more

So happy we found this place during Black Restaurant Week! Everything was amazing but I especially loved the beef empanada and stew chicken! read more

Panama International Restaurant - Stew chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

This review is from my experience at their NYE Grand re-opening. As a Panamanian from NYC, I was so excited to be able to visit this place, and also share my culture with my in-laws (who are not Panamanian). The entire experience was a complete let down, and I was so embarrassed. Our reservation was at 8p for a party of 6 and a baby, and we were seated around 740p. I noticed the chef right away, but he was sitting at a table behind us, chatting it up with guests. We ordered patacones, and 2 orders each of yucca fritas, wings, and empanadas. We also ordered dinner at the same time. Appetizers came out around 810-15, but we only got 1 order of empanadas, yucca, and wings (5 out of the 6 wings for $16, yes I want ALL of my wings). Our meals came out 2 at a time starting at around 830p (2 oxtail plates, and then 1 snapper plate and 1 ropa vieja plate), with 2 guests not getting their food until well after 9pm (an oxtail plate and ropa vieja plate), and that was with us asking our waiter multiple times. Apparently, our food was going to other tables. We also never got the patacones, or the second order of yucca and wings. We had to ask multiple times for straws, utensils, napkins etc. What pissed everyone off the most was that the chef sat behind us chatting away at the same table for well over an hour (I should've taken a pic), while his wife was trying to manage the kitchen that was completely behind and in chaos. No apology, no follow up, no check in. After asking, the waiter took off 4 of the watered down pineapple ginger drinks from the bill, and we had to double check to ensure that we didn't get charged for appetizers that never came. This was such a disappointing NYE experience, especially after driving an hour in the rain to support this establishment. I would rather them go back to "takeout" service. My 1 star is for the food being good, but nowhere near worth the drive and the crappy service on a major holiday. We would've had a better time, and eaten on time, at home. read more

The food is absolutely delicious definitely worth the price, the service is great I felt at home, and I love the way the space is decorated. Im definitely going back!!!! read more

AWFUL experience!!! Made reservations at this restaurant on Valentine's day base on reviews (later found out the reviews might be from their previous location?). BIG MISTAKE!!! Seated at 6:25pm, didn't get served for water and taken order until 20 minutes later. Some guests got here later but were served food before us. Waited for 1 hr 40 mins and only 1 side of $15 luke warm chopped up boney dried jerk chicken came and still missing another side and the entrée. Server barely came to check on us once to apologize and offered drinks on the house. Should have left at that point but we were naive and patiently waited another 30 mins. During the wait, at least 3 other tables left due to long waits, and somehow the restaurant still decided to take more customers in when they could barely serve food out to existing customers. Finally we asked how long would the food take or else we are leaving, and server said he would check again and stated that they might comp the food if it took longer than 10 mins. After that, food just magically showed up, only with portions half sized compared to other tables and what we saw on reviews - 3 tiny pieces oxtail for $33 and $10 for a small bowl of soggy overcooked jerk mac and cheese. Took 10 more mins for the check to come but no one even came back for payment!!! No discounts was offered at all and only left with sad food and salty memories. PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE, or you would have your day ruined and wasted your life... read more

See all

I went to this restaurant on this past Saturday for the first the first time with my friends. The food was amazing! We ordered the oxtails that came with rice and peas and plantains. We also tried the curry chicken tamale, the stew chicken , fried shrimp and red snapper. Everything was seasoned to perfection and it was fresh! They cook their food to order. No heat lamps, no microwave or freezer, soon as you put in your order, thats when it's cooked. We loved the decor because it allowed you to step into another world and the owners were so welcoming. We will be returning soon! read more

The food was amazing! Fresh and flavorful! They had a wide array and variety of Panamanian food from comida criolla to Caribbean /chombo style food. The service was great as well, they were communicative if any discrepancies came up and the music was great as well. They had a wide variety of salsa, calypso, and I was surprised they even had slow samba. The vibes were relaxing and sultry. read more

Really wanted to love this restaurant, as we live nearby & the food looked great online.. but we will not return. Seated & given menus at 5:45, no one came back for atleast 20 minutes. Finally placed our order & the food came out at 7:15. Over an hour wait, understandable, it's busy on Valentine's day.. and we were fine enjoying eachother's company in the meantime. But then the food that came was cold. It can't take over an hour to come out AND be cold. Was a shame because the flavors were pretty good. We left knowing we wouldn't be back, but happy to atleast have tried it & supported a new local restaurant.. but by midnight my girlfriend was throwing up. Stomach still unsettled this morning. All in all, it was a regrettable experience & we unfortunately would not recommend this restaurant. read more

Love the food and warm welcome at this restaurant. Chef Roger and his wife Mercedes are welcoming and the food is awesome. No bad dishes, so try everything. I'm partial to the Sancocho chicken soup that's comforting and warming. The beef empanadas and patacones (fried green peppers plantains) are winning appetizers. The Oxtail is amazing and can't be missed. They used to be in mid city LA so Long Beach is so lucky to have them now! read more