This place should be so much more packed!! I am a fried cauliflower enthusiast and am on a mission to eat at every fried cauliflower dish in the Long Beach/los Angeles area. My partner Elyse and I went to check out Panama international for this reason but we went late at night so they unfortunately were out, but with help from both Shaton and the chef RJ I ate a delicious jackfruit stew and some yucca fries! The jackfruit stew had such a good consistency and they even gave us a little extra because it was the end of the night. I appreciate an institution that doesn't like to waste food. The Yucca fries were also amazing, such a good crunch to soft ratio. Everything is completely made to order with so much care and flavor. Elyse had never had a plantain before and LOVED them! Elyse also at the puru and said that the flavoring was really good. Pricier than a casual restaurant, but for the care you're getting in your meal, it's 100% worth it! I hope they gain more traction in such a good area on pine! read more

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Don't miss this gem! Everything we had was absolutely delicious. The customer service was amazing and the food came out quickly. You can tell the owners truly care about their customers and take pride in what they do. They are genuinely beautiful people inside and out and made us feel so welcomed. We had the rice and peas, cabbage, red snapper filets, empanadas and patacones, and every single thing was full of flavor and cooked perfectly. This is by far the best Panamanian food we've had here in California. We will definitely be coming back!! read more

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We met up with some friends for dinner at Panama International Restaurant on a Wednesday. Due to the street right in front of the restaurant being closed off for the World Cup festivities, we found street parking a few blocks away. The restaurant itself is large and reminded me of being in Central America (I liked the metal roof above the corner near the kitchen entrance). The decor was very festive. Service was very friendly and attentive. Although I was a bit disappointed that some menu items I was interested in trying were not available, everything we ordered was delicious. The patacones were crispy on the outside and denser than I am used to, and was a large serving as an appetizer. The ceviche was sweeter than other varieties and had a Caribbean touch. The sancocho was rich in flavor. The oxtail was delicious and the jerk chicken also spicy and flavorful. Portions were generous and prices fair, aside from the drinks being a bit pricey at $9 for a relatively small glass. Presentation of all the food was also top notch. We loved the plantain tart dessert as well, which came looking like little money bags. I was very impressed with the food here, just be prepared for a bit of a wait as everything is made to order! read more

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Tried Panama International Restaurant and really enjoyed the yucca and patacones--they were my favorites! They reminded me of the flavors I miss. I did feel like some of the sauce was a little too salty for my taste, and I wish they had a few more dishes to choose from. Overall, though, it was a nice experience and I'm glad I tried it! read more

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

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Visited on a Wednesday a couple of months ago with a friend for oxtails and we were so sad when the owner let us know they were out. However, we had a great experience and the owner was so kind and attentive. We loved the vibrant decor, the music, and quite simply being able to get good Caribbean food in our neighborhood. We left with boxes because we could not finish the feast we ordered lol. We loved everything. I plan to bring family and friends back. It's a large and spacious location. Great spot to family style a bunch of dishes and enjoy with people you love. read more

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Had lunch takeout last week. Excellent food and really great looking Restaurant. Will definitely take the wife for a date night with drinks! In door and outdoor patio seating. Highly recommend for lunch in or an easy takeout lunch back to the Office!! read more

I love coming here!!! Cali girl born and raised but my roots are deep Panamanian. I'm so proud to know that we actually have an authentic Panamanian restaurant now. They host a ton of events and it's always a good time. I love their patacones/tostones yuca. The decor is true to PTY. if you haven't been....try it soon. read more

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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

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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

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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

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Good Lord!!!!! I'm here from out of town. Myself and a good friend were recommended this place by one of our fraternal brothers. Let me say, outside of the West Indies, this is that place. Meaning it is 100% that place for authentic Caribbean/West Indies food. The Stewed Chicken was some of the best I've EVER had. Tender, flavorful, I can't even believe I'm writing this much.... If you from the East Coast looking for Caribbean/West Indies cuisine..... Come to this Place.... Off the charts.... read more

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

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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

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Let me just say, Chef RJ, Mercedes, and the whole staff are always so welcoming! We were happy to find out that they had moved their location, which was originally in LA to downtown Long Beach, which is closer to us. Being that my wife is Panamanian. We had frequent to LA location several times and were always welcomed with open arms and great food. Our visit this time with something special because it was my birthday, to our surprise Mercedes gifted us a complementary bottle of wine for my birthday. We shared a ceviche as an appetizer and for our entrées, Sanya had the fried red snapper and I enjoyed oxtail. The food is always on point and just like eating at home. The ambience of the restaurant is classy and also modern with a Panamanian feel & a great choice of background music also. Highly recommend this restaurant for great vibes, outstanding food and great service. read more

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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

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Amazing service! Amazing food and ambiance! The owners are so wonderful. The jerk macaroni will be one of the many reasons that I keep returning. My in-laws are Panamanian and they can't get enough. We came here for my son's high school graduation and we won't ever stop coming! The oxtail, the arroz con Pollo, even the mango wings are all incredible and the rum cake was divine! I couldn't get a picture fast enough. read more

Panama International Restaurant - What's left of the rum cake - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

This place is sooo good! I tried them when they were in LA and I was so happy when they moved to long Beach. I've tried the fried shrimp plate, snapper filet plate, and pineapple ginger drink. Today I ordered the snapper filets with rice & peas, plantain, and cabbage, the chicken empanada (not pictured because I inhaled it before thinking to), and plantain cake. Everything is always 12/10 DELICIOUS. The staff are so welcoming, and Mercedes (the owner) is lovely. The restaurant is a large space filled with the sound of lively Latin music and nicely decorated with afrocaribbean art. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Highly recommend, go check them out. read more

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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

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

Visited the restaurant and it was really good. The food was very tasty and would recommend. read more

Panama International Restaurant - This is the front of the restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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

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The service is so good! I loved all the workers, they were so polite. The service is great and the food is amazing! I really recommend the Jerk Mac and cheese and the fried fish and plantains were amazing. The fish was seasoned to perfection and the plantains were perfectly sweet with a bit of crisp. Overall this place is very underrated and perfect in every way! I recommend this place as your go to brunch or dinner place at least once a week! read more

To begin This place is phenomenal !! The food took me back home to Panama We ordered all the specialties. FYI: look at the menu & read the information, Great "Fresh" food takes time to create!! The atmosphere is clean and opened. I appreciate Mercedes for accommodating myself and family that came into town for my grandsons Graduation. We will return soon. Thank you Chef for tickling our taste buds with home cooking. read more

My experience there was not Great at all. The food took more than 1hr. & the jerk chicken came out cold. The server was rude. Food made me and two others sick later that night. Half the menu was not available. It was a mess. Over all i would not recommend at all. read more

Fantastic service and outstanding food!!! We went for my brother-in-law's birthday dinner and had a large group of family and friends. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant was superb, staff communication was highly impressive, and of course the cusine was over-the-top OUTSTANDING!!! I am highly recommended that you make this restaurant a priority for your next visit to Downtown Long Beach and order everything!!! We will be back for more!!! read more

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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

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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

I need to preface this by saying that this review may not be indicative of the restaurant food and service during normal operating hours. We went for a World Cup watch party event hosted by the restaurant, which was handled very poorly. We paid $65 per person for 'VIP' tickets, which were anything but VIP. No one waited on our table for 55 minutes after we were seated. So, we waited over 45 minutes at the bar to purchase wine and beer (which was supposed to be included in the VIP ticket price). The bar was completely overrun with only 1 person staffing it to try to serve over 100 people who were trying to place drink orders. The selection of wine and beer is very limited and poor quality. The "food platter" that was included in the ticket price arrived 90 minutes after being seated and was pretty sparse for a party of 4: 1 empanada, 1 yucca frita, 1 patacon per person and a very small dish of ceviche. 30 minutes later came some heavily fried fish and chicken as we were about to leave. This was an opportunity to showcase delicious Panamanian food, as well as warm hospitality, unfortunately it was anything but that. $260 plus drinks was a steep price to pay. read more

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

Delicious Oxtail! The staff was so friendly and the portions were a good size. This is a perfect place for a date for something authentic.

The food was absolutely delicious! The fish was perfectly crispy, fresh, and packed with flavor, and the carimañolas were simply amazing! Every bite reminded me of the authentic flavors of Panama. If you haven't been to Panama International Restaurant (PTY) yet, you're truly missing out! Chef RJ absolutely knocked it out of the park with every dish. ‍ One of the highlights of our visit was meeting Mercedes. She shared the inspiring story and heartfelt testimony behind the restaurant, making the experience even more special. You can truly feel the love, faith, and dedication that she and Chef RJ have poured into building this incredible place. From the outstanding food and welcoming atmosphere to the great location and genuine hospitality, this is more than just a restaurant it's an experience. If you're looking for authentic Panamanian cuisine, do yourself a favor and stop by. Come hungry, bring your family and friends, and prepare to leave with a full stomach and a happy heart! 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

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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

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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

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

Very disappointing experience at Panama International. My party and I waited a significant amount of time for our food while three couples who arrived after us were seated, served, and received their orders before we did. After sitting and waiting with no resolution, we eventually got up and left. As someone with management experience at the executive level, I understand that restaurants can get busy and mistakes happen. However, communication and customer service are critical. A simple update or acknowledgment would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, neither happened. I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but this experience was frustrating and fell well below what I would expect from a professionally managed establishment. read more

This spot is a gem! Wife and I came through because we were craving the patacones, but went off of the recommendations Mercedes gave us and everything was delicious. We ended up getting the Mango wings, red snapper, and jerk chicken. So good! The service was welcoming and Mercedes made us feel right at home. We will definitely be back! read more

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

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