Panama City🇵🇦 | Lo Que Hay: A Taste of Deliciousness

Lo Que Hay seems to be a well-known spot in Latin America—you can book ahead on OpenTable. The restaurant is quite spacious, and it’s packed with Americans. 📍Address: Edificio el Colegio, C. José D. de la Obaldía, Panama City 🍴 Dishes Breakdown Beef Tartare🥩: Just so-so, a bit salty, but the rich garlic sauce is a highlight. Sexy Clams🐚: Chili oil + crushed cashews + a rich, curry-like sauce + bok choy + clams. The moment it hits your mouth, that familiar spicy aroma rushes to your nose—it’s like I accidentally ordered stir-fried clams with "basin ditch oil" (you know, that nostalgic, smoky Chinese stir-fry vibe). The cruciferous greens sprinkled in are such a long-lost treat, my brain even automatically fills in the scent of Sichuan peppercorns being - fried. Caribbean Prawns🦐: These Caribbean shrimp are fresh and tender—really tender (unlike so many places that over-grill them to a crisp, wasting good seafood). They come with Mango Habanero sauce, a favorite among us "Mexican residents"—fresh, spicy, and refreshing. Grilled Octopus🐙: Octopus braised with green onions, wrapped in banana leaves. The onion aroma is rich, and the octopus is soft yet flavorful. The green curry sauce has a creamy, liver-like texture—maybe octopus innards? It’s rich and savory, absolutely stunning when paired with a main starch. 🍚 Staples Tajadas🍌: Fried sliced plantains, a common staple in the Caribbean. I’m a fan—they’re not sweet, just a chewy, fried starchy texture with a hint of plantain aroma and tang. Dipping them in the rich sauces from the clams and octopus? Chef’s kiss. Coconut Rice🍚: Pretty standard coconut rice, nothing to write home about. 🍹 Cocktails We ordered a Daiquiri and a Mojito, and they’re just… meh. They’re even worse than the no-frills spots in Cuba (where they can barely scrape together ingredients). Such a letdown! (At this point, I have to shout out Cava 15, where we drank the night before—every cocktail was amazing. Definitely deserves its own post 👏. No comparison, no harm… but wow, the contrast stings.) #Panama #PanamaCity #Foodie #RestaurantHopping #DeliciousEats #GlobalFoodTour