Free-from restaurants in Panama City

Vegano-O-No

Panamá · Vegan · Vegetarian · €⁠€

The venue is explicitly a vegan restaurant. The owner states 'we EXCLUSIVELY only do GF and Vegan' and the menu on the venue's website lists only plant-based items (burgers, sausages, sides, drinks). HappyCow lists it as a fully vegan restaurant. Multiple reviewers confirm everything is vegan.

Vitali | Paitilla | KOSHER

Panamá · Vegan · Vegetarian · €⁠€

The restaurant holds an active certification for kosher dairy (Cholov Yisroel) under Shevet Ahim supervision. It is listed on Go Kosher Panama and TotallyJewishTravel. The venue's Linktree declares 'KOSHER JALAV ISRAEL'. Multiple independent sources confirm the kosher status.

The Vegan Shack

Panamá ·

A fully vegan restaurant is inherently vegetarian-friendly; every dish on the menu is suitable for vegetarians. No cross-contamination risk with non-vegetarian ingredients.

Avocat Organic Deli - Aeropuerto - Gluten Free

Panamá ·

This is a 100% dedicated gluten-free kitchen. The owner states that no one, including employees, may bring gluten-containing food into the kitchen, and all ingredients used are certified gluten-free. Multiple coeliac and GF diners confirm it is the only safe option at Tocumen Airport, with dedicated fryers, knowledgeable staff, and zero reports of cross-contamination.

Muzka

Panamá ·

Muzka is listed on multiple kosher restaurant directories (Go Kosher Panama, Go Beyond, AM Properties) as a 'Meat' category establishment with kosher certification by Shevet Ahim. The venue is delivery-only. While the certification is credible, no details about dedicated equipment or staff training for other allergens are provided.

Loving Hut

Panamá · Vegan · Vegetarian

Loving Hut is an all-vegan chain offering a pan-Asian menu and a buffet setup. The venue is entirely plant-based, so all dishes are vegan by default. No dedicated kitchen or fryer is noted, but since the entire menu is vegan, cross-contamination with animal products is not a concern. Staff may have limited English, so pointing to dishes is common.

Sano Pecado

Panamá ·

A small dedicated gluten‑free bakery. Every item on its menu is explicitly gluten‑free, and multiple community reviews refer to it as a dedicated gluten‑free facility. The bakery has not obtained independent accreditation from a recognised coeliac body such as Coeliac Australia or Coeliac UK. Its own menu mentions gluten‑free items but does not describe cross‑contact protocols. Oats used in some items, such as apple crumble, could pose a risk depending on their sourcing. Staff knowledge on non‑gluten allergens is described as basic.

Sassy Cafe

Panamá · · €⁠€

Menu items are clearly labelled as gluten-free, and staff are reportedly knowledgeable about coeliac needs. The kitchen is not dedicated gluten-free, and the venue acknowledges a risk of cross-contamination. One symptomatic coeliac reviewer reported receiving regular bread instead of the gluten-free order, though the mistake was corrected. Another review notes a dedicated toaster and waffle grill, but shared prep areas remain. No formal accreditation or owner-led allergen practice is noted.

The Wallace

Panamá · · €⁠€

Menu has a 'Vegetarian/Gluten-Free' section with two explicitly vegetarian dishes: Veggie Sliders (lentil, rice, oat patty with cheddar) and Rumbledethumps (mixed vegetables and potato with cheddar). However, the kitchen is not dedicated; shared prep and cross-contamination risk likely.

Charlie's cream

Panama City · Brunch · Pizza · €⁠€

HappyCow reports that vegan options, including a veggie burger and cheeseless pizza, are labelled on the menu. The kitchen serves meat, so a shared prep area and cross-contamination risk are acknowledged.

Fud Lab Via Israel

Panamá · · €⁠€

Uber Eats page shows a 'Sin lácteos 🥛' tag on one burger and describes other items as using lactose-free cheese. This indicates per-dish dairy-free marking, but the kitchen is shared and no dedicated equipment is mentioned.

La Scarpetta Ristorante

Panamá · Pizza · Italian · €⁠€

Listed on FindMeGlutenFree with a GF Menu offering gluten-free pasta. No information on dedicated equipment, cross-contamination protocols, or staff training. No owner/insider with coeliac reported. Cross-contamination risk unknown.

Lilia's Deli

Panamá · Brunch · Cafe

Reported to have a gluten-free menu (sandwiches, salad) but the kitchen is not dedicated; non-GF items are available and cross-contamination is possible. The sole community review confirms GF items but states 'es ist kein reiner GF Laden' (it is not a pure GF shop). FindMeGlutenFree displays a warning that the facility is not dedicated and may not be safe for coeliac disease.

Aria Restaurant

Panamá · Sushi · Japanese

The Panama City location is described as a high-end kosher restaurant on its official website and appears on the Chabad of Panama City's kosher food directory. One review also refers to it as a kosher restaurant. No details on certification or kitchen practices are available.

Fenicia

Panamá · Lebanese

The menu includes several vegetarian-friendly items: falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and a vegan roll. According to the Spinach guide, this menu is clearly marked for vegan friendliness, and the same labeling likely applies to vegetarian options. Staff members are described as knowledgeable. The kitchen is shared with meat dishes, so cross-contamination remains possible, though the cuisine itself is naturally suited to vegetarian eating.

Restaurante Makoto

Panamá · Japanese · Sushi · €⁠€⁠€

Marked gluten-free menu (items reported as marked by a symptomatic coeliac diner) but not a dedicated kitchen; shared prep area and no dedicated fryer. One symptomatic coeliac reviewer reported staff knowledge and good cross-contamination handling, but the venue is not dedicated.

Lucca El Cangrejo Panamá

Panamá · Italian · €⁠€

Multiple reviews report gluten-free pizza and pasta options, including wood-fired GF pizza and GF pasta. The venue offers GF pizzas as a standard option and GF desserts. However, there is no evidence of a dedicated kitchen, fryer, or allergen-marked menu, and no accreditation. Cross-contamination risk is unaddressed.

Jeffrey's Bakery

Panamá · Brunch · Cafe

The venue states it is a kosher restaurant and offers Bishul Israel and Chalav Israel on request. A second source, Go Kosher Panama, lists it as Cholov Yisrael and Pas Yisroel. The repeated insistence on kosher designations suggests a kosher-observant kitchen, but the menu lists cheeseburgers, which are not kosher under any mainstream certification, creating a serious inconsistency. Kosher-observant diners should call ahead and verify current practice before relying on this venue.

Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine

Panamá · Indian

Menu lists six vegan dishes including biryani and dosas, but staff have limited knowledge of ingredients and could not reliably answer basic questions about what vegetables are in a curry. The vegan options are clear on the menu; call ahead to confirm ingredients on busy shifts.

El Jardín Vegetariano

Panamá · Vegetarian · €

A vegetarian buffet with over 30 options, mostly vegan. Staff can point out the occasional dairy or egg dish, but there are no labels and the kitchen is shared. Reliable for vegetarian dining if you're comfortable asking staff for guidance.

Lucca Multiplaza Mall

Panamá · Italian · €⁠€

FindMeGlutenFree lists Lucca with a GF menu (pizza, pasta, ice cream) and a celiac diner reports GF pasta and celiac-friendly ice cream. No evidence of a dedicated kitchen or fryer, and the venue's own menus (Uber Eats, official site) do not mark GF items. Shared kitchen risk is presumed.

Restaurante Santa Rita

Panamá · Steak · Spanish

The menu marks which dishes are gluten-free (often labelled 'celiac safe'), and the kitchen can adapt some items when asked, for example changing fryer oil for chips. Multiple coeliac diners report feeling safe after clearly stating their needs. However the site disclaimer warns this is not a dedicated gluten-free facility and reviews disagree about whether a dedicated fryer is always used. Staff are described as knowledgeable and attentive. Call ahead to confirm current cross-contamination protocols for your level of sensitivity.

Mahalo Cocina y Jardin

Panamá · · €⁠€

Gluten-free items are marked on the menu. Staff are generally knowledgeable, but the kitchen is not dedicated and the default fryer is shared. One symptomatic coeliac review notes that the shared fryer is considered GF unless a separate one is requested. Most celiac reviewers report no symptoms. The venue's website states they cater to special diets but provides no specific allergen protocols.

Snack Shack

Panamá · · €⁠€⁠€

Snack Shack serves meat but also offers labeled vegan items such as bowls, wraps, tostadas, chia pudding, and juices. Multiple vegan diners have reported positive experiences with the marked vegan choices. One detailed review from October 2023 describes a strong reaction to a vegan-labeled Yucatan Bowl, with the reviewer suspecting the chipotle dressing contained dairy, which could indicate mislabeling or cross-contamination. The kitchen is shared, as meat is served, and no dedicated fryer or prep area is noted. Menu marking for vegan items is confirmed by listings and reviews.