What Patacones is
Twice-fried plantain slices, served with dipping sauce.
Patacones is listed as a dish in the Panama guide, where the index tags it mild and vegetarian. That is the useful shorthand, but it is not the whole story: the same name can cover a breakfast version, a street version and a restaurant version with different garnishes and prices.
Where to find Patacones
Patacones is listed as nationwide rather than tied to one city, so it is a safe thing to look for wherever you land in Panama. Markets and casual counters are the best value; the sit-down restaurant version is usually larger and more expensive.
The Panama guide also covers 5 dishes and 2 bakery items; open the country page for the full menu and the other places in the index.
What it costs
Patacones sits in the budget band, which we define as usually under US$8. Across the 7 food entries we track for Panama, 5 are budget, 2 are mid-range and 0 are premium.
| Band | Typical range | Items | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | usually under US$8 | 5 | Patacones, Ceviche, Arroz con guandu |
| Mid-range | roughly US$8–20 | 2 | Sancocho, Ropa vieja |
| Premium | usually US$20 and up | 0 | — |
Within this list, Patacones is one of 5 dish entries and 5 budget items; 3 items share the mild tag.
Dietary notes
- Vegetarian tag: the indexed dish contains no meat or fish, but confirm stock, sauces and cooking fats with the kitchen.
How to order it
- The indexed version is mild. Heat levels still vary by kitchen, so ask for chilli or sauce on the side.
- Ask for the price before ordering, especially where the menu lists market price or sells by weight.
Pair it with
These are the Panama items that make most sense alongside Patacones, either as a second course or as the drink that finishes the meal.
Closest matches on the menu
These Panama items share the most tags with Patacones, so they are the most useful comparisons for flavour, price and preparation.
Patacones: common questions
What is Patacones?
Twice-fried plantain slices, served with dipping sauce. It is listed in the TasteBridge Panama guide as a dish.
How much does Patacones cost in Panama?
Expect the budget band: usually under US$8. Prices move with the city and the venue, so treat this as a planning figure rather than a fixed menu price.
Is Patacones vegetarian?
Patacones is tagged vegetarian in our data. That describes the dish, not every kitchen: ask about stock, fish sauce, lard or shared cooking surfaces if you need to be strict.
Where can I try Patacones?
Our index lists it across Panama, so it is not tied to one address. Ask locally which version is served at breakfast, lunch or late evening, because the same name can cover different presentations.
Indexed as dish for Panama. Price bands are planning estimates, not live menu prices. Last reviewed 2026-11-06.