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KAANDELA, Panamá, Provincia de Panama

KAANDELA

4.2
4.2
141 Reviews
$31 to $50
Panamanian

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
We invite you to join us for our playful exploration of flavour, that is equal parts: intuition and experience. With often primitive methods of concoction such as fermentation, smoking, raw dishes, curing, pickling and the magic and unpredictability of cooking over wood fire – all coming together with elegant execution in dishes designed for sharing and pairing. Purposefully a little disruptive, we take an approach to dining that is fun, and encourages looking at traditional ideas from a new angle. This can be anything from getting stuck in with your hands, to rehashing recipes with funky local produce. We never stand still and continue to evolve – just as fire refuses to hold a single form.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Panamanian
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00–15:00 Dinner Daily 19:00–23:00
  • Phone number
    6747-0682
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Chef José Aparicio
  • Private party facilities
    At Kaandela, we offer private dinners, corporate events, intimate weddings, and family gatherings in a cozy and exclusive setting. Our space is designed to provide a unique and personalized experience, tailored to your needs, creating unforgettable memories in an intimate and elegant environment.
  • Area
    Panama City
  • Cross Street
    Avenida Central entre Calles 3ra y 4ta. <br />Casco Antiguo, Ciudad de Pana
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Metro Stations:Estación 5 de Mayo: Located about a 15-minute walk from Casco Viejo. It’s one of the nearest metro stations on Line 1.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

Experiences

  • CENA BENÉFICA - YAGUARÁ PANAMA

    US$80.25 per person

    19 Feb 2025 only
    Una Cena por los Jaguares panameños: Este 19 de febrero en Kaandela, te invitamos a ser parte de una noche especial, donde la gastronomía panameña se une a la causa de proteger a los jaguares, uno de los símbolos de nuestra riqueza natural. Junto a talentosos chefs, José Aparicio, Andrea Pinzón y Luis Mendizábal , honraremos a estos majestuosos amigos en un menú único, diseñado con amor por nuestra tierra. Cada plato contará una historia, y cada reserva será un paso más para ayudar a conservar a los jaguares que tanto nos representan. Lugar: Kaandela Casco Viejo Fecha: 19 de Febrero de 2025 Turnos: 6:30pm y 9:00pm Donación: $75+itbms por persona Cena 4 tiempos, no incluye bebida. Porque juntos, podemos dejar una huella que trascienda.

What 141 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Panama

    Romantic

  • Panama

    Lively

  • Panama

    Most Booked

  • Panama City

    Romantic

  • Panama City

    Lively

  • Panama City

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
KAANDELA in Casco Viejo, Panama, offers a "fantastic" dining experience with "amazing food" and a "beautiful ambiance." Highlights include the pork belly and seafood casserole, complemented by attentive service from staff like Michelle, Jenny, and Kei. While some guests noted service delays and menu limitations, overall, it remains a "must-go" destination for its flavorful dishes and sleek atmosphere.

141 Reviews
  1. Karl

    Tampa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    In 900 reviews and many more visits unwritten, I have never before walked out of a restaurant mid meal. This was a bad experience that got worse as the evening progressed. First, of 5-6 choices in white wines, only one was actually available. Because I intended to pair it with the pork belly pops appetizer it seemed important to do it right. We actually don't know what wine we got because we were sampled on something not in the menu, but it was still the wrong choice when they didn't have the pops. Seriously, it's paper. Reporting your menus when you are out of everything, or at least tell us at the beginning instead of waiting until after we order. We got the Clams Papa which really needed bread to soak up the liquid. Several of them were still gritty and my wife said he's tasted fishy. Not good. Then we sat. An hour and a half after sitting down and after going to the kitchen to ask when to expect dinner they brought the steak. Compare the photo I'll upload with that of others. There's no comparison. Ours was small, grey and cooked in a pan, not appearing even near the advertised weight. There was no crust and no ember as described. There's no way that this gristley thing was prime either. At this point I decided I could not pay $100 for this junk and told them we were leaving. The chef came out, but there was nothing for him to do. I think that he was as embarrassed as he should have been to serve that mess. No, I would never return.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jane

    Unspecified

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Loud, rushed and mediocre, over-priced food. Seafood casserole at $35 with 2 little over-cooked shrimp, 2 mussels, a few clams smaller than my pinky fingernail, a 3 in strip of octopus??? Very disappointing.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Mario

    Miami

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Mi expectativa era más elevada, pedí una cazuela de mariscos, la comida vino tibia, un camarón semi crudo y el tamaño y cantidad de mariscos decepcionantes

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  4. amy

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very attentive staff and good quality food. The desserts were delicious

    Is this helpful?

  5. Gijs

    Amsterdam

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere and a lovely setting. Good service and very nice cocktail and wine menu. Food not as refined as I hoped

    Is this helpful?

  6. kimberly

    New York City

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Went for lunch . The service was very slow and there were a lot of empty tables . The pork belly was not available even though it’s one of their featured dishes . The lamb kebabs we ordered were burnt . The seafood casserole was good but it had one shrimp and one burnt piece of octopus . The head waiter / Manager gave 5 dollars off for the bad service. We were really excited to visit this restaurant but after visiting I can say it’s hyped up. The drinks were good .
    KAANDELAResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Kimberly, we are truly sorry to read your review, and we sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced during your lunch. Your feedback has been shared with our Chef, José Eduardo Aparicio, and we deeply regret that we were unable to provide you with the top-notch service we are internationally known for, especially right before your departure for the airport. We truly value your input and are committed to making improvements. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and offer you the exceptional experience you deserve.

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  7. Steve

    VIP

    London

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Probably the best food, wine and service we had in Panama- and we’ve loved Panama! Novel ingredients brilliantly combined for some mouth watering dishes. The team are outstanding- friendly, knowledgeable and super attentive. Our family loved it so much we squeezed in two visits in our 4 days in the city. Highly recommended!
    KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago
    Dear Steve, wow, thank you so much for your incredible review! We're beyond honored to hear that you enjoyed the food, wine, and service so much—it means a lot to us, especially considering how much you've loved Panama. We're thrilled that you appreciated our unique ingredients and the team’s service. It's wonderful to know your family had such a great experience that you returned twice in your short time here! We truly appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back on your next visit!

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  8. christine

    New York City

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A farm to table restaurant . The food was outstanding as well as the service
    KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago
    Dear Christine, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both the food and the service. We take great pride in our farm-to-table approach and it's wonderful to know it made such an impression. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

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  9. Morgan

    Denver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything from the taste & presentation of the food to the service & atmosphere was exceptional! We ordered the robalo sea bass curry with coconut rice, patacón salad with pork belly and the fish & papaya starter. They were all flavor explosions! Highly recommend the Kaandela Punch cocktail too. Shoutout to our server Abdiel and hostess Michelle for being so kind, warm, welcoming and helpful!
    KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago
    Dear Morgan, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed everything—from the flavors and presentation of the dishes to the service and atmosphere. It's fantastic to know that the robalo sea bass curry, patacón salad, and fish & papaya starter were a hit, and we’re so glad you loved the Kaandela Punch cocktail as well! We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Abdiel and Michelle—they’ll be so happy to hear you appreciated their service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another amazing experience!

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  10. Arnaud

    London

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 4 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Joli restaurant mais cuisine à revoir . Plats bien en dessous de la moyenne

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FAQs

KAANDELA is rated 4.2 stars by 141 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for KAANDELA

Av. Central España, Panamá, Provincia de Panama 00000

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Avenida Central entre Calles 3ra y 4ta. <br />Casco Antiguo, Ciudad de Pana
  • Area
    Panama City
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00–15:00 Dinner Daily 19:00–23:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Panamanian
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Metro Stations:Estación 5 de Mayo: Located about a 15-minute walk from Casco Viejo. It’s one of the nearest metro stations on Line 1.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef José Aparicio
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine
  • Phone number
    6747-0682
  • Private party facilities
    At Kaandela, we offer private dinners, corporate events, intimate weddings, and family gatherings in a cozy and exclusive setting. Our space is designed to provide a unique and personalized experience, tailored to your needs, creating unforgettable memories in an intimate and elegant environment.
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