Typical Panamanian food is based around beans, rice, plantains, and meat; including beef, chicken and pork. Seafood is widely available and excellent, and tropical fruit is plentiful. Unfortunately, green veggies don’t grow well down here, and as such there is not an abundance of leafy vegetables. Panamanian breakfasts usually include eggs, meat, tortillas, fruit, and coffee. Lunch and dinner can play off the same theme and involve a type of meat or fish, beans and rice, and vegetables like yuca and plantains. Empanadas are common, as are stir-fried noodles. You may want to try ropa vieja (which literally means old clothes), a shredded beef medley served over rice, or sancocho, a hearty soup made with yuca, chicken and veggies. Arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) is another meal you’ll come across virtually everywhere. These meals are inexpensive and served in small restaurants called fondas that serve fast, hot food.