Pana's Kitchen Brooklyn: Authentic Panamanian Comfort Food on Church Ave

Pana's Kitchen Introduce

Introduction / Overview

In the vibrant and diverse culinary landscape of Brooklyn, New York,

Pana's Kitchen

stands as a beloved destination for those seeking a true taste of Panama. Located on Church Avenue, this dedicated **Latin American restaurant** specializes in authentic Panamanian cuisine, offering a menu filled with rich, homestyle flavors that resonate deeply with both the local community and adventurous foodies. For New Yorkers looking to explore the depth of Caribbean-influenced Latin cooking,

Pana's Kitchen

provides an experience that is both genuine and deeply satisfying.

The atmosphere at

Pana's Kitchen

is decidedly **casual**, aiming to provide a welcoming, friendly environment that mirrors the renowned hospitality of Panama itself. It has quickly become popular for **Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner**, serving as a reliable spot throughout the day. The focus here is on **Comfort food**—dishes that evoke nostalgia and provide a hearty, satisfying meal. Customer testimonials consistently highlight the profound authenticity of the food, with dishes like the **pepper steak and hojaldra** prompting emotional connections and memories of home-cooked meals.

What truly sets

Pana's Kitchen

apart is the variety and quality of its traditional offerings. Diners can explore a comprehensive range of Panamanian specialties, including diverse protein options such as stewed chicken, oxtail, shrimp, and fish (including prized fried red snapper), paired with classic sides like rice and peas, ripe plantain, and carimañola. Whether you're a local seeking a quick, flavorful bite or a family looking to share a traditional meal,

Pana's Kitchen

offers a genuine culinary journey without leaving Brooklyn. The restaurant is a celebrated gathering spot for **Locals**, fostering a sense of community around great food.

This overview serves to introduce prospective New York customers to a truly authentic neighborhood gem, highlighting its culinary specialty and its commitment to quality and service on Church Avenue.

Location and Accessibility

Pana's Kitchen

is strategically situated in a bustling, easily accessible neighborhood of Brooklyn. The restaurant's address is **3518 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA**. Church Avenue is a major commercial street, ensuring visibility and convenient access for residents across Flatbush, East Flatbush, and surrounding areas.

This location makes it simple for customers to enjoy the restaurant's offerings via multiple methods. For those using public transit, the Church Avenue corridor is well-served by local buses and subway lines, placing the restaurant within easy reach. The practical location allows for quick stops for **Takeout** or **Quick bite** orders.

While the atmosphere is described as **Casual** and welcoming, customers should note, as mentioned in local reviews, that the space is described as small, which contributes to its intimate, authentic feel but can be "a bit loud at time." This reinforces its status as a popular **Locals** spot where the focus is firmly on the food and the friendly, family-like service. The ease of access for local patrons makes it a central fixture in the community's daily dining routine.

Services Offered

Pana's Kitchen

is structured to accommodate the dynamic needs of the New York diner, offering flexible service options for all meal periods:

LI> **Full Dining Options:** The restaurant is open and ready to serve customers for **Lunch and Dinner**, with a notable popularity for **Breakfast**, covering all primary meal times.

LI> **Multiple Service Channels:** Customers can choose from **Dine-in** for a complete experience, quick **Takeout**, or convenient **Delivery** for meals at home or the office.

LI> **Modern Delivery Solution:** They offer **No-contact delivery**, providing a safe and efficient way to enjoy authentic Panamanian food.

LI> **Diverse Menu Offerings:** The kitchen focuses on **Comfort food** and provides **Small plates** and options for a **Quick bite**, ensuring there is something for every appetite level.

LI> **Payment Flexibility:** Accepts modern payment methods including **Debit cards** and **NFC mobile payments**, making transactions quick and effortless for the busy New Yorker.

/UL

The comprehensive service model ensures that Brooklyn residents can enjoy authentic Panamanian cuisine whether they are dining solo, with family, or ordering a meal for delivery.

Features / Highlights

The unique draw of

Pana's Kitchen

lies in its commitment to authentic Panamanian flavor and its warm, community-focused approach to service.

LI> **Authentic Panamanian Cuisine:** The restaurant specializes in dishes that bring the genuine, rich flavors of Panama to Brooklyn. Popular items include **fried red snapper**, **pepper steak**, **oxtail**, and the beloved fried bread, **hojaldra**, which are praised for their home-cooked authenticity.

LI> **Generous Menu Variety:** Diners have a wealth of choices, including diverse meat and seafood options (shrimp, chicken, pulpo, cod fish), various rice preparations (**Rice & Peas**, **White Rice**, **Seafood Rice**), and a selection of traditional Panamanian street foods (**carimañola**, **empanada**, **fried yuca**, **tostones**).

LI> **Homestyle Comfort and Service:** Customers report being treated **"like family"** by the attentive staff. This warm, welcoming service elevates the experience, making patrons feel instantly comfortable and connecting the meal to the heart of Panamanian hospitality.

LI> **All-Day Appeal:** The restaurant is **Popular for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner**, confirming its standing as a go-to spot for satisfying, authentic meals throughout the day, including being a great option for **Solo dining**.

LI> **Community and Atmosphere:** It maintains a vibrant, **Casual** atmosphere, attracting a loyal crowd of **Locals** and is noted as being **Good for kids**, establishing it as a true family and neighborhood staple.

/UL

These highlights cement

Pana's Kitchen

's status as a must-visit destination on Church Avenue for an authentic, high-quality, and deeply comforting Latin American meal.

Contact Information

Whether you plan to stop by for a dine-in meal, order takeout, or arrange for delivery, you can reach

Pana's Kitchen

using the following details:

Address:

3518 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA

Phone:

(718) 282-2221

Mobile Phone:

+1 718-282-2221

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing

Pana's Kitchen

is **worth it** for any New York resident who values authenticity, flavor, and a genuinely warm dining experience. In a metropolis saturated with dining options, finding a restaurant that specializes in the traditional, regional cuisine of a country like Panama is a rare and precious find, especially one that executes it with such devotion.

The food here is more than just a meal; it's an experience. The sentiment that the food, such as the **pepper steak and hojaldra**, reminds patrons of their mother's or grandmother's cooking is the ultimate testament to its quality as **Comfort food**. This restaurant is a cultural touchstone in Brooklyn, providing a taste of home for the Panamanian diaspora and an educational, delicious experience for everyone else.

LI> **Emotional Authenticity:** If you seek food that is cooked with soul and genuine flavor, capable of evoking powerful, nostalgic memories,

Pana's Kitchen

delivers. This level of culinary authenticity is hard to find in a large city.

LI> **Value and Variety:** The extensive menu, featuring everything from hearty meats like **oxtail** and diverse seafood like **pulpo** and **fried red snapper**, alongside traditional sides and daily soups, offers tremendous value and variety for all appetites.

LI> **Unbeatable Service:** The commitment to treating customers **"like family"** ensures a comfortable, attentive, and pleasant **Dine-in** experience, transforming a simple meal into a welcoming social occasion.

LI> **Local and Flexible:** As a true **Locals** spot on Church Ave, it offers the ultimate convenience with options for **Takeout**, **Delivery**, and excellent availability for **Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner**, catering seamlessly to any schedule.

/UL

For a taste of genuine Panamanian hospitality and cuisine that warms the soul,

Pana's Kitchen

is the unparalleled choice in Brooklyn. It’s the spot for when you need more than just a quick bite—you need a taste of tradition and true comfort.

Pana's Kitchen Details

Service options
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Comfort food
Quick bite
Small plates

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner

Atmosphere
Casual

Crowd
Locals

Payments
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

Pana's Kitchen Photos

Pana's Kitchen Location

Pana's Kitchen

New York Kings County Little Haiti Church Avenue

3518 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA

Pana's Kitchen Reviews

An average rating of ★4.5 from 94 user reviews.

panamanian cuisinefriedpepper steakpuffsred snapperreadingox tailpotato saladgloveshair

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Im so happy we found this place and I can’t wait to come back. They treat you like family and the food is excellent. The pepper steak and hojaldra reminded my girlfriend of her mother’s Panamanian dishes so much it made her cry.
January 31 · Alex Cestone
Excellent food, great variety. From spaner. Ox, shrimp, chicken, pulpo with any type of rice, plantain, potatoes salad, avocado, salad. Also, different type of soup and drinks. Then you have all the different culture fried food; bakes, empanada, tortilla, carimanola, fried yuca or tostones, and more. The waiter was very attentive. The place is small, so it can be a bit loud at time, but is your spot to get some good panamenian food. You can eat in or take out.
May 28 · Brenda Bendigo
We didn’t eat here but as soon as we got here it was closed when they were supposed to be open at 11. The place looks dirty. I can’t say anything about the food. It just looks unsanitary. We are heading over to Balboa hoping to have a better experience
June 06 · Jonathan Cruz
The food was really delicious. If you are from the coast of Panama (country) you'll notice it is Colon flavor!!! I had an hojaldre with a corn tortilla and pepper steak 🤤 The waitress was friendly and the place looked nice.
December 31 · Kat
Worst experience ever! Wouldn’t recommend to anyone. The person taking orders was disgustingly disrespectful!! We drive over an hour to just leave because her attitude was just horrible. Rolling her eyes and all. Smh. Never again!!
March 08 · Amanda Maloney