A good local place we enjoy is in a bakery, yes a bakery. It’s called the Bread Company…yes in English ;-)
It’s located in Panama city, in Punta Paitilla, inside they are open for breakfast and lunch. Lunch is where the locals eat. Menu varies sometimes you get peppers with chopped steak, mondongo (cow stomach, cilantro, carrots and potatoes). If you ask me, it tastes very good, if you ask my husband, he did not dare to touch and finallly gave in and he liked the flavor. So anyhow, dishes include rice, beans or salad, and meat or chicken all for $3.50 or $4.50 sometimes. Good line, recomend getting there at 12 since food is fresh and no line, after that b/c of the long line you might not find food or salad.
Affordable and tasty! + locals eat there for lunch too which is a good sign anywhere in the world.