Casco Viejo, Panama

[Throwback year 2023]

Just posting some of the photos that I took 3 years ago while strolling Casco Viejo, the old town of Panama City. Casco Viejo is something like our Malacca Town with all the historical buildings.

[Below] Iglesia de San José (Church of Saint Joseph). It houses the renowned Golden Altar (Altar de Oro)

There is a myth regarding this golden altar. As per the AI search:

The Myth: Popular folklore claims that when Henry Morgan attacked in 1671, a quick-thinking priest painted the precious golden altar black to disguise it as crude or worthless. 

The Reality: Historical and physical analysis has debunked this legend, showing that the golden altar was actually crafted in the early 18th century.

Some of the buildings here house the government offices.

Many turned to cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants too.

There are a few historical buildings surrounding the Independence Square - the Municipal Palace of Panama (Palacio Municipal) is one of them (see below). I stood at Basilica of Santa Maria while taking this picture.

Some hidden alleys in between the old blocks.

This entire place is like a mini old Spanish town.

Seafront....

The dark skies looming. I ran to find shelter coz it was drizzling.

By the way, you can't find a decent beach in Panama City. Too many vessels passing by.

Also, there are many yellow facade buildings in Casco Viejo....the below is another government office.

Casco Viejo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Most of the buildings here are well preserved. 

Monuments

I also visited the Canal Museum. Paid USD15 (per pax) for the visit. The museum is devoted to the history of the construction of the Panama Canal in its various stages, including the first French construction attempt, the later construction by the United States and the transfer to Panamanian control.

Before that, some stone age artefacts....

Not sure what are these, but they look artistic!😂

The ships....like those seen at Malacca straits centuries ago.

Old coins....You can maneuver the magnifying glass to look at the details of the coins.

Another insightful history lesson from visiting this museum.

Menya Abura

In Japan?

Nah!

Menya Abura has been around for more than a year in the neighborhood. This was my second visit.

Ordering is done via kiosk, like in fast food restaurant. Their specialty is Abura soba which is a popular Japanese soupless ramen dish where fresh, chewy wheat noodles are tossed directly in seasoning sauce and aromatic oil.

During my first visit I had the shoyu ramen (which is not their specialty). So, this time i tried the real thing.

After stirred everything evenly, the noodles look like this. I added an ala-carte gyoza for extra protein.

Springy noodles, but tastes bland compared to our local chili pan mee😂

I know it's not apple-to-apple comparison, but I think our chili pan mee tastes better coz got minced pork. This one no minced pork.

Gyoza was just so-so, nothing to shout about.

Total bill came to RM30.80 nett

Best Pizza Place - Pizza Verace @ Costa del Este

Right below my airbnb apartment, there's a newly opened pizza place and it is claimed as 'best pizza place' coz it has recently won some awards.

Several notable international recognitions such as:

The Best Pizza Awards 2025, ranked no. 74

The Best Pizza Awards 2026, ranked no. 58

But i wasn't fond of eating a whole pizza on own. So, I ordered pasta instead.

I couldn't remember the exact name of this in Italian or Spanish (in their menu), but it is tomato based.

On another day, I tried the anchovies pasta.

Then on another day, a rigotoni.

All were superb! Eccellente!

This place is usually full-house in the evening and on weekends. I would normally go on weekdays evening, but the place got fill up fast after 6.

The boss giving a hand signal and smiling for my picture.

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When I finished my dinner early, I would walk to the nearby supermarket (Rey Supermarket) just to look see look see on the coffee beans....

Sometimes I walked abit further to the neighborhood's Towncenter mall. There's a cinema at the top floor which I never go. Most of the movies are dubbed in Spanish with English subtitles.

Family Dinner at Yang Ming

Family dinner again with parents, sis and BIL.

We had our usual dishes - steamed tilapia in soy sauce

Taiwanese 3-cup claypot chicken

Stir-fried spinach

and claypot tofu with assorted veggies

Dessert was on the house - guilin gao (herbal jelly)

Overall, a good meal although I thought the green leafy veggie is slightly expensive at RM27.

Total bill came to RM175.75 nett for 5 pax.

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Mini mooncake....

courtesy from area/constituency MP

These are usually distributed few days before the festival in the morning market, night market or during mid-autumn event organized by the constituency.

Have you received one before?

Sweet Moments Begin Here

Was craving for SG laksa, and I remembered Secret Recipe has a decent one....

This time it was served with keropok!

The broth is superb with rich spice taste and coconut milk. Not spicy and pleasant flavor....tastes like peranakan curry.

The bill came to RM22.50 nett. About the same price for a bowl of SG laksa in Lau Pa Sat😀

The 'Local Remix' is interesting....

Maybe one day I'll try the chicken rendang lasagna or the asam pedas pasta!

They also have lunch set from 12-3pm weekday.

I should come here more often to try out the other dishes....

Decades ago, I had my self-treat in SR after receiving my first salary. It was NY cheesecake with hot chocolate drink😋

Indeed, a sweet moment!

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Sunny Republic food court

Back at this eatery for dinner with my parents.

We ordered a plate of grilled chicken chop in mushroom sauce. Requested to replace the fries with sausages and the bun with egg. RM15 nett.

We also ordered a steamed tilapia in soy sauce (RM34) and a plate of lettuce (RM10). Had these dishes with rice and we were all so full after finishing them.

Hai Kah Lang - Fish Noodles

Back at Hai Kah Lang for their Michelin-standard fish noodles. I had coral grouper with mi xian noodles in a rich, milky fish broth.

The restaurant opens early from 8am till 9pm. When I was there around 8pm, there were still many diners.

It was boneless fish, hence the price is higher than the normal fish head noodles.

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Kawan Places

Char kuey teow with mixed of yellow noodles and kuey teow (flat rice noodles). It has 3 prawns and some fish cakes. The ckt was slightly salty. Luckily there were 3 pieces of cucumbers to tone it down.

RM18.60 nett after service charges and tax.

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126 Mixed Rice

Chapfan from 126 Mixed Rice restaurant. I went there at 8:30pm to get a 50% discount. Usually, there are people already queing at around 8:10pm daily. I went on Saturday coz that was when most people dine out at nicer eateries instead of eating chapfan, hence more dishes left to choose from.

This plate of rice with 3 dishes costs only RM5.70😁

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136 Roasted Meat Restaurant

A few doors away, there is a 136 restaurant. I think they could be related. 

I had a dine-in on one of the weekday late lunch.

Ordered a steamed chicken with roasted pork combo. Ginger dipping and chilli sauce provided.

Quite nice to eat in peace in an aircon restaurant and no one's around. RM12.50 nett.

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McD

Fillet O' Fish and Sakura McFizz drink. The Sakura McFizz tastes like any sweet fizzy drink.

I also tried their seasonal Taro Pie, and it is way better than Burger King's version. The taro paste texture is denser and somewhat similar to a Chinese wu kok (yam puff), though without the pork filling, of course. You can really taste the taro, and it isn't overly sweet.

The bill came to RM20.10 nett. My kind of happy meal😀

On another day, I take-away the McMuffin sausage with Egg and a hashbrown for my brunch (RM7 nett from Mix & Match set). Poured a glass of orange juice and there goes my happy meal brunch!

BON APPETIT!