The Empanada You Should Order Before It Sells Out
Step into Casa Testa and it becomes immediately clear that food matters more here than decoration. Menus are written on boards, products line the shelves, and the display case practically demands a quick inspection before you even sit down.
Empanadas are one of the house specialties, and they have a reputation for selling out during the day. Sweet and savory versions come filled with options like beef, chicken, cheese, or apple—golden on the outside, warm on the inside, and dangerously good at convincing you that one will be enough.
But Super Gourmet goes far beyond empanadas. The Rubin combines pastrami, pepper jack cheese, and house sauce in a hearty sandwich, while the Veggie Matt brings together roasted vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, and avocado. There are also soups such as tomato soup, shakshuka, eggs Benedict, and breakfast dishes that can easily turn the morning into lunch.
Eating Here Feels More Like Finding a Neighborhood Deli
Part of the charm is that no one seems interested in making the experience overly formal. You order, ask what they recommend, glance at what has just come out of the kitchen, and sit down while the restaurant keeps moving around you. Many travelers highlight the freshly prepared food and the warm, friendly service, giving Super Gourmet more of a neighborhood feel than a rigid tourist restaurant.
And just when you think you are done, the shelves come back into the picture: Panamanian coffee, cacao, craft beer, and local hot sauces make it possible to take a little of the experience with you after the meal. Super Gourmet does not need overly elaborate dishes to stay in your memory. Its personality comes from something much simpler: food served hot, portions meant to be enjoyed without rushing, and that feeling of having found a restaurant you would probably visit again if you lived a few blocks away.
In a Casco Antiguo full of places designed to impress, Super Gourmet wins you over in a different way: by making eating there feel surprisingly everyday.
