![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/12-22-25-panama-8-264959-laee2fuj-107337-JgFVKVe9-1024x616.jpg\")
A window washer cleans the windows as the Panama International Restaurant prepares for its opening in downtown Long Beach, Monday, December 23, 2025. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\nStuck in their apartment during the pandemic, Mercedes Squires and her husband, Roger, started cooking more food that connected them to their roots in Panama and the Caribbean. Then, when Squires was laid off from her old job, the couple opened a pop-up restaurant to share their culture with the community.<\/p>\n
That pop-up quickly turned into a brick-and-mortar in Los Angeles and their business, Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA, really took off.<\/p>\n
But their location in Los Angeles was small \u2014\u00a0the restaurant could only accommodate 37 guests at a time \u2014 and after four years, they had outgrown the space.<\/p>\n
Now, they\u2019re bringing the taste of Panama to Long Beach. They just opened on New Year\u2019s Eve under the new name Panama International Restaurant. On Thursday, Jan. 8, the new restaurant will be officially introduced to the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited to just come out with a bang,\u201d Squires said.<\/p>\n
With dishes like fried snapper, jerk chicken, beef oxtail, sancocho, and yuca fritters, Panama International Restaurant serves meals rich in Panamanian culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Squires describes Panamanian food as being a mix of Spanish, Latin and Caribbean cuisine that they\u2019re excited to share with the Long Beach community.<\/p>\n
Roger grew up in Panama watching his grandfather cook, learning how to masterfully blend the flavors of Jamaica (where his grandfather was from) with the melody of flavors that make up traditional Panamanian cuisine. Now, he makes homemade sauces and seasoning blends in his restaurant to recreate the food he ate growing up.<\/p>\n
Squires said when people try their food for the first time, they are \u201cblown away\u201d because they\u2019ve never experienced anything like it before.<\/p>\n
Beyond the food, the couple is sharing its Panamanian heritage through the restaurant\u2019s decor, which highlights the country\u2019s history and traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Panamanian license plates adorn the walls. A pollera congo \u2014 a more brightly colored version of the national dress \u2014 is proudly displayed on the wall. In a display case on another section of wall, there is a doll wearing a traditional pollera, a miniature bus, and a couple of small African quilts to represent the African influences in Panama.<\/p>\n
A window washer cleans the windows as the Panama International Restaurant prepares for its opening in downtown Long Beach, Monday, December 23, 2025. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think people are going to be pleasantly surprised when they walk in, they\u2019re going to get a cultural lesson. Just with the entry, you\u2019re going to feel the culture,\u201d Squires said.<\/p>\n
Squires wants Panama International Restaurant to provide an elevated experience for customers compared to their old location. Not only will they have more seating available, but the bigger space allows them to expand their menu and now offer beers, wines and desserts.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill the same warmth, still the same food and hospitality, but just a little notch up,\u201d Squires said.<\/p>\n