Nate Ulsh

Came for an early lunch and was impressed with the space. It is tucked away in a great corner of the plaza between two unique buildings with a zenful garden space. Ambiance is nice, plenty of seating and good menu of items to pick from. The pulled pork sandwich was good, meat was moist. Staff was very amicable. You order at the cashier and find a seat. Quick service.

+3

Elka

Pro tip: if you are only getting drinks, there is a different, faster line in. There are limited tables, so if you bring drinks in, take them out with you so the next folks don't have to deal with those dishes on the small tables. Go early to find parking, find a seat. 7/24/25 We dropped by for The Museum of Modern Art Gilbert Castenada's Jazz night session. (Wow, how lucky we are to have someone who cultivates this in our city!) It's great that they have this partnership. We ordered drinks at the bar and walked into the auditorium and found seats quickly. I was impressed with the tall, young man busing tables there. He was mindful of the music and cleared tables quickly. A soda with glass and ice and margarita will be around $19 plus tip. There is a clean bathroom down a long hallway. Could work better: Be prepared to wait in line. There is regularly a wait here to get in and then to be served. Don't go here for a quick bite, there are other options for that. My sister's margarita seemed to be lovely, smaller than expected and had a fruit fly in it. (It happens.)

vik pat

Panama 66 continues to be one of our favorite spots in San Diego—this was our second visit, and it absolutely lived up to the fond memories from our first. Nestled in Balboa Park right next to the sculpture garden, the location is beautiful and full of energy. After lunch, the kids had a blast exploring the adjacent open space, which made the experience feel just as much about play as it was about food. What we love most about Panama 66 is the **laid-back yet vibrant vibe**. The space is open and filled with natural light, and there’s a casual energy that makes it feel welcoming to both adults and families with kids. It’s counter service here, so you’ll **stand in line to place your order**, but even with our large order, everything arrived at our table within 20 minutes—impressive for such a busy place. The food was outstanding. The **curry fries** were the clear favorite for the adults—the sauce was bold, flavorful, and left us wishing we’d ordered a second round. The **Pollo Adobado Tostadas** were another standout—layered with rich, smoky flavor and perfectly balanced textures. For the kids, the **Nutella sandwich** was a winner—simple, comforting, and devoured without a hint of complaint. Another highlight was the **full bar and well-curated drink menu**. The margarita was fresh and bright, and the paloma had just the right amount of citrus and sparkle. It's evident they put care into their cocktails, which adds an elevated touch to the relaxed setting. Panama 66 blends great food, a beautiful setting, and an easygoing atmosphere in a way that feels rare. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment—whether you’re sipping a cocktail under the sun or watching your kids play nearby. We already know we’ll be back.

Justin

Panama 66 is a fantastic outdoor restaurant, and my fiancé adored this place. The environment is busy and the service and food were fantastic. The fries were delicious (Truffle Parm), fresh, and crispy with the aioli sauce on the side. We also ordered the Charcuterie board and they give you an amazing amount of cheese, meat, bread, and olives 🫒 for the price. I think that's what caught us off guard, you're so accustomed to paying high prices and you only get a little, Panama 66 gives you what you pay for and more. I love being pleasantly surprised by restaurants making your money spent well worth it. If you visit Balboa Park go eat here and you'll get a bang for your buck. Quality food Quality service Quality attentive staff

+3

Melodi Bac

It's a great spot right in the middle of the park. On the weekends they are super busy but if you are around during the week, they have live jazz on Wednesdays. They have a garden with heaters. It's a cozy place with soft lighting and jazz music and great food. They have a lot of options for vegans as well as meat lovers. I love their smash veggie burger. Their fries are exactly like house made fries. My another favorite is their garden salad with salmon. I like that they have both healthy and comforting options. The patio is dog friendly -but you can't sit at the bar with your dog. Overall I would definitely recommend this place. The service is super fast and the jazz music just makes it worth it!

John Kruszyna

Four of us enjoyed a great lunch at Panama 66! The portions were large and the quality was excellent. My wife had the fish tacos which were great, I had the Mojo Pork sandwich, it was a Cuban style and very tasty and filling. The other family members liked their Soba Salad with chicken and the big, thick Park Burger! I would definitely recommend eating here!

Awesome spot with the jazz and food! Thanks for making the date so fun. Super cool ambiance and Wednesdays are pretty busy!

Awesome spot with the jazz and food! Thanks for making the date so fun. Super cool ambiance and Wednesdays are pretty busy!

Awesome spot with the jazz and food! Thanks for making the date so fun. Super cool ambiance and Wednesdays are pretty busy!

While in vacation, we ate here twice. Excellently located for all the museums, has a thoughtful menu, phenomenal beer selection, and a chill courtyard vibe. It is open to the sky, so the chairs can b…

While in vacation, we ate here twice. Excellently located for all the museums, has a thoughtful menu, phenomenal beer selection, and a chill courtyard vibe. It is open to the sky, so the chairs can…

Fabulous night on a beautiful fall evening with the tower lit up. A night of Latin jazz and delicious burgers with side of fries and salad and a dazzling pink lighted California Tower right in fron…

Fabulous night on a beautiful fall evening with the tower lit up. A night of Latin jazz and delicious burgers with side of fries and salad and a dazzling pink lighted California Tower right in fron…

Went to Panama 66 with a group of twelve on Monday so both Prado and Artifact were closed. Panama was packed with a long line but it went fast. I had a spinach salad. It was perfect with a light …

This is just a wonderful place for young and old. Very inviting with its casual atmosphere yet at the same time friendly and professional service. The food is excellent and used to be inexpensive, …

I don't understand the average rating for this restaurant, I thought it was great!\nWe had a short wait, found a table, then went up to the counter to place our order (all of which took about 10 …

After an amazing visit to the vibrant San Diego Museum of Art, we decided to take a break and grab a drink at Panama 66—and we’re so glad we did! The energy was buzzing, especially with a beautiful c…

It was their anniversary and a day of Jazz. We enjoyed the food and the entertainment kept us there for a number of hours. A dance group came by and was fun to watch. A great outdoor vibe that…

It was their anniversary and a day of Jazz. We enjoyed the food and the entertainment kept us there for a number of hours. A dance group came by and was fun to watch. A great outdoor vibe that…

At the suggestion of a park volunteer, we had lunch at Panama 66. We all enjoyed the experience. I had the soba noodle salad. It was filling and delish. I tasted some of my brother’s truffle fries…

Two of us had the Kobi beef sushi rolls which were excellent. One diner had the fries which were also very good. The service, ambiance and background music were all perfect.

Great restaurant with an amazing view. Vibe was on! String lights on! Live music was setting a beautiful mood. The balboa California tower was doing its magic under the night lights. It's a whole feel. Definitely recommended. Food was good. We had fries and tofu sandwich. Brussel sprouts were good. Reasonably priced. Quantity was on the lighter side but just enough. The whole vibe compensates for this.

You're paying for the location and ambience here, which I will say is top-notch. There's something that just feels decidedly nice about sitting here on a sunny afternoon with a burger and a sangria. I love the back tables by the water and the sculpture garden (sadly closed when I was last here in January). The food feels a bit pricey for what it is and trends more toward the "ok" end of the scale IMHO, but again, love this location. If I want a finer dining experience in the park, I go to Artifact. If I want more affordable but delicious food in a less scenic atmosphere, I go to Craft Taco at the Nat. The host and the cashier are great, as are the drinks. No reservations, counter/bar service only, large groups may be difficult to seat during peak times.

Toi Barreto

Located in the yard for the Museum of Art. It took a long time to get a seat, about 40 minutes. The food was good but portions were small and overpriced. Being in Balboa Park ups the elan but it was disappointing.

Julie S

P66 turned out to be a great place for lunch. The employees were very accommodating and prompt. It was a chilly day and we wanted to sit under heater but it wasn’t working, one of the runners checked it out and brought a new propane tank to get it working. The prices are reasonable and the burgers & fries were delicious. It is strictly outdoor dining so it wasn’t loud at all which was a plus.

Doris Lim

Visited Balboa Park and tried this place for lunch. Ordered the Park Burger. The beef is juicy and the burger is tasty. Ordered the spinach salad as well but the dressings is a bit heavy and makes it a bit salty. Love the atmosphere and it's outdoor setting. It's a nice place to grab a quick bite.

David R

Beautiful setting. The food is pretty good, however the price point is too high for its quality/selection. Most gastropubs have their type of menu

The theme continues: bland and dry. \n\nThere aren't a lot of options for food in Balboa park... so this is a popular option that can get very busy. I waited for 10-15 minutes to get to order count…

The theme continues: bland and dry. \n\nThere aren't a lot of options for food in Balboa park... so this is a popular option that can get very busy. I waited for 10-15 minutes to get to order count…

Visited Balboa Park and tried this place for lunch. Ordered the Park burger. The beef is juicy and the burger is tasty. Ordered the spinach salad as well but the dressings is a bit heavy and make…

Visited Balboa Park and tried this place for lunch. Ordered the Park Burger. The beef is juicy and the burger is tasty. Ordered the spinach salad as well but the dressings is a bit heavy and make…

It's clean elegant and relaxing inside. Solid drinks and the food was pretty good. The burger and fries were really good. I would go back; but try a different option than the sandwich again. The wo…

It's clean elegant and relaxing inside. Solid drinks and the food was pretty good. The burger and fries were really good. I would go back; but try a different option than the sandwich again. The wo…

Perfect for date night! We went on a Saturday around 5:30 pm and it wasn't too crowded. We were able to find a table and get food within 15 mins as well. There was live music playing and overal…

Very nice environment, simple dishes with good price, very nice staff, great place overall!

Was walking around Balboa Park and wanted to get a bit to eat. Saw Panama 66 and it looked like a great place. The restaurant is outdoors and located in a sort of courtyard which provided shade. The…

Was a great end to our day at Balboa park. I wish more restaurants would offer a kids plate like this- a protein, fruit and fries- including a vegetarian protein option (falafel). It was well organiz…

Was a great end to our day at Balboa park. I wish more restaurants would offer a kids plate like this- a protein, fruit and fries- including a vegetarian protein option (falafel). It was well org…

Was a great end to our day at Balboa park. I wish more restaurants would offer a kids plate like this- a protein, fruit and fries- including a vegetarian protein option (falafel). It was well organ…

We love coming here for live jazz. We ordered a charcuterie board & it was delicious (improved from last time). The wine was good, too. Feel like they kicked up the food & wine selections a notch!

The food was fine, just not five star. The atmosphere, however, was lovely. We got there and ordered drinks, which were excellent pours, while we waited for our table. While we were waiting, a thre…

The food was fine, just not five star. The atmosphere, however, was lovely. We got there and ordered drinks, which were excellent pours, while we waited for our table. While we were waiting, a thre…

The food was fine, just not five star. The atmosphere, however, was lovely. We got there and ordered drinks, which were excellent pours, while we waited for our table. While we were waiting, a th…

We didn't eat here but we met up with our party and had a great beer before exploring the park. There was live music and a nice, grassy area where kids were playing. Very nice!

We tried most of the dishes they had, to be honest it the bland versions of everything. Like Mediterranean is pretty bland, pulled pork burger had some vinegar seasoning I believe which didn’t degraded the burger taste. The tacos were pretty good. I found too much of veggies on everything for no reason. Even the desserts were not actually great. The ambience was wonderful with the historic buildings around. It’s a self service and u might have to order everything at once, or else u have to stand back in the line which is terrible, this is something I kind of hate when it’s tagged as a restaurant.

Irene Abaya

My friend was visiting SD for a week. Took her to Balboa park and decided to grab lunch, Panama 66 looked inviting. There was queue, waited in line in a jiff. Smelled good, put on our order and my friend started walking inside the restaurant looking for a table, though we passed by vacant seats, she wanted a better sitting view I guess. I was just following. I was so caught up in one particular view,I kept staring at it while approaching, This spiked metal thingy intertwined together, and I was thinking, this thing looks dangerous, as soon as I mentioned that thought in mind, both my legs fell, I didn’t even realized until cold water soaked my boots. I was in so much pain I don’t want to move. My friend tried to pull me up. I’m not sure I made noise coz customers seated didn’t even bother to help nor look. My friend helped me and made me sit on a table closer to the entrance. Anyways, I found out, my right shin had scrapes and my left thigh too. Told my friend to approach one of the staff and ask for triple antibiotic ointment. They came to check and asked if I was ok.I said I was, but it really hurt, they provided band aids and the ointment. Then our order arrived. Food looks good though, but lost my appetite. It’s exactly been a week now since this incident happened. I don't have a photo of that particular view I was staring. But it was the spikey metal in the middle of the pool. Photos from the day it happened and today, a week after. My first time in this restaurant. They should put a rope to cordon that area really. Maybe nobody has encountered the same incident as mine yet. Stay safe.

+1

Visited on a weekend with my furkid.\n\nPros: \n- Pet friendly! Seating is outside. \n- Decent sized portions of food. Price goes in line with portion and location of restaurant. \n- Ordering drink…

Visited on a weekend with my furkid.\n\nPros: \n- Pet friendly! Seating is outside. \n- Decent sized portions of food. price goes in line with portion and location of restaurant. \n- Ordering drink…

Casual outdoor venue. Table needed cleaning after seated. Service is average to slow. Drinks are weak and expensive. Saving grace was the hamburger! I'm very picky if they ask how I'd like my burge…

We ordered the Brussels sprouts & burrata salad and a mushroom lentil burger. They both sounded better than they tasted. The crust on the burger was great, but once you bit into it, the patty f…

We ordered the Brussels sprouts & burrata salad and a mushroom lentil burger. They both sounded better than they tasted. The crust on the burger was great, but once you bit into it, the patty fel…

We ordered the Brussels sprouts & burrata salad and a mushroom lentil burger. They both sounded better than they tasted. The crust on the burger was great, but once you bit into it, the patty fell …

Stopped in here for lunch while visiting Balboa Park. We shared the park burger and fries. The place wasn't really that busy and it took forever to get our food, which when we got it, it was just o…

Stopped in here for lunch while visiting Balboa Park. We shared the park burger and fries. The place wasn't really that busy and it took forever to get our food, which when we got it, it was just o…

The outdoor seating was amazing. Provided a great view of the vendors and parks. The wait staff was very kind and professional. As beer selection was on par. I recommend the Second Chance beer of…

I haven't been to Panama 66 in a long time and decided to try this place again. I went to the bar to have a seat with my little chihuahua in my lap and the bartender behind the Bar told me i couldn't…

Came here because I read they had safe fries and tots for people with celiac disease. We waited a while and when we finally got a table I asked the waitress that came by about 15 minutes after we g…

Food too exspensive....beers r $9but the selection and service is chill. Kids menus is dog (profanity removed) chicken was burnt also same as the chicken in the bah mihn. Bill was 70 bucks for 4. A…