Panama Joe's

5100 E. 2nd Street, Long Beach CA 90803

562-434-7417

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Saturday 11:00am - 10:00pm

Sunday 10:00am - 10:00pm

Take Out, outdoor seating, live entertainement nightly and good Happy Hour pricing.

THE ROOM:

Panama Joe's sits on a 2nd Street corner of Long Beach's Belmont Shores with some outdorr patio seating that is always packed on warm weekend days. They also have a bar area where the entertainement plays and they have a separate dining room for those of us not interested in the bar or the entertainment. They have  very good Happy Hour drink specials  from 3-7pm  and they  have a  1/2 off the bar menu at that time as well. I have been here a few times and I am not real enthused with the decor. It is old, drab and I have that "floor is sticky" feeling from too many spilled drinks. It's very busy on the weekends with lots of people of all ages checking each other out. I prefer an early in the week visit.

THE FOOD:

Panama Joe's has a large menu of your typical American/ Mexican food. Taco's, enchiladas, tacquitos, burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, tostadas and all varieties thereof. Chips and salsa are delivered to your table and I have to think that the salsa doesn't come from a jar. It had real freshly chopped onions and jalapenos. All entrees are served with rice, beans or a fresh vegetable as well as a soup or salad choice. The food is abundant and adequate. I have been here several times and they are consistent. You aren't going to get any wonderful surprise menu items here or delightful sauces. What you are going to get is full.

THE SERVICE:

The service is fast and friendly but I have heard of many complaints about the service on the busier weekend nights. They are there promtly with extra bowls of chips (just what we all need) but they are a little slow in meteing out the salsa. The wait and bus staff have nice warm friendly smiles.