It’s a full-on smorgasbord at Cahall’s Deli: one of the best places to steer yourself in Panama City if you’re stricken with an appetite. It’s a butcher shop and deli selling meats and take-home heat-and-eat entrées, sides, and desserts, but also a sit-down eatery with some fantastic breakfast plates and sandwiches. So whether you feel like dining out or staying cozy at home, Cahall’s—a major locals’ favorite—has you covered.
A good course of action is to try some of the fodder on-site, in case you want to grab some more on the way out for beach picnics and other readymade meals in the coming days.
The deli sandwiches really span the spectrum: from turkey, ham, roast beef, and Reubens to the Veggie Delight, the Andouille Sausage Sandwich, the French Dip, and the Cahall’s take on a Philly Cheese Steak. (We’d be remiss not mentioning here the chicken salad, but just log that in your mind for now; we’ll get to it later.)
You can order your sandwich standalone or with chips and pickles on the side, and any of them can be swapped out with gluten-free bread if you’d like.
There are all sorts of salads and sides to enjoy in-house or buy to-go, including potato salad, fruit salad, orzo, and Cajun shrimp salad. Your take-home hot items include everything from cabbage rolls, baked beans, goulash, and shepherds pie to lump crab cakes, Swedish meatballs, mac-and-cheese, and Hashbrown Casserole.
Cahall’s isn’t just a butcher shop or deli: It’s also a bakery, and the desserts are their own deep well to dive into. We’re talking all sorts of cobblers—blueberry, peach, cherry, and more—plus cakes, tortes, lemon squares, cookies, brownies, baklava, and chocolate eclairs. Just try to resist!
Now, what about that most important meal of the whole darn day? Breakfast at Cahall’s includes French toast, biscuits-and-gravy, build-your-own omelets, and scrambled eggs with cheese, plus various breakfast and biscuit sandwiches. A Bloody Mary or a mimosa pairs nicely.
Let’s roll up our sleeves now and give a shoutout to several of the all-out superstars on the Cahall’s menu:
Chicken Salad
Whether you’re ordering the original or the Bombay chicken salad in sandwich form, or getting a tub of it for days of happy sandwich-making at home, you’re almost certain to have your socks knocked off. The Cahall’s chicken salad is downright legendary—likely the single most celebrated item on the menu.
Reuben
Cahall’s house Reuben sandwich features thin-sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye bread, and it’s all-out marvelous.
Banana Pudding
There are an awful lot of homerun desserts at Cahall’s, and we don’t blame you for thoroughly exploring all of your options before deciding on your favorite. But whatever you do, make sure the banana pudding’s on your tasting to-do list.
Cahall’s does catering too, by the way, and you might well be impressed enough with the place—and addicted enough to the chicken salad—to choose it for your next shindig’s cuisine!
Insider Tips:
– Especially during the lunch rush, Cahall’s can be quite busy, and some orders (such as the aforementioned Reuben sandwich) take a bit of time even when it’s slow.
– The whole transactional process can be a little confusing if this is your first visit (and if it’s crowded), but generally speaking, just realize you’ll go up to the counter to pay once you’re finished with your feast.