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The Italian capital of Rome is not only known for boasting some of the most famous historical sights in the world, it’s also the home of some really great food.
In addition to the classic Italian foods, Rome has some unique dishes specific to the city. Typically food from Rome is simple and basic, yet rich in flavour, and ingredients are based on the seasons. Ingredients used in Roman cuisine include meat, Pecorino and ricotta cheeses, and fresh vegetables such as globe artichokes. The food is delicious, and I had the best spaghetti alla carbonara I’ve ever tasted at Antica Pesa in the Trastevere district.
Food in Rome is divided into several courses- Antipasto (starters), Primi Piatti (pasta dish) and Secondi Patti (meat or fish dish). Whilst I would order pasta as a main dish back home, the Italians eat pasta as a first course, meaning I was always incredibly full after a meal!
If you love Italian food, check out these classic Rome foods while you’re there:
Best Foods in Rome
Il Trapizzino
Don’t leave Rome without trying Trapizzino from Il Trapizzino. This Roman street food is a triangle-shaped pizza pocket stuffed with a variety of fillings, such as meatballs in sauce, eggplant parmigiana and tongue in green sauce.
You can find Il Trapizzino in the Trastevere district of Rome, or you can visit their stall in Mercato Centrale at Roma Termini train station.
When I ordered my Trapizzino from the to-go window in Trastevere, I asked the server which of the five main flavors she recommended the most. Without hesitation she told me to get the Pollo alla Cacciatora and boy, was it good! The chicken was so flavorful and succulent and the pizza pocket was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. This is a must-eat in Rome!
Where to find Trapizzino in Rome: Il Trapizzino: Piazza Trilussa, 46, 00153 Roma RM, Italy.
Suppli
Suppli are a little bit like the Roman version of arancini. They’re basically balls of arborio rice, tomato sauce and mozzarella that are soaked in egg, coated with breadcrumbs and deep fried.
You’ll find them in most of the counter-serve pizza places but the best place to try them is at Suppli Roma, which can be found in the Trastevere district. This takeaway spot has been serving suppli to hungry locals and tourists since 1979. Suppli make for a great snack if you’re feeling peckish between meals!
Where to find Suppli in Rome: Suppli Roma, Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Gnocchi Alla Romana
One of the other popular things to eat in Rome is Gnocchi alla Romani, which is gnocchi done Roman style! Discs of dumplings made with semolina are baked in the oven with cheese, nutmeg and butter to create this mouthwatering classic Roman dish. Yum.
Bucatini all’amatriciana
Italy is all about pasta, and one of the top Roman pasta dishes is Bucatini all’amatriciana. Amatriciana is a tomato-based sauce which contains cherry tomatoes, guinciale (dried pork cheek) and hard cheese such as Pecorino. It is one of the most well-known pasta sauces in Rome, and can be served with spaghetti instead of Bucatini, although the latter is most used in Rome.
Saltimbocca alla Romana
Saltimbocca alla Romana is a must-try food in Rome that consists of veal slices skewered with prosciutto and sage, cooked with butter and white wine. This name of this classic Roman dish translates as “hop-in-the-mouth”, which is exactly what will happen when you try it!
I tried Saltimbocca all Romana at Il Barroccio Roma, which is a Roman restaurant located not far from the Pantheon. The buttery sauce was out of this world and I gobbled it down in minutes!
Where to find Saltimbocca alla Romana: Il Barroccio Roma, Via dei Pastini, 13/14, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Crostata di Ricotta
If you’re bored of gelato and looking to try a typical Roman dessert, try the ricotta cheescake. Crostata di Ricotta is an ancient Roman cheesecake made with ricotta and candied fruit, raisins or chocolate chips.
Carciofo alla Romana
Another popular food in Rome is Carciofo alla Romana, which are artichokes Roman style. This appetizer dish comes from the Lazio region of Italy and features artichokes poached with white wine, lemon, garlic, olive oil and herbs such as parsley and mint. Cooking them this way makes them incredibly juicy and tender and the oily sauce is simple yet packed with flavor.
Gelato
One of the most famous foods in Rome (and the whole of Italy) is gelato – a soft ice cream that comes in all different flavors. There are tons of great gelato places in Rome, including Frigidarium, Come il Latte, Otaleg and Giolitti.
My favorite though is Grom, just because I love their “Crema Come Una Volta” flavor, which contains lots of eggs, fresh cream and a little grated lemon peel. The egg makes it super creamy and delicious!
Where to find good gelato in Rome: Grom, P.za Navona 1, Via Agonale, 3, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Pizza al Taglio
Pizza al Taglio can be found all over Rome and is basically pizza by the slice. However, instead of the pizza being round, it’s baked in a long rectangular shape then cut into smaller rectangles or squares. Pizza al Taglio is sold by the weight so you just usually indicate how much you’d like them to cut off.
Counter-serve places that serve Pizza al Taglio usually offer a variety of different toppings, including prosciutto, arugula, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, gorgonzola, olives, potato, sausage, eggplant…anything really!
You’ll do a lot of walking when you’re in Rome, so Pizza al Taglio makes for a great snack when you’re walking between sights!
Where to find Pizza al Taglio in Rome: Forno da Milvio, Via dei Serpenti, 7, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Potato Pizza
It might sound odd to have carbs on carbs, but potato pizza is delicious. I discovered it on my first trip to Rome and now it’s something I simply have to order every time I go back.
There’s no sauce or cheese – instead the pizza base is topped with thin slices of potato, lashes of olive oil and rosemary for flavor. You can usually find potato pizza at the Pizza al Taglio places and if you want to give it a try, I’d suggest going to La Prezzemolina, which is on a narrow street close to the Colosseum.
This counter-serve pizza parlor won a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award and is a great place to stop before or after you explore the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Where to find potato pizza in Rome: La Prezzemolina, Via del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Cacio e Pepe
My favorite Italian pasta dish has to be Cacio e Pepe, which is al dente pasta with cheese, unsalted butter and lots of black pepper. While this simple dish only features a few key ingredients, it tastes absolutely delicious!
The quality of the cheese is very important – Cacio e Pepe usually features a strong Pecorino and either Grana Pedano or Parmesan.
You can find Cacio e Pepe all over the country but you’ll find some really good versions of it in Rome. This cheesy, peppery sauce is usually served with pastas such as spaghetti, tonnarelli, bucatini and strozzapreti.
If you want to give it a try, check out Osteria da Fortunata, which is located just a short walk from Piazza Navona. This popular spot serves some of the best pasta in Rome and often has a long line at lunch, so get there early right when it opens! The pasta is perfectly al dente and you can even see the cooks rolling dough in the window.
Where to find Cacio e Pepe in Rome: Osteria da Fortunata, Via del Pellegrino, 11/12, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Carbonara
Carbonara is another Italian favorite and while it’s not specific to Roma, it’s certainly a must-try. Carbonara consists of eggs, guanciale (or pancetta), Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and plenty of black pepper. It’s usually served with spaghetti, though you can also find it served with rigatoni, strozzapreti and bucatini. The carbonara sauce should be glossy and the eggs should definitely not be in any way scrambled.
My favorite carbonara in Rome can be found at Antica Pesa; a famous restaurant that’s attracted many celebrities over the years, including George Clooney and Jodie Foster.
Where to find carbonara in Rome: Antica Pesa, Via Garibaldi, 18, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Porchetta
Meaning “little pig”, porchetta is slow-roasted pork seasoned with rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. It’s usually either a whole suckling pig or a large deboned piece of pork. Either way, it’s delicious. The meat is tender and juicy, while the skin is crispy and salty. Cooking the meat too quickly makes it try out, so the pork is usually roasted for a good few hours in the oven to make it nice and tender.
If you want to find authentic porchetta in Rome, try Er Buchetto, Angrypig Birretta e Porchetta or Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi.
Where to find porchetta in Rome: Er Buchetto, Via del Viminale, 2F, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Maritozzi
Maritozzi are sweet, fluffy buns that are filled with whipped cream and coated with powdered sugar. The dough is typically made with flour, yeast, olive oil, honey, sugar, eggs, butter and some candied orange peel to give them a slightly orangey flavor. Maritozzi are typical to Rome and you can find them in many patisseries across the city.
If you want to try the best Maritozzi in Rome, pay a visit to Regoli, which is located close to Piazza Vittorio. Another great spot is Il Maritozzo Rosso, which is dedicated exclusively to maritozzi and is located in the Trastevere district.
Cicoria Ripassata
This classic side dish consists of chicory, sautéed Roman Style. The chicory is sautéed garlic, olive oil and chili pepper and makes a great accompaniment to any meal. I love the bitter, peppery taste of chicory and find that it tends to go well with fish, meat, pasta…anything really.
Fiori di Zucca
Another popular Roman side dish is Fiori di Zucca, aka stuffed zucchini flowers. The zuchini flowers are filled with mozzarella and anchovies, battered, then deep fried in olive oil to create this tasty, crispy snack. I’m not even an anchovy person but I actually quite enjoyed these.
Your FAQs About Foods in Rome, Answered
Today the Romans eat a Mediterranean diet, featuring vegetables, fish, meat, beans, fruit and healthy fats like olive oils. In the ancient Roman times, the population mainly lived off a diet of legumes, vegetables, grains, bread, fish and meat. Modern menus in Rome tend to feature appetizers such as artichokes, cured meats and salads. Pasta is served as “primi patti” which is the first course before the main course. Try not to get too full on pasta because then you won’t have room for the main course, which is usually a fish or meat dish.
I would say the most common foods in Italy are pizza, pasta, gelato, seafood and risotto. You’ll also find lots of meats and cheeses on the menu!
There are lots of great dishes to try in Rome. If you like pasta, the most popular ones are cacio e pepe, bucatini all’amatriciana or carbonara. You’ll also find lots of great street food in Rome, including pizza al taglio (sliced pizza), suppli (similar to arancini) and trapizzino (pizza pockets stuffed with filling).
There are tons of things you can eat besides pizza and pasta in Rome. Try Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal slices with prosciutto and sage), Suppli (fried rice balls with mozzarella and tomato sauce) and Carciofi alla Romana (artichokes cooked with white wine, olive oil, garlic and herbs).
A Final Word…
So there you have it – some of the best foods to try in Rome! While you may not have the time to try all of the dishes on this list, definitely try one or two. Food in Italy is usually delicious wherever you go; the dishes are so fresh and simple with only a few ingredients, yet the flavors are incredible!
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