Rome Street food
10 must try Italian street food when in Rome
Italy has what many consider to be the best ingredients in the world. Fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, spices, sea food, and meats come together to make some of the best food anywhere. Street foods of Italy are no exception! I personally love street food, in fact I eat a lot of it.
We are going to explore what I think are the best street foods of Rome.
1. Pizza Taglio
The word “Taglio” comes from “Tagliara” which means to “cut”. They use a pair of pizza scissors to cut the pizza to the amount you want and it is sold by the gram. Taglio pizza is cooked in large squares and then cut when ordered. Before it is served it is usually re-heated briefly in the oven. Pizza Taglio is the most popular pizza in Rome and is served in 100’s of locationes throughout Rome. It is not hard to find. I absolutely LOVE Rome’s taglio pizza! One of the great things about taglio pizza is you can easily order 2 of 3 flavors adding variety to your meal. My favorite pizza taglio is Pizza Florida. It is located at Largo Argentina on Via Florida.
2. Pensa
Pensa is another type of pizza that is popular in Rome. Not as popular or as common as taglio but you will still find it throughout Rome. Pensa is baked in an oval shape so it is easy not to get it confused with the taglio style pizza. The main difference is the dough, Pensa dough thicker, fluffier and the process of pizza dough to rise takes longer making the dough easier to digest.
Personally pensa is not my favorite as I find the dough to be a bit tasteless. I have only had it a few time. I have head very good things about a pensa maker in Rome that I am going to try. It is supposed to be the best pensa in Rome. Once I try it I will give this post an update.
3. Supli
Supli is a super popular street food in Rome that is served in most pizza and restuarants. There are even supli specialy places. Supli comes in different varieties and sizes. Supli are more or less fried balls of rice, mozzarella and a tomato sauce. It has a breaded exterior. Throughout Italy they have different variations but aare all from the same family. Supli are wonderful but for me they are not a meal, just a good appetizer or snack before my main meal. A good hold me over.
4. Fried Cod Fish
Fried cod fish has been served in Rome for more than 2000 years. Today it is not as common as many other street food but it can still be found throughout Rome.
5. Panino
Panino is Italian for sandwich and you can find panini just about everywhere from bars, pizzerias, grocery stores and many other location including specialty sandwich shops called paninoteca. Panino for 1 pannini for 2 or more. Panini are likely of the most popular street food in Rome, maybe even more popular than pizza.
6. Trapezino
Trapezzino is a new street food in Rome that is already making a huge impact on the street food scene. Trapezzino are classic Italian dished places between to pieces of specially cooked bread. It is Italian comfort food made into potable street food. Currently there are 3 locations in Rome but maybe one day a Trapezzino will be as common as the panino.
7. Pasta
Past is not really a street food but in Rome there are several placed that serve pasta in small tin or cardboard dished where pasta can be taken into the streets of Rome and eaten. I call it portable pasta and I have eaten it a few times. Each time it has been surprisingly good.
8. Calzone
It is basically a pizza folded in half, sealed and than bakes. Calzone can be found at most pizzerias and can be ordered for takeout.
9. Porcetta
Porchatta can be found all over Rome. Porchetta is a specially prepared pork roast.
10. Mercato
Rome has several open markets where you can grab fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, breads and more. The selection is really incredible!