Rome might pride itself most on its art, history, and architecture, but its street food scene is also in a league of its own. Recently voted the world’s best food city, Rome boasts a food culture that blends generational tradition with modern twists, its quality kept in check by an especially discerning population. This article highlights the best street food in Rome and recommends the best places in the city to try them. 

Supplì

Supplì are deep-fried rice croquettes typically filled with a mix of tomato or ragù sauce and melted mozzarella. They’re similar to Sicilian arancini, but lighter on the fillings and more spherical than conical in shape. 

The rice is nice and soft since it’s been pre-simmered in the tomato-based meat sauce. But the highlight of biting into—or pulling apart—a supplì is the stringy mozzarella that unravels like a phone cord. (For this reason, many Romans call this street food supplì al telefono). 

Where to try Supplì

We love Supplizio in Rome’s riverside Trastevere district. This small, hole-in-the-wall street food shop specialises in crispy supplì that capture the authentic flavours of Rome.

Baccalà

For Brits it might be glorified codfish and chips (without the chips), but for Italians baccalà has long been a staple in Roman cuisine. Baccalà, by definition, is a Grey Norwegian Cod that has been generously salted to improve preservation. 

Sometimes baccalà is deep-fried; sometimes it’s served as fritters or incorporated into hearty stews. Regardless, its unique savoury flavour is well worth trying. 

Where to try Baccalà

Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara, near Campo de’ Fiori, specialises in baccalà, but it’s only open from 5 pm, Monday to Friday. If you want to try baccalà for lunch, head down to Testaccio and try FoodBox (Box 66) at Testaccio Market. 

Pizza al Taglio

Pizza al taglio is a variety of pizza that is baked in rectangular pans and then cut into square or rectangular pieces. It first emerged in Rome during the late 1950s, and was originally garnished with olive oil and tomato sauce. Unlike the soft, thick Neapolitan style, Roman pizza is celebrated for its thin, crispy crust.

Most pizza al taglio is priced according to weight and toppings. A simple marinara or margherita will cost in the region of €1 or €2 while something more complex might cost €3 or €4. 

Where to try Pizza al Taglio

Alice Pizza is our favourite place for Roman pizza al taglio. You’ll find dozens of stores throughout the Italian capitals serving pizza by the slice with a range of daily seasonal toppings. Most customers start with a supplì or a potato croquette but there’s no hard and fast rule. 

Trapizzino

Trapizzino is a relatively recent street food innovation that fuses calzone pizza and a sandwich into one portable delight. A triangular pocket of pizza dough is filled with traditional Italian stews like pollo alla cacciatora (hunter’s chicken), meatballs in tomato sauce, or eggplant parmigiana.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, give lingua in salsa verde (ox tongue in green sauce) a go. 

Where to try Trapizzino

There’s only one place in Rome to try trapizzino, and that’s Trapizzino itself. 

The good news is that there are three stores in Rome: one in Testaccio, one in Trastevere, and one in Mercato Centrale (inside Termini Station). 

Croquettes

Rome’s crochette (croquettes) are a delightful mix of mashed potatoes, cheese, or meats, coated in breadcrumbs and fried to a perfect golden crisp. Romans tend to order them from a friggitoria (fried-food store) as a quick lunchtime snack or as a deep-fried starter at a pizzeria. 

Where to try Trapizzino

Wherever you go, you won’t be disappointed. The most important thing is that the crochetta has been recently fried and so is crispy instead of soft. Visit Rome’s Central Market for a variety of artisanal offerings.

Ready to Immerse Yourself in Roman Street Food?

For those inspired to dive even deeper into Italian cuisine, why not learn how to create these iconic dishes yourself?

Book a cooking class today and discover the secrets behind making authentic pizza, supplì, and gelato—all while enjoying a glass of local wine.

➡️ Book a Supplì, Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class near the Colosseum

➡️ Make Supplì, Pizza & Gelato in the Jewish Ghetto

Looking for a more personalized experience? Book our Private Pizza & Gelato Class!