What to eat in Rome

12 typical dishes of Rome with cultural context, origin story and verified restaurants.

What to eat in Rome

Abbacchio alla Scottadito — typical dish of Rome

Abbacchio alla Scottadito

Abbacchio chops alla scottadito arrive at the table still sizzling, golden from the grill and fragrant with rosemary.…

Bucatini all’Amatriciana — typical dish of Rome

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

Bucatini all’Amatriciana appear as long strands of hollow pasta wrapped in a glossy, fragrant, deep-red sauce. Crispy…

Cacio e Pepe — typical dish of Rome

Cacio e Pepe

A pasta dish with a simple, radiant appearance: spaghetti or tonnarelli wrapped in a velvety cream of Pecorino Romano…

Jewish-Style Artichokes — typical dish of Rome

Jewish-Style Artichokes

Jewish-style artichokes appear like large golden flowers, opened by frying until they become crisp and spectacular.…

Roman-Style Artichokes — typical dish of Rome

Roman-Style Artichokes

Roman-style artichokes are tender and glossy, their leaves opened like a dark flower soaked in fragrant olive oil.…

Coda alla Vaccinara — typical dish of Rome

Coda alla Vaccinara

Coda alla Vaccinara is a dark, glossy stew in which pieces of oxtail cook slowly until they become meltingly tender.…

Maritozzo with Whipped Cream — typical dish of Rome

Maritozzo with Whipped Cream

The maritozzo with whipped cream is a soft, sweet bun, golden and slightly glossy, split down the middle and filled…

Pasta alla Gricia — typical dish of Rome

Pasta alla Gricia

Pasta alla Gricia appears simple and radiant: pasta coated in a glossy cream of Pecorino Romano, dotted with black…

Roman-style Saltimbocca — typical dish of Rome

Roman-style Saltimbocca

Saltimbocca alla Romana are thin slices of veal topped with prosciutto and a sage leaf, quickly sautéed in a pan and…

Spaghetti alla Carbonara — typical dish of Rome

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

A golden tangle of spaghetti coated in a velvety cream of eggs and Pecorino Romano, dotted with crispy cubes of…

Supplì al Telefono — typical dish of Rome

Supplì al Telefono

Golden and crispy on the outside, supplì al telefono reveals at the first bite a soft heart of tomato rice and melted…

Roman-Style Tripe — typical dish of Rome

Roman-Style Tripe

Roman-style tripe is soft and enveloped in a thick, fragrant tomato sauce, dotted with the fresh green of mentuccia…

Questions about what to eat in Rome

What are the typical dishes of Rome?

In Rome local cuisine includes traditional specialities tied to the territory: handmade pasta, soups, meats and seasonal products. Trouvenir has selected the most representative dishes with history, ingredients and verified restaurants.

Where to eat authentic food in Rome?

Trouvenir suggests verified restaurants and trattorias for each typical dish of Rome, with authenticity badges and practical directions.

What should I eat in Rome for the first time?

Start with dishes that have the deepest roots in local tradition — those prepared with territorial ingredients and handed down across generations.

How to recognise an authentic restaurant in Rome?

Look for places frequented by locals, with seasonal menus and declared ingredient provenance. Avoid tourist restaurants with photographic menus and prices too low for dishes that require real craft.

Take Trouvenir with you

iOS and Android. Free with a one-time Premium option. No subscription.

Privacy-firstCross-device syncOffline ready