Street Food from North to South in Italy

Italian cuisine is among the most popular in the world: in any country, even in the most remote ones, we find dozens of Italian restaurants, always in high demand. The most typical dishes of the Bel Paese are, without a doubt, pasta and pizza in any of their thousand varieties, but there’s an equally delicious yet unknown side to Italian cuisine: street food. There’s a high variety of Italian street food, and every region has its own specialties. From North to South, let’s have a look at some of the most traditional dishes we can taste without having to forego relaxing stroll around the city.

The Michetta (Lombardy)

 The variety of sandwiches and rolls of all shapes and sizes to be found at any given place is almost overwhelming. But sometimes, it’s the simplest things that are best, and one of the most typical things one can have in Italy is a michetta filled with cold meats and cheeses. This star-shaped roll is well-known in all of Italy but its hometown is Milan. It can come with many delicious fillings, and it makes for the perfect snack.

We like: Mica – Michetteria Milanese (Corso di Porta Ticinese, 50, Milan)

The Tramezzino Veneziano (Véneto)

Did you know that the Italian word tramezzino was coined by writer Gabriele D’Annunzio as a substitute for the English term sandwich? The Italian version of this recipe did, in fact, draw inspiration from its British cousin. Hence, in today’s Italy, sandwiches are known as tramezzino veneziano, even though they first appeared in the region of Piedmont. In any case, this is one of the most typical items of street food in Venice, and if you are visiting this city, you can’t pass any chance to taste it.

We like: Bar Perla (Via Mestrina, 28, Venice)

The Piadina (Emilia-Romagna)

The cuisine of the region of Emilia-Romagna is very rich, and more so when it comes to street food. The best-known item of street food in this region is the piadina romagnola, flat bread that becomes a delicious dish when filled with a variety of ingredients. Its other version, known as a crescione, where the filling is added before baking, is also worth trying. If you are looking to try something truly typical of the region, go for a piadina filled with squacquerone, a type of cottage cheese made in the area.

We like: Soleluna (‪Via Irnerio, 6/c, Bologne)

The Genovese Focaccia (Liguria)

 The Genovese focaccia is a specialty of Liguria that’s perfect at any time of the day. For many it is best washed down with a good glass of white wine, but it’s also good dipped in a latte. It differs from other focacce in that, prior to adding the last yeast, it is coated in extra virgin olive oil, water, and salt.

 We like: Focacceria Genovese (Piazza Fossatello 9R, Genoa)

The Porchetta Sandwich (Lazio)

 When one thinks of Roman street food, the first thing that comes to mind is pizza al taglio, but today we want to talk about another typical dish that’s just as good: the porchetta sandwich (boneless roasted pork meat). It’s not hard to find street vendors in every corner of the city offering this dish, which stands out for its texture, both smooth and crunchy. A delicious meal that will have you feeling like a true local.

We like: Er Buchetto (Via del Viminale, 2F, Rome)

 Arrosticini (Abruzzo)

Arrosticini is the best-known regional specialty of Abruzzo. It consists of delicious mutton skewers barbequed on a traditional coal-fired oven, the fornacella. Their size and shape make them the perfect item of street food.

We like: Arrosticini rostelle and co. (Via Muzii, 67, Pescara)

The Cuoppo (Campania)

 Campania is a real gold mine when it comes to street food. The numerous pizzerias in each corner of the city offer true delicacies to passersby, from pizza a libretto to pasta omelets, passing through potato croquettes (crocchè). For the daredevils among you, it won’t be hard to find stalls selling ‘o pere e ‘o musso (trotter and veal snout). But if there’s something you really shouldn’t miss out on, that is the cuoppo, a paper cone full of fried goodies that you can enjoy while strolling along the promenade or through the old town.

We like: Il Cuoppo Friggitori Napoletani (Via San Biagio Dei Librai, 23, Naples)

El Panzerotto (Apulia)

 Although popular across all of Italy, and specially so in the central southern regions, panzerotto is the typical dish of Apulia, and it makes for perfect street food. This tasty croissant made out of pizza dough is filled with tomato and mozzarella, and then fried. If you are holidaying anywhere along the heel of the boot that is the map of Italy, you also have to try the bombette, small meat rolls filled with cheese, salt, and pepper.

We like: Il Fornaccio (Via Francesco Crispi, 87, Bari)

Pane e Panelle (Sicily)

 Sicily offers a wide variety of street food, and especially if you have a sweet tooth (who could say no to a cannolo or to a cassata?). But if savory is more your taste, you are also in luck. One of our favorite recipes is pane e panelle, a roll full of gram flour fried goodness, which is truly delicious. You also can’t miss out on the traditional arancini (rice croquettes) and, for the curious ones among you, pani ca meusa (bread with veal spleen and lung).

We like: Nino u ballerino (C. Fin. Aprile, 6/78, Palermo)

 

 

If you are in any other region in Italy, these are some of the delicacies you can’t miss out on:

 

Basilicata Strazzata aviglianese

Calabria Morzeddhu, Pizza alla nduja

Sardinia Seada, Piggiolu modde

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Frico

Marche Panino con le spuntature

Molise Pampanella

Piedmont Gofri subalpino, Miaccia con lonzino

Tuscany Covaccino

Trentino-Alto Adige Canederli

Umbria Panino con cicotto di Grutti, Lumachella orvietana

Aosta Valley Crema di cogne

 

Should you be travelling to New York, you might be interested in our post The best things to eat in the streets of New York