Eating Italian street food is one of the best ways to eat on a dime but also, experience authentic, regional cuisine without actually spending a lot of time doing so.
I live on street food when I travel, especially as a parent with small kids living in Italy. It gives us quick energy at the right price, and keeps our bellies full.
In this ultimate guide to Italian street food, I will share with you my top pick in each region with an honorable mention or runner up as well as my favorite place to try it, should I have one.
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Street Food in Abruzzo
Don’t miss all of the delicious food on offer in Abruzzo. Be sure to check out Traditional Food from Abruzzo.
Arrosticini
Where To Eat Them: Food markets in Abruzzo
Arrosticini are skewers made with small cubes of meat, commonly made with lamb or mutton (sheep). Before hitting the hot grill, the meat is seasoned well with salt and olive oil and then charred until crisp and golden. Look for these by street vendors or at sagre, or food festivals. You might also see them at other markets and other celebrations (where there is a party, there is food for sure in Italy!).
Street Food in Aosta Valley
Street Food isn’t huge in the Aosta Valley because it’s a cold region (and people prefer to hunker down inside) but there are plenty of other amazing foods to try!
Polenta Fritta
Where To Eat It: At rosticcerie or street vendors.
Polenta fritta are squares of polenta deep fried until golden. This is actually an Italian street food that you will find across all 20 regions but it’s particularly popular in the Aosta Valley where polenta plays a huge role in regional cooking.
Street Food in Basilicata
To learn all about the local cuisine in this region, check out Traditional Food of Basilicata.
Pizza Rustica
Where To Eat It: Piro Pasticceria in Potenza
Pizza rustica is not really pizza but flaky pie dough filled with eggs, cheese and cured meats such as prosciutto. Typically, it’s made on Good Friday to be enjoyed for the Easter celebrations (usually in April) but you can find it at most bakeries throughout the year.
Honorable Mention: Frittelle during Carnival
Street Food in Calabria
Calabria is deeply rooted in unique culinary traditions, all of which you can learn about in Traditional Calabrian Food.
Zeppole Calabresi
Where To Eat Them: Panificio Giannarèna if you happen to be visiting the Parco Nazionale d’Aspromonte
Zeppole Calabresi are a type of savory fried donut filled with anchovies or sardines and mozzarella. Look for them sold by street vendors or at pizzerie/fried food windows.
Honorable Mention: Tartufo di pizza – a type of gelato ball invented at Gelateria Dante, which is where you should try it.
Street Food in Campania
Naples is Campania’s capital city and a great place to dive into Italian street food. To learn all about the regions culinary heritage and other foods to try, read Traditional Food of Campania.
Panzerotti
Where To Eat Them: Antica Pizzeria e Friggitoria Di Matteo in Naples
Panzerotti are the most popular street food snack in Campania, very similar to pizza fritta made from pockets of fried dough stuffed with various fillings such as cured meats and cheese. You will literally see them on every corner.
Honorable Mention: Babà Napoletano is a type of fried sweet treat soaked in rum.
Street Food in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s richest regions in terms of food and culinary traditions. It has some of the best DOP products on the market and amazing egg pasta traditions, all of which you can learn more about in Traditional Food of Emilia-Romagna.
Piadina Romagnola
Where To Eat It: Nud e Crud in Rimini
La piadina Romagnola is a type of Italian flatbread stuffed with various meats and cheeses such as prosciutto e stracchino and enjoyed as a sandwich. It’s a staple street food or on the go lunch for tourists and locals alike. Rimini is the best city to try it in but you will see them throughout all of Emilia-Romagna.
Honorable Mention: Panino di mortadella – a sandwich made from mortadella which is made locally in Bologna.
Street Food in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
If you are spending time in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, you may be interested in Traditional Food of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Ćevapi
Where To Eat It: Food markets
Ćevapi is a local street food from Fiuli-Venezia Giulia similar to a sausage and a kebab made with minced beef and lamb meat seasoned with garlic, onion, paprika, white wine and olive oil before being grilled.
Street Food in Lazio
Lazio’s culinary traditions are rich and unique, particularly in Rome where it’s hard to choose. Don’t miss my favorites in
Rome Street Food: A Guide to the Eternal City’s Best Cheap Eats
10 Foods to Try on Your First Visit to Rome + Where to Eat Them
Traditional Food of Lazio
Pizza A Taglio
Where To Eat It: Pizzarium, Ruver, Bonci or at one of my other picks for the Best Pizza In Rome
Pizza a taglio is a type of popular pizza enjoyed in Rome cooked in a pan and cut into squares. It’s warmed up and priced by weight, making it either dirt cheap or rather expensive depending on what type of toppings you get (or how heavy they are!).
Honorable Mention: Supplì – a fried rice ball
Street Food in Liguria
Liguria has a ton of excellent food, all of which you can read about in Traditional Food of Liguria.
Focaccia alla Genovese
Where To Eat It: Antico Forno Patrone in Genova
Focaccia alla genovese is a fluffy rectangular type of flatbread from Genoa. It is drizzled with local olive oil and sea salt. Compared to other flatbreads, it’s more pillowy and less crunchy. You may also see it called fugassa. If you don’t have a chance to try it while in Italy, it’s easy to make with my Authentic Ligurian Focaccia Recipe.
Honorable Mention (Vegan): Farinata di ceci, an oven-baked flatbread is made with chickpea flour, water, extra virgin olive oil, and salt.
Street Food in Lombardy
Lombardy loves their meat and rice but they are not as big on street food. For a full rundown of what you will find, be sure to read Traditional Food of Lombardy.
Sbrisolona
Where To Eat It: Panificio Pasticceria Pavesi in Mantua
Sbrisolona is a dessert from Mantova that is crunchy, crumbly and buttery. Although not exclusively a street food, you can buy this cake at bakeries and easily eat it on the go.
Honorable Mention: Stracciatella gelato, a type of gelato flavor similar to chocolate chunk but made with a plain fior di latte as its base.
Street Food in Le Marche
Read all about the regional food of Le Marche in Traditional Food From Marche.
Olive All’Ascolana
Where To Eat It Them: In the Ascoli-Piceno area of Le Marche
The famous Ascolana olive from Le Marche is stuffed with a mixture of beef and pork, breaded and then deep-fried. If you eat them on the street, they may come alone but if you are at a restaurant, they may be included in a larger plate of mixed fried foods.
Honorable Mention: Crescia – a type of flatbread that can be made into a sandwich similar to a piadina.
Street Food in Molise
Molise is historically a poor region in Italy, so much of their food is made from simple ingredients, all of which you can learn about in Traditional Food of Molise.
Pizza Coi Ciccioli
Where To Eat It: Bakeries or forni throughout Molise
Pizza coi ciccioli is a type of focaccia baked with bits of ciccioli, fat scraps or pork rinds, a specialty of Molise.
Honorable Mention: Scarpelle – fried dough dusted with powdered sugar
Street Food in Piedmont
Piedmont is chocolate and coffee territory in Italy. Be sure to catch up on all there is to eat in Traditional Food In Piedmont.
Gelato alla Gianduia
Where To Eat It: Gelateria La Romana in Turin
Gianduia is a chocolate hazelnut spread from Piedmont that has also made its way into gelato. Some of the best gelato in Italy is from Piedmont, especially the various hazelnut and chocolate combinations.
Honorable Mention: Bignole – small pastries, similar to an eclair pastry but bite size filled with various custards and creams.
Street Food in Puglia
Puglia is another southern Italy region known for its cucina povera or food made from locally grown ingredients. Read all about them in Traditional Food of Puglia.
Focaccia Barese
Where To Eat It: Magda bakery in Bari
Focaccia barese is a type of fluffy flatbread baked with cherry tomatoes, local olives and oregano from Bari. The best kind will be available in the summer when tomatoes are in season.
Honorable Mention: Taralli, a type of round cracker that can be stuffed in your bag and snacked on as you tour.
Street Food in Sardinia
Learn all about Sicilian culinary traditions in Traditional Food of Sardinia.
Pizzetta Sfoglia
Where To Eat It: TASTA in Cagliari
Pizzetta sfoglia is a kind or round savory baked good made by stuffing phyllo with tomato sauce, capers and anchovy. Look for them at bakeries throughout all of Sardinia
Honorable Mention: Torrone, a popular Italian candy, is particularly famous and tasty from Sardinia.
Street Food in Sicily
Sicily has so much amazing food, so it’s hard to pick. If you love street food as much as I do, read Traditional Sicilian Food.
Brioche Con Gelato
Where To Eat It: Gelateria Al Cassaro in Palermo
A buttery brioche bun filled with a scoop of whatever flavor of gelato your heart desires is what defines a brioche con gelato. It’s very popular as a Sicilian street food and even enjoyed for breakfast in the hottest months.
Honorable Mention: Granita is actually better in the summer when it’s incredibly hot in Sicily. The best is from Massina.
Street Food in Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol
Trentino-Alto Adige (South Tyrol) has adopted many Germanic and Austrian food traditions, including their street food.
Bretzel
Where To Eat It: Costa Willi Panificio in Selva
A Bretzel is a large, soft pretzel finished with plenty of rock salt. Their shape is said to represent hands that are praying while the three holes represent the Holy Trinity. The best ones come from bakeries and outdoor Christmas markets set up around the holidays.
Honorable Mention: Castagna arroste are roasted chestnuts that you will find throughout Italy but they are particularly good in the mountains in cold weather.
Street Food in Tuscany
There are so many excellent foods in Tuscany, making it hard to choose just one. To read up on my other favorites don’t miss The Best Cheap Eats in Tuscany.
Lampredotto
Where To Eat It: Sergio Pollini food truck next to the Sant’Ambrogio open air market, one of the best food markets in Florence
Lampredotto is one of Tuscany’s most beloved street foods made from slow cooked cow stomach that is then served as a sandwich with salsa verde, a green sauce made from capers, anchovies, parsley, lemon, oil, garlic and onion. Be sure to ask for your roll dipped in the cooking broth which is what really makes it amazing.
Honorable Mention: Schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread similar to focaccia. Order it all’olio, plain, or opt for toppings such as olives, walnuts or tomatoes.
Street Food in Umbria
Umbria loves their cured meats, local cheeses and regional bread. Read all about these and more in my Umbria Food Guide.
Porchetta
Where To Eat It: At food markets in Umbria (I like the one in Città della Pieve)
Every region in Italy has their version of roasted pork, which is then sliced and served on a roll. In Umbria the meat is seasoned with plenty of local herbs like fennel and parsley before going on the spit. If you don’t want it as a sandwich, just order the meat and they will charge you by weight.
Street Food in Veneto
Veneto is a seafood-rich region in Italy with a ton of food that you will eat only within its borders. Don’t miss my other favorite street foods to try in this region in 5 Street Foods To Try In Venice and learn all about Cicchetti + Where To Eat Them In Venice.
Scartosso De Pesse Fritto
Where To Eat It: Fried Land in Venice
Scartosso de pesse fritto is a beloved street food from Venice made from a variety of local flash fried fish served in a large, paper cone. You can either get a mixed fish cone or choose a specific kind of seafood (such a shrimp).
Honorable Mention: Tramezzino, a white crustless bread sandwich stuffed with some kind of creamy filling or salad such as tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad or tomato and mozzarella (always popular with kids).
