{"id":5955,"date":"2026-03-26T14:46:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/?p=5955"},"modified":"2026-04-30T15:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:05:04","slug":"10-traditional-dishes-to-try-when-in-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/10-traditional-dishes-to-try-when-in-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"10 traditional dishes to try when in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rome\u2019s culinary identity is bold, unfussy and deeply rooted in history. Built on humble ingredients, sharp technique and centuries of tradition, the city\u2019s cuisine reflects its working-class neighborhoods, Jewish heritage, and pastoral surroundings in the Lazio countryside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the saying goes: \u201cWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do\u201d. Here are 10 traditional dishes you shouldn\u2019t miss out on when visiting the <\/span>Eternal City<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cacio e Pepe – <\/b>Perhaps the purest expression of <\/span>Roman cooking<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>cacio e pepe<\/span><\/i> translates simply to \u201ccheese and pepper.\u201d Made with pasta (usually tonnarelli or spaghetti), Pecorino Romano and freshly cracked black pepper, the magic lies in emulsifying the cheese with pasta water to create a creamy sauce\u2026 without any cream at all. It\u2019s minimalist perfection.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Carbonara – <\/b>Authentic Roman <\/span>carbonara<\/span><\/i> is a far cry from other, cream-heavy imitations. The classic version combines guanciale (cured pork cheek), egg yolks, Pecorino Romano and black pepper, tossed with pasta – typically rigatoni or spaghetti. The result is rich, silky and incredibly tasty.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Amatriciana – <\/b>Originally from Amatrice but fully embraced by Rome, <\/span>amatriciana<\/span><\/i> pairs guanciale with tomatoes and Pecorino Romano. The sauce is slightly spicy, often with a touch of chili, and traditionally served with bucatini. It strikes a perfect balance between smoky, salty and tangy.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Gricia – <\/b>Considered the ancestor of both carbonara and amatriciana, <\/span>gricia<\/span><\/i> is made with guanciale, Pecorino Romano and black pepper – no eggs, no tomatoes. It\u2019s a masterclass in simplicity, relying entirely on quality ingredients.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Saltimbocca alla Romana – <\/b>Meaning \u201cjumps in the mouth,\u201d <\/span>saltimbocca<\/span><\/i> features tender veal cutlets topped with prosciutto and sage, then cooked in white wine and butter. The flavours are delicate yet savoury, and it\u2019s often served with saut\u00e9ed greens or potatoes.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Carciofi alla Romana – <\/b>Artichokes are a Roman obsession, especially in spring. <\/span>Carciofi alla Romana<\/span><\/i> are stuffed with garlic and herbs, then braised in olive oil and water until meltingly tender. You\u2019ll find them throughout the city\u2019s trattorias during artichoke season, which typically runs from February to <\/span>
    \n<\/span>April\/May.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Carciofi alla Giudia – <\/b>From Rome\u2019s historic Jewish Quarter near Campo de’ Fiori, <\/span>carciofi alla giudia<\/span><\/i> (Jewish-style artichokes) are flattened and deep-fried until crisp and golden. The result is crunchy on the outside, soft inside – almost like a savoury flower.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Suppl\u00ec – <\/b>Rome\u2019s answer to arancini, <\/span>suppl\u00ec<\/span><\/i> are fried rice balls filled with tomato sauce and mozzarella. Break one open and you\u2019ll see the melted cheese stretch like a phone wire, hence the nickname <\/span>suppl\u00ec al telefono<\/span><\/i>. They\u2019re a classic street snack.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Abbacchio alla Scottadito – <\/b>Lazio is known for its lamb, and <\/span>abbacchio alla scottadito<\/span><\/i> (literally \u201cburn your fingers\u201d) refers to grilled lamb chops served piping hot. Seasoned simply with olive oil, garlic and rosemary, they\u2019re best eaten straight off the bone.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Trippa alla Romana – <\/b>Tripe may not be for everyone, but in Rome it\u2019s a beloved comfort dish. Slow-cooked in tomato sauce with mint and Pecorino Romano, <\/span>trippa alla Romana<\/span><\/i> is hearty, fragrant and deeply traditional.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Roman food isn\u2019t about elaborate presentation; it\u2019s about technique, seasonality and respect for ingredients. Whether you\u2019re dining within ogling distance of the Colosseum or ensconced in a trattoria in <\/span>Trastevere<\/span><\/a>, these dishes tell the story of Rome\u2019s past and present. Arrive hungry, order boldly, and remember: in Rome, simplicity is sacred.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Rome\u2019s culinary identity is bold, unfussy and deeply rooted in history. Built on humble ingredients,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5962,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,798,807],"tags":[970,982,978],"class_list":["post-5955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-tours","category-local-tips","category-restaurant-review","tag-authentic-food","tag-best-food-of","tag-food-tours"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5955"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5956,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5955\/revisions\/5956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfoodtours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}