We are all familiar with Italy’s famous foods like pasta, pizza, or lasagna, yet there is so much we don’t know. The Italians have a distinct way of preparing these popular dishes – every region has its style and technique that you must explore.
Italians use herbs, olive oil, butter, sage, cheese, pasta, and wine to cook these delicious and hearty meals. If you are about to visit Italy, here’s a list of Italian dishes, desserts, and street foods you must try in the country.
Italy Cuisine: 35 Italy Famous Food To Try
If you are planning to visit Italy, you must look beyond pizzas and plates of pasta. Let’s visit some of the top dishes in Italy that every tourist must try:
Non-Vegetarian Italy Cuisine
Here are some popular non-vegetarian Italian foods to try:
Lasagna
Lasagna is an iconic layered pasta dish that is a staple of Italian cuisine. It typically consists of sheets of pasta alternated with layers of meat sauce, mozzarella cheese, and vegetables. Its spicy and tangy flavors will leave you reeling for more.
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Price Range |
€7 – €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Caesar salad or a simple tomato salad, garlic bread, wine |
Saltimbocca
The Saltimbocca is an authentic food in Italy. Made with veal and wrapped in prosciutto. The meat is later smothered in a creamy sage and wine sauce. This Italian dish is tasty, hearty, and loved by the locals. You can swap out the veal with pork, chicken, or turkey. It’s a must-try if you are in Rome.
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Price Range |
€15- €20 (INR 1200 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Mashed potatoes, crusty bread, salad, or wine |
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Piccata
Piccata is a lemony meat-based dish and another Italian classic. It features meat cutlets dredged in flour and pan-fried, then finished with a sauce of lemon juice, butter, and capers. The original dish features veal, you can also try its American fusion called the chicken piccata.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 400 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Rice, garlic bread, roasted broccolini, asparagus gratin |
Frittata
This frittata is a hearty and flavorful dish and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is made with eggs, vegetables, chopped-up meat, peppers, cheese, and onions. The frittata can be served hot or cold, which is a great way to use leftover ingredients. Every restaurant has its version, and you can find vegetarian frittata. The popularity of this dish can be traced back to ancient Rome.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Bread, salad, and fruit |
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Pasta
Pasta is a cornerstone of Italian cuisine. There are countless varieties of pasta, each with its unique flavor and texture. Some of the most popular types of pasta include spaghetti, penne, and ravioli. Pasta can be served with various sauces, including tomato sauce, pesto, and Alfredo sauce.
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Price Range |
€5- €55 (INR 600 to 5000) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
Risotto
This creamy rice dish is another Italian classic. Risotto is made with Arborio rice, which is a short-grain rice that is high in starch. The rice is cooked in broth until it is creamy and tender. Risotto can be served with various toppings, including vegetables, seafood, and meat.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
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Vegetarian Italy Cuisine
Italy is home to some fantastic vegetarian Italian dishes, too. You can ask your server for vegetarian options if you are at an authentic Italian restaurant. You can say: “Avete piatti vegetariani / vegani nel menù?”
Spaghetti all’assassina
This fiery Neapolitan pasta dish is not for the faint of heart. Translating to “murderous spaghetti,” it’s a simple yet potent combination of spaghetti, garlic, chili peppers, and a generous amount of olive oil. The intense flavor comes from the abundance of chili peppers, making it a favorite among those who love spicy food.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
Panzanella Salad
Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad that has been modernized in different ways. Some use grilled plums with the saltiness of pancetta. Panzanella traditionally uses stale bread soaked in water and adds ripe tomatoes, dried Italian bread, and a simple tangy dressing. It’s a light and refreshing salad that’s perfect for summer.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Pasta, saltimbocca, wine |
Potato Gnocchi
Potato Gnocchi is a soft, pillowy dumpling, a beloved Italian comfort food. Made from potatoes, flour, and eggs, gnocchi are typically boiled until tender and then tossed in a sauce. They can be served with a variety of sauces, from simple butter and sage to rich meat ragùs. It is a must-try for vegetarians and is highly popular in northeastern Italian.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Sauce, cheese, bread, salad |
Mediterranean Salad
This salad is a colorful and healthy option that showcases the flavors of the Mediterranean. It typically includes fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese, all tossed in a light vinaigrette. It’s a versatile dish that can be served as a side or a main course. It is not authentic to Italy but extremely popular and loved by the locals.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Bread or wine |
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Margherita
The Margherita is a simple yet iconic pizza named after Queen Margherita of Savoy. It features a thin crust topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, and basil. These ingredients create a classic flavor profile that has been replicated countless times. The Margherita is the perfect indulgence for vegetarians.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
Polenta
Polenta is a cornmeal porridge that originated in northern Italy. It can be served soft and creamy or baked into a firm cake. Polenta is often served as a side dish but can also be the base for more complex dishes, such as polenta gratin or polenta fries.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
Pull-Apart Herb Bread
This warm and comforting bread is perfect for sharing. It is not a meal but a great snack made with a dough filled with herbs, cheese, and butter, then baked until golden brown. The result is a soft and flavorful bread perfect for dipping in marinara sauce or olive oil.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Wine |
Spaghetti aglio e olio
Spaghetti aglio e olio is famous across the globe. This simple yet satisfying pasta dish is a staple of Italian cuisine. It features spaghetti tossed with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and sometimes parsley. The key to a good aglio e olio is using high-quality olive oil and cooking the garlic until it’s fragrant but not burnt.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
Bruschetta al pomodoro
This classic Italian appetizer is made by grilling slices of bread and rubbing them with a clove of garlic. The bread is then topped with diced tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. It’s a simple and flavorful way to enjoy fresh tomatoes. It is the perfect appetizer to start your meal.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Salad, wine |
Carciofi alla Romana
Carciofi alla Romana is a Roman dish. The hero of the dish is artichokes that are braised in olive oil, garlic, and white wine. The artichokes are tender and flavorful and a popular side dish in Italy.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 600 to 1700) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
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Pumpkin Tortelli
These delicious pasta pockets are filled with a sweet and savory pumpkin filling. They’re typically served with a sage butter sauce or a brown butter sauce. Pumpkin Tortelli is the perfect way to enjoy the flavors of autumn. You can enjoy the dish with a glass of chilled wine for dinner.
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Price Range |
€5- €30 (INR 600 to 3000) |
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Best Served With |
Garlic bread, salad, wine |
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Street Food in Italy
Arancini
These golden-brown rice balls are a popular Sicilian street food. They are typically made with leftover risotto, mixed with cheese, meat (often ragu), and sometimes peas. The mixture is then shaped into balls, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until crispy.
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Price Range |
€2- €5 (INR 200 to 400) |
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Best Served With |
Marinara sauce |
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Calzone
Calzone is a pocket pizza and one of the most beloved street foods in Italy. It originated in Naples and gradually grew in popularity across Italy and even America. This delicious bread is stuffed with meat, sauces, cheese, herbs, and vegetables. The most famous cheeses you can add in a calzone are mozzarella and parmesan.
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Price Range |
€15- €25 (INR 1300 to 2000) |
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Best Served With |
Marinara for dipping. |
Panella
Panella are chickpea fritters. The chickpea flour is doused in herbs, spices, and cheese and is often eaten with a brioche bun. and ricotta cheese. It is a great vegan or vegetarian option for those who love street food but don’t indulge in meat. You can find this everywhere in the streets of Sicily.
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Price Range |
€2- €3 (INR 200 to 300) |
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Best Served With |
Bread, cheese, wine |
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Venetian Cicchetti
These small bites are the Venetian equivalent of tapas. They can range from simple crostini topped with various ingredients like prosciutto and mozzarella to more elaborate dishes like fried fish or marinated vegetables. Cicchetti is typically enjoyed in “bacari,” traditional Venetian wine bars.
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Price Range |
€2- €3 (INR 200 to 300) |
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Best Served With |
Tomato sauce, marinara sauce, onion and vinegar sauce, etc |
Fried Ravioli
These crispy and flavorful treats are a popular Italian appetizer. Ravioli are filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables, then dipped in batter and deep-fried until golden brown. They are often served with marinara sauce for dipping.
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Price Range |
€7- €10 (INR 600 to 700) |
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Best Served With |
Tomato sauce, marinara sauce, onion and vinegar sauce, etc |
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Scaccia
Scaccia is a deep-fried calzone. This savory treat is a popular street food in Sicily. It’s a calzone filled with ricotta cheese, sometimes with the addition of other ingredients like spinach or ham, then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. You can find it at bakeries, cafes, and street vendors.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 500 to 1800) |
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Best Served With |
Wine |
Crocchè
Crocche is a fried potato croquette. These deep-fried potato croquettes are a classic Neapolitan street food. They are made with mashed potatoes, cheese, and sometimes ham or other ingredients, shaped into small balls, coated in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy.
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Price Range |
€2- €5 (INR 200 to 400) |
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Best Served With |
Marinara sauce for dipping |
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Desserts in Italy
The desserts in Italy are scrumptious! You have creamy gelato, chocolatey tiramisu, and unique flavors of cheesecake, cookies, cakes, and much more. Here are the top dishes in Italy in the dessert category:
Classic Cannoncini
Classic Cannoncini is a delicate puff pastry that resembles small cannons. They are made with a thin, flaky pastry dough rolled around a filling, often pastry cream or custard. They are typically dusted with powdered sugar and are a classic Italian dessert.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 500 to 1800) |
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Best Served With |
Coffee, chocolate sauce |
Rainbow Cookies
Rainbow cookies are fun and colorful cookies are a beloved Italian-American treat. They are made with layers of different colored dough, often almond, pistachio, and chocolate, and then dipped in chocolate. They are a festive and delicious dessert, perfect for celebrations.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 500 to 1800) |
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Best Served With |
Coffee, hot chocolate |
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Ricotta Cheesecake
This light and airy cheesecake is a popular Italian dessert. It is made with ricotta cheese, which gives it a unique tangy flavor. It is often baked in a water bath to create a smooth and creamy texture.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 500 to 1800) |
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Best Served With |
Coffee |
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Tiramisu
This iconic Italian dessert is a layered treat made with ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese, eggs, and sugar. It is often dusted with cocoa powder and is a true indulgence.
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Price Range |
€5- €40 (INR 500 to 3500) |
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Best Served With |
Hot coffee, tea |
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Struffoli
These bite-sized treats are a traditional Neapolitan Christmas dessert. They are made with small balls of fried dough that are then coated in honey and decorated with colorful sprinkles.
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Price Range |
€5- €20 (INR 500 to 1800) |
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Best Served With |
Coffee |
Amalfi Lemon Tart
This tart showcases the vibrant flavors of the Amalfi Coast. It features a creamy lemon filling made with fresh lemons, often topped with meringue or whipped cream. It’s a tangy and refreshing dessert that perfectly captures the essence of the region.
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Price Range |
€5- €40 (INR 500 to 3500) |
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Best Served With |
Coffee |
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FAQs
What is Italy’s national food?
Italy doesn’t have a national dish. Pasta and pizza are some of the most popular traditional dishes that you will find in Italy.
What type of food is eaten in Italy?
Italian cuisine is centered around pasta, bread, pizza, fish, fruits, cheese, cold cuts, and vegetables. Italians love their espresso and desserts.
What is a typical breakfast in Italy?
The usual breakfast in Italy is a sweet pastry with a strong espresso or cappuccino coffee. You grab breakfast at bars and cafes in small alleys.
Which are the famous restaurants in Italy?
Some famous restaurants in Italy are Tonnarello, Nerone, Bistrot Siciliano Sikè, Fratelli Burgio, Rio Novo, and La Zucca.
Which is the best food to try in Italy?
You must try the traditional pizza and pasta in Italy. You can try some local desserts such as tiramisu, gelato, stromboli, and calzones.
Which is a traditional food of Italy?
The traditional food in Italy is pasta, pizza, bread, and gelato. The best way to have traditional cuisine is to ask the locals and see where they eat.
What currency is used in Italy?
The euro is the most popular currency in Italy. You can use US dollars as well, but the usage is limited. Carry euros or a card for restaurants in Italy.
