7 Must-Try Dishes in Rome That Aren't Carbonara

Rome is more than carbonara. Much more. The city has been feeding people for over two thousand years — and it shows. Step away from the tourist menus, follow the locals, and you'll discover a food tradition that's bold, generous, and deeply human. Here are seven dishes that Romans actually eat, and that you absolutely shouldn't miss.

Slow-cooked oxtail in a rich tomato sauce with celery, carrots, and herbs. The meat falls off the bone. The sauce begs for bread. Born in Testaccio — Rome's working-class heart — this is the kind of dish that takes hours to make and seconds to fall in love with.

Crispy on the outside. Gooey mozzarella on the inside. Supplì are Rome's ultimate street food: fried rice balls filled with ragù and cheese, eaten hot, straight from the fryer. The name comes from the French word for 'surprise' — because of what's hiding inside. Grab them at any local rosticceria.

A whole pig, seasoned with rosemary, garlic, fennel, and pepper, then slow-roasted until the skin shatters. Sliced thin and piled into a crusty roll. Simple. Perfect. Find it at the market stalls of Campo de' Fiori or Testaccio — and don't overthink it.

Just three ingredients: Pecorino Romano, black pepper, and pasta. No cream, no butter. The result is a perfectly silky sauce that's harder to make than it looks. This is Roman philosophy on a plate — do more with less. Find the real version at a traditional trattoria, not a tourist spot.

Before carbonara and amatriciana, there was gricia. Guanciale, Pecorino Romano, black pepper — no eggs, no tomatoes. It's one of the oldest pasta dishes in Lazio, and every bite reminds you why simple food is often the best food.

Rome takes its artichokes seriously. Alla Romana: braised with garlic, mint, and white wine until meltingly tender. Alla Giudia: deep-fried flat and crispy, a recipe born in the Jewish Ghetto that's become one of the city's most iconic dishes. Best in spring, when they're in season and at their peak.

Rome's favourite breakfast. A soft, slightly sweet bun split open and filled with a mountain of whipped cream. The maritozzo has ancient origins — once given as a gift between lovers. Today, it's the reason Romans smile in the morning. Try one with an espresso. You'll understand immediately.


Seven dishes. Seven reasons to eat like a Roman. Start with one. You'll want all of them.