I’ve been lucky enough to visit Rome a few times, and the city never fails to amaze me with its unique food options. One thing I learned on my first trip though: it can get expensive. Since then, I’ve learned there are so many fantastic places to eat in Rome that don’t have to break the bank. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried some really great fine-dining in the city – but from my experience, some of the best food in Rome is at “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants.
With that in mind, I’ve created this list to help you discover the best budget-friendly places to eat in Rome. This will be looking at hole-in-the-wall restaurants that cater to locals and are easy on your wallet. Since Italian food has so much variety, I’ve focused in on 3 specific must-eat dishes in Rome that will make your food hunt even easier: Carbonara pasta, pizza al taglio, and Italian sandwiches. (Note: If you’re looking for more ideas on how to travel around Italy on a budget, you can read my blog post here).
Pasta alla Carbonara
It’s hard to pin-point any particular pasta dish to try – I say try them all if you can – but there’s one that I absolutely love. For me, Pasta alla Carbonara is one of the top must-eat dishes in Rome. The first time I had it, I couldn’t believe how something so simple could taste so rich and satisfying. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients: egg yolk, Pecorino Romano cheese, guanciale (pork cheek), and a ton of black pepper. Sounds basic but the result is pure magic.
Best Places to eat Carbonara Pasta in Rome:
1. Pasta Imperiale:
This place had, hands down, the best carbonara pasta I’ve ever tasted. Everything is freshly made right in front of you (even the pasta is made in-house). The portions are decent and only cost around €9. To order here, you get to select what type of pasta you’d like (there’s 4 to choose from), tell them which sauce to pair it with, and they go make it for you on the spot. We went twice during our last trip and it was super fresh and super fast. I cannot rave about this place enough… this is definitely one of the best places to eat in Rome for pasta lovers. Note: It’s a cozy little spot with limited seating so sometimes there’s a lineup; however, the line moves pretty fast.
2. PASTAEAT La Pastapoke :
This one is another hidden gem serving authentic pasta, where we saw lots of locals visiting. Their pasta is a bit more on the creamier side compared to Pasta Imperiale, but their pork cheek (or guanciale in Italian) was pure foodie bliss. Even my toddler couldn’t get enough of it! Although full disclaimer: we told him it was “bacon” and he was sold haha. I want to highlight that the portions here are huge yet each serving was just under €10! We also tried 2 other pasta dishes here as take-out, and those were equally amazing. Note: They sometimes close a bit earlier than advertised, so please come at least an hour before closing just to make sure you get in.
3. Da Enzo al 29:
This place was super packed with locals and there was a lengthier lineup, but trust me it’s worth the wait. Their Carbonara pasta was a bit higher than the last two, priced around €12, but it tasted like perfection on a plate. If you’re looking for a cozy spot to people watch and eat like a local in Rome while having amazing pasta, you’ll feel right at home here.
4. Il Pastaio di Roma:
As you can tell… we ate a lot of pasta during our week here, haha. This was another hole-in-the-wall that serves really good authentic pasta for just under €10. Their pasta here is freshly made, and the Carbonara is on par with the others in terms of flavour explosion. If you’re looking to try a second pasta dish, their pesto pasta is really good too.
Pizza al Taglio
One of the best things about Rome is their amazing selection of restaurants that serve Pizza al Taglio. If you haven’t heard of this before, it’s essentially just pizza by the slice, but in tiny squares where you can order multiples. Because it’s so easy to order and eat right away, it’s the ultimate Italian street food in my eyes, and an absolute must eat in Rome. You can find an endless variety of toppings, from the classic Margherita to more unique combinations like potatoes and rosemary. We found this to be the perfect meal for a quick, tasty bite while you’re out exploring the city – even for breakfast!
Best Places to eat Pizza al Taglio in Rome:
5. Quelli di Via Nizza :
We stumbled upon this hidden gem the night we landed in Rome as it was really close to our hotel. We were hungry, they were open late, and needless to say – we became regulars during the trip. They have an incredible selection of pizzas by the slice, and freshly made new ones throughout the day. They also have other delicious quick bites like chicken croquettes and suppli (which is a Roman rice croquette). Absolutely loved coming here (and so did my little one!). From the looks of it, the locals loved it too as there was always a good crowd coming and going.
6. Pizzarium:
Gabriele Bonci’s place is famous for its inventive toppings and perfect crust. The slices are reasonable, around €4-€5 each, but they’re so worth it. You’ll find flavors here you won’t get anywhere else. It’s close to the Vatican.
7. Forno Campo de’ Fiori:
I found this hidden gem one morning and decided to grab a slice of their pizza bianca for breakfast. It was really simple – just olive oil and salt – but so tasty, and only costs around €3.50 a slice! For those readers who may not know, I’m lactose intolerant (lactaid is my saviour in Italy), so it was nice to have a dairy-free option in the morning. They had tons of other topping options – including cheesy ones – that kept us going back for more.
Italian Sandwiches
My husband’s always been a huge fan of Italian sandwiches, and although I’d like them on occassion, I never really loved them until I had one in Rome. I think the key difference here is that the sandwiches here are packed with high-quality ingredients. You get authentic cured meats, fresh mozzarella, freshly roasted vegetables, and homemade bread. (And when I say bread, I don’t mean the stuff you get in North America). Since we were on the move a lot during this last trip, these sandwiches were perfect a quick, filling meal on the go while not breaking the bank.
Best Places to eat Italian Sandwiches in Rome:
8. Mizio Street food:
We ate there a few times during our last trip. You can choose your choice of bread, meat and other toppings. Our favourites to recommend are their porchetta and prosciutto sandwiches, which are price under €10. Considering the price, the portion was quite filling.
9. Pane e Salame:
If you’re near the Trevi Fountain, this is the place to check out! For about €6-8, you can get a generously stuffed sub filled with fresh meats, cheeses, and veggies. It was the perfect grab-and-go meal while we were busy with sightseeing around the area.
10. Mordi e Vai:
This little sandwich shop is located in the Testaccio Market, and stall serves some of the best Italian sandwiches for super cheap. Their sandwiches are just about €5, but you wouldn’t know it because it tastes incredible.
I hope my list of the best budget-friendly places to eat in Rome helps you realize you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy delicious meals there. I would still splurge on a few occassions if you have the budget for it, but just know that even the hole-in-the-wall restaurants are just as good. Buon appetito!
