The Best Italian Dishes You Must Try in Italy

When you're planning a trip, one of the first things that come to mind is: What do we eat? And if you're traveling to Italy, strap yourself in, because food isn't part of the experience, it is the experience.

If you are a first-timer and want to know unique food in Italy, then this is where you belong. I've gathered off-the-beaten-path foods of Italy, which are a glimpse of the heart and soul of Italy's very rich gastronomic tradition. Warm comfort foods or regional specialties, these are the tastes that linger long after the trip is forgotten.

1. Pasta Carbonara – Rome

As Italian foods go, no meal is so famous and universally desired as Pasta Carbonara. Originated in Rome's core, the creamy and opulent pasta displays the miracle of minimalism using merely some basic ingredients such as eggs, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper. This one special best food city in Italy would want to visit over and over.

What Makes It Special:

• Creamy without cream
• Deep umami from aged cheese.
• Perfect harmony between salty, savory, and peppery flavors
• A showcase of Roman culinary simplicity and precision

Try it at (Halal-Friendly):

Ostirò Ristorante Halal – Rome

Ali Baba Restaurant – Rome (they serve a halal-friendly carbonara twist)

2. Risotto alla Milanese – Milan

Golden, rich and wonderful creamy, Risotto alla Milanese is Milanese cuisine. Unlike other risottos, there is liberal addition of saffron to add the yellow tinge to and a delicately earthy twist to the taste of the dish. The preparation traditionally includes Arborio or Carnaroli rice, butter, onion, and beef stock, which are cooked according to conventional style. Risotto alla Milanese is delightful and comforting served from a bowl.

What Makes It Special:

• Vibrant golden color from luxurious saffron
• Creamy texture created through slow, precise stirring, no cream needed
• Delicate balance of buttery richness and subtle spice
• Often paired with Ossobuco for the ultimate Milanese comfort dish
• A refined example of northern Italian elegance and technique

Try it at (Halal-Friendly):

Mido Ristorante Halal – Milan

Aladino Restaurant – Milan (has saffron risotto and halal meat options)

3. Neapolitan Pizza (Pizza Napoletana) – Naples

Neapolitan pizza, or Pizza Napoletana, is the city of Naples' pride and one of Italian food cultures. It has a soft, elastic crust with a slightly blackened periphery. Pizza is traditionally made in a wood oven at high temperatures. The key to its allure is restraint, a wispy foundation topped with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella di Bufala, basil leaves, and the delicate pour of olive oil. No overabundance of toppings, just quality ingredients served to perfection. This pizza is so beloved that it's even been given UNESCO protection as one of the world's intangible cultural heritage. Consuming it where it originated in Naples is something every gourmet would want to try at least once.

What Makes It Special:

• Soft, airy crust with a charred, blistered edge
• Made with only a few fresh, high-quality ingredients
• Cooked in under 90 seconds in a wood-fired oven
• Rooted in centuries-old Neapolitan tradition

4. Bistecca alla Fiorentina – Florence

The term 'bistecca' was taken from English 'beefsteak' in the first half of the 19th century. The tradition of Bistecca alla Fiorentina itself. Demonstrating the simplicity of Tuscany with love for straightforward, high-quality ingredients. This huge T-bone steak, normally taken from the celebrated Chianina cattle, is grilled to rare or medium-rare, so the natural taste of the meat shines.

What Makes It Special:

• Seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and olive oil to highlight the meat’s quality
• A symbol of Florentine tradition and Tuscan pride

Try it at (Halal-Friendly):

Ristorante Persiano Tehran – Florence (halal meat, grilled Tuscan-style)

Rosticceria Halal Noor – Florence (great grilled halal options)

5. Tortellini in Brodo- Bologna 

Tortellini in Brodo is its finest and most comfort food, a warm bowl of little hand-folded pasta bobbing around in rich homemade. From Bologna, the capital of Italy's Emilia-Romagna province, this is a particular specialty in winter. Packed with prosciutto, mortadella, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. It's quite an old-fashioned dish, actually, that strikes one as deeply traditionally Italian in which households do tend to sit down to laboriously fill and shape the tortellini themselves, the younger generation being instructed by their predecessors.

What Makes It Special:

• Hand-rolled pasta stuffed with a rich mixture of meats and Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Served in a rich, slow-cooked broth
• A family comfort dish rooted in holiday gatherings and family traditions
• A culinary icon of Bologna and the Emilia-Romagna region
• Honored for its precision, elegance, and warm simplicity

Try it at (Halal-Friendly):

Sham Cibo Siriano – Bologna (Middle Eastern & Italian fusion)

Al Quds Ristorante – Bologna

6. Arancini – Sicily

Arancini, Sicily is the best food in Italy that you must try. In the 10th century, during the period of Arab rule in Sicily. The Arab brought rice and saffron to the island, and the concept of shaping rice into balls. The term 'arancini' is derived from 'arancia' which is orange due to their round shape and yellow color. They are deep-fried rice balls mixed with ragu, peas and stringy mozzarella or caciocavallo cheese, then breaded.

What Makes It Special:

• Golden, Crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside
• Rich fillings like ragù, mozzarella, and regional specialties
• A centuries-old snack born from Sicily’s multicultural culinary roots
• Found in bakeries, markets, and street corners across the island

7. Italian Wedding Soup 

Italian Wedding Soup sounds different but it is also called Minestra Maritata is a warm, comforting dish consisting of delicate meatballs, tender greens and savory broth, which makes it an actual comfort food favorite. Where 'Maritata' describes the 'wedding' of flavor between the meat and green vegetables such as escarole or kale. The origin of the dish lies in Southern Italy, particularly in the Campania and Naples regions. It was eventually adopted by Italian immigrants in America and evolved as a staple dish in Italian-American cuisine, particularly on celebratory occasions, such as weddings, where collective dishes and huge meals are the common.

What Makes It Special:

• A perfect balance of tender meatballs, hearty greens, and flavorful broth
• A comforting dish, often served during holidays or family gatherings
• The marriage of ingredients creates a harmonious, satisfying flavor
• Simple but rich, combining humble ingredients in a delicious way
• A classic Italian-American favorite, loved by generations

8. Focaccia – Liguria (Genoa)

Genoa focaccia is a soft, airy flatbread with a golden, crispy crust, owing to abundant uses of extra virgin olive oil. Topped usually with sea salt and rosemary, it's a popular Ligurian staple, great plain or with all sorts of fillings. Uncomplicated yet tasty, this focaccia has been an integral component of Genoese cuisine for centuries, loved by locals and tourists alike.

What Makes It Special:

• Having crunch and golden crust
• Flavored with premium olive oil, sea salt, and rosemary
• Flexible and ideal as a snack or meal
• A Genoese tradition that’s deeply rooted in the region’s culinary history

Try it at (Halal-Friendly):

La Piadineria Halal – Genoa

Al Sultan – Genoa (Mediterranean & Italian snacks)

Getting ready to travel to Italy? Don't just look at the landmarks, taste them. From hearty, creamy Pasta Carbonara in Rome to crispy, golden Focaccia in Genoa, Italian food is all about a few ingredients prepared perfectly. These 8 iconic dishes capture the heart of Italian cooking and will leave you saying “wow” with every bite. Ready to eat your way through Italy? Then book tickets, let's go…

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What is the best Italian food in Italy?

A. It depends on where you are, but fresh pasta like tagliatelle al ragù or wood-fired Neapolitan pizza are hard to beat.

Q. What is the most popular food in Italy?

A. Pizza and pasta are the classics—especially Margherita pizza and spaghetti alla carbonara.

Q. What Italian food should I try?

A. Try regional favorites like cacio e pepe in Rome, risotto alla Milanese in Milan, and gelato everywhere!

Q. What is the tastiest Italian food?

A. Tastiest? Probably a simple dish like lasagna or fresh gnocchi with pesto—it’s all about the ingredients.