Palermo is a city with an ancient history, dominated by numerous peoples who have made it a perfect mix of different cultures. To fully know Palermo, however, it is not enough to admire its beauties or stroll through its most famous neighborhoods, you must also taste its typical food.
Palermo street food, in particular, is famous all over the world and is the distinctive symbol of hospitality and Sicilian cuisine.
Walking through the streets of the historic center you will be attracted by very different smells, coming from street vendors or small shops. Choosing the right place to taste the typical Palermo specialties is not easy, that's why, as Sicilian DOCs, we decided to write a guide on what to eat in Palermo.
Ready for a real Street Food Tour?
Street Food Tour: what to eat in Palermo in one day
We have organized a street food tour which can be comfortably done on foot. Also because a walk after tasting each of these specialties is a must!
So put on a comfortable pair of shoes and get ready to be amazed with every bite.
1. Arancina
WHERE: Bar Rosanero & Bar Touring
Our Palermo street food tour can only start from the queen of Sicily: the arancina. Arancina with the "a", because you remember the arancina in Palermo is "fimmina".
For those few who do not know what an arancina is, it is a stuffed rice ball, breaded and then fried.
There are two traditional arancine: “accarne” (with a ragù filling) and “abburro” (stuffed with butter, cooked ham and béchamel).
In short, a bomb of taste and calories! In Sicily they eat a little when it happens, for a quick lunch or dinner with friends, but also as a snack or even for breakfast to start the day in the best possible way. taste them in two of the most famous bars in the city: Bar Rosanero and Bar Touring and we had one with butter and one with meat. We advise you to enjoy them in one of the most beautiful villas in Palermo, which is located right in front of the two bars: Villa Giulia.
We bought two gigantic arancine and were surprised by the taste of both, but only one of the two truly amazed us.
Bar Rosanero's arancina al ragù is probably the best arancina ever tasted (and we have eaten hundreds of them over the years). Its crunchy breading and its abundant and tasty filling make it win the prize of best arancina.
After an arancina of this size you could almost feel full, but BEWARE, the Street Food Tour has just begun!
2. Pane cà Meusa
WHERE: Porta Carbone
The second stage of our tour can only concern the true symbol of Palermo street food: the cà meusa bread. We are talking about a simple and humble sandwich stuffed with veal spleen and lung cooked in lard.
There are two traditional variations of the sandwich: the “straight” one (seasoned only with lemon), and the “maritato” one (with the addition of flakes of seasoned caciocavallo). “Maritato” because the presence of the cheese flakes refer to the bride's white veil. What a fantasy and what a poetry we Sicilians eh!
In our opinion, the perfect place to taste this delicacy is only one: Porta Carbone alla Cala. There you will find the best sandwich with spleen in Palermo. Do not be scared by the ingredients, we assure you that you will lick your mustache!
3. Sfincione
WHERE: Ni Francu u 'Vastiddaru
Under a scorching sun we finish our sandwich in the company of a nice curled beer and head to a nearby place to try another must of Palermo street food, another humble dish to be included in the list of "what to eat in Palermo": sfincione .
It is a kind of high pizza, with a very soft dough, topped with sauce, onion, anchovies and caciocavallo.
Also this time we had no doubts about the location: a few meters from the Cala, precisely in Piazza Marina, you cannot miss “nni Francu u 'Vastiddaru“. The perfect place for a quick but super typical meal. You will find everything that represents Sicilian street food. Small tables in the shade, fast service and very friendly waiters (cover charge is obviously free).
We tasted a not bad sfincionello that fully represents Sicilianity!
3. Sandwich with Panelle, Crocchè and Fried Eggplants
WHERE: Ni Francu u 'Vastiddaru
Oh yes guys, to keep ourselves light we decided to continue our unique meal with a thousand courses with a Triple sandwich! It is the slightly heavier alternative to the typical panelle and crocchè sandwich. Inside you will find the panelle (fried chickpea flour fritters), the crocchè (breaded and fried potato croquettes), and obviously FRIED aubergines!
Also in this case, to be on the safe side, always try it nni Francu u 'Vastiddaru. There is little to say here: it is a perfect sandwich, harmonious as a whole. You have to rush to try it!
4. Coppo of fried fish
WHERE: Nino u 'Dancer
In the meantime, time passes and it is already time for a snack. A Street Food Tour in Palermo cannot fail to include some fried fish. Then cuttlefish, squid, squid, octopus, all breaded in flour, fried and inserted in a cone-shaped paper form: the coppo.
Having the car available, we decided to turn towards one of the most famous (but in our opinion, not among the best) places in Palermo: Nino u 'dancer. We took a Coppo Dancer. The tile was 6+ but we think that in the city you can find much better, we will let you know when we have stomachs ok again!
If, on the other hand, you will go on a walking tour, we recommend that you try it inside the Vucciria market.
5. Panelle and Crocchè
WHERE: Nino u 'Dancer
We had already eaten them for lunch, but since it was snack time we thought it was right to have a "lighter" aperitif. In fact, we decided to take a plate of panelle and crocchè without a sandwich.
5 panelle + 5 crocchè at the modest price of 2 €, combined with a fresh beer is the perfect aperitif!
Also these bought from Nino u 'Ballerino, in this case quite good.
But you will find these dishes practically everywhere and they are always good: no matter where, the important thing is to taste them!
The only thing we point out is that if you decide to sit at Nino u Ballerino's tables you will pay the cover charge.
6. Stigghiole
WHERE: you choose the place that inspires you the most
The last stop on our Palermo Street Food Tour is the stigghiola. When one wonders what to eat in Palermo, one cannot fail to taste this dish very strong in taste, only for strong stomachs.
The stigghiola are veal guts roasted on the grill in the streets of Palermo. In this case we do not recommend a particular place because we have not yet found a better street vendor than another.
You will find this dish all over the city, especially in the local markets. You will immediately understand that you have found someone who sells stigghiola because the smell and the cloud of smoke that are created are truly unmistakable.
Our Palermo Street Food Tour ends here. If you are wondering what to eat in Palermo we hope to have been useful and to have made you want to taste the typical specialties of our land.
Above all, do not forget: " the cuisine of a people is the only, exact testimony of its civilization ".