I've traveled to 10 regions Italy, and one thing that never disappoints is the food.
I decided to try the impossible: by ranking and reviewing the regional cuisines of Italy—from worst to best—based on how much I enjoyed them.
Here’s my ranking of the ones I’ve tried 🍝🇮🇹🧵 x.com
I decided to try the impossible: by ranking and reviewing the regional cuisines of Italy—from worst to best—based on how much I enjoyed them.
Here’s my ranking of the ones I’ve tried 🍝🇮🇹🧵 x.com
As a caveat - all pictures in the thread are photos I took during my travels, and may not line up with the popular dishes I listed out.
10. Veneto
Veneto’s cuisine is unique but not as famous as others. It leans heavily on seafood, polenta, and risottos rather than pasta. It was good, just not as memorable as other regions.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines)
🍽 Risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink risotto)
🍽 Bigoli in salsa (thick pasta with anchovy sauce)
🍽Chichetti (bread with various toppings)
Veneto’s cuisine is unique but not as famous as others. It leans heavily on seafood, polenta, and risottos rather than pasta. It was good, just not as memorable as other regions.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines)
🍽 Risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink risotto)
🍽 Bigoli in salsa (thick pasta with anchovy sauce)
🍽Chichetti (bread with various toppings)
9. Lombardia
Lombardia cuisines is rich, hearty, and buttery—less about traditional Mediterranean flavors and more about filling comfort food. As a pasta lover, I do think the region lacks a bit in great pasta dishes, but still has some great options.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Risotto alla Milanese (saffron risotto)
🍽 Ossobuco (braised veal shank)
🍽 Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal cutlet)
Lombardia cuisines is rich, hearty, and buttery—less about traditional Mediterranean flavors and more about filling comfort food. As a pasta lover, I do think the region lacks a bit in great pasta dishes, but still has some great options.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Risotto alla Milanese (saffron risotto)
🍽 Ossobuco (braised veal shank)
🍽 Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal cutlet)
8. Puglia
Puglia is underrated but climbing in popularity. The focaccia here was an absolute standout—some of the best I’ve had. I also loved the orecchiette dishes, but overall, I felt other regions had a deeper variety.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Orecchiette con cime di rapa (pasta with turnip greens)
🍽 Focaccia Barese (thicker focaccia with tomatoes and olives)
🍽 Bombette (stuffed meat rolls)
🍽 Taralli (a wheat based sort of cracker)
Puglia is underrated but climbing in popularity. The focaccia here was an absolute standout—some of the best I’ve had. I also loved the orecchiette dishes, but overall, I felt other regions had a deeper variety.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Orecchiette con cime di rapa (pasta with turnip greens)
🍽 Focaccia Barese (thicker focaccia with tomatoes and olives)
🍽 Bombette (stuffed meat rolls)
🍽 Taralli (a wheat based sort of cracker)
7. Calabria
Calabria’s food is bold, spicy, and packed with flavor. It has some of the
strongest influences from Southern Italy’s past Greek and Arab rule. It’s seriously underrated and far less known outside the region—but it deserves more attention.
Popular dishes:
🍽 ’Nduja (spicy spreadable salami)
🍽 Fileja alla ‘nduja (hand-rolled pasta with spicy pork sauce)
🍽 Cipolla rossa di Tropea (sweet red onions used in many dishes)
Calabria’s food is bold, spicy, and packed with flavor. It has some of the
strongest influences from Southern Italy’s past Greek and Arab rule. It’s seriously underrated and far less known outside the region—but it deserves more attention.
Popular dishes:
🍽 ’Nduja (spicy spreadable salami)
🍽 Fileja alla ‘nduja (hand-rolled pasta with spicy pork sauce)
🍽 Cipolla rossa di Tropea (sweet red onions used in many dishes)
6. Toscana
Tuscan cuisine emphasizes simple, high-quality ingredients. Think rustic dishes with olive oil, bread, and great meat. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is the one thing you do have to try when visiting.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Bistecca alla Fiorentina (massive T-bone steak)
🍽 Pappa al pomodoro (thick tomato and bread soup)
🍽 Ribollita (hearty vegetable and bread soup)
Tuscan cuisine emphasizes simple, high-quality ingredients. Think rustic dishes with olive oil, bread, and great meat. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is the one thing you do have to try when visiting.
Popular dishes:
🍽 Bistecca alla Fiorentina (massive T-bone steak)
🍽 Pappa al pomodoro (thick tomato and bread soup)
🍽 Ribollita (hearty vegetable and bread soup)
5. Liguria
The home of pesto and a seafood-rich Mediterranean diet. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Ligurian cuisine completely surprised me.
Must-try dishes:
🍽 Pesto Genovese (basil pesto with trofie pasta)
🍽 Farinata (chickpea flour pancake)
🍽 Focaccia di Recco (cheesy thin focaccia)
The home of pesto and a seafood-rich Mediterranean diet. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Ligurian cuisine completely surprised me.
Must-try dishes:
🍽 Pesto Genovese (basil pesto with trofie pasta)
🍽 Farinata (chickpea flour pancake)
🍽 Focaccia di Recco (cheesy thin focaccia)
4. Sicilia
Sicilian food is one of the most distinct in Italy. A mix of Arab, Greek, and Spanish influences makes it incredibly flavorful. What I loved most about Sicily was the sheer variety of dishes to try. It seemed like they had something for every taste.
Signature dishes:
🍽 Arancini (fried rice balls)
🍽 Caponata (sweet-and-sour eggplant stew)
🍽 Pasta alla Norma (pasta with fried eggplant and ricotta)
🍽 Cannoli
Sicilian food is one of the most distinct in Italy. A mix of Arab, Greek, and Spanish influences makes it incredibly flavorful. What I loved most about Sicily was the sheer variety of dishes to try. It seemed like they had something for every taste.
Signature dishes:
🍽 Arancini (fried rice balls)
🍽 Caponata (sweet-and-sour eggplant stew)
🍽 Pasta alla Norma (pasta with fried eggplant and ricotta)
🍽 Cannoli
3. Lazio
Lazio’s food is bold, rich, and packed with flavor. I am a pasta lover, so I may be a bit bias but I think it’s fair to say Lazio is the best region for pasta.
Must-try dishes:
🍽 Carbonara (egg, cheese, guanciale, and black pepper pasta)
🍽 Cacio e pepe (cheese and black pepper pasta)
🍽 Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal with prosciutto and sage)
Lazio’s food is bold, rich, and packed with flavor. I am a pasta lover, so I may be a bit bias but I think it’s fair to say Lazio is the best region for pasta.
Must-try dishes:
🍽 Carbonara (egg, cheese, guanciale, and black pepper pasta)
🍽 Cacio e pepe (cheese and black pepper pasta)
🍽 Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal with prosciutto and sage)
2. Campania
Home of pizza, fresh seafood, and some of Italy’s best desserts. Neapolitan cuisine is legendary. Many would rank it #1, and I nearly did too. But for me, it was just edged out by my top pick.
Top dishes:
🍽 Pizza Napoletana (wood-fired with a soft, chewy crust)
🍽 Spaghetti alle vongole (pasta with clams)
🍽 Parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana)
Home of pizza, fresh seafood, and some of Italy’s best desserts. Neapolitan cuisine is legendary. Many would rank it #1, and I nearly did too. But for me, it was just edged out by my top pick.
Top dishes:
🍽 Pizza Napoletana (wood-fired with a soft, chewy crust)
🍽 Spaghetti alle vongole (pasta with clams)
🍽 Parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana)
1. Emilia-Romagna
When I started making this list, I already knew Emilia-Romagna would take the top spot.
The food here isn’t just good—it’s some of the best I’ve ever had, anywhere. In fact, I’d return to Bologna for the cuisine alone.
The region is known for rich and hearty dishes like:
🍽 Tagliatelle al Ragù
🍽 Tortellini in Brodo
🍽 Lasagna Verde
🍽 Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, & Balsamic Vinegar
If you visit Bologna make sure to check out Trattoria da Me.
When I started making this list, I already knew Emilia-Romagna would take the top spot.
The food here isn’t just good—it’s some of the best I’ve ever had, anywhere. In fact, I’d return to Bologna for the cuisine alone.
The region is known for rich and hearty dishes like:
🍽 Tagliatelle al Ragù
🍽 Tortellini in Brodo
🍽 Lasagna Verde
🍽 Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, & Balsamic Vinegar
If you visit Bologna make sure to check out Trattoria da Me.
Thanks for checking out this thread
Which region in Italy do you think has the best cuisine?
Which region in Italy do you think has the best cuisine?
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