Guys, be ready to embark in a culinary experience that will blow your mind and taste buds. Palermo is one of the best places to experience Sicilian street food. Please try as many things as possible and don’t be discouraged if ingredients sound exotic. You won’t regret it – trust me. Listing all my favorites will take too long, but we wanted to highlight some things you should not miss to get you started.

Arancina: Her majesty, l’arancina is the queen of the sicilian street food. It’s a rice ball, breaded and deep fried, typically stuffed with ragù (accarne) or with bechamel, cheese and prosciutto (abburro). These days, you can find arancine with the most various fillings from carbonara to zucca (sweet potato) e salsiccia (sausage). The symbol of street food in Palermo. You must have it!!!!

PS there’s a controversy in Italy about the way people call this type of food. Everywhere else in Italy it is called with its masculine form arancinO. However, in Palermo (and only in Palermo), we use the feminine form, arancinA, because it resembles a small arancia (orange). When you order it make sure you use the feminine if you don’t want a half-hour lesson on the origin of it and why everyone else in the country is wrong about it.

Pane, panelle e crocchè: Typically eaten at the beach or as an afternoon snack, pane panelle e crocchè is a sandwich filled with a deep-fried chickpea fritters (panelle) and potato croquettes. You can also have them “protein style” without the bread. Best to buy them from a street vendor you’ll see nearby the beach.

Panino con la milza (panino ca’ meusa): Hear me out! This might sound intense but please try it first. Panino con la milza is one the most typical food from Palermo. It’s a sandwich made with spleen fried in lard. The panino is then topped off with cacio cavallo (a typical sheep cheese) or with ricotta (as we call it maritato). If you are in the city center, you can find it at Focacceria S. Francesco.

Rosticceria: Rosticceria encompass a variety of food such as calzone, ravazzata, spiedino, crostino etc. They can be found as a smaller bites (mignon) or as a meal option. A must-have.

Caponata: A Sicilian staple. This mix of vegetables is usually eaten as a side (better cold). It is a mixed of celery, capers, olives etc where fried eggplant is the main character. You can also find sword fish add-on. EAT THIS!

Polpo: Another typical beach snack. It’s simply boiled octopus that can be enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon.

Sfincione: Sfincione is good for every hour of the day. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s a type of pan pizza with ‘the perfect soft to crunchy ratio’ (Brittany’s description). On top you’ll find tomato sauce, onions, oregano, cacio cavallo cheese and anchovies. You sometimes hear the street vendor yelling “che ciavuuuuuuuruuuu” (what a good smell) to announce their presence. It also can be found at bakerys and panifici.

Brioche col Gelato: We know, you were all waiting for some Italian gelato. And your cravings will be satisfied and more. Not only you’ll have the option to have your gelato in a cup or a cone, but you can choose to have your gelato served in a soft, doughy, sweet, orange infused bread. If you want to indulge, you can add whipped cream or some chocolate of pistachio fudge

Granita: One of the most refreshing snacks you’ll ever have. You can find in the version of “grattatella” (crushed iced with fruit syrup) or standard granita (different flavors my favorite are strawberry, mixed berrys or lemon). If you don’t care about your sugare intake, you’ll love it

Ciambella: you might think it’s an American donut…but it’s not. Best enjoyed at the beach, directly bought from one of the vendors that walk up and down screaming “sciambeeeeeeeeeeeeelle”