The fastest, cheapest, frequently best food on Palermo's streets.
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Palermo.
Pani Ca' Meusa Porta Carbone on Via Cala by Palermo's port has fried spleen, lung and trachea sandwiches in lard since 1943; the city's canonical pane ca' meusa counter.
Try: Pane ca' meusa (spleen sandwich)
Tip: Order maritato (with caciocavallo and ricotta) for the milder version. Cash only; pair with a Messina beer.
Friggitoria Chiluzzo on Piazza Kalsa in Palermo is the canonical panelle counter, four-euro chickpea-fritter-and-crocche sandwiches eaten standing under the palm-tree square.
Try: Panelle e crocche (chickpea fritters and potato croquettes)
Tip: Cash only. The panelle e crocche sandwich is the order; eat on the church steps opposite.
Franco u' Vastiddaru on Via Vittorio Emanuele at Piazza Marina in Palermo is the canonical pane con la milza counter since 1992, founded by a former Antica Focacceria apprentice.
Try: Pane con la milza, vastedda al lardo
Tip: Maritato (with caciocavallo and ricotta) is the gateway; ask for la vastedda al lardo if you want the bread alone.
Antica Focacceria San Francesco in Palermo since 1834 is the sit-down street food room, canonical pane ca' meusa, sfincione, panelle and the largest carte in the historic centre.
Try: Pane ca' meusa, sfincione, panelle
Tip: Counter pickup is fastest at lunch; the terrace facing the basilica is the sit-down seat.
Ke Palle on Via Maqueda in Palermo's historic centre is the city's flagship arancineria, 20-plus daily flavours fried to order, vegan and vegetarian options labelled.
Try: Arancina (Palermitan rice ball)
Tip: Arancina classica (meat) and porcini are the most-ordered; the pistachio is the after-dinner sleeper.
FUD Bottega Sicula on Piazza Olivella in Palermo turns Modica beef, Nebrodi salumi and the island's cheese DOPs into a Sicilian burger carte with house craft beer on tap.
Try: Sicilian-ingredient burgers and hot dogs
Tip: Lunch is the easiest entry. The vegetarian Sicilian burger is the credible meat-free option.
Bisso Bistrot at the Quattro Canti in Palermo is a sit-down street food bistro inside a former bookshop, Sicilian classics under 10 euros, communal table seating.
Try: Pasta alla Norma, caponata
Tip: No reservations. Arrive 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner for a seat; the communal table is fastest.
The Ballaro stigghiolari fire charcoal braziers along Piazza Ballaro and Via Carmine from dusk in Palermo, grilling lamb intestines on skewers, the original after-dark street snack.
Try: Stigghiola (grilled lamb intestines)
Tip: Eat with lemon, no bread. The vendor closest to Piazza Carmine has the freshest skewers.
Sfincione vendors at Mercato della Vucciria on Piazza Caracciolo in Palermo cut thick squares of focaccia-pizza with caciocavallo, anchovies and breadcrumbs from morning trays.
Try: Sfincione (Sicilian focaccia-pizza)
Tip: Eat warm by the slice. The fishmonger end has the busiest sfincione stand at lunch.
Arancina vendors at the Mercato del Capo along Via Sant'Agostino and Via Carini in Palermo fry rice balls, panelle and pane ca' meusa from morning braziers for the market crowd.
Try: Arancina, panelle, pane ca' meusa
Tip: Cash only. The pane ca' meusa stand at the Via Volturno end fries to order until 14:00.
Octopus vendors at Mercato della Vucciria in Palermo boil whole polpo in steaming pots through the morning, slicing onto paper with lemon, salt and olive oil for a midday snack.
Try: Polpo bollito (boiled octopus)
Tip: Cash only. Eat warm with lemon; the salt cellar lives on the cart for self-service.
Panelle and crocche vendors along Piazza Ballaro and Via Albergheria in Palermo fry chickpea-flour fritters and potato croquettes in flat pans through the working day.
Try: Panelle, crocche, sfincione
Tip: Eat in a sesame-seed vastedda bun. The corner of Via Carmine has the busiest counter.
Borgo Vecchio's night market on Piazzetta Mulino a Vento in Palermo fires charcoal braziers from 20:00 for grilled meat, panelle and frittole, the after-midnight working snack.
Try: Carne arrostita, panelle, frittole
Tip: Cash only. Peak hour is 23:00 to 02:00 on weekends; the grilled horse meat is a local order.
Ballarak on Piazza Magione in Palermo's Kalsa is the city's first craft brewery and brewpub since 2016, sfincione-style pizza and Suino Nero burgers paired with house IPA.
Try: Sfincione-style pizza, Suino Nero burger
Tip: Piazza tables are the best summer seats. The tap list rotates monthly; ask which beer is freshest.