Er Buchetto

Er Buchetto is a tiny, historic porchetta sandwich shop near Termini station and the Baths of Diocletian, a true hole-in-the-wall that has been serving one thing supremely well for generations. The name means 'the little hole', and the cramped premises—barely more than a counter and a couple of standing spots—live up to it. The speciality is the porchetta panino: thick slices of herbed, slow-roasted Ariccia-style pork, with their prized crackling, piled into a fresh crusty roll, with little else needed. A few simple alternatives such as a frittata sandwich round out a deliberately minimal menu, accompanied by a glass of cheap local wine in the old Roman fashion. This is street food at its most authentic and unpretentious: cash only, standing room only, quick and cheap, with the focus entirely on the quality of the porchetta. The experience is the antithesis of a sit-down restaurant—a swift, satisfying bite eaten at the counter or on the move—and its longevity in the same spot is testament to how good the simple formula is. Prices are very low, with a porchetta sandwich around €4, making it one of the best-value bites in the area. Its location by Termini and the Baths of Diocletian, close to the National Roman Museum, makes it a handy and characterful stop for travellers arriving or departing by train, or exploring this part of the city. Opening hours are limited—roughly daytime, Monday to Saturday, until the porchetta sells out—so timing matters. For an authentic, no-frills taste of Roman porchetta, Er Buchetto is a classic.