The Best Turin Food in 2024

Have you ever eaten Piemontese cuisine before? Unless you’ve been to the region or met a local, then chances are you’ve never tried it! It’s what I love about Italy, how regional food prevails to this day and traditions are preserved and upheld so strongly. If you’re curious about the cuisine keep reading to find out more about Turin food and what to eat on a visit to this elegant city.

What food is Turin famous for?

Not quite sure what the local food is all about? The Piemontese cuisine is rich, often meat-heavy and full of flavour. It’s famous for its antipasti, of which there are many. Some of the best Piemontese antipasti include my absolute favourite vitello tonnato, battuta (carne cruda), insalata russa (Russian salad), lingua con salsa verde (tongue with green sauce), giardiniera, caponet (cabbage leaves filled with meat), and anchovies with green sauce just to name a few. The local pasta is made with lots of egg yolks and flour and you can choose between filled pasta (agnolotti) or long thin tajarin. Risotto and polenta also star in the cuisine with Vercelli (a town in the region) renowned for its excellent rice. The region produces arguably the world’s best hazelnuts as well as the elusive white truffles of Alba, and the famous hazelnut chocolate known as giundiutto. If you’d like to learn more about Turin food, have a listen to this podcast I recorded with Untold Italy.

10 Best Foods in Turin

There are many excellent restaurants in Turin and throughout the region of Piedmont to try some of the local specialties. Here’s my tips on what you should order for the best Turin food in the region.

1. Agnolotti al plin

Let’s start with pasta and my favourite – agnolotti al plin! This is a stuffed pasta and plin in dialect means pinched, referring to how the pasta is sealed together. The Piemontese agnolotti are stuffed with roast beef and then traditionally served with the sugo or sauce from the meat, enriched with a dollop of butter. If you’re lucky enough to visit during white truffle season, you will find many restaurants offer shaved white truffles over the top which is incredibly delicious and a must-try dish. Another traditional way to enjoy agnolotti during winter (and especially at Christmas time) is in brodo or hot broth.

2. Tajarin

Tajarin is Piemontese dialect for tagliolini. This delicious pasta is made with lots of eggs and extra egg yolks and flour. It is long and thin, pairing perfectly with a meat ragu or butter and truffles.

3. Vitello Tonnato

One of the most typical Piemontese dishes that is served as an antipasto is vitello tonnato. The dish is made with thinly sliced veal and topped with a creamy tuna sauce and if you’re lucky, a caperberry. Whilst the combination might sound strange to some (veal and tuna?!) it is incredibly delicious and you need to order it when you see it on the menu. It goes very well with grissini (breadsticks) which are another product of Piedmont.

4. Battuta al coltello

The Piedmont region is renowed for its excellent quality of beef – the fassona breed. It is low in cholesterol and high on taste and thus perfect for eating raw. The locals use this high quality beef by slicing very thinly (al coltello in Italian) and drizzling with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and in some instances lemon juice. The purists will tell you that you only need oil and salt because the beef should be of the absolute highest quality.

5. Brasato al Barolo

A famous ‘secondi’ or main course of Piedmont is braised veal in a bottle of Barolo wine. It is decadent, rich and utterly tender meat that melts in the mouth. This is one of our favourite dishes to enjoy in the winter time with a glass of Barolo or Nebbiolo to match.

6. Pesche ripiene

Literally stuffed peaches – this is a specialty during the summertime when juicy peaches are in season. They are filled with crushed amaretti biscuits, cocoa and butter and baked in the oven. These are my boyfriend’s father’s favourite dessert ever – he orders them for his birthday dinner every year!

7. Hazelnut cake/ Torta di nocciole

The Langhe wine region is not only famous for vino. In fact, they produce the best hazelnuts in the world! So when you’re in Piedmont, you cannot leave without trying the torta di nocciole.

8. Bagna Cauda

Perhaps this is the most iconic dish of Piedmont. You certainly won’t find it in any other region, so if you see it on the menu, please try it! Bagna Cauda essentially means ‘hot bath’ and is a hot sauce made from garlic, anchovies and butter. It is traditionally eaten at winter time and served in a fondue-style pot so you can dip vegetables or bread in. I particuarly like this drizzled over roasted capsicums.

9. Salsiccia di Bra

Whilst not actually from Turin, the special sausage from Bra is a delicacy you need to try. Bra is a tiny town in Le Langhe countryside and was where the Slow Food movement started. This tasty sausage is made from veal, pigs fat, white pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Often garlic, fennel, leeks, white wine or even prosecco is added to it. The best part about the sausage is that you eat it raw to appreciate its delicious flavour. For enthusiasts of this sausage, you should visit during the Spring and attend the local sagra (food festival) in Bra dedicated to it!

10. Bonet

We end on a sweet note with another iconic dessert of Turin, Piedmont. Bonet is essentially a chocolate pudding or flan with a tasty caramel sauce. It’s made with cacao, butter, and crushed amaretti biscuits and served cold. Chocolate and caramel lovers will adore this one.

Are you planning a visit to Turin? I recommend booking your hotel in advance and recommend staying at the NH Hotel in Piazza Carlina. It’s in a beautiful piazza in the center of town, quiet at night but very close to great restaurants and boasts comfortable luxurious rooms. Here are my top accommodation options in Turin:

• NH Hotel Piazza Carlina – Click to book
• Grand Hotel Sitea – Click to book
• Turin Palace Hotel – Click to book

Looking for more tips? Take a read of my guide on things to do in Turin, how to spend a weekend in Turin, or my podcast on Piedmont. If you love truffles, you can’t miss the Alba truffle festival either!