Did Fast Food Originate in Ancient Rome?

20.01.2025 - 16:08

Think fast food is a modern invention? Think again! The roots of today’s fast food culture trace back to Ancient Rome, where bustling “thermopolia” served as the original quick-service restaurants. These shops catered to Romans without kitchens at home, offering hot meals like legumes, meats, and even an early version of the hamburger. While there were no fries or sodas, you could grab a warm drink or a hearty dish in minutes. Curious to learn how fast food began thousands of years ago? Let’s uncover this ancient culinary story! 🍷🍲

Did you know that the concept of fast food actually dates back to Ancient Rome?

According to official records, the first fast food restaurant is said to be White Castle, established in 1921.

Excavations in Pompeii reveal that fast food culture originated during Ancient Roman times.

While wealthy Romans had kitchens in their homes and a staff of slaves to cook meals, many middle- and lower-class families lacked designated spaces for food preparation in their homes.

For this reason, places called 'thermopolia' were vital to the community, providing daily meals for many people.

This term, derived from Greek, translates to “places that sell hot food.” These fast food establishments varied widely, ranging from simple neighborhood stands selling a few basic items to small shops with 'takeaway' meals offered from rooms opening onto the streets. Some were larger spaces adorned with beautiful frescoes and included seating areas.

Each meal was stored in clay pots called 'dolia', which were placed into large openings in the counters of the thermopolium.

While smaller shops often had a single counter to serve just a few dishes, larger establishments featured counters that extended across the space, maximizing the variety of food on offer.

Despite their essential role in Ancient Roman society, thermopolia were often looked down upon.

They were commonly seen as gathering places for morally questionable individuals, including outlaws, thieves, and those who overindulged in wine sold at these venues. Emperor Claudius even attempted to shut them down, considering their bad reputation to outweigh their societal benefits.

So, what was on the menu?

Unlike the burger chains that come to mind when we think of fast food today, thermopoliaresembled modern 'fast casual' bowl restaurants more closely. Popular items included a warm, spiced wine known as calida, along with cooked legumes, eggs, various meats, cheeses, and baked goods such as pastries.

Remarkably, we still know about some popular recipes served at these establishments, despite the thousands of years that have passed.

One example is Isicia omentata, which could be considered an ancient relative of the modern hamburger. Made from minced beef mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in wine, pine nuts, and anchovy sauce, the mixture was shaped into patties. These patties were wrapped in caul fat, covered in a red wine sauce, fried, and served with grape syrup. While quite different from today’s hamburgers, this dish combined sweet and savory elements, laying the foundation for the fast foods we love today.