Roma Market

Love their $6 deli sandwiches that are so perfect for whatever outing you have coming up! We have gotten them for the beach, airport meal, regular lunch time, etc etc They are a great price and great size! I remember them saying they tend to run out of them near lunch time so I always try to get them in the morning. Parking is always available even though it’s a small lot. I have always found a spot. The cashiers are always friendly too (pretty sure it is family run). I highly recommend this place!

As a grown-up, it’s so much fun going to Roma Market. After spending time in Italy and cooking there, I really appreciate their selection. They have a lot of pasta varieties. It’s a tiny spot, but they have a lot of goods from Italy. You can even get a Bialetti moka pot. It may look a little intimidating, but once you figure it out, watch your friend do it or watch a video online, you’ll be hugged and want to have that every morning instead. Each Tasini, little cup, is equivalent to about 2 cups of coffee. I like the Illy brand coffee. This was from Italy. I find that the ones that are packaged in Italy taste much better. The ones that they sell in the US, you can find them at the grocery stores or at specialty cooking stores and you can taste fertilizer. I’ve done a few taste tests and was able to get a friend to bring some back again. It’s definitely much better when it comes from there. It’s not inexpensive. They cut their meat, fresh and cheese, too. I even got some other frozen sauces and bottled waters. I’ve gotten fresh bags of walnuts and pistachio nuts from them. It’s always fun to see what they have in stock. As busy as they are, they surprisingly answer the phone every single time and answer questions. The ladies have been there forever and they are super nice. If you are in a hurry, do not go during the lunch rush as they have their ever so popular Italian sandwiches. They have it on fresh baked bread and their meats and cheeses are freshly sliced. They wrap them in pink butcher paper and the line goes out the door. A little Nonno stands by the door to regulate traffic coming in. You cannot customize the sandwich. It’s so yummy. But either go a little before lunch or after and maybe the lines will be better. Parking is kind of tight but we always find a spot.

Roma Market continues to pump out these simple yet delicious Italian sandwiches. There is no variety here, but they are convenient and filled with a tasty combination of Italian cold cuts and a slice of good cheese. When described as simple I really mean simple. Salami, Sopresseta, and Mortadella are what are offered. If there were some greens and maybe a nice tomato, I would certainly make this a 5-star sandwich. Of course, the present creation sits and travels very well. The rest of the market remains sparse, but they do carry some nice imported goodies. The limited produce is also of good quality too. This is a real Pasadena institution.

I never write reviews, but I was visiting from Sacramento and I had seen a post on Instagram about this legendary $6 sandwich. I went in on Thursday and bought two sandwiches, some cookies and a focaccia. The sandwiches were SO GOOD I called my Calabrese mom to tell her and promised Id bring her back one. I ate the focaccia a few hours later and was blown away by how flavorful it was. I returned Friday and bought armfuls of sandwiches and focaccia to bring home to my family who all left impeccable reviews. The crusty Italian bread and simplicity of the cured meats were literally to die for. I plan to return every time I visit southern California