Updated

Love cacio e pepe? Try these 6 dishes next

If you love cacio e pepe, order spaghetti carbonara next (97/100 flavor match), then lasagna and tonkotsu ramen. Cacio e pepe is rich and deeply savory, and these dishes share that profile.

Spaghetti carbonara: rich pasta, like cacio e pepe.

Explore Palytt on iPhoneMatch up to 3 dishes

Android is coming. Get Android updates.

Flavor profile

Rich
4 out of 5
Savory
4 out of 5
Spicy
1 out of 5
Tangy
0 out of 5
Sweet
0 out of 5
Fresh
0 out of 5
Smoky
0 out of 5
Crunch
0 out of 5

Italian · pasta

6 dishes to try if you love cacio e pepe

  1. Spaghetti carbonaraRich pasta, like cacio e pepe.Italian · pasta
  2. LasagnaRich pasta, like cacio e pepe, but tangier.Italian American · pasta
  3. Tonkotsu ramenRich, like cacio e pepe.Japanese · noodle soup
  4. Xiao long baoRich, like cacio e pepe.Chinese · dumpling
  5. Palak paneerRich, like cacio e pepe, but fresher.Indian · curry
  6. Japanese curryRich, like cacio e pepe, but sweeter.Japanese · curry

Scores on this page compare editorial flavor profiles between dishes and are the same for everyone. They are not personal app match scores or ratings of a restaurant’s preparation. Recipes and menus vary. How these flavor scores work.

Cacio e pepe vs its closest matches

  • Cacio e pepe vs spaghetti carbonara

    97/100 flavor match

    Spaghetti carbonara is richer (5 vs 4), more savory (5 vs 4), milder (0 vs 1) and smokier (1 vs 0) than cacio e pepe, and differs on 1 more trait. The two rate the same on tang, sweetness and freshness.

  • Cacio e pepe vs lasagna

    75/100 flavor match

    Lasagna is tangier (3 vs 0), richer (5 vs 4), milder (0 vs 1) and sweeter (1 vs 0) than cacio e pepe, and differs on 2 more traits. The two rate the same on savoriness and smoke.

  • Cacio e pepe vs tonkotsu ramen

    68/100 flavor match

    Tonkotsu ramen is richer (5 vs 4), more savory (5 vs 4), sweeter (1 vs 0) and fresher (1 vs 0) than cacio e pepe, and differs on 2 more traits. The two rate the same on heat and tang.

Numbers are Palytt's editorial 0 to 5 trait ratings, written as the match first and the dish you love second.

How to order cacio e pepe

What it is

Cacio e pepe is pasta with pecorino romano and lots of black pepper, emulsified with pasta water into a glossy sauce.

Ordering tip

It is simple, so it shows how good a kitchen is. Pair it with something green.

Find your next favorite

Greek

Hawaiian

Indonesian

Italian American

Malaysian

Middle Eastern

Nepali

Peruvian

Vietnamese

Related reading

Good to know

What dishes are similar to cacio e pepe?

If you like cacio e pepe, try spaghetti carbonara, lasagna and tonkotsu ramen. Spaghetti carbonara is the closest flavor match (97/100): rich pasta, like cacio e pepe.

What does cacio e pepe taste like?

Cacio e pepe is pasta with pecorino romano and lots of black pepper, emulsified with pasta water into a glossy sauce. Its strongest traits: rich, deeply savory.

What should I order if I want something like cacio e pepe but different?

Try lasagna: rich pasta, like cacio e pepe, but tangier. It scores 75/100 against cacio e pepe on flavor.

How is cacio e pepe different from spaghetti carbonara?

Spaghetti carbonara is richer (5 vs 4), more savory (5 vs 4), milder (0 vs 1) and smokier (1 vs 0) than cacio e pepe, and differs on 1 more trait. The two rate the same on tang, sweetness and freshness. Ratings are 0 to 5, written as spaghetti carbonara vs cacio e pepe. Overall it scores 97/100 against cacio e pepe on flavor.

How are these food matches scored?

Each dish has a flavor profile rated 0 to 5 on richness, savoriness, heat, tang, sweetness, freshness, smoke and crunch. The match score compares two profiles and gives a small boost to dishes eaten the same way, like two noodle soups. In the Palytt app, your match score uses your own taste instead.

Find your next restaurant dish.

Explore Palytt on iPhone

Free on iPhone and iPad

Android is coming. Get Android updates.