The most famous example of Trieste's distinctive buffet tradition — not a self-service canteen in the Italian sense, but an Austro-Hungarian-rooted lunch institution serving boiled meats, sandwiches, and local wine in an unpretentious standing or seated setting. Buffet da Pepi has been operating since 1897 and is the standard reference point for the form.
Order a panino con la carne (sandwich with boiled meat) for around €4, or sit down for a full plate of bollito misto at around €10. Far cheaper and more local than the tourist restaurants on the waterfront.