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There have been previous posts about thermopolia—fast-food counters in Ancient Rome, found in excavations of Pompeii (see below). A thermopolium (plural thermopolia) was a street‑front food shop where customers could buy hot food and drink. The name derives from Greek: thermos = hot poleo = to sell They catered especially to residents of insulae (apartment blocks) who lacked kitchens and relied on street food for daily meals. Because of this association with the lower and middle classes, elite Romans sometimes looked down on them. Here is a good video summarizing the thermopolia: