Mastro Ciccio Bari Review: Best Octopus Burger in Puglia

Bari Food Recommendation

Mastro Ciccio

​

ⓒ Written & Photographed by Nomad Ssalmi

The moment I arrived in Bari, Italy,

there was one specific dish I had bookmarked and couldn't wait to try.

And that is none other than the famous octopus burger🐙

While there are several spots serving this delicacy,

I headed straight to the most legendary one of them all:

Mastro Ciccio.

Here is my honest review of the experience!

1. Mastro Ciccio Quick Facts

The Puglia region of Southern Italy,

and especially Bari, is an absolute paradise for seafood lovers.

In particular, the octopus burger—

stuffed with the fresh, rich flavors of the sea—

is practically the ultimate soul food of this coastal town.

And Mastro Ciccio is famous

for making the absolute coolest

and most mouthwatering octopus burgers in Bari.

2. A Look Inside

The restaurant's exterior, blending a historic building

with vibrant decorations and a bold red logo,

easily catches your eye even from a distance.

Since it's such an incredibly popular spot,

there was a massive line wrapped around the front of the shop.

If you're not in the mood to wait in line,

you can order online via the QR code

and pick it up directly from the dedicated takeout window.

But we were super curious to see the octopus burgers on display,

so we headed right inside.

Maybe because it was the weekend,

there were several families throwing birthday parties for kids inside.

So there really wasn't any room for us to sit.🥲

So, we just decided to order ours to go!

Their menu features not just octopus burgers,

but also a wide variety of authentic Apulian dishes.

The menu highlights fresh ingredients like octopus and various seafood,

and they also serve items like panzerotti and salads.

The presentation of this octopus burger is absolutely incredible, right?

Since we came here with our eyes solely on the octopus burgers,

we decided to try two different kinds.

3. Food Review

1️⃣

U Pulp

12 Euros

With a visual that immediately steals the show,

this burger features a massive, whole octopus tentacle,

giving you a mouthful of delicious octopus with every single bite.

The octopus was incredibly tender.

Even though it's served whole like this,

it wasn't chewy at all, making it super easy to eat.

Tucked between a bun that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside,

you'll find rich, creamy stracciatella cheese

and a generous spread of aromatic herb pesto,

which perfectly elevates the savory flavor of the octopus.

Because of its massive size,

it was incredibly filling.

While it was absolutely delicious,

it didn't quite leave us completely mind-blown.

2️⃣

Lady Pulp

12 Euros

Personally, I highly recommend the Lady Pulp

much more than the signature U Pulp!

If the texture of a whole octopus tentacle feels a bit intimidating,

this is definitely the choice for you.

They take tenderly cooked octopus,

slice it thinly, and layer it up,

which makes the texture incredibly delicate

and allows it to blend much more smoothly with the bun.

It’s packed with a whole slice of cheese,

cubed potatoes, tomatoes, and more—

they really did not skimp on the ingredients at all.

The natural saltiness of the octopus

is beautifully balanced by the creamy cheese,

keeping it light and delicious

right down to the very last bite.

But the absolute best part of Mastro Ciccio's burgers

is, without a doubt, the bread.

It's so good you could honestly eat it entirely on its own!

It's crispy on the outside but not tough at all,

and I was instantly blown away from the very first bite.

4. Wrap-up

I’m normally not the type of person to wait in lines for food,

but Mastro Ciccio

was absolutely worth every single second of the wait.

If you ever find yourself in Bari,

I highly recommend giving the octopus burger a try!

I hope this post helps you plan

an amazing and unforgettable trip!