RomaniaWhat to eat in Romania: top 10 dishes
Traveling to Romania? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.
01Pâté
Pâté (UK: PAT-ay, US: pa(h)-TAY, French: [pɑte] ) is a forcemeat. Originally, the dish was cooked in a pastry case and called pâté en croute; in more recent times it is more usually cooked without pastry in a terrine, and called pâté en terrine or simply…
Travel tip A spread of ground meat or liver, usually served with bread, pickles or mustard. Look for it in cafés and delis as a starter or snack.
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02Mititei
Mititei or mici is a traditional dish from Romanian cuisine, consisting of grilled ground meat sausages made from a mixture of beef, lamb and pork, with spices such as garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, savory, and sometimes a touch of paprika.
Travel tip Grilled skinless sausages eaten with mustard and bread, and often a cold beer. Common at barbecues, outdoor festivals and traditional restaurants, especially in summer.
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03Kürtőskalács
Kürtőskalács is a spit cake specific to Hungarians from Transylvania, more specifically the Székelys. Originally popular in the Székely Land, it became popular in both Hungary and Romania.
Travel tip A sweet chimney cake baked over coals, sold at markets, festivals and street stands. Eat it warm while it is crisp and the aroma of sugar and cinnamon is strongest.
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04Plăcintă
Plăcintă is a Romanian and Moldovan traditional pastry resembling a thin, small round or square-shaped cake, usually filled with apples or a soft cheese such as Urdă.
Travel tip A thin filled pastry with cheese, cabbage or fruit, available at bakeries and street stands. A quick, inexpensive snack.
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05Papanași
Papanași is a Romanian dessert made from fresh-cheese (brânza proaspătă or urdă) dough. It is usually served topped with cream (smântână) and fruit confit. It is a traditional dessert in Romania and Moldova.
Travel tip Fried or boiled cheese doughnuts served with sour cream and jam. It is a popular dessert in traditional restaurants and shared by the table.
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06Amandine
Amandine (Romanian: amandină) is a Romanian chocolate layered cake filled with chocolate, caramel and fondant cream. Almond cream is sometimes used. These cakes are among the most traditional "sweetshop" cakes in Romania.
Travel tip A chocolate layer cake found in bakeries and cafés, enjoyed as a dessert or snack with coffee. A classic of Romanian pastry shops.
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07Sarmale
Stuffed leaves—more commonly known by its sub-types stuffed grape leaves, stuffed vine leaves, or stuffed cabbage leaves—are a food made of leaves rolled around a filling of minced meat, grains such as rice, or both.
Travel tip Cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice, served with polenta and sour cream. They are a must at holiday tables, especially Christmas, and take hours to cook at home.
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08Drob
Drob, fully named Drob de Miel (Lamb Drob) or Drob de Paște (Easter Drob), is a traditional Romanian dish of lamb offals (liver, lungs, spleen, heart, kidney), green onions, herbs (dill, parsley, garlic, lovage), eggs (boiled or fresh), and bread soaked in…
Travel tip A lamb dish traditionally eaten at Easter, often served as a cold sliced starter. It is mostly a holiday home dish, so ask about it in spring.
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09Ciorbă de perișoare
Ciorbă de perișoare is a traditional Romanian sour soup made with meatballs. Perișoare are meatballs usually made with minced pork meat, mixed with rice and spices and boiled in a ciorbă—a soup made with assorted vegetables such as onions, parsnips, celery,…
Travel tip A sour soup with meatballs and vegetables, a staple of home cooking and local restaurants. Add a spoon of sour cream and eat it with bread.
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10Covrigi
Covrigi are Romanian baked goods similar to pretzels. They consist of salted bread topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds or large salt grains. They do not usually contain any added sweeteners such as sugar.
Travel tip Pretzel-like bread rings sold from street stands and bakeries, sprinkled with salt, sesame or poppy seeds. A cheap snack for a walk around town.
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