Romania‘s capital, Bucharest, is a city rich in history. Its medieval churches and neoclassical palaces tell the tales of the past, while its contemporary buildings and skyscrapers portray urban life. It is the country’s most prosperous city, with abundant cultural venues, thriving businesses, educational institutes, gigantic convention facilities, and recreational areas. Likewise, this town is shrouded in a festive atmosphere throughout the year. It hosts many celebrations, including festivals, film fests, concerts, and art exhibits. Every good place comes with good food. The food in Bucharest, Romania, and the best restaurants in Bucharest list will surely be delightful for you.
This Romanian city’s culinary scene is one-of-a-kind. It has everything from traditional Romanian dishes to cuisines from other countries. Romanian dishes have touches from the Turkish, Hungarian, and German cuisines. Likewise, this city’s signature dishes blend the influences of surrounding regions, creating a unique flavor and profile. Each dish tells a story of cultural convergence, satisfying the diners’ palate and offering them insight into the country’s diverse landscape and rich history. Hence, this blog is all about the food in Bucharest, Romania, and the best restaurants in Bucharest.
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Best Food in Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest’s food scene has deep roots in traditional Romanian cuisine, which primarily uses pork. As such, pork is blended in almost all dishes. You will also find beef, chicken, goose meat, mutton, and fish dishes. Here, we will discuss the must-have food in Romania’s capital.
Sarmale
- Where To Eat: Caru’ cu Bere, Hanu’ lui Manuc, La Mama
- Price Range: $1.5
We begin our list with the Romanian signature dish, Sarmale. It is cabbage rolls filled with minced meat and spices. Romanians usually made them with sour cabbage and stuffed with a filling of ground pork, goose, veal meat, rice, and seasonings. It is slow-cooked to perfection and served with sour cream and polenta on the side. The result is delicious Sarmale, juicy in the middle, tender on the outside, and just with the right sour flavor. You usually eat this dish at a Romanian Christmas or New Year’s celebration.
Tripe Soup
- Where To Eat: La Mama, Ciorbărie, The Soup Carousel
- Price Range: 74 RON onwards
Tripe soup is a familiar dish in Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Serbian, and Turkish cuisines. It is an excellent hangover remedy and an inexpensive source of lean protein. The Romanian Tripe Soup, aka Ciorbă de burtă, is a thick soup made of beef tripe. The stock is thickened with flour, egg yolks, and sour cream. Finally, it is seasoned with vinegar, garlic, and high-fat sour cream. It tastes delicious and fulfilling.
Mititei (Mici)
- Where To Eat: Terasa Obor, La Petre by Cocosatu, City Grill Primăverii
- Price Range: 3 RON per piece onwards
Next, Mititei is the must-have dish in Bucharest. ‘Mititei’ comes from the Romanian word ‘mici,’ meaning ‘small or little.’ This traditional dish is grilled meat rolls made of beef, pork, and lamb and seasoned with many spices, including garlic, paprika, black pepper, anise, thyme, and coriander. This dish usually includes pickled vegetables, french fries, mustard, and bread. You must enjoy these Romanian sausages with a refreshing cold beer during summer days.
Plăcinte
- Where To Eat: La Plăcinte, Camera din Față, Coclintă Brasserie
- Price Range: 30 RON onwards
Who doesn’t love pies? Plăcinte or Plăcintă is a Romanian and Moldovan traditional pastry whose origins date back to ancient Rome and Greece. This dish resembles a pie and comes with many kinds of stuffing. It is usually round or square-shaped and filled with soft cheese or apples. Visitors can order sweet or savory plăcinte in traditional Bucharest restaurants. Some establishments also serve pies with potatoes, bacon, mutton, meat, cottage cheese, and cherry fillings.
Frigărui
- Where To Eat: City Grill, Gratarul din Allep, Colțu` Berarilor
- Price Range: 28 RON for 2 pieces
Frigărui, or Romanian Chicken Kebabs, are among the best foods in Bucharest. They consist of only seasoned chicken or a mix of chicken and veggies. Romanians love outdoor cooking, and Frigărui is often an unmissable dish during barbeques. Chicken is marinated with seasoning and put in skewers alongside veggies. They are then grilled on the barbeque over flaming hot coal. The result is sizzling, smoky chicken kebabs, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The flavor is so good you will want to have it every time you fire up the grill.
Papanasi
- Where To Eat: Grand Café Van Gogh, Hanu’ lui Manuc, Caru’ cu bere
- Price Range: 44 RON onwards
Let’s add a sweet taste to your food expedition. Papanasi is Romania’s national dessert. It is doughnut-shaped with a doughnut hole on top. These Romanian fried donuts are made with soft cheese, covered in heavy cream, and topped with sour cherries, jam, or blueberry preserves. They offer a comforting end to any meal. Moreover, this dessert’s origins date back to Moldova. According to sources, it also has Austro-Hungarian and ancient Denmark origins.
Best Restaurants in Bucharest
We are halfway through our blog on Food in Bucharest, Romania, and the best restaurants in Bucharest. This city has fantastic dining options catering to diverse palates, from traditional Romanian dishes to fast food. These establishments range from cheap eats to upscale dining, accommodating diverse budget ranges. Here, we have handpicked the top restaurants in Bucharest where you should dine at least once.
Kaiamo
- Address: 30A, Strada Ermil Pangrati Street, București 011884, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 6 PM – 11 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
We begin our list with Kaiama, a renowned restaurant on the iconic Ermil Pangratti Street, Bucharest. Chef Radu CM Ionescu-Feher launched this establishment to create experimental Romanian cuisine. As such, Kaiamo aims to let ingredients shine at their own pace through a distinctive and conceptual form of cuisine that goes beyond the borders of thought, lands, or origins. It has received international recognition, including Gault & Millau Romania’s Top 3 Best Restaurants existing in the country. It features experimental tasting menus with 9, 11, and 15 courses. Diners can also try the Author Tasting Menu, which has 20 courses.
Caru’ cu bere
- Address: Strada Stavropoleos 5, București 030081, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 9 AM – 12 AM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Caru’ cu bere is a famous Romanian restaurant with over 140 years of history. It opened as a brewery in 1879 before transforming into a restaurant in 1899. Today, this place welcomes hundreds of diners looking forward to enjoying authentic Romanian dishes. These culinary creations still follow original recipes created decades ago. Many famous personalities previously dined here, including the Rolling Stones band, the Crown Prince of Japan, George Cosbuc, and IL Caragiale. Its Beer Cart building is an architectural masterpiece featuring a Neo-Gothic style with stained glass windows, paintings, carved paneling, and mosaics.
La Mama
- Address: Strada Delea Veche 51, București, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
If there is any Bucharest restaurant where you can find all traditional Romanian dishes, it has to be La Mama. It is a chain of restaurants that presents an authentic taste of traditional Romanian cuisine, prepared with love, just like at Mother’s Home. Each bite is a celebration, from rich soups and aromatic stews to homemade desserts. This establishment features a friendly, welcoming ambiance perfect for casual hangouts, family dinners, or special events. The price is also affordable and well worth the food quality and service.
Hanu’ Berarilor Casa Elena Lupescu
- Address: Bulevardul Pache Protopopescu 51, București 030167, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 9 AM – 11 PM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Hanu’ Berarilor is a Romanian trademark with three restaurants: Casa Soare House, Casa Elena Lupescu, and Uranus. Hanu’ Berarilor Casa Elena Lupescu is a gastronomic brewery named after Elena Lupescu, the mistress and last wife of King Carol II. This establishment features a relaxing atmosphere in its interior lounges and gardens. It offers a variety of beers that will complement your dish. The beer house also features many wine, tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic options.
Hanu’ lui Manuc
- Address: Str. Franceză 62-64, București 030106, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 10 AM – 12 AM
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Next, we have the famous Hanu’ lui Manuc Restaurant in the historic Manuc’s Inn. This building was built in 1806 and still retains its original charm. The legendary setting is only one of the reasons why this restaurant is so famous. Diners from far and wide come here to taste its delicious offerings. This establishment serves traditional Romanian dishes, from sarmale to mititei, plăcinte, and papanasi. It also hosts live music performances to elevate your dining experience. And, let’s not forget, this place has the most beautiful terrace in Bucharest, where you can enjoy outdoor dining.
Sharkia
- Address: Strada Luterană 2-4, București 010162, Romania; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Social Media: Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Lastly, Sharkia is among the best restaurants in Bucharest. This award-winning dining hub serves mouthwatering East Mediterranean and International dishes. Here, flavors come alive, and each bite feels like traveling to the Midwest. This restaurant’s menu is primarily Lebanese, with few Turkish influences and International options. Its great ambiance, delicious dishes, unique cocktails, and Levantine hospitality attract locals and tourists alike.
Sadly, our blog about Food in Bucharest, Romania, and the best restaurants in Bucharest has ended. Our list includes the city’s must-eat dishes and famous dining establishments. Since Romanian cuisine is primarily meat-based, you might think it will be challenging for vegetarians to find food. However, that’s not the case. Most restaurants offer vegetarian options on their menu. You will also find several vegan restaurants.
