From Traditional Mămăligă to Modern Cuisine: What and Where to Eat in Iași

Food tourism in Iași is a journey through the culinary traditions of the Moldavian region with a modern European touch. The local food is hearty, rich in flavor, and pairs perfectly with local Moldavian wines.

Essential Dishes to Try:

• Mămăligă with Cheese and Sour Cream (Mămăligă cu brânză și smântână): A classic polenta side dish served alongside almost every warm main course.
• Sarmale: Minced meat wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves and baked in clay pots. In Iași, they are often bite-sized and served with hot peppers.
• Moldavian Tochitură (Tochitură moldovenească): A rich stew made of pork, sausages, and offal in tomato sauce, served with a fried egg and mămăligă.
• Poale-n brâu: Traditional Moldavian fluffy pastries filled with sweet or savory cheese.

Where to Feel the Atmosphere:

Visit traditional taverns (Cârciumă) in the historic center to sample local wines from the Cotnari region, famous for its sweet and dry white wines since the time of Stephen the Great.