The fertile lands of Moldova mean that bountiful produce is available all year round.

Our Moldova Restaurant Guide below will tell you all you need to know about food and cuisine in Moldova. After an exciting day experience the local shopping scene, relax in an authentic Moldovan restaurant and taste a variety of delicious dishes.

Check out information about what the local dining scene is like in the destinations below, as well as some of our local suggestions on places to have a meal.

- Chisinau

Food & Cuisine in Moldova

Like with Greek and Turkish food, most Moldovan recipes call for the use of plenty of vegetables. Capsicum, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, garlic and onions are used to create light salads, tangy sauces, and baked recipes, while some are even preserved as pickles for use all year round.

Maize is a key ingredient, forming the base of biscuits, soups and even some non alcoholic drinks.

A favourite and rather delicious staple, the mamaliga is a polenta or porridge made from the grain. Mamaliga is most often served accompanied by sliced or fried meats, local cheeses, cream and other condiments.

The meat-based first and second courses of a meal in Moldova are a wonderful mix of cooking styles. Your meal could have anything from soups or the more hearty goulash to roasted meats, or maybe even grilled rolls filed with minced meats. Meats are usually well pickled and then set on hot charcoal for a lovely smoky, grilled flavour. Festive meals are often unusual, with things as varied as meat jelly or cabbage rolls or noodles, all featuring on the same menu. Baking is so much a part of Moldovan food that no meal is complete without pies, cookies and cakes. Some special desserts have freshly baked cake dipped in warm sugary syrups served with juicy fruit.

Besides having a unique national flavour, Moldova also has different regional cuisines. While the eastern part of Moldova has a distinctly Ukranian flavour, making the borsch incredibly popular; towards the south it is Bulgarian style Chicken Sauce or Mangea which finds favour with the locals. Russian influence has popularized Pelmeni or the stuffed meat roll, while Gagauzian cuisine has brought Moldova the Sorpa or the spiced ram soup.

When it comes to drinks that go well with the local food, Moldova leaves the connoisseur spoilt for choice. Teetotallers can enjoy juices or stewed fruits while alcoholic drinks like Moldovan wine and brandy keep everyone else happy! Not to be missed is the local plum-based brandy or the Tuica.

No gourmand will go home on an empty stomach in Chişinău. The food here is both delicious and cheap! With dozens of eateries dotted across the area, you can choose to eat like the locals do. The best service and longer menus are to be found in the charming cafes and lovely little restaurants in Moldova. Higher end restaurants charge similar rates to the rest of Europe, but if it is a cheap meal you are looking for head to a pizza shop or a fast food counter. There are several of these in each street.

Groceries are aplenty too, so you can stock up on local ingredients easily at the tiny neighbourhood shops or at larger supermarkets in Moldova. Fruits and vegetables are best bought at the fresh produce markets. Tropical fruits and vegetables are typically imported, though, so do keep that in mind when you shop. You can buy meats from the supermarkets where you are assured of good quality and reasonable prices.

Things to try

Don't leave without sampling some of the local specialities at the coffee shops or Moldova restaurants. You will need to plan for a leisurely meal - so relax as service can be slow - but it is well worth the wait.

Mititeyi - Grilled sausages with capsicum and onion.

Mamaliga - A maize-based pie, which is quite filling and is usually offered with brinza (feta cheese).

Tocana - A garlicky, sweet and sour stew made with pork. Some suggest making a meal of this along with apples and sweet and sour watermelons!

Drink

The people of Moldova have been making wine for centuries and their wines are hugely appreciated around the world by people in the know. Most villagers actually have their very own vineyards and make their wines at home. An astonishing 3000 to 4000 litres of wine is made each year by the households in the villages.

Wines in Moldova are usually quite strong and dry, yet sweet. The use of both local (Black Rara, Feteasca and Moldova) and European (Cabernet, Sauvignon and Muscat) vines means you'll have a pick of the best flavours! Most visitors take home a bottle or two of the best local varieties to keep their memories of Moldova alive!

Indulge in some wine tasting at a cellar, but do ask to try the Moldovan Merlot and Cabernet if you like reds, or give the whites a test - their Riesling, Aligote and Sauvignon are favoured by many.

The Nistru or Doina brandy goes well with dessert. Do steel yourself before you try the robust plum brandy, but prepare to fall in love with its unique and warm flavour.