What to eat in Brașov

Transylvanian food in Brașov is heavier and meatier than in the south of the country: tripe soup opens the table, shepherd's bulz brings polenta and bryndza together in one pot, and papanași with soured cream and sour-cherry jam are close to a mandatory way to end the meal. These are the six dishes that actually get ordered, with the price per portion.

Tripe soup and sour soup — how the meal starts

Tripe soup (€6.27) is a thick soup made from beef tripe, soured with cream and garlic — a common way to open a meal in the mountain regions of Romania. Alongside it there is Transylvanian sour soup (€5.70), made with smoked pork knuckle and tarragon, thicker and smokier than the classic tripe version.

2 daysWhere these meals fit into the day-by-day plan:Brașov in 2 days →

Sarmale and tochitură — the main course

Sarmale (€10.26) arrive with rye bread, polenta and soured cream, in a larger portion than is usual further south. Transylvanian tochitură (€11.40) is pork stewed with polenta, a fried egg and telemea cheese on top — a heavier dish, usual on colder days.

BudgetHow these meals fit into the daily budget:What Brașov costs →

Shepherd's bulz — a mountain dish

Shepherd's bulz (€9.88) is baked polenta filled with bryndza, a soft salty sheep's cheese, topped with rye bread and an egg — a dish once cooked over a fire for shepherds on the mountains above Brașov, now a standard menu item at any restaurant serving Transylvanian food.

Hidden gemsCasa Sfatului and the Weavers' Bastion, both near Old Town restaurants:Brașov beyond the six main sights →

Papanași to finish

Papanași (€6.46) are fried doughnut-shaped cheese rounds, served with soured cream and sour-cherry jam — a dessert ordered as its own course, not just tacked onto the end of dinner.

Where to stayThe areas these restaurants sit closest to:Where to stay in Brașov →

Mornings and quick bites

• Street food — covrigi (a baked pretzel-style bread) from a kiosk in the Old Town, quick and no sitting down.
• Set lunch — a two- or three-course workday lunch, common in the centre on weekdays.
• Restaurant, main course — €6.84–8.55, the price for sarmale or tochitură with a side, no drinks.

Getting aroundHow to reach the restaurant streets on foot or by bus:Getting around Brașov →

When to goWhich month suits Brașov best:The best time to visit Brașov →

MistakesOther mistakes around food and the bill:Mistakes everyone makes in Brașov →

Day tripsFour half- or full-day trips out of town:Day trips from Brașov →