Here’s our honest (and very hungry) guide to great food spots in Chisinau, tested during our food tasting project, which somehow always turned into stories, laughs, and random discoveries like “wait… you used to be a history teacher?”

Momo Asian Bar… New Year with meaning, symbolism… and plenty of food.

This year was the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation. To celebrate, we gathered at Momo Asian Bar and turned lunch into our very first tasting of the year.

Favourites:

• Fried rice with egg & chicken
• Shrimp popcorn
• Rice noodles

Good food, a bit of history, and lots of “did you know?” moments
Perfect for: Asian food and easy team conversations.

Korean food at Lazy Crazy… cold weather, hot flavours

Korean food in Chisinau? We were skeptical too. Then we tried it.

Lazy Crazy surprised us with cozy vibes, friendly people, and dishes that made us argue over rankings:

• Rapokki Chapagetti: rich, chewy, dangerous (you’ll want more)
• Bibimbap: colorful, spicy, comforting
• Kimbap: Korean sushi that disappears fast

Bonus: the famous jiggle cat dessert. Yes, we played with it. Yes, we filmed it. Yes, we ate it all.
Perfect for: small teams, cold days, and people who like discovering “hidden gems”.

Chaykhana Hayat… Uzbek comfort food that feels like home

This one is pure warmth. Big plates, soft spices, and food that makes people quiet (a clear sign it’s good).

Must-tries:

• Dolma
• Samsa with lamb
• Plov (some ordered extra… for “later”)
• Finished with tea and baklava, and zero regrets.

Perfect for: hungry teams and long conversations.

Italian stop at Ciao Bella… where “one slice” is a lie

Italian food plus stories = danger.

We learned:

• Why Carbonara exists
• Why pinsa feels lighter
• Why dessert is never optional

Top favorites included:

• Vitello Tonnato
• Pinsa with mortadella & truffle
• Carbonara
• Tiramisu

Perfect for: teams who love food and food stories

El Paso… Mexican food, big energy

Sombreros. Music. Tacos. Enough said.

Favorites:

• Beef fajitas
• Shrimp rolls
• Veal tacos

No tequila was harmed (this time), but the vibe was pure Mexico.
Perfect for: loud laughs, fun photos, and spicy personalities

Madam Wong… International Sushi Day celebrated correctly

Eight sushi types. Serious voting. Very serious faces.

Top winners:

• Yutaka
• Philadelphia
• Crunch with shrimp

Choosing favorites was harder than expected.
Perfect for: calm teams who secretly get competitive.

Julien… French classics & brave choices

From onion soup to frog legs, this one was classy… with courage.

Top picks:

• Brie envelopes
• Julien
• Frog legs (yes, really)

Perfect for: teams who like tradition and trying something new.

La Taifas… taste of home

This one hits the heart.

Top dishes:

• Mititei
• Sarmale
• Plăcinte
• Cherry pie

Food that reminds you of family lunches and holidays.
Perfect for: bonding, nostalgia, and feeling grounded.

Keller Holz… Oktoberfest mood

Big plates, serious beer ratings, and debates about schnitzel.

Winners:

• Pork knuckle
• Chicken schnitzel
• Weissbier

Some colleagues can recognize beer by sight. We’re impressed. Slightly concerned.
Perfect for: relaxed teams and Friday energy.

Ottoman… where dessert wins

Everything was great… until Künefe arrived and stole the show.

Top dish: Künefe (4.9/5)
No discussion.

Perfect for: food + games + sweet endings.

Saperavi… Georgian spirit in a plate

Khachapuri lovers, this is your place.

Top favorite: Adjaruli Khachapuri (again, unbeatable)

Stories about travel, mountains, and seaside vibes included.
Perfect for: teams who love sharing stories.

Gastrobar… Mediterranean grand finale

Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Lebanese: all in one table.

Top winner:

• Grilled octopus: 5/5

Yes. A perfect score.
Perfect for: wrapping up the year and mega tasty food

Final thought

Turns out, good food builds good teams. No awkward games. No forced fun. Just shared plates, real talks, and a lot of “okay, this place is amazing”.

If you’re looking for:

• team building ideas
• great restaurants in Chisinau
• or just an excuse to eat well

…start with food. The rest follows naturally.