Home From Home: How to experience Romanian homely food in London

Iulia Pavăl
Jul 20, 2017 · 4 min read

Romanian cuisine can be described in two words: diverse and heavenly. Luckily, there are a bunch of Romanian restaurants in London which serve all the delightful dishes this beautiful country has to offer.

Papanasi. Credit: Nitu Iulian.

If you are a Romanian who genuinely misses your favourite home recipes or you are a Briton who wants to explore this exquisite central European cuisine, you will definitely find something that tickles your fancy.

Little Romania in West London

In West London’s Hanger Lane, you can find the restaurant Crystals of London and have a complete Romanian culinary experience. They offer the most delicious and emblematic dishes of the Romanian cuisine. Their motto is: “food like the one from home.”

Here, you can find one of the most popular Romanian desserts Papanasi, a warm cheese doughnut topped with forest fruit or strawberry jam and sour cream. The cheese and the jam used are homemade, provided from a north region in Romania.

See also: The Hive to launch their first cookbook for students

Another of their best-sellers is a starter called Zacusca, a mix of aubergines, peppers, onions and tomato sauce made directly on fire outside with fresh vegetables in Romania. The Crystals of London’s staff promise a good Romanian food made with love and using products sourced from Romania.

Another exquisite Romanian dish offered by this restaurant is our traditional Tochitura stew served with a side of hot polenta, which is a type of an Italian cornmeal.

Acasa, Romania in Wanstead

If you want to find out what being home for a Romanian truly feels like, you can also visit the place Acasa (home), located on High Road, Leytonstone. This restaurant brings the warm and lively Romanian atmosphere, its doors are open both to Romanians and to all those curious about the secrets of Romanian cuisine. We believe that meals are the perfect occasion to spend time with our families. A famous dish we celebrate Christmas and Easter with is the heavenly dish called Sarmale. It consists of tiny meat rolls wrapped in a thin cabbage leaf.

Acasa also organises very entertaining and traditional events with Romanian music and alcohol. The drinks Romanian people usually have during their celebrations are tempting and very strong, made of fruit (apple, plums, blueberries, sour cherries). At Acasa you can truly feel like home, especially because you will be surrounded by warm, kind and funny Romanians.

Mahala

Sarmale. Credit: Rafael Robles.

The third option for a perfect Romanian culinary adventure is located in Croydon and is called Mahala, where chefs know every secret to prepare perfect meals of our tradition. Their chefs know that culinary roots are essential and the traditional recipes used by our grandmothers in Romania are still appreciated by many. Mahala has a diverse menu of mouth-watering dishes: the classics (salads, soups, fresh poultry, pork and beef barbeque, desserts) and a selection of traditional dishes. You can discover more of the luscious heart of Romanian cuisine by having a bite of chicken made with a delightful silky white sauce and mushroom stew with a side of polenta. Sounds good enough, right? The restaurants above give Londoners the incredible opportunity to dive into the Romanian cuisine which is literally a diverse delightful mix of unique flavour creations. They are inspired by natural, healthy and delectable ingredients. The sweets are exquisite delicacies, such as our pancakes, called Papanasi or our divine cakes and pies. Just a small bite and you will feel like in heaven, tasting flavours that you will never forget!

Mahala, 83 Church Street, Croydon, CRO 1RN, www.mahalauk.com, 020 8680 8117, Open Mon-Wed, 12pm-11pm. Thu-Sat, 12pm-01am. Sun 10pm.

Crystals of London, 2 Agate Close, Twyford Abbey Rd, Park Royal, NW10 7FJ, www.crystalsoflondon.co.uk, 020 8965 3937, Open Tue-Fri, 4pm-11pm. Sat-Sun 2pm-11pm. Closed on Monday.

Acasa, 270 High Rd Leytonstone, E11 3HS, www.acasa-restaurant.co.uk, 074 9597 9437, Open Tue-Fri, 2pm-11pm. Sat, 12pm-1am. Sun, 12pm-11pm. Closed on Monday.

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