If you love meat, you will probably love this local dish. “Mici” or “mititei” are is of the most famous local food you can taste in Romania. Close relatives to the Balkan “cevapi” or the Turkish “adana”, things evolved differently north of Danube – and the main difference is the actual meat: Romanian “mici” are made mostly of pork.
The recipe today is said to resemble the one during the 1920s when the recipe was perfected in Bucharest. There are many legends around how those “skinless sausages” appeared in the country and as many variations of the actual recipe, meat mix or other secret ingredients being added for extra flavour.
Those are almost always served with mustard, bread (or fries) and must be fresh off the grill. The traditional way to eat them is with a toothpick, this making it an excelent street food you can have in a busy farmers market or even in a parking lot.
One thing before we jump into our favorite places in Bucharest where you’ll get to taste those, you will want to have a refill.
Terasa Obor
This is not just a place, but rather a way to experience Bucharest. Located within one of the biggest farmers market in the city, this”terrace” only serves “mici” and beer. Don’t expect much as this is not a restaurant, it rather resembles a food truck with a terrace in front.
And those could be the best “mici” in Bucharest, or at least you will enjoy them in the most authentic way possible: served with bread, mustard on a cardboard plate, while standing. There are no forks or knives (unless you ask for), so toothpicks are used to eat.
Be ready for a huge queue, especially during weekends and make sure you arrive early as the place runs out of food often before 2pm.
While there, you must wander around the 2 halls of the farmers market, you will experience a side of Bucharest that haven’t changed much in decades.
If you prefer a proper restaurant with table service and proper cutlery, this is a good option for you.
City Grill is a local restaurant chain with few locations around Bucharest, the menu is identical wherever you go. It made or recommendation due to the fact that they serve an interesting selection of “mici” with 4 different recipes. You can order a mix-and-match menu to taste each type.
It’s a full cultural experience and you will be able to read more about the history of each type you try.
It’s an unusual place to make it to a restaurant recommendation, but trust us, you cannot go cheaper than this. It’s probably the place that balances best the quality of the meat they serve, freshness and price. Plus, you have the chance to eat “mici” in a supermarket parking lot.
Same as Terasa Obor, expect nothing fancy, it’s all about price and being efficient here.
You will find this restaurant in every single guide about Bucharest and we have to admit it’s a spectacular location in beautiful building from 1899. The building was purposely built as a beer house, therefore the name “Caru’ cu Bere”, meaning the beer carriage.
Although this restaurant is part of the City Grill Group, this restaurant has it’s own “mici” recipe.
Make sure you reserve a table before you go, as this place is crowded.
One of the oldest grills in Bucharest, this is said to have the best “mici” in the city.
The old place has been remodelled into a modern restaurant now, but the grill and recipe definitely stayed. It’s really close to the Băneasa Airport in the north side of the city.
The chef here is famous locally and although he is is his 70s now, his unique way of preparing “mici” made him a living legend.
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