If there is a legend in Chisinau’s street food, that is no doubt Placintaria Stefanita. The truth is that everyone in town knows this spot by different names, and most people know it as the Placintaria near the Opera house, which reveals its history.

But, first of all, it is important to explain that “placinta” is a local pastry, most similar to strudel, stuffed with different fillings — potato, cabbage, even cherry or pumpkin. So, according to the legend, the business was launched by employees of the Opera house buffet whose main specialty was cooking these placintas served to opera spectators in entr’actes. But the placintas were so good, that through time the line to the buffet became longer than to the Opera’s box office, and the buffet started serving all the hungry foodies.

Through time, its popularity rose, and now they occupy an annex neighboring the Opera building, but what hasn’t changed are the queues and the taste of the pastry. What I like about this place is that in a whirlpool of time it has remained unchanged – they serve only placintas with the same fillings, but they have achieved the highest quality in their excellence.

And don’t be frightened by the queue; it is a popular place, but the queue moves fast. Also, you’ll often see people going out with large white boxes filled with dozens of placintas – it means someone is having a party, or even a wedding, which by tradition can’t be imagined without placintas.