Iași has a decent restaurant scene for a Romanian city of its size, driven in part by the large student population. The old town and the area around the central boulevard have the highest concentration of places, ranging from traditional Romanian restaurants to pizza and international food. Prices are low by Western European standards.
Traditional Moldavian cooking leans on meat dishes — sarmale (cabbage rolls stuffed with pork and rice), mămăligă (polenta), and grilled meats are staples. The local sausages and cured meats are worth trying. Look also for plăcinte, thin pastries filled with cheese or meat that you can buy from street stalls.