The Owner of Noroc Restaurant Named “Person of the Year 2024” by VIP Magazin

We are proud to share that Sandu Sîrbu, the founder and owner of Noroc Restaurant in Sacramento, California, has been honored with the title “Omul Anului 2024” (“Person of the Year 2024”) by the prestigious publication VIP Magazin, in the category “Successful Moldovans in the Diaspora.”

This recognition comes as a result of Sandu’s outstanding contribution to building and nurturing cultural identity, community connection, and hospitality far from home.

A Taste of Moldova, Served with Purpose

Since its opening, Noroc Restaurant has become far more than just a place to enjoy traditional Moldovan cuisine. It has evolved into a cultural hub for the diaspora—a space where people reconnect with their roots, meet fellow Moldovans, and feel the warmth of home through every plate of sarmale, plăcintă, and every glass of carefully selected Moldovan wine.

Sandu’s vision was clear from the beginning: to create a space that doesn’t just serve food, but serves belonging. And that’s exactly what Noroc Restaurant has become—a comforting corner of Moldova in the heart of California.

Building Community, One Guest at a Time

While the award recognizes Sandu’s broader achievements across multiple projects, Noroc Restaurant played a central role in shaping his impact in 2024. In a year filled with international tours, media milestones, and diasporic engagement, Noroc stood as a constant home base—welcoming guests from all over the world, hosting cultural evenings, community gatherings, and giving the diaspora a place to call their own.

Whether guests came for a quiet meal or a festive evening with music and tradition, the atmosphere Sandu has cultivated reminded everyone that “home” isn’t always a place—it’s a feeling. And that feeling lives at Noroc.

Receiving the “Omul Anului 2024” title is not just a personal achievement for Sandu Sîrbu—it’s a reflection of the values Noroc Restaurant was built on: connection, culture, and community. It’s a symbol of what happens when passion meets purpose, and tradition is honored in a modern world.

Congratulations, Sandu!

The entire team at Noroc Restaurant is proud to stand behind a founder whose dedication extends far beyond the kitchen. This award is a recognition not only of what you’ve built—but of the lives you’ve touched along the way.

We raise a glass and say, with heart: Noroc!