Maadis can be good rifles. Check out the Maadi forum over on the AK-47.net board.
Sounds like the Romanian rifle is a WASR-10 hi-cap. The WASR-10s were originally built to use only the single-stack mags. The "hi-cap" variants were modified in the US with enough US parts to meet 922(r), and then had the mag wells opened up to accept regular AK mags.
IMO, a hand-picked Romanian SAR-1 is a very good starter AK. Just check to ensure that the sights and gas block are straight, and it should be utterly reliable.
A step up from the SARs and WASRs are the rifles from Aresenal USA, e.g., the SAM-7. They have milled receivers, which make them a bit heavier than the stamped receiver Romies. The Bulgarian SLR-95s are also very good rifles.
Of course, Mark Krebs makes outstanding AKs, as does Chris at AK-103.com.
If you are reasonably handy, you can buy a Saiga Sporter and modify it with enough US parts so that it has a pistol grip stock and takes standard AK mags. The Saigas are made by Izhmash in Russia, and exhibit nice workmanship. Check out the build-it-yourself forum on the AK-47.net board. If you go this route you can wind up with a nice Evil Black Rifle like this:
(Confession, I didn't do the conversion on this rifle. But it is mine.)
