Eating in Morocco: The Most Delicious Dishes You Absolutely Have to Try

What is Typical Food in Morocco

Moroccan cuisine is incredibly diverse. Typical Moroccan food includes dishes with chicken, lamb, fish, and vegetables — often slow-cooked or prepared using traditional techniques.

By the sea and at our 12 most beautiful beaches in Morocco, you’ll of course find plenty of fish as well.

Typical spices in Moroccan cuisine include saffron, coriander, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, and nutmeg. Depending on the dish, they’re used in various combinations — and that’s what makes the flavors so distinctive.

The 6 Most Delicious Moroccan Main Dishes

Morocco's National Dish: Tajine

Probably the most iconic and most beloved Moroccan food is the national dish, tajine — a kind of stew that is seriously delicious! You’ll instantly recognize it by the round clay pot with its dome-shaped lid.

What makes tajine special is the preparation. The food is slowly cooked in the tajine, and the shape of the lid distributes the heat evenly throughout the pot.

That said, not all tajines work the same way — there are different varieties. The dishes most commonly cooked in the clay pot are the chicken-lemon tajine, the kefta tajine (kefta means meatballs), and the vegetarian tajine with vegetables.

The beef or lamb tajine cooked with prunes is pre-cooked in a regular pot first — the meat is usually only transferred to the tajine once it’s done.

At every single restaurant on our road trip through Morocco, the different types of tajine always tasted a little different. But if we had to pick a favorite, it’d be the kefta tajine. You should definitely try at least one version.

Moroccan Couscous

When it comes to Morocco’s national dish, opinions are divided. Many people argue that couscous is the real national dish — not tajine.

What we know for sure: couscous is a very popular and traditional part of Moroccan cuisine. It’s traditionally not boiled but steamed, and you can get it in various variations — sometimes with chicken, sometimes with beef, and of course vegetarian with plenty of vegetables.

Honestly, Moroccan couscous wasn’t quite our favorite — we found it a bit too dry. But definitely give it a try and see what you think!

Brochette

A really delicious Moroccan main dish for meat lovers is brochettes — essentially small meat skewers. You can get them with chicken, beef, and often lamb as well.

We really enjoyed the brochettes every time, though the portions were often quite small. Most restaurants serve them with fries and a tasty salad.

Medfouna

Medfouna is a very traditional Moroccan dish, often called Berber pizza. Think of it as a stuffed flatbread filled with meat or vegetables — but no cheese.

You’ll usually only find medfouna in restaurants between the cities of Erfoud and Merzouga. The birthplace of medfouna is Rissani, a town just before the desert.

We stumbled across medfouna on a menu in Erfoud when we made a quick stop on the way to our desert tour in Morocco. Lucky us! Our verdict: absolutely delicious!

Pastilla

Pastillas are crispy baked phyllo pastry pockets filled with chicken, an onion-and-egg mixture, and sweet roasted almonds, all layered together.

The flavor is a fascinating mix of sweet and savory — spices like saffron, cinnamon, and ginger all come together. That makes pastilla a genuinely classic Moroccan dish.

It originally comes from the region around Fès, but you can find and try it everywhere on your Morocco trip.

Fish and Seafood

As almost everywhere by the sea, fish and seafood are fantastic in Morocco too. So if you’re in Essaouira, Agadir, or Taghazout, fish should be on your menu at least once.

We especially love a whole fish — often sea bream or red snapper. Your best bet is to ask locals where the fish is truly fresh. They always know the best spots.

The 6 Best Moroccan Appetizers

Olives

Olive trees grow almost everywhere in Morocco, so there’s definitely no shortage here. Perhaps that’s why restaurants almost always bring you olives as a small, complimentary appetizer — on the house.

Most of the time you get black and green olives. We personally liked the green ones a little better. You’ll hardly be able to avoid trying one before your meal anyway!

Flatbread

Alongside the olives, you’ll almost always get flatbread too. Great news if you’re not an olive fan — it gives you something to snack on while you wait.

The flatbreads are usually bought from local bakeries that bake fresh bread every morning. We had both: sometimes incredibly good flatbread, sometimes just okay.

Moroccan Salad

One of the most classic Moroccan appetizers is the Moroccan salad — cucumber, tomatoes, and onions with a dressing. Depending on how the chef makes the dressing, it can taste really great.

We were often served this as an appetizer at smaller places outside the major cities. In many restaurants it’s also on the menu. Sometimes it’s garnished with mint — really delicious!

Traditional Salad

The traditional salad is an absolute flavor explosion. Simply put, it consists of four types of vegetables marinated in different sauces, with the incredible flavor coming from a generous mix of spices.

We could also taste the fresh vegetables — bell pepper, eggplant, zucchini, and one more we think was carrot or squash.

Admittedly, the traditional salad only appeared on one menu during our trip — at Dar L’hssira in Marrakech, right by the Monriad, one of the most beautiful riads in Marrakech.

Harrira Soup

Another truly traditional Moroccan dish is harrira soup. Moroccans eat it especially to break the fast during Ramadan in Morocco.

But the spiced harrira soup is also very popular as a starter before a meal. The main ingredients are chickpeas and vegetables, seasoned generously with coriander, cumin, turmeric, and more.

Harrira soup didn’t always win us over. It was only truly delicious at our accommodation in the Erg Chebbi desert. We wouldn’t order it as a starter at a restaurant again — but you should still give it a try.

Eggplant Salad Zaalouk and Tektouka – Roasted Peppers

Two of our favorite starters in Morocco are zaalouk and tektouka. Zaalouk is an eggplant salad — a seriously delicious Moroccan dish that you absolutely have to try.

Tektouka is a Moroccan dish built around a roasted pepper grilled over an open flame. With both of these specialties, the spices give it that final kick.

What Is Breakfast Like in Morocco?

There’s no single standard breakfast, of course. Depending on where you stay, you’ll get different things — just like anywhere else in the world.

We always ate breakfast at our accommodations, because whether at the hotels in Marrakech or the places to stay in Fès, breakfast is almost always included.

Particularly popular are msemmen, a kind of pan bread, and beghrir, a fluffy pancake. Flatbread is usually on the table as well.

You’ll also get a variety of different spreads — jam, cream cheese, or delicious peanut butter. Unlike most other Moroccan dishes, breakfast is completely vegetarian.

At some places we also got an egg — boiled, as an omelet, or fried. To drink there was always coffee and a fresh OJ, so good! Moroccans tend to drink their famous mint tea less often at breakfast.

The 6 Best Moroccan Drinks and Snacks

Moroccan Mint Tea

Moroccan mint tea is probably the most well-known drink in the country. You’ll definitely get to try it at some point on your trip — and we absolutely love it.

That said, it’s worth knowing that Moroccans haven’t invented some exotic tea. The base is simply green tea, bought from China. What makes it Moroccan is the generous addition of fresh mint leaves.

What makes it special is the preparation. The tea is brewed in the small, characteristic teapot, poured out and poured back in repeatedly — sounds elaborate, and it is, haha.

It’s then served in small glasses, poured from high up. And even in the height of summer at 104°F, Moroccans drink their mint tea without hesitation.

Café au Lait

Don’t underestimate the coffee in Morocco — it’s surprisingly really good. The most widely drunk coffee is the French café au lait. If you’re a coffee drinker, you should definitely try one.

Fruit Juices

Fresh fruit juices are an absolute must-try, because Morocco grows some incredible, flavorful fruit. Our favorite is simply fresh-squeezed OJ — but you can also get great mixed juices.

You’ll find them at many restaurants or along the roadside and at markets — including at the Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech, one of the top things to do in Marrakech.

Oranges and Other Fruits

Of course you can also eat the fruit whole. We highly recommend the oranges — in Morocco they taste so much more intense and flavorful than what you’re used to back home.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get them served as dessert. Otherwise, just grab one at the market and take a bite — yum!

Crème Caramel

A typical Moroccan dessert is crème caramel. Surprisingly, we really enjoyed it, even though we don’t normally love caramel. Definitely give it a try.

Pastries

Sweet pastries are another typically Moroccan specialty. You’ll often find them at markets or small food stalls. Honestly, we don’t always know exactly what each one is.

We recommend just asking the vendor or tasting your way through.

Where to Eat in Morocco?

The best Moroccan food comes when locals cook with a lot of love. We therefore recommend either eating at your small guesthouse or at your riad.

At smaller, mostly family-run places, the service is personal and the owners genuinely care that you really enjoy the food.

A great alternative is small, family-run restaurants. Here the whole family is often involved, cooking from grandma’s recipes — or she might even still be at the stove herself.

In cities like Marrakech or Agadir, there are of course also larger and international restaurants — these are places we wouldn’t necessarily recommend.

You’ll also come across street food stalls from time to time. You can find the occasional tasty bite there too, but the street food in Morocco isn’t as good as in Asia. Worth trying, but not a must.

Our 10 Restaurant Tips in Morocco

#1 Restaurant Dar L'hssira in Marrakech

Dar L’hssira is our absolute top restaurant pick in Marrakech. We genuinely loved every single thing we ate here.

We had a kefta tajine and a chicken tajine, plus the traditional salad we mentioned earlier as a starter. This restaurant is also by far the most affordable one we visited.

Our tip: Be sure to stop by the day before and make a reservation. In the evening, a long line forms outside. It’s near the Bahia Palace.

#2 Chez Mokhtar in Marrakech

Another solid Marrakech recommendation is Chez Mokhtar, a small restaurant in the northwest of the medina. We especially loved the brochettes here.

The portions are fairly small though — you might want to order two if you’re hungry, haha. Definitely sit outside; the ambiance is really cozy.

#3 Restaurant Roti Dor in Marrakech

If you’re on a city trip to Marrakech and not in the mood for traditional Moroccan food, just head to Roti Dor. The restaurant serves Arabic and Latin American dishes.

On the menu you’ll find kebab, shawarma, and quesadillas — which is what we had. They were really delicious and a nice change after two weeks on a Morocco road trip. Make sure to order the house sauce with the fries — so good!

#4 Chez Ahmed in Essaouira

By the sea in Essaouira, fish is an absolute standout. For a great lunch spot, we recommend Chez Ahmed. We shared a delicious and truly generous fish platter.

At Chez Ahmed you sit in a small courtyard surrounded by several shops — really charming. After your meal, definitely order a café au lait, because the coffee here was our absolute favorite.

#5 Restaurant Adwak in Essaouira

For dinner in Essaouira, head to the Adwak restaurant. From our riad in Essaouira it was only a two-minute walk. We especially loved the cozy atmosphere here — and the food was really delicious too.

We particularly recommend the fish — it was absolutely wonderful, and you can taste that it was bought that very morning at the fishing harbor, one of the absolute highlights in Essaouira.

#6 Let's Be Healing Food in Tamraght

At Let’s Be Healing Food in the popular surf town of Tamraght, you’ll find really great modern Moroccan cuisine. Our absolute favorite is the Berber omelet — so delicious!

#7 Restaurant Azizal in Setti Fatma

If you’re taking a day trip from Marrakech to Setti Fatma, we recommend the Azizal restaurant. There may be no colorful seating nooks, but there is truly delicious, traditional Moroccan food at really affordable prices.

The small restaurant is completely family-run. The father stands at the charcoal grill cooking the brochettes, the mother cooks in the back kitchen, and the sons handle the service — all with an incredible warmth.

#8 Restaurant Espace Amridil next to the Kasbah Amridil

Our best chicken and lemon tajine in Morocco was at Espace Amridil, a small family-run restaurant where grandma stands at the stove and the grandkids dart around the dining room.

The restaurant is located next to the Kasbah Amridil, which puts it in the middle of nowhere. But if you’re already on your way from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains (i.e., the Dades Gorge or the Todra Gorge) or to the desert, the short stop is totally worth it. That tajine was unbelievable!

#9 Restaurant des Dunes in Erfoud

At Restaurant des Dunes in Erfoud we had medfouna — the Berber pizza. It was truly delicious! So if you’re on your way to Merzouga and feeling hungry, a stop here is definitely worth it.

#10 Restaurant Café SaharaTime in Merzouga

In Merzouga, we highly recommend Café SaharaTime. The owners are super friendly and the restaurant sits right in the Sahara dunes — pretty amazing, right? In the evening everything is beautifully lit up. Highly recommended!

Street Food in Morocco

On your Morocco trip you’ll see a lot of street food around. Most of the time you’ll find simple Moroccan grilled dishes like brochettes or grilled vegetables. In Rabat we even got something like a döner once.

Honestly, we don’t find street food in Morocco particularly special — it doesn’t taste noticeably better at the small stalls than in restaurants. And popular dishes like Moroccan couscous or tajine are hardly available there anyway.

The most well-known street food market in Morocco takes place every evening at the Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech. We tried it and were genuinely disappointed. For us, it falls squarely into tourist trap territory.

The food tasted okay, but the portions were really tiny and honestly not that cheap. We paid 5 euros for a few meat skewers and 2 euros for a mini appetizer. That might not sound like much, but the portions were truly minuscule.

How Much Does Eating Out in Morocco Cost?

Eating out in Morocco is unfortunately not as cheap as you might expect. When we were there in 2018, food was definitely more affordable than in 2023.

In most cafés and restaurants, prices throughout Morocco are fairly consistent — we couldn’t notice a big difference between regions. Many riads also charge similar prices for a dinner menu.

Here’s a quick overview of typical prices for Moroccan specialties:

• Moroccan tajine: 8 euros
• Moroccan couscous: 9 euros
• Brochette with fries: 7 euros
• Fish platter at a casual restaurant: 10 euros
• Salad as a starter: 4 euros
• Moroccan mint tea at a café: 1.50 euros
• Café au lait: 2 euros
• Fruit juice at a café: 4 euros
• Small portion of street food at the Djemaa el-Fna: 5 euros
• Dinner menu at a riad for two: 30 euros

What Should You Watch Out for When Eating in Morocco?

A lot of people wonder whether they’ll be able to handle Moroccan food and whether they might get an upset stomach from eating in Morocco.

From our experience, we handled Moroccan dishes really well and had absolutely no stomach issues the entire trip.

There are, however, a few rules worth following so you can truly enjoy what to eat in Morocco:

• Always order drinks without ice cubes.
• Only eat salad in touristy areas.
• Don’t drink tap water.
• Wash fruit with drinking water before eating.
• Only eat meat that is fully cooked through.
• Just in case, bring some stomach medication with you.

Our Recommendation: Cooking Class in Marrakech

If you really want to experience truly delicious, authentic Moroccan food, we strongly recommend taking a cooking class. It’s not only a really cool activity in Marrakech — it was also the best food we ate in Morocco.

We took our cooking class in Marrakech and booked it easily through GetYourGuide. And what can we say — we’re still raving about it.

The class is led by two friends, Hassan and Ahmed. Ahmed is a chef — a genuinely excellent one. First we went to the market with him and bought fresh vegetables together.

Then we headed to their shared apartment, where their cooking school is also located — so cool. While Ahmed prepared everything, Hassan explained what makes Moroccan mint tea so special.

Then it was time to get cooking. We had to peel, chop, mix sauces, and cook. We were a group of nine people and everyone got a turn at something. Along the way, Ahmed truly shared all the secrets of Moroccan cooking with us.

At the end, of course, we got to eat everything. We had zaalouk and tektouka and four Moroccan tajines: chicken, kefta, beef, and vegetarian. Every single thing tasted absolutely incredible.

The cooking class with Hassan and Ahmed is a heartfelt recommendation. It was a whole lot of fun too.

Book the cooking class in Marrakech here

Eating Out During Ramadan in Morocco

From our experience, eating out during Ramadan in Morocco is no problem at all. In tourist areas, plenty of restaurants are open during the day and you can eat whatever you like.

Moroccans themselves don’t eat or drink anything until sunset. We had the feeling, though, that they’re fine with you sitting in a restaurant or café or even taking a sip of water on the street.

About two to three hours before the fast is broken, some restaurants do take a break. Factor that in if you’re planning to eat out in the afternoon.

And you don’t need to worry about breakfast either. At all of our riads and guesthouses, the Moroccans served us a lovely breakfast as well.

Our tip: We recommend not going out to eat right around sunset. Many restaurants take a break then because the cooks eat their own meal. We think it’s only right to let people eat in peace. Moroccans are very hospitable, and many would cook something for you before eating themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food in Morocco