Eating and DiningHospitalityOctober 1, 2018
Where to eat in Morocco: a journey through Moroccan food
One of the most unique cuisines in the world, Moroccan food is a taste to behold. The deliciousness of the Moroccan cuisine almost rivals the beauty of the country.
And to help you navigate your way through the Moroccan kitchen, we will try to prepare a must try list for you. Otherwise you may get a sensory overload and forget to try some essential stuff!
This is a well prepared list of the most delicious Moroccan food and the top restaurants that serve it there. Consider it a foodie’s adventure through Morocco.
We should start our culinary journey in Morocco with the most popular Moroccan soup. Harira is mainly a soup, although the richness of its ingredients makes it closer to a stew.
This elaborate soup contains meat, chickpeas, tomatoes, greens and vermicelli. It is often thickened with some flour and egg mixture.
In Morocco, no Ramadan Iftar can start without Harira, and what a delicious start to any meal.
Traditional decor, scrumptious Moroccan food made with fresh ingredients, this restaurant in Casablanca is one of the best places to try traditional dishes.
Until a few years ago, Imilchil wasn’t even a tourist destination; it was the place where the locals went to eat. Until too many locals told too many tourists and the place became one of the most famous eateries in the city.
Pro tip: the Harira here is a thing of beauty, try it and you will not be disappointed.
One of the most famous Moroccan dishes, Pastilla is a delicious traditional meat pie.
This rich meat pie is traditionally filled with cooked baby pigeons. Nowadays however, the baby pigeons are often substituted with shredded chicken; some people even make it with red meat or fish.
Usually served as a starter, Pastilla combines sweet and savory flavors in a unique mix. It consists of a thin dough (closely related to phyllo dough) filled with slow cooked and generously seasoned meat, and topped with a crunchy layer of toasted almonds, cinnamon, and sugar.
This fine dining restaurant serves authentic Moroccan food with a twist. You can enjoy delicious food while surrounded by unparalleled luxury.
La Grande Table Marocaine lies inside the luxurious the Royal Mansour Marrakech hotel. This elegant hotel resembles Moroccan hospitality at its finest with its traditional architecture and authentic culinary arts.
The restaurant is renowned for making elaborate slow cooked Moroccan meals, and everything they serve is simply scrumptious.
Pro tip: try the Pastilla! They make the traditional pigeon version as well as an innovative sea food Pastilla, both are toothsome!
We all know Couscous of course, or at least know what it is. But until you try it in Morocco, you don’t really know what this simple side dish can be.
Couscous is made of tiny steamed balls of crushed wheat semolina. It is either served with a stew on top or with cooked vegetables on top.
It is the most famous side dish in Morocco, almost all stews and tagines are served with a side of Couscous.
This picturesque restaurant is located on a beautiful old building overlooking the sea. If the weather is nice you have to sit in the garden, it is just magical.
They serve authentic Moroccan dishes here, the tagines are especially popular. The only downside to this restaurant is that it is a tourist destination, so it is almost always busy. Sometimes you have to wait to get seated.
Pro tip: get the chicken tagine with olives and lemon, and of course, order a Couscous dish.
Of course you cannot experience Moroccan food without trying a traditional Moroccan Tagine. This meat tagine is seasoned with a blend of spices and cooked with honey, cinnamon and almonds. It is savory and sweet and buttery and all over amazing.
It is very common to make Mrouzia with lamb in Eid Al Adha, with a delicious side of couscous of course.
This traditional restaurant only serves authentic Moroccan dishes and tagines, in a simple yet beautiful setting.
It serves a variety of dishes including a wide selection of tagines, the owner herself makes sure that everything is running smoothly and all food is served to her liking.
Pro tip: all the tagines are delicious here, but you have to try the Mrouzia with dried raisins, it is magnificent.
This traditional Moroccan dessert is made of a delicate pastry filled with almond paste and flavored with orange water and cinnamon, sounds like a dream right?
There is no sweeter way to end our gastronomic adventure in the beautiful country, this dessert is sure to leave a sweet taste in your memories of Morocco.
You can find kaab el ghzal everywhere in Morocco, it is one of the most popular desserts in the country. However, we highly recommend trying it at Al Jawda if you happen to be in Marrakech.
This small patisserie may only have a couple of tables, but it serves some of the best desserts in Morocco. The café serves a variety of juices and smoothies as well as French desserts in addition to the traditional Moroccan desserts.
Pro tip: you absolutely have to try kaab el ghzal, and take some with you home for your loved ones as a sweet Moroccan souvenir.
What to eat: Harira
We should start our culinary journey in Morocco with the most popular Moroccan soup. Harira is mainly a soup, although the richness of its ingredients makes it closer to a stew.
This elaborate soup contains meat, chickpeas, tomatoes, greens and vermicelli. It is often thickened with some flour and egg mixture.
In Morocco, no Ramadan Iftar can start without Harira, and what a delicious start to any meal.
Where to eat it: Restaurant Imilchil, Casablanca
Traditional decor, scrumptious Moroccan food made with fresh ingredients, this restaurant in Casablanca is one of the best places to try traditional dishes.
Until a few years ago, Imilchil wasn’t even a tourist destination; it was the place where the locals went to eat. Until too many locals told too many tourists and the place became one of the most famous eateries in the city.
Pro tip: the Harira here is a thing of beauty, try it and you will not be disappointed.
What to eat: Pastilla
One of the most famous Moroccan dishes, Pastilla is a delicious traditional meat pie.
This rich meat pie is traditionally filled with cooked baby pigeons. Nowadays however, the baby pigeons are often substituted with shredded chicken; some people even make it with red meat or fish.
Usually served as a starter, Pastilla combines sweet and savory flavors in a unique mix. It consists of a thin dough (closely related to phyllo dough) filled with slow cooked and generously seasoned meat, and topped with a crunchy layer of toasted almonds, cinnamon, and sugar.
Where to eat it: La Grande Table Marocaine, Marrakech
This fine dining restaurant serves authentic Moroccan food with a twist. You can enjoy delicious food while surrounded by unparalleled luxury.
La Grande Table Marocaine lies inside the luxurious the Royal Mansour Marrakech hotel. This elegant hotel resembles Moroccan hospitality at its finest with its traditional architecture and authentic culinary arts.
The restaurant is renowned for making elaborate slow cooked Moroccan meals, and everything they serve is simply scrumptious.
Pro tip: try the Pastilla! They make the traditional pigeon version as well as an innovative sea food Pastilla, both are toothsome!
What to eat: Couscous
We all know Couscous of course, or at least know what it is. But until you try it in Morocco, you don’t really know what this simple side dish can be.
Couscous is made of tiny steamed balls of crushed wheat semolina. It is either served with a stew on top or with cooked vegetables on top.
It is the most famous side dish in Morocco, almost all stews and tagines are served with a side of Couscous.
Where to eat it: La Scala, Casablanca
This picturesque restaurant is located on a beautiful old building overlooking the sea. If the weather is nice you have to sit in the garden, it is just magical.
They serve authentic Moroccan dishes here, the tagines are especially popular. The only downside to this restaurant is that it is a tourist destination, so it is almost always busy. Sometimes you have to wait to get seated.
Pro tip: get the chicken tagine with olives and lemon, and of course, order a Couscous dish.
What to eat: Mrouzia
Of course you cannot experience Moroccan food without trying a traditional Moroccan Tagine. This meat tagine is seasoned with a blend of spices and cooked with honey, cinnamon and almonds. It is savory and sweet and buttery and all over amazing.
It is very common to make Mrouzia with lamb in Eid Al Adha, with a delicious side of couscous of course.
Where to eat it: L’ibzar, Marrakech
This traditional restaurant only serves authentic Moroccan dishes and tagines, in a simple yet beautiful setting.
It serves a variety of dishes including a wide selection of tagines, the owner herself makes sure that everything is running smoothly and all food is served to her liking.
Pro tip: all the tagines are delicious here, but you have to try the Mrouzia with dried raisins, it is magnificent.
What to eat: kaab el ghzal
This traditional Moroccan dessert is made of a delicate pastry filled with almond paste and flavored with orange water and cinnamon, sounds like a dream right?
There is no sweeter way to end our gastronomic adventure in the beautiful country, this dessert is sure to leave a sweet taste in your memories of Morocco.
Where to eat it: Al Jawda, Marrakech
You can find kaab el ghzal everywhere in Morocco, it is one of the most popular desserts in the country. However, we highly recommend trying it at Al Jawda if you happen to be in Marrakech.
This small patisserie may only have a couple of tables, but it serves some of the best desserts in Morocco. The café serves a variety of juices and smoothies as well as French desserts in addition to the traditional Moroccan desserts.
Pro tip: you absolutely have to try kaab el ghzal, and take some with you home for your loved ones as a sweet Moroccan souvenir.
