10 Best Things To Eat in Marrakech
Famous Food Locals Love to Eat in Marrakech
The best things to eat in Marrakech encompass a mouthwatering selection of the finest representations of Moroccan cuisine. From straightforward street food that is best eaten while wandering through the busy markets to hearty dishes with sophisticated flavor combinations enjoyed in a formal sit-down or communal dining setting, these dishes are satisfying and to be savored.
Dishes range from well-known and iconic international favorites, which are on menus all over the world, to local delicacies that are most authentically sourced and best experienced in the city itself. So, what are Marrakech’s famous local foods?
1. Tajine
A traditional and iconic Moroccan favorite
Good for: Food, Families
Tajine is such an iconic dish that, as well as being delicious, it’s also the name of its cooking vessel, which helps create the dish’s distinctive flavor.
The traditional, rich stew is usually made with vegetables and lamb or chicken, and gets its characteristic flavor from ras el hanout, an aromatic mix of 40-100 spices, which roughly translates as “top of the shop” to indicate its high quality. The secret to the best tajine is the lidded pot itself, which traps steam from the gently simmering ingredients, further tenderizing and infusing them with even more flavor as they cook. Sample tajine in one of the souks, where it is a staple, for an atmospheric taste of Morocco itself.
Tajine
2. Pastilla
Sweet and savory all together in perfect harmony
Good for: Food, Families, Couples
Combining both savory and sweet, the traditional pastilla pie features layers of all the good stuff. There’s meat, usually pigeon or chicken, almonds, and eggs, all spiced with saffron, nutmeg, and ginger, and then wrapped in delicate warqa pastry. Baked until golden brown and flaky and then topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon, the pastilla, also known as bastilla, is a festive favorite and often served during special occasions and family get togethers.
Showcasing the sweet and savory combination distinctive to Moroccan cuisine, the pie is, despite its surface sweetness, considered a main dish rather than a dessert. Try this popular pie with a refreshing cup of mint tea or iced tea.
Pastilla
3. Couscous
Morocco’s number one dish and culinary export
Good for: Food, Families
A Moroccan national dish and staple, couscous is both the name of the ever-popular menu favorite as well as the tiny grain from which it is made. These steamed semolina wheat granules are garnished with caramelized onions and raisins and flavored with saffron, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon. They’re typically served with a hearty vegetable or meat stew, chicken, lamb, and beef are the most popular options, for a satisfying, tasty and classic North African meal.
Couscous is traditionally eaten on Fridays but available all-week round. Gather your family and friends for a dinner together and order couscous as a shared dish for a perfect communal and authentic Moroccan dining experience.
Couscous
4. Mechoui
A dish so in demand they named part of the city after it
Good for: Food, Families, Couples
Mechoui is a marinated, slow-roasted lamb dish so popular in Marrakech that it has its own unofficial district. For a taste of mechoui, follow your nose and head to Jemaa El-Fanaa Square and on through the bustling crowds to the area known as Mechoui Alley. Here, numerous vendors each offer their own distinctive take on the traditional and authentic, melt-in-your-mouth, Moroccan favorite.
Slow-roasted lamb, cooked in a clay oven or pit until it is very tender and falling off the bone, mechoui is infused with cumin, garlic, and coriander. Mind your fingers though as it’s usually served straight from the oven, piping hot and carved to order, accompanied by fresh bread and salt, and eaten eagerly by hand.
Mechoui
5. Harira
Tomato soup for the soul
Good for: Food, History
A beloved, traditional Moroccan dish renowned for its rich, warm, and hearty flavor, harira is a velvety-smooth, often creamy, tomato soup. It’s made with onion, garlic, lentils, chickpeas, and fava beans as well as lamb or beef, and spiced with fresh herbs.
It’s the most popular soup in Morocco and a particularly fond favorite of the local population during Ramadan, when it is often served to break the fast after sunset. You can find it offered by street vendors and restaurants throughout the city. For the most authentic experience, savor your harira amid the thriving energy and buzzing activity of a busy souk.
Harira
6. Tanjia
A community favorite slow-cooked in hot coals
Good for: Food, Families
Especially popular in Marrakech where it is considered a local specialty, tanjia is a delicious stew, usually made from lamb or beef. It’s traditionally cooked in the hot coals of the local community bathhouse, or hammam.
The ingredients, which include saffron, cumin, preserved lemons, garlic, and olive oil, are all combined in a clay urn with a lid made from parchment paper and string. The urn is then buried deep in the hot coals and slow-cooked overnight. Be patient as by the time it is dug out from the embers the following morning, the meat has been infused with the flavors of its companion ingredients, tumbles from the bone at the slightest touch, and has a rich and juicy flavor.
Tanjia
7. Zaalouk
Versatile dish suited to both lead and supporting roles
Good for: Food, Budget
Historically thought of as just a side dish or appetizer, zaalouk is thoroughly deserving of headline status of its own thanks to its distinctive, fresh, and versatile flavor.
Made from cooked and mashed eggplant and tomatoes and flavored with garlic, paprika, and coriander, the dish can be served cold or warm, and works as a dip, starter, or as an accompaniment to a main dish. Often served with crusty bread and other dipping favorites, it’s also a great choice for a sandwich spread. When you’re in the mood for some zaalouk, just head to the nearest restaurant or street vendor and ask for a meze selection.
Zaalouk
8. Babbouche
Aromatic and distinctive favored local delicacy
Good for: Food, Unusual
Babbouche is a snail and herb soup that is considered both a delicacy and a comfort food. It’s a hallmark of Marrakech street food and especially popular with street vendors in the city’s Jemaa El-Fnaa Square.
Especially popular during winter months due to its hearty flavor and spicy, warming taste, the beloved local dish combines snails in an aromatic broth made up of more than 15 spices and seasonings and is traditionally cooked in pots outside. The distinctive scent of the mouth-watering concoction wafts throughout the busy square, attracting customers to the busy food stalls. Snails are simmered until tender and then eaten individually with a toothpick. Savor and sip the broth as you walk around the medina.
Babbouche
9. Msemen
A popular local flatbread
Good for: Food, Budget
Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, the traditional msemen flatbread is known for its square shape and flaky, crumbling layers. Made with flour, semolina, and butter and then cooked on a griddle or pan-fried, msemen can be enjoyed with jam or honey as a breakfast treat or stuffed with meat and vegetables for a more savory and distinctively Moroccan snack.
Very popular in Moroccan cafes and with street vendors, msemen is also the perfect accompaniment for a relaxing cup of coffee or mint tea. Savor it from a cafe table with a hot drink while you take a break, people watch, and let the hustle and bustle of the lively city pass you by.
Msemen
10. Chebakia
Floral-inspired sweet treat
Good for: Food, Families
Flower-shaped and honey-coated, chebakia are pastries that are crispy, chewy, deep fried until golden brown, and studded with sesame seeds. They’re easily one of Morocco’s most popular and enduring sticky, sweet treats and widely available all year round in Marrakech’s many markets and bakeries.
The cookies are made from a spiced dough flavored with cinnamon, saffron, and anise, which is then crafted into rose-like shapes and fried like a donut. They are especially popular during Ramadan as a post-fast reward and often very satisfyingly paired with the savory, spicy flavors of harira. Enjoy the enticing and delightful chebakia delicacies with coffee or tea.
Chebakia
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