Best Restaurants in Morocco 2026

Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon and Olives

Morocco's signature dish: free-range chicken slow-cooked in a conical clay pot with saffron, ginger, preserved lemons, and cracked green olives until meltingly tender. The preserved lemon is the defining ingredient that makes Moroccan tagine unique.

Where to try: Any traditional Moroccan restaurant; best at Dar Yacout and riad restaurants in Marrakech

Price: $8-25

Bastilla (Pastilla)

Morocco's showpiece pastry: a Fassi specialty of shredded pigeon or chicken meat spiced with cinnamon and almonds, wrapped in wafer-thin warqa pastry and dusted with powdered sugar. Sweet and savory combined - a medieval Andalusian heritage dish.

Where to try: Fez medina restaurants and upscale Moroccan restaurants in Marrakech; La Grande Table Marocaine version is exceptional

Price: $10-45

Couscous with Seven Vegetables

Light steamed semolina piled with slow-cooked seasonal vegetables (turnip, carrot, pumpkin, courgette, chickpeas, and more) and your choice of lamb or chicken. Traditionally served on Fridays after prayers; the best versions are made by hand.

Where to try: Locally on Fridays at family restaurants and traditional Moroccan dining rooms

Price: $6-20

Harira Soup

Morocco's national soup: a hearty tomato, lentil, and chickpea broth seasoned with coriander, celery, and ginger, thickened with a flour paste and finished with lemon juice. The soup that breaks the Ramadan fast and sustains Atlas mountain workers through cold winters.

Where to try: Street stalls and basic restaurants across Morocco from 20-30 MAD ($2-3)

Price: $1-3

Mechoui (Whole Roasted Lamb)

A whole lamb slow-roasted in a pit oven (tandir) for 4-6 hours until the meat falls off the bone. A celebratory dish traditionally prepared for moussem festivals and weddings, now available at specialized mechoui restaurants in Marrakech medina.

Where to try: Mechoui Alley (Riad Zitoun el-Jdid, Marrakech) from $4-8 per 100g sold by weight

Price: $8-20

Merguez Sandwich (Sandwich au Merguez)

Spiced lamb or beef sausages grilled over charcoal and served in khobz bread with harissa, cumin, and onion. The quintessential Moroccan street food available from grill stalls across every city.

Where to try: Street grill stalls throughout Morocco; especially at Jemaa el-Fnaa and medina entrances

Price: $1-3

Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

Light, oil-fried ring doughnuts sold hot from street vendors in the morning, sprinkled with sugar or dipped in honey. Made from an unsweetened yeasted batter fried fresh - best eaten immediately from the fryer.

Find it at: Morning street vendors throughout medinas; look for the crowd around the oil vat

Msemen and Meloui (Moroccan Flatbreads)

Layered and folded flatbreads griddle-fried in butter, eaten for breakfast with argan amlou, honey, or cheese. Msemen is square and layered; meloui is spiral-shaped and slightly chewier. Both sold at hanout (corner shops) and street stalls from 3-5 MAD each.

Find it at: Morning cafes and street stalls throughout Morocco

Grilled Corn (Draa)

Whole corn cobs grilled over charcoal and rubbed with butter, salt, and spices - a popular evening snack sold from wooden carts near parks and beaches.

Find it at: Evening street vendors near parks, beaches, and promenades

Kefta and Egg Tagine (from food stalls)

Spiced lamb meatballs (kefta) cooked in tomato sauce with eggs broken in at the end, served sizzling hot in the tagine pot with Moroccan bread. Available at Jemaa el-Fnaa stalls.

Find it at: Jemaa el-Fnaa food stalls (Marrakech) and local breakfast restaurants

Baghrir (Thousand-Hole Pancakes)

Semolina pancakes cooked only on one side, leaving a spongy surface full of tiny holes that absorbs honey and butter perfectly. A Moroccan breakfast staple sold at patisseries.

Find it at: Moroccan patisseries and breakfast cafes in all cities

Souk Ableuh Olive Market, Marrakech

A dedicated olive market in the Marrakech medina selling dozens of varieties of olives, preserved lemons, pickled vegetables, and chilis by weight. One of the most photogenic and aromatic spots in the souks.

Hours: 8AM-6PM daily

Rahba Kedima (Spice Square), Marrakech

An open square lined with herbalist and spice stalls selling every conceivable Moroccan spice, medicinal herb, dried flower, and traditional cosmetic. The best place to buy ras el hanout, saffron, and preserved rose petals.

Hours: 9AM-7PM daily

Bab Guissa Morning Market, Fez

The most authentic daily market in Fez operates outside Bab Guissa from dawn, with local farmers bringing fresh produce, olives, homemade cheese, honey, and live poultry. Almost entirely Moroccan clientele.

Hours: Dawn to 11AM daily

Essaouira Fish Market (Souk du Poisson)

The freshest fish market in Morocco operates beside the blue fishing boats of Essaouira port. Sardines, sea bass, and shrimp arrive in the morning; several grill restaurants will cook your selection on the spot.

Hours: 7AM-3PM daily (best 7-10AM)

Mellah Market (Jewish Quarter), Marrakech

The historic Jewish quarter market selling fresh produce, spices, and local goods alongside artisan metalwork. Less touristy than the main souk and gives a genuine insight into everyday Moroccan market life.

Hours: 8AM-6PM daily