Moroccan Cities and Their Most Famous Dishes
Between the epic mountain ranges, sweeping deserts, and ancient cities, Morocco is home to some of the most delicious and flavorsome cuisine in the world. Food lovers worldwide flock to this beautiful country for the stunning sights, warm hospitality, and – most importantly – the incredible dishes waiting to be sampled.
In this guide, we’re going to look at some of the best Moroccan cities for foodies, plus the best traditional Moroccan cuisine that can be sampled in each location. Dishes packed full of flavor await you… With everything from beloved street food to mint tea and fish (plenty of fish) that even the pickiest pallets will adore.
Fes is the second-largest city in Morocco: a haven for tourists looking to fully immerse themselves in Moroccan culture and cuisine. It’s located in Northern Morocco and is surrounded by stunning scenery, including rolling hills and ancient architecture, plus it’s home to the oldest university in the world!
For foodies, Fes is one of the best places in Morocco to try the infamous camel burger. Camel burgers are made with coriander, cumin, and harissa and tend to be made without binding agents or bread. They’re usually served on semolina (a type of Moroccan bread) rolls with red pepper. You can commonly find camel burgers served with more Western condiments, but we recommend going for the full experience with extra olives and halloumi.
Tangier is the most Northern city in Morocco, located just nine miles from Spain near the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its strategic location, Tangier has been conquered by Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Portuguese, giving it a rich and vibrant culture. The city is over 2.5 millennia old, making it one of the most ancient cities in North Africa!
With so many settlers, Tangier has cuisine influences from all over the world. It’s an excellent spot to sample traditional street food at one of the many bazaars. Try a delicious pastilla (also known as a Moroccan pie) made with warqa dough (similar to filo pastry) and filled with local meats or seafood.
If you make it to Tangier for a celebration, you might also get the chance to sample their incredible rfissa. Traditionally served with chicken, lentils, and fenugreek seeds, this delightful dish is often served to women after childbirth but can also be found during other special occasions.
Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morocco and has been the capital since the early 16th century. It’s famous for the stunning red walls and buildings that give Marrakech its nickname: The Red City.
In Marrakech, you’ll find a smorgasbord of traditional Moroccan cuisine, and foodies will love wandering the market stalls for tasty deep-fried street food. Marrakech is also a fantastic place to try a classic Moroccan salad (be careful as, although delicious, fresh salads aren’t safe to eat everywhere). These salads are packed full of fresh flavors, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, and mint. Some even include rice, potatoes, eggs, and/or beets to create a more substantial dish.
Naturally, you’re also going to find plenty of Moroccan tagines in Marrakesh, and vegetarians will love the richness and vibrancy of the vegetable tagines on offer. Fish lovers will be blown away by the sauteed prawns.
This small village located in the Rif Mountains is commonly known as the Blue City due to the blue shades found on almost every building. It’s heavily influenced by Spanish culture and is a popular tourist location thanks to the stunning architecture and unique shopping experiences. Visitors should be sure to stop at a local market for native handicrafts such as woven blankets and wool garments that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Chefchaouen is famous for its native goats’ cheese, which goes perfectly with fresh Moroccan bread baked on one of the wood-fired ovens you’ll see on your travels. You’ll also find plenty of traditional Moroccan dishes, including couscous, fish, vegetables, and salads in the Blue City, and it’s an excellent place to try the famous Moroccan sweet mint tea.
If you prefer to get out of the scorching heat, you’ll want to visit the breath-taking Imlil village. Located in the Atlas Mountains, Imlil actually reaches freezing temperatures during winter and is famous for its unbelievable views of green mountains and palm trees. Travelers should be sure to take a guided trek scaling Toubkal (the highest point in all Morocco) to fully experience the wonder that awaits. A great way to do so is joining a Tour to Imlil from Marrakech.
For food lovers, tours will feature plenty of local eateries for you to sample some of the best dishes Imlil has to offer. One of the most famous meals in this little spot is bissara, a soup made of peas, broad beans, or fava beans, seasoned with garlic and cumin. This warming dish is perfect for the colder temperatures in Imlil and is sometimes eaten for breakfast in other Moroccan cities.
Even if you haven’t heard the name, TV-enthusiasts will instantly recognize Essaouira thanks to the much-loved TV series Game of Thrones! This ancient Moroccan city is the place Daenerys first met her Unsullied Army in Slavers Bay. In reality, however, Essaouira is a relatively quiet and friendly fishing village not far from Marrakech.
As a fishing village, it is unsurprising that you’ll find plenty of tasty fish dishes to tempt you in Essaouira. Sardines are particularly popular exports, with notable plates including sardine sandwiches and stuffed sardines.
Meknes is a small imperial city located near Fez, previously ruled by the Almoravids and the Merinids. The city has gone through several different phases which each left their own stamp on the history, culture, and gastronomy of the beautiful city.
Meknes is the perfect spot to sample Moroccan biscuits. Unlike American biscuits, these are more like cookies and come in sweet and savory variations. The biscuits are usually made from shortbread-like doughs and make the perfect accompaniment to a cup of fresh sweet mint tea.
If you’re looking for dinner, you can’t beat a chicken and potato tagine, and you’ll find incredible pastillas being served in almost every local restaurant.
After discovering the incredible flavors and food there is to eat in Morocco, foodies won’t ever want to come home! Thankfully, although Moroccan food isn’t typical in American restaurants, it is incredibly easy to bring Moroccan cooking home with you.
Most traditional Moroccan cuisine is based around simple foods and rich flavors. Be sure to stock your pantry with spices including cumin, harissa, coriander, and turmeric, plus sweet options like mint and cinnamon to flavor your food.
Getting the right tools will also ensure your homemade Moroccan food is as delicious as you remember it. The most essential item to stock is a Moroccan-inspired tagine pot – like the ones from Uno Casa - for your favorite tagines.
Don’t forget to serve Moroccan dishes with freshly baked bread and/or couscous, and you’ll have a feast the whole family can love, perfect for when you’re missing your new favorite cities
Want to read more about destinations from all around the world? Check out our website and learn more about Free Walking Tours and many more activities.
Post by Uno Casa
In this guide, we’re going to look at some of the best Moroccan cities for foodies, plus the best traditional Moroccan cuisine that can be sampled in each location. Dishes packed full of flavor await you… With everything from beloved street food to mint tea and fish (plenty of fish) that even the pickiest pallets will adore.
1.Fes
Fes is the second-largest city in Morocco: a haven for tourists looking to fully immerse themselves in Moroccan culture and cuisine. It’s located in Northern Morocco and is surrounded by stunning scenery, including rolling hills and ancient architecture, plus it’s home to the oldest university in the world!
For foodies, Fes is one of the best places in Morocco to try the infamous camel burger. Camel burgers are made with coriander, cumin, and harissa and tend to be made without binding agents or bread. They’re usually served on semolina (a type of Moroccan bread) rolls with red pepper. You can commonly find camel burgers served with more Western condiments, but we recommend going for the full experience with extra olives and halloumi.
2.Tangier
Tangier is the most Northern city in Morocco, located just nine miles from Spain near the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its strategic location, Tangier has been conquered by Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Portuguese, giving it a rich and vibrant culture. The city is over 2.5 millennia old, making it one of the most ancient cities in North Africa!
With so many settlers, Tangier has cuisine influences from all over the world. It’s an excellent spot to sample traditional street food at one of the many bazaars. Try a delicious pastilla (also known as a Moroccan pie) made with warqa dough (similar to filo pastry) and filled with local meats or seafood.
If you make it to Tangier for a celebration, you might also get the chance to sample their incredible rfissa. Traditionally served with chicken, lentils, and fenugreek seeds, this delightful dish is often served to women after childbirth but can also be found during other special occasions.
3.Marrakech
Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morocco and has been the capital since the early 16th century. It’s famous for the stunning red walls and buildings that give Marrakech its nickname: The Red City.
In Marrakech, you’ll find a smorgasbord of traditional Moroccan cuisine, and foodies will love wandering the market stalls for tasty deep-fried street food. Marrakech is also a fantastic place to try a classic Moroccan salad (be careful as, although delicious, fresh salads aren’t safe to eat everywhere). These salads are packed full of fresh flavors, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, and mint. Some even include rice, potatoes, eggs, and/or beets to create a more substantial dish.
Naturally, you’re also going to find plenty of Moroccan tagines in Marrakesh, and vegetarians will love the richness and vibrancy of the vegetable tagines on offer. Fish lovers will be blown away by the sauteed prawns.
4.Chefchaouen
This small village located in the Rif Mountains is commonly known as the Blue City due to the blue shades found on almost every building. It’s heavily influenced by Spanish culture and is a popular tourist location thanks to the stunning architecture and unique shopping experiences. Visitors should be sure to stop at a local market for native handicrafts such as woven blankets and wool garments that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Chefchaouen is famous for its native goats’ cheese, which goes perfectly with fresh Moroccan bread baked on one of the wood-fired ovens you’ll see on your travels. You’ll also find plenty of traditional Moroccan dishes, including couscous, fish, vegetables, and salads in the Blue City, and it’s an excellent place to try the famous Moroccan sweet mint tea.
5.Imlil
If you prefer to get out of the scorching heat, you’ll want to visit the breath-taking Imlil village. Located in the Atlas Mountains, Imlil actually reaches freezing temperatures during winter and is famous for its unbelievable views of green mountains and palm trees. Travelers should be sure to take a guided trek scaling Toubkal (the highest point in all Morocco) to fully experience the wonder that awaits. A great way to do so is joining a Tour to Imlil from Marrakech.
For food lovers, tours will feature plenty of local eateries for you to sample some of the best dishes Imlil has to offer. One of the most famous meals in this little spot is bissara, a soup made of peas, broad beans, or fava beans, seasoned with garlic and cumin. This warming dish is perfect for the colder temperatures in Imlil and is sometimes eaten for breakfast in other Moroccan cities.
6.Essaouira
Even if you haven’t heard the name, TV-enthusiasts will instantly recognize Essaouira thanks to the much-loved TV series Game of Thrones! This ancient Moroccan city is the place Daenerys first met her Unsullied Army in Slavers Bay. In reality, however, Essaouira is a relatively quiet and friendly fishing village not far from Marrakech.
As a fishing village, it is unsurprising that you’ll find plenty of tasty fish dishes to tempt you in Essaouira. Sardines are particularly popular exports, with notable plates including sardine sandwiches and stuffed sardines.
7.Meknes
Meknes is a small imperial city located near Fez, previously ruled by the Almoravids and the Merinids. The city has gone through several different phases which each left their own stamp on the history, culture, and gastronomy of the beautiful city.
Meknes is the perfect spot to sample Moroccan biscuits. Unlike American biscuits, these are more like cookies and come in sweet and savory variations. The biscuits are usually made from shortbread-like doughs and make the perfect accompaniment to a cup of fresh sweet mint tea.
If you’re looking for dinner, you can’t beat a chicken and potato tagine, and you’ll find incredible pastillas being served in almost every local restaurant.
At Home
After discovering the incredible flavors and food there is to eat in Morocco, foodies won’t ever want to come home! Thankfully, although Moroccan food isn’t typical in American restaurants, it is incredibly easy to bring Moroccan cooking home with you.
Most traditional Moroccan cuisine is based around simple foods and rich flavors. Be sure to stock your pantry with spices including cumin, harissa, coriander, and turmeric, plus sweet options like mint and cinnamon to flavor your food.
Getting the right tools will also ensure your homemade Moroccan food is as delicious as you remember it. The most essential item to stock is a Moroccan-inspired tagine pot – like the ones from Uno Casa - for your favorite tagines.
Don’t forget to serve Moroccan dishes with freshly baked bread and/or couscous, and you’ll have a feast the whole family can love, perfect for when you’re missing your new favorite cities
Want to read more about destinations from all around the world? Check out our website and learn more about Free Walking Tours and many more activities.
Post by Uno Casa
