Must-Visit Places for Street Food in Morocco

Words: Dan Greene     Photo:  Ronald Woan

Morocco is up-and-coming as a popular tourist destination, rich in culture, steeped in history, and offering some of the best food in the entire world. From tagines to roasted meat, and sweet treats to some stranger dishes, there’s a hugely diverse range of street food in Morocco to sample.

Dan, a backpacker and guest writer for The Yum List from London relays a handful of must-see places in the country for good street food:

Street Food in Morocco: Jemaa el-Fnaa Square

This Marrakech hotspot is, without a doubt, the best place in the entirety of Morocco for food. As soon as the sun begins to set, Jemaa el-Fnaa transforms into a huge kitchen, with fragrant, delectable dishes being cooked on every street corner. And there’s a huge variety here, too – from big, meaty dishes to sweet nibbles, you’ll find it all.

Of course, it goes without saying there’s plenty of rich, delicious tagines to try here. Be sure to soak it up with bread, but use only your right hand – it’s a custom here in Morocco, as the left hand is considered too dirty to eat with. And it’s here you’ll also be able to sample one of Morocco’s most famed dishes – a traditional sheep’s head. Yum.

Street Food in Morocco: Mechoui Alley

The clue is in the name – head to Mechoui Alley, also in Marrakech, for an authentic spot of mechoui. The roasted lamb is renowned for its flavour and richness, and this is the place to try the best of the bunch. That’s not all Mechoui Alley has to offer, though – you can find all kinds of meaty dishes here, including the previously mentioned sheep’s head which is infamously cherished by the locals.

Be sure to try tanjia when strolling through the area, too. It’s another famed food in Morocco, and Munchies even goes as far to say it’s some of the best roasted lamb you’ll ever try in your life.

Street Food in Morocco: Fes

It’s easy to say Fes is an underrated city – tourists flock to the bigger, busier Marrakech, skipping this culturally rich, undeniably beautiful city in the process. Fes is renowned for its quality foods, the aromas flowing through the air from the many stalls in the square and upon the streets.

Head to the souk (market) or medina (square) for the best street food in Fes. Meat is again a prime factor in many dishes, with the barbecued meat sandwich being a particular highlight. There’s also the chance to try snails here – no, they’re not just a delicacy in France.

Street Food in Morocco: Essaouira

The port city of Essaouira is undeniably a sleepier, more laid-back affair than its busier counterparts. Only a stone’s throw from Marrakech, it feels like a world away with its heartier, more luxurious dishes – there’s a focus on seafood here, too. The fish market is renowned for its quality food, with many visitors claiming it’s the best seafood they’ve ever tasted.

There are opportunities to try the more traditional dishes here, too – don’t rule out a tagine – but it’s the fish that standouts as the best of the bunch.

Street Food in Morocco: Agadir

Lesser known than many other hotspots in Morocco, Agadir is a much quieter destination – but perhaps that’s a good thing, as it’s also one of the most authentic as a result. Street stalls and hole-in-the-wall restaurants are often run by families serving up their own recipes, with tagines again being the most common dishes on offer.

As an added bonus, being by the seaside makes Agadir one of Morocco’s most picturesque and beautiful cities. Be sure to stroll through and soak in the atmosphere – it’s undeniably one of the country’s most overlooked locations.