A Complete Guide to the Best Street Food in Marrakech

There is nowhere quite like Marrakech when it comes to food. The city hums with energy, and you feel it most when you step into the streets and let yourself be guided by the aromas of spices, the sound of sizzling pans, and the voices of vendors calling you to try their dishes. For me, the excitement grows with every step I make inside the Medina, thinking what deliciousness I am going to discover around the next corner. I love stopping at stalls where locals are queuing, knowing that these are some of the best street food in Marrakech hotspots. Following my nose, I even ended up inside the humble bakery of the souk one time, and let me tell you what experience that was! Even if nobody spoke each other’s language, the baker simply grabbed my hands and showed me how to knead the dough for the Khobz, the typical Moroccan bread. Then, he gifted me one just taken out of the oven.

My steps have brought me back to Marrakech over and over, to the point where now I eat without any fears at the stalls in Jamna ef Fna Square, elbow to elbow with the locals. While Morocco is famous for elaborate meals shared with family such as big platters of couscous, slow-cooked tagines, and sweet pastilla, Marrakech has another side to its culinary scene that is just as exciting: street food.

Is the Street Food in Marrakech Safe to Eat?

One of the questions I often get asked is whether it’s safe to eat from the street stalls in Marrakech. I understand the hesitation, especially that trying food from a smoky grill in the middle of Jemaa el-Fna can feel intimidating if it’s your first visit. From my own experience, though, I can say that the food is safe and delicious as long as you use common sense. Personally, I’ve eaten almost everything the stalls in Jemaa el-Fna have to offer: snail soup, fried liver sandwiches, roasted lamb, honey-drizzled chebakia. Not once have I fallen ill. Of course, everyone’s stomach is different, but in my experience, Marrakech’s street food is just as safe as eating in a restaurant.

I usually choose stalls that are busy with locals, because that’s always a sign of fresh food and good flavour. I also like to watch how food is being prepared and never go for chicken or seafood because I don’t know how long they’ve been displayed in the heat, on the stalls. Food doesn’t sit around when there is a steady stream of people ordering. I also pay attention to how the food is prepared. When you can see the meat sizzling on the grill or the soup bubbling in a pot, you know you are being served something hot and fresh.  

The Stalls in Jamna el-Fna Square

If there is one place in Marrakech where the street food scene comes alive, it’s Jemaa el-Fna. During the day, the square is full of snake charmers, henna artists, and storytellers, but when the sun sets, the food stalls take over. Smoke rises into the air as grills are lit, and the square fills with the irresistible smell of roasting meat and frying dough.

Every evening here feels chaotic, but in a good way. Rows of stalls are set up in neat lines, each specialising in something different. The vendors call out, waving menus, trying to tempt you with promises of the best lamb or the freshest soup. The choice can feel overwhelming, but I’ve learned not to overthink it. I often follow the smell that appeals most to me or sit down where I see locals gathered.

What I love about eating in Jemaa el-Fna is the atmosphere. Sitting on a plastic stool at a long table, sharing bread with strangers, chatting with the vendor who proudly tells you about his family recipe. The food itself is good and cheap, but it’s the experience of being part of something so alive and communal that makes it special.

The Best Street Food in Marrakech You Shouldn’t Miss

Before you dive into the bustling stalls and savoury aromas that define the Marrakech street food scene, it helps to know what dishes truly stand out among the crowd. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned explorer of Moroccan flavours, these are the bites you simply can’t miss.

Liver Sandwiches

I knew I wanted to try the liver sandwich the first time I’ve seen this peculiar piece of offal sizzle on a grill. Born in Romania, I grew up eating dishes made with all parts of an animal, as we don’t throw anything anyway. So I was pretty excited when I’ve seen this option on the stall in Marrakech. The chef chopped the liver into small pieces, fried it with onions and a mix of spices, and stuffed it into a fresh bread roll, topping it with a fried egg. The caramelised onions gave it sweetness, while the spices lifted the flavour. It was rich and filling, the kind of food that tastes far better than it looks. I never leave Marrakech without having at least one liver sandwich.

Roast Lamb

Few things in the world are as tempting as the smell of lamb slowly roasting in the oven. And in Marrakech, the ovens are underground and the lamb is roasting for the entire morning, without any spices or seasonings. It’s just the entire lamb and the heat. At lunchtime, the lamb is taken out of the oven, carved into stick slices, and served with bread, cumin, salt and bread, on a piece of paper.

And let me tell you, there’s no better street food in Marrakech than the roast lamb. The meat simply melts in your mouth.  

Moroccan “Pizza Pockets”

It’s hard to describe this Moroccan dish, so I’ll call it “pizza pockets”. These little stuffed flatbreads are what I reach for when I want a quick bite while wandering through the Medina. They are warm and crisp, filled with cheese, vegetables, or minced meat, and they remind me of a Moroccan take on comfort food. I often grab one in the afternoon when my feet are tired from exploring, and it always feels like the perfect pick-me-up.

Harissa Olives

The olive stalls in Marrakech are a feast for the eyes as much as the palate. Huge bowls of olives glisten in shades of green, black, and purple. My favourites are the ones marinated with harissa, fiery and tangy. I often buy a small cone of them and snack as I walk back to my hotel, as they are impossible to say no to and ignore. Most of the times they somehow find a way in my hand luggage as well, on my way back to England.

Harira

Harira is one of the most comforting dishes you can have in Morocco and it’s a perfect street food in Marrakech for when you need a little pick me up. This tomato-based soup, filled with lentils, chickpeas, and fragrant spices, is traditionally eaten during Ramadan, but you can find it year-round at the street stalls. I love it on cooler evenings, sitting on a stool with a bowl steaming in front of me. A squeeze of lemon brings it to life, and a chunk of bread on the side makes it a meal.

Snails Soup

Snail soup might sound unusual, but in Marrakech it’s a favourite. The snails are cooked in a spiced broth, served in small bowls with toothpicks to pull them out of their shells. The first time I tried it, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the broth was so fragrant that I ended up drinking it until the last drop. The snails themselves are tender and surprisingly tasty.

It’s a dish that often divides travellers, but I think it’s worth trying at least once. It was recommended to me during a food tour, because I had a cold. The tour guide told me that the spices will make me feel better and will stop my cough, and it did, temporarily. I also recommended it to my friends when I travelled with them to Marrakech and they also loved it. It may sound strange, but it’s delicious.  

Msemen

Msemen is a square-shaped flatbread, folded and fried on a flat grill until golden. You can eat it plain, spread with honey for sweetness, or filled with onions and spices for a savoury version. I often have msemen for breakfast, topped with an industrial quantity of amlou, with a glass of mint tea, watching the Medina wake up. It’s flaky, warm, and satisfying, and somehow always tastes better in Marrakech than anywhere else.

Grilled Corn

In the evenings, you’ll see vendors with baskets of corn roasting over open flames. The kernels are charred and smoky, sprinkled with salt or cumin, and handed to you still hot. It’s one of the simplest street foods, but I always find it comforting. I like to eat it while walking through the Medina, the smoky flavour clinging to my hands.

Donuts

The smell of fresh donuts is impossible to resist. In Marrakech, they are fried in bubbling oil, then rolled in sugar, crisp on the outside and soft inside. I often buy one even after I’ve already eaten, because there’s always room for something sweet. Walking through the Medina with a hot donut in hand feels like one of life’s small pleasures.

Cookies

Moroccan cookies come in endless varieties, often flavoured with almonds, honey, or sesame. You don’t even have to search for them as the street vendors with mobile carts filled with cookies will find you. I like to take a small selection back to my Riad, to enjoy later with tea on the terrace.

Gazelle Horns

These delicate crescent-shaped pastries are filled with almond paste and flavoured with orange blossom water. They are as beautiful as they are delicious, and they feel like a special treat whenever I have them. I usually enjoy them with tea, the floral notes balancing the sweetness perfectly.

Dates and Nuts

Marrakech is heaven for anyone who loves dried fruit and nuts. Stalls overflow with dates, figs, almonds, and walnuts. I often stop to buy a handful of dates to keep in my bag as a snack while exploring. They are sweet, chewy, and naturally energising. Not to mention, extremely cheap.

Chebakia

Chebakia is one of Morocco’s most iconic sweets. It’s shaped into a flower, fried until crisp, then soaked in honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds. I first tasted it during Ramadan, when it’s often served with harira, and I was hooked instantly. Sticky, crunchy, and fragrant, it’s a treat I always look forward to.

Mint Tea

Mint tea is more than a drink in Morocco; it’s a ritual. On the streets of Marrakech, you’ll often see vendors pouring it from high above the glass to create a frothy top. Sweet, refreshing, and endlessly comforting, mint tea is the perfect way to end any meal. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve sat with a glass of tea in Jemaa el-Fna, watching the square buzz with life around me.

Final Thoughts

Street food in Marrakech is a great way to connect with the city beyond the touristic attractions. Every dish tells a story, from the liver sandwiches fried on hot grills to the delicate gazelle horns filled with almonds. Eating here means joining in a tradition that has been part of Marrakech for centuries. And if you know the story of Jemaa el-Fna, you know what I’m talking about.

For me, some of my favourite memories of the city are tied to food and all those special moments shared with the locals over a meal.

If you want to truly experience the city, dive into its street food. It’s where Marrakech is at its most alive.

For more articles about Marrakech, check out my recommendations below:

• Where to eat in Marrakech
• Hidden gems in Marrakech
• How to get from Marrakech Airport to the city centre
• How to spend two days in Marrakech
• What spices to buy in Marrakech
• Where to stay in Marrakech

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