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HomeTravel GuideFood & DrinkMedina, Marrakech: The Definitive Guide To Lamb Brain, Tongue, Eyeballs & More...

Medina, Marrakech: The Definitive Guide To Lamb Brain, Tongue, Eyeballs & More Food

After initially wanting to leave Morocco but then deciding to stay, I finally got into a rhythm in Marrakech. Centered around my decision to stay was desire to try every food and drink available. I already wrote about The Detox Juice Bars and the pricey couscous restaurant. Now it was time to focus on the food stalls which are centered in the heart of the Medina and are also on the way to and from getting lost in the Medina Labyrinth.

Street Food Take 1

The Sweet Shop 

I stopped at many food stalls while wandering aimlessly. My first stop was a sweet shop which sold all sorts of sugary treats.

a group of bags of food a kitchen with many pastries a bowl of food on a plate a plate of brown food a man handing food to another man

The Famous Juice Bar 

Continuing on the main artery road from the center to the souks, I found a juice bar which had a line of people fighting for a layered juice drink. (Read the complete story here.)

a man standing behind a counter with many glasses of liquid a group of people standing in a crowd

Express Sandwich Shop 

Right next to the famous juice bar in the post above is a row of restaurants serving beef (kufta) with bread. Ordering is difficult because they don’t understand my Arabic, and I certainly do not understand theirs. The easiest thing is to point and present your coins.

a group of men standing at a counter a plate of food on a table a plate of food and a bread on a table a man sitting at a table with food on it

Then I Got Lost 

a man walking down a narrow alley at night

Found, It Was Sandwich Time 

a man standing in front of a food stand a man handing food to another man

One More Juice 

Exhausted, it was time to go back to the center for a juice.

a man standing in front of a fruit stand

Street Food Take 2

Buyer Beware, Sort Of 

Why wander around when you can head to the food stalls and eat everything for next to nothing. The web says that many tourists are ripped of at these stalls because they do not inquire about the price or are served and charged for appetizers that they did not order. I did not have that experience. I ate a bunch of places and anytime there was a discrepancy, they would either take it off the bill or bring me more food. Be aware but don’t be too paranoid.

two men standing under a tent
Me and cousin joking about the bill.

Soup 

The first must is a cup of harira soup which may be my favorite soup in the world apart from pho and tom yum. At a cost of 3 dinars (30 cents), you can’t go wrong. I tried the other soup but it was not as good.

a bowl of soup with a spoon
Harira
a bowl of soup with a spoon
Unknown

a group of people eating at a table

Mixed Grill 

Don’t fill up on too much soup or you won’t have room for the mixed grill. I skipped the couscous this time, but it is worth noting how much cheaper it is than at the Tourist Restaurant. I recommend focusing on lamb and beef, avoiding the chicken, and asking for extra mixed vegetables.

a group of men standing around a table with food a green menu with black texta variety of meat on skewers a table full of food a group of men in a market a group of men standing behind a table of food a man eating at a table with food on it a plate of food on a table a plate of skewers of meat and vegetables a man eating food at a table a table with plates and forks on it

All this food cost 140 dinar or around $15.

The Mint Tea 

Moroccan mint tea deserves its own section. Moroccans know how to make tea. There should be no charge for it, so have a few cups but be aware of the sugar.

a glass with a plant in it

The Lamb 

This is what I came for. During holidays, my family serves lamb and it is always a battle to see who gets to devour the tongue. I asked the waiter for ‘noos ross’ (half a head) of lamb and was quoted 40 dinar (~$4).

a hand pouring liquid onto a piece of animal bone on a plate
The eyeball

a group of people around a table with food a man in a white coat cooking food a plate of food on a counter a man eating food at a table a man eating food at a table a hand holding food on a plate a close up of a skull

Street Food Take 3

After two days in the Medina, I was an expert at what to order and like the previous days, I never received a shockingly high bill. Again, I focused on the soup, mixed grill, and lamb. This time I bravely ate the tongue, the brain, and the eyeball. Delicious!

a bowl of soup with a spoon
Harira
a group of meat on a table
Full ross this time
a man pouring soup into a bowl
And whatever this lamb dish is, it was delicious.

a man standing in front of a large pot of food a large metal bowl with food on it a plate of food on a tablea group of soda bottles and bread on a table a man eating food at a table

a plate of food on a table
Lamb brain, not as good as tongue
a plate of food on a table
Lamb tongue

a man smiling at camera a group of people sitting at a table with food a large display of food a plate of food on a table

a plate of ribs on a red and white polka dot plate
The lamb was the best
a group of men standing in front of a table with food
Going to order more

a man eating meat at a table

a table with plates and forks on it
Finished!

Last Call for Juice 

I do not believe that they serve alcohol in the Medina which is fine because there’s always room for a nice juice before passing out from too much food.

a fruit stand with lights and a man standing behind it

Overall 

It doesn’t get any more authentic than eating at the food stalls in the Medina. At first, I was overwhelmed by the hawkers begging me to come to their stall. In the end, I was overwhelmed by the amount of food I ate.

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