What Food To Try in Casablanca and Food Prices
How much does lunch and dinner cost
Examples of food prices, cafes, street food and other dining options in Casablanca for 2025.
National currency: Moroccan Dirham, symbol — (international currency code MAD).
General Cafe Price Guide
Average prices in Casablanca cafes and restaurants
$4.1
Quick Lunch for One
Starting from $2.54
$27
Dinner for Two
to celebrate your trip
Starting from $20.35
$6.8
Combo Meal
Starting from $6.1
What to Try in Casablanca
Must-try Dishes
Chakchouka - Spicy Tomato Stew - A vibrant mix of poached eggs in a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce, flavored with cumin and paprika. This breakfast dish is often enjoyed with bread, perfect for dipping, and is popular in local cafes and homes alike.Mechoui - Whole Roasted Lamb - A succulent whole lamb roasted to perfection, seasoned with spices, and often served with a side of fluffy bread and salads. Typically reserved for celebrations, locals enjoy it during gatherings, making it a social feast.
Khobz Ftir - Traditional Bread - A thick, crusty bread often enjoyed with every meal, used for scooping up tagines or stews. You'll find it being freshly baked in local bakeries early in the morning, often served warm right from the oven.
Briouat - Savory Pastries - Delicate pastries stuffed with spiced ground meat or vegetables, usually deep-fried until golden and crispy. A popular street food snack, they're best enjoyed hot from a vendor in the bustling markets, especially during Ramadan.
Tagine - Slow-Cooked Stew - A flavorful stew, often featuring chicken or lamb, combined with seasonal vegetables and spices, slow-cooked in a cone-shaped pot. Locals love digging into a tagine at dinner time, often sharing it among family.
Seffa - Sweet and Savory Couscous - A unique dish of steamed vermicelli or couscous topped with sweet cinnamon and nuts, sometimes paired with savory meats. This dish is a delightful surprise combination and is especially popular during festive occasions.
Harira - Traditional Soup - A hearty soup made with lentils, chickpeas, and tomatoes, enriched with spices and often enjoyed during Ramadan to break the fast. It's commonly eaten for iftar, and locals love to dip bread into it, creating a satisfying experience.
Pastilla - Sweet and Savory Pie - A savory pie filled with pigeon or chicken, spiced and layered with sweet almond and cinnamon-infused dough. Served at feasts and special occasions, it's a delightful blend of flavors that showcases Casablanca's diverse culinary heritage.
Desserts & Drinks
Mint Tea - نَبات شَاي (refreshing herbal tea) - A fragrant brew made from green tea, fresh mint, and sugar, served piping hot in ornate glasses. Locals enjoy it all day, especially during social gatherings, often pouring it from a height to aerate the drink. Fresh Orange Juice - عصير البرتقال (zesty citrus drink) - Juicy oranges squeezed on-the-spot, served cold and often garnished with a mint leaf. You’ll find vendors popping up in local markets, particularly refreshing on sweltering summer days.
Moroccan Beer - بيرة مُغربية (local alcoholic lager) - A light lager made from barley that’s popular on hot evenings. It’s typically enjoyed with friends at cafes after work, but watch out for the common mistake of ordering it without specifying cold—it's a must!
Baklava - باكلوا (sweet layered pastry) - Flaky pastry filled with crushed nuts and doused in honey, often served with a sprinkle of cinnamon. This treat is especially common during Ramadan, symbolizing celebration and hospitality, best enjoyed with a cup of mint tea.
Frozen Yoghurt - زبادي مثلج (chilled dairy dessert) - Creamy yogurt blended with seasonal fruits and a hint of sugar, served with various toppings. It's a popular sweet treat in the evenings, especially in summer, as a refreshing way to cool down.
By the way, don’t be surprised if your tea is served with a side of small pastries for dipping—it's an unspoken tradition that locals love!
Food and Groceries in Casablanca
Vegetables, Fruits and Bread
| Bread | $0.61 |
| Bananas | $1.25 |
| Oranges | $0.78 |
| Potatoes | $0.62 |
| Apples | $1.43 |
Beverages
| Water 1.5L | $0.57 |
| 0.5L Local Beer | $2.18 |
| Imported Beer | $2.37 |
| Wine Rating >4.0 | $7.63 |
| Milk 1L | $0.86 |
Various Groceries
| Meat (Beef or Pork) | $9.06 |
| Chicken | $6.48 |
| Cigarettes | $3.87 |
| Rice | $1.66 |
| Local Cheese | $8.32 |
Overview of Cuisine and Specialties
Wandering through the bustling streets of Casablanca around 2 PM today, I was engulfed by the aroma of steaming tagines and freshly baked bread. During this time, local families gather for lunch, turning busy plazas into vibrant sit-down dining spots. Meal times here typically revolve around the traditional schedule: breakfast around 8 AM, lunch from 1 PM to 3 PM, and dinner starting at around 8 PM.
Casablanca’s dining scene is a tapestry of experiences stretching from the upscale restaurants in the Maarif district to the food stalls of Derb Ghalef. Street food is a staple, with dishes like makouda (fried potato balls) selling for about 10 MAD each, while a full meal in a casual eatery often ranges from 50 MAD to 100 MAD. In contrast, dining at a mid-range restaurant might cost 200 MAD to 400 MAD per person for a proper meal, not including beverages.
Visitors often mistakenly believe that tipping is unnecessary here, but locals typically round up their bills. In casual dining establishments, leaving a 10-15% tip is common, while on the high-end end, 10-15% of the total bill remains standard. As for payment norms, cash is king. While some restaurants accept credit cards, smaller establishments often do not. I’ve found that having cash on hand can save you from disappointments, especially when enjoying a hearty meal at local food stalls.
Oh, and before I forget, in busy areas like the Medina, you may encounter long lines, especially at lunchtime, between 1 PM and 3 PM. Arriving early, around 12:30 PM, gives you a better chance of finding a table. Many locals make reservations for dinner at popular spots as they fill up quickly.
One distinct local habit I've noticed is the communal approach to dining. It's common for friends and families to share a selection of dishes rather than ordering individually, fostering a more social atmosphere during meals. This is a heartwarming aspect of the dining culture, emphasizing connection over mere consumption.
Keeping an eye on seasonal food practices is also essential. During the summer months, outdoor eating becomes popular as people relish the cool evening breezes. Dishes change subtly through the seasons, with lighter fare dominating the summer while hearty, warming meals are preference in the colder months.
As Casablanca’s dining culture continues to evolve, there’s a delightful blend of tradition and innovation happening—each meal comes with its distinct story, deeply rooted in local customs and flavors.
Casablanca’s dining scene is a tapestry of experiences stretching from the upscale restaurants in the Maarif district to the food stalls of Derb Ghalef. Street food is a staple, with dishes like makouda (fried potato balls) selling for about 10 MAD each, while a full meal in a casual eatery often ranges from 50 MAD to 100 MAD. In contrast, dining at a mid-range restaurant might cost 200 MAD to 400 MAD per person for a proper meal, not including beverages.
Visitors often mistakenly believe that tipping is unnecessary here, but locals typically round up their bills. In casual dining establishments, leaving a 10-15% tip is common, while on the high-end end, 10-15% of the total bill remains standard. As for payment norms, cash is king. While some restaurants accept credit cards, smaller establishments often do not. I’ve found that having cash on hand can save you from disappointments, especially when enjoying a hearty meal at local food stalls.
Oh, and before I forget, in busy areas like the Medina, you may encounter long lines, especially at lunchtime, between 1 PM and 3 PM. Arriving early, around 12:30 PM, gives you a better chance of finding a table. Many locals make reservations for dinner at popular spots as they fill up quickly.
One distinct local habit I've noticed is the communal approach to dining. It's common for friends and families to share a selection of dishes rather than ordering individually, fostering a more social atmosphere during meals. This is a heartwarming aspect of the dining culture, emphasizing connection over mere consumption.
Keeping an eye on seasonal food practices is also essential. During the summer months, outdoor eating becomes popular as people relish the cool evening breezes. Dishes change subtly through the seasons, with lighter fare dominating the summer while hearty, warming meals are preference in the colder months.
As Casablanca’s dining culture continues to evolve, there’s a delightful blend of tradition and innovation happening—each meal comes with its distinct story, deeply rooted in local customs and flavors.
Tourist Reviews
All photos and texts belong to their authors
Well, I can say the portions were enormous; I could easily eat this for two days. It cost 150 local currency, which is about $15. You have to agree that for such a really low price, it’s hard to find a filling meat dish in a fancy restaurant elsewhere.
But when it comes to the taste... well, after eating this dish, I decided that I wouldn't try local cuisine anymore, as they use these spices in all their dishes, and, in my opinion, they leave a rather unpleasant aftertaste. The meat itself was cooked excellently, but the spices spoiled the experience for me, and as for prunes, I generally don’t eat them. »