BEST 10 STREET FOODS TO TRY IN FEZ MEDINA, MOROCCO

Fez is the oldest imperial city in Morocco, with the medina being a UNESCO world heritage site. As you can imagine, the Fez medina has some of the best street food in the world.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in the city, simply whiling away the hours eating good food and sitting at roadside stalls drinking tea. Frankly, it’s one of my favourite things to do, and I’m super chuffed to be able to share the best street food in the Fez medina with you.

1. Khlii

With Khili (also known as Khlea), looks can certainly be deceiving. Whilst the dish may look a may look a little weird, it is really just a delicious little confit of preserved meat.

Traditionally prepared by sun-drying a type of cured meat called gueddid in a mixture of olive oil, water, and animal fat, the final product can last up to years when stored properly.

Khlii tastes a little like American beef jerky, but softer, slightly saltier, and a tad garlicky. Once you get over the initial sight of it, it’s actually pretty darn good.

2. Bissara

Have you ever tried fava beans, the dried mature fruits of the Vicia faba legume species? Regardless of the answer, you’re going to love bissara, also known as fava bean soup!

This is easily one of my favourite foods in the Fez medina, especially when the weather is a little cooler. It’s hearty, filling, warming, and feels a little as though it can fix you from the inside out. I bloody love it.

Plus, unlike a lot of other street foods in this list, bissara is vegetarian!

3. Chebakia

Chebakia is a type of pastry made from strips of rolled dough which is then deep-fried until golden. Then, it is coated with a honey and orange blossom syrup, and garnished with sesame.

As you can imagine, chebakia is one of the sweetest things that you will find in the Fez medina, and once you’ve tried one of these rose-shaped pastries, you’re never going to stop consuming them. Believe me, I’ve been there.

4. Mkhamer

Also known as Batbout, this Moroccan pita bread is made from milk, flour, butter, and of course, sugar (aren’t all things in Morocco?). It is cooked on a skillet or griddle, resulting in a soft and chewy texture which is perfect for filling with honey or kefta.

This is one of my favourite breakfast go-to’s in the Fez medina, and I buy at least five of these little disks every time.

5. Msemen

Msemen are small square pancakes made with an elastic bread-like dough which has been stretched wafer thin. They are a staple of the Moroccan diet and something that you absolutely need to try during your visit.

In my opinion, the best way to enjoy msemen is having it dipped in a hot syrup made from butter and honey, but it is also great with tomato, onion, and olives. Served hot and straight from the large iron dome, they are another delicious breakfast dish.

6. Pastilla

Coming from the Spanish word for “pill”, pastilla is a sweet and savoury dish made from shredded chicken, spices, cinnamon, and crushed almonds, and then topped with icing sugar and honey. Quite simply, it is absolutely divine, and surprisingly not overwhelmingly sweet.

Wrapped in a dough which is similar to filo pastry and then fried in a skillet, this dish was historically made with pigeon. Nowadays, it’s more likely that you will watch the chicken be plucked from its caged, hung upside-down, and have its throat slit in the halal way right in front of you.

It’s brutal… but if you’re a meat eater, then this is something that you should witness before indulging in meat in Morocco.

7. Nougat

Sure, you can find nougat in most corners around the world… but have you ever tried Fez nougat?

Made from sugar, egg white, and different types of nuts, you can find this delicious Moroccan sweet thing in a million different colours and flavours.

One of the main reasons why you need to try nougat from the Fez medina is the fact that the air around the stalls is usually buzzing with bees: watch the seller brush hundreds of bees out of the way as he cuts you a chunk of the finest nougat in Morocco. It’s an experience, for sure.

8. Kaab el Ghazal

With the name translating to ‘gazelle heels’, it’s no surprise that this traditional North African cookie looks a little like the ankles of a gazelle.

Crescent-shaped, made from a flour-based dough, and filled with almond paste and orange blossom water, these cookies go perfectly with mint tea. Frankly, these are only of the only cookies that I can snack on throughout all hours of the day.

9. Snails

Yes, snails are a popular snack in Fez! You can find whole stands of these bad boys on many streets in the Fez medina, where they are served still in their shells in delicious hot broths.

The best way to eat these is by taking a tooth pick out with you, popping the snails out of their shells, and then slurping the broth from the bowl.

10. Mint Tea

And to wash it all down, you will need a glass or two of Moroccan mint tea.

Now, you guys all know that I am a massive tea fanatic, so it probably comes as no surprise that I would recommend a cup or two of ‘Berber whisky’. Usually a mix of mint tea and gunpowder green tea, Moroccan tea then often has around seven teaspoons of sugar added to each cup. That’s right, seven!

Poured from impressive heights and served in small glasses, drinking Moroccan tea in the Fez medina is a whole experience in itself, and is absolutely not to be missed…

Unless you’re looking out for your health.

The Best Food Tours in Fez, Morocco

With plenty of options to choose from, it’s hard to know what the best food tour in Fez medina is. Luckily for you, I have been on almost all of them and am ready to share my golden wisdom with you.

My two favourite food tour operators in the whole city are Under Moroccan Sun and Fez City Tour. If you’re looking for the best street food in the Fez medina then these tours will absolutely show you the top places to eat.

Under Moroccan Sun is ideal for introducing you to new street food in Fez and educating you on the origins of each dish. Not only that, but on this tour I was also able to experience the tanneries of Fez – something which I was super excited to finally tick off my bucket list!

Alternatively, I would say that I enjoyed the way that Fez City Tour started in an office, drinking a cup of mint tea with my guide, and talking out the things that I wanted to experience. As you can imagine, cheap eats for the rest of my stay were at the top of my list!

Somehow, my two favourite food tours wound up both run by the same guide. Introducing Morocco’s youngest female licensed tour guide, Fatima!

Man, I love Fatima. From the second that I met her and she turned up with a grin and a head full of knowledge, I knew that she was the best tour guide in the city. Not only did she put up with all of my questions, but she explained local customs, taught me about the area, and gave me the confidence to later return to the medina and explore new food places.