Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima is the northernmost region of Morocco, where the country meets the Strait of Gibraltar, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It combines the port city of Tangier and its Cap Spartel headland, the white-walled UNESCO medina of Tetouan, the blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen, the mural-covered Atlantic town of Asilah, the Mediterranean beaches of M'diq, Martil and Al Hoceima, and the wooded Rif mountains of Talassemtane National Park.
Northern Moroccan food blends Andalusian, Spanish and Rifian traditions. Tangier's medina is known for fixed-menu seafood meals served in clay dishes, grilled squid, sea bass and Spanish-influenced paella. Chefchaouen cooks with fresh goat cheese, bissara, eggplant dishes and tagines of chicken with prunes and almonds, with many vegetarian options. Tetouan keeps a refined Andalusian-Moroccan table with pastilla and Spanish-era seafood restaurants in the Ensanche, while Asilah and Al Hoceima rely on the Atlantic and Mediterranean catch. Dining ranges from street counters and cafes (15-40 MAD, about $1.60-4.30) to riad restaurants and resort dining rooms (300-550 MAD, about $32-59).
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.
Tangier Fixed-Menu Seafood Meal
A set multi-course seafood lunch served in clay dishes, famous at Le Saveur du Poisson in the Tangier medina.
Where to try: Le Saveur du Poisson, 2 Escalier Waller, Tangier
Price: 250-350 MAD ($27-38)
Goat-Cheese Salad and Bissara
Chefchaouen's fresh goat cheese served over salad and thick fava-bean bissara with olive oil.
Where to try: Casa Hassan, Rue Targui, Chefchaouen; Cafe Clock, 3 Derb Tijani
Price: 30-70 MAD ($3.20-7.50)
Chicken Tagine with Prunes and Almonds
Chicken slow-cooked with onion and cinnamon and finished with caramelized prunes and toasted almonds.
Where to try: La Lampe Magique, Rue Targui, Chefchaouen; Riad El Reducto, Tetouan
Price: 80-140 MAD ($8.60-15)
Pastilla
Crisp warqa pastry layered with shredded chicken or seafood, almonds and cinnamon, a Tetouan and Tangier celebration dish.
Where to try: Riad El Reducto, Tetouan; Hamadi, Tangier; Casa Hassan, Chefchaouen
Price: 90-160 MAD ($10-17)
Grilled Fresh Fish by Weight
Fish chosen from a display, weighed and grilled with salad. Standard at beach restaurants and ports in Azla, Asilah and Al Hoceima.
Where to try: Mericano Restaurant, Azla; Restaurant La Place, Asilah; The Fish House, Al Hoceima
Price: 95-300 MAD ($10-32)
Seafood Paella
A Spanish-influenced rice dish with prawns, mussels and fish, common in Asilah and Chefchaouen.
Where to try: Casa Garcia, Asilah; Restaurant Al Kasbah, Chefchaouen
Price: 120-250 MAD ($13-27)
Camel Burger
Camel-meat patty in a bun, the signature dish of the Cafe Clock group.
Where to try: Cafe Clock, 3 Derb Tijani, Chefchaouen
Price: 75-95 MAD ($8-10)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Moroccan
Seafood
French
Food tours & tastings in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Eat your way through Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Bissara Counters
Thick fava-bean soup with olive oil and cumin, a cheap breakfast sold in medina lanes of Tangier, Chefchaouen and Tetouan.
Find it at: Around Grand Socco and Petit Socco, Tangier; lanes off Plaza Uta el-Hammam, Chefchaouen
Grilled Sardines and Fried Fish
Hot fried or grilled fish sold by weight near the fishing ports and served in bread or on a plate.
Find it at: Tangier port area and Asilah port
Msemen and Baghrir with Honey
Square griddle breads and semolina pancakes sold warm from small stalls for morning snacks.
Find it at: Medina lanes in Chefchaouen and Tetouan
Chefchaouen Goat Cheese and Rif Honey
Fresh local goat cheese and honey sold at market stalls to eat with bread.
Find it at: Market stalls beside Plaza Uta el-Hammam, Chefchaouen
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Grand Socco and Medina Markets, Tangier
The Grand Socco square and nearby lanes sell produce, olives, fish and bread. The fish market near the port sells the day's catch.
Hours: Daily roughly 8AM-7PM; best before noon
Chefchaouen Medina Food Stalls
Stalls around Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the medina lanes sell goat cheese, honey, olives and fresh bread.
Hours: Daily roughly 8AM-8PM
Tetouan Medina Markets
Spice, olive and pastry stalls in the UNESCO-listed medina around Place Hassan II.
Hours: Daily roughly 8AM-7PM; many stalls close for Friday midday prayer
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Seafood set menus such as Le Saveur du Poisson are cash only; carry 250-400 MAD ($27-43) in notes.
Alcohol is served only in a few licensed restaurants (Hamadi in Tangier, Riad El Reducto and Casa de Espana in Tetouan, hotel restaurants); most medina restaurants do not serve it.
In Chefchaouen and Tetouan, medina restaurants are small and fill at 1PM and 8PM; arrive earlier or walk in during the morning to book.
Ask the price of fish sold by weight before it is cooked, and confirm the cost of drinks.
Tip about 10% (round up 5-20 MAD, about $0.55-2.15) in sit-down restaurants.
Ramadan changes opening hours; many restaurants open only after sunset, so check at the door earlier in the day.
- Vegetarian
- Good in Chefchaouen (Cafe Clock, goat-cheese salads, vegetable couscous) and available in Tangier. Say 'sans viande' because broths often use meat stock.
- Vegan
- Possible with notice at Cafe Clock Chefchaouen; street food is limited to bread, olives, bissara and fruit.
- Halal
- Default across restaurants. Pork and alcohol appear only in a few licensed venues in Tangier, Tetouan and resort hotels.
- Gluten free
- Limited awareness. Grilled fish, salads and tagines without bread are usually safe; couscous, pastilla and msemen contain wheat. Say 'sans gluten'.
- Allergies
- Almonds, sesame and nuts are common in pastries and tagines. Say 'allergie aux noix' (nut allergy) or 'allergie aux fruits de mer' (shellfish allergy) before ordering.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 25-70 MAD ($2.70-7.50) per meal | Street sandwiches, bissara, msemen breakfasts and small canteen eateries in medinas |
| Mid-range | 100-250 MAD ($11-27) per meal | Restaurants in Tangier, Chefchaouen and Tetouan medinas with tagines, pastilla and set menus |
| Upscale | 300-550 MAD ($32-59) per meal | Seafood restaurants in Tangier and Asilah and resort dining at The Fish House in Al Hoceima |