Just off Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech’s medina, Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha is a casual local restaurant known for slow-cooked meat, especially lamb mechoui and beef tanjia. Order the meat by weight and cut, or choose a mixed selection if you’re unsure. Tanjia is cooked slowly in a clay pot, while mechoui is roasted lamb. Find a table before ordering, then settle in for a hearty meal. There’s also rooftop seating for enjoying traditional tea.
Mechoui and tanjia
Two Marrakech specialities put this restaurant on the map. Mechoui is roasted lamb, served as a sandwich or as a plateful. You can choose the amount by weight, and a mixed order is an easy way to try different cuts.
Tanjia is a separate dish from tagine. Its name refers to the clay pot as well as the food cooked inside it. In Marrakech, the pot is traditionally placed over the slow-burning ash used to heat a hammam, leaving the meat tender. The restaurant is known for its beef tanjia.
Ordering at the restaurant
The restaurant is on Derb Semmarine, in the medina and close to Jemaa el-Fna. Its setup is casual and can feel unstructured: find a table first, then order. If you want lamb, going around 2 pm is suggested for a better chance of finding a good selection. Lamb may not be available on Fridays, when other dishes are still options.
For more than mechoui and tanjia, the menu includes lamb tagine, chicken pastilla, spiced eggplant purée, and chicken or beef brochettes served with bread and salad. Rooftop seating gives you a place to have traditional tea with your meal.
FAQ
What should I order at Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha?
The restaurant is known for lamb mechoui and beef tanjia. You can also find lamb tagine, chicken pastilla, spiced eggplant purée, and chicken or beef brochettes.
How do you order the lamb?
Mechoui is served as a sandwich or a plate, with the meat priced by weight. If you’re unsure which cut to choose, order a mix; half a kilo is suggested for two people.
When should I go for lamb?
Around 2 pm is suggested for a better selection. Lamb may not be available on Fridays.
Where is Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha?
It is on Derb Semmarine in Marrakech’s medina, just off Jemaa el-Fna.
