Sometimes you just want something quick, savory, and easy for dinner. These are the times that you don’t want to be in a hot kitchen mixing, rolling, mincing, and chopping ingredients for your dinner. You want someone else to be doing all that. And you want them to be doing it while you relax with a glass of wine in surroundings that induce ease and comfort. That’s what the Morococo Cafe gives you.
The relatively new Cafe opened up just across from the owner’s equally great establishment (Casablanca Sandwicherie). I can happily say the guys behind Casablanca have done it again! Instead of sandwiches, the Morococo Cafe zeroes in on traditional dishes to bring Seoulites a little taste of Morocco. You may at first think the minimal menu may not offer something you’d like. You’d be wrong.
The lamb ras el hanout kefta tangine arrives in a simmering clay dish. The balls of lamb lay adrift in a spicy red sauce that’s sprinkled with herbs. It’s all so tasty that you better be careful not to scald your tongue as you try to devour every bite. I’ve had this dish twice. Once I used bread. I tore it into little pieces and mixed it in with the dish. Perfect. The bread absorbed the sauce and added a weight to my bites. The second time I had it with spiced rice and it added a different texture and taste that I also enjoyed. Try them both!
The second dish on the menu is the preserved lemon chicken with green olives. Tender, moist, chicken leg wrapped in the most crisp of skins. It’s all done to perfection. Add in the tangy zest of the lemon combined with the spicy sauce and you have a dish you’ll want to eat again and again. For an appetizer before you dig into your main two dishes order the chermoula carrot salad with caramelized plums and toasted almonds. It’s tangy and sweet and goes perfectly with both dishes.
The menu continues with additions of Moroccan tea or original, spiced or coconut Nas Nas coffee. There’s also the usual glasses of wine, beer, or americano.
The Good: Flavorful tasty dishes served up timely and at a reasonable price.
The Bad: Short opening hours
The Weird: Nas Nas Coffee? It sounds strange but I’m trying it next time.
Prices: 2,000 to 11,000 KRW
Delivery:
You can order Delivery from Morococo Cafe via Shuttle (셔틀). The prep time is 15 to 35 minutes.
Hours: 5 to 9 pm closed Mondays
Phone: 010-4228-8367
Address: 45-9 Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Website: none
Directions: Go to Noksapyeong and head out exit two, walk straight until you reach the kimchi pots at the corner, keep going up into HBC and The Morococo Cafe will be on your Right past The Gs 25, Bonnies, and Hackney. It’s across from Casablanca.
I need to come back to listen to your report on Nas Nas coffee! My curiosity is piqued! I loved Morrocan food while I was there, especially tagine. I don’t think I ever tried lamb tagine but I can attest to the moistness of their chicken dish preparations. You’re bringing me back!
Their menu is perfect!
I keep hearing about this place! Great write up. I clearly need to get over there for a bite. I just don’t hang out in that area enough but dang, this makes me want to go over for some dinner.
Moroccan and then mint chocolate chip icecream! I just discovered mint chocolate chip icecream… i know.
Yum! I love Moroccan food ♡ if you ever find yourself down Busan way, you should make your way to Gimhae. It’s a little foodie haven because of its high migrant population. All the restaurants are super local so they’re cheap but the food is authentic and amazing. There’s a great Moroccan restaurant there and the uzbeki place is also fab! Yum, I wish I could go again today!
Cheap and authentic is just what I like!
Hummm… I want the lamb balls with the spicy rice, and the chicken with crispy skin! The tangy appetizer sounds yummy too, but reminds me a little of the crazy combination of flavours I experienced with my first papaya salad in Thailand! That was crazy for me. I seem to recall trying Moroccan food a very, very long time ago in London, but haven’t tried any since… Hummm.. those 5-9pm evening hours look tricky! I could probably get there on a Saturday night though!
The hours do suck. 🙁
That Noksapyeong area is great with resto finds. And I do love the ease and comfort of being served with delicious food… particularly food in that appetizing photo above:-)
It’s so good and so bad because I don’t ever want to leave my neighborhood! Ha!
Thanks for a very detailed review! I agree with Nathan. You are really good in describing the food. I have no idea about Morocco, but based on your description I’d love to try their food!
It really is superb! It’s the next best thing to actually going there.
Reading your write-up reminded me of the smells and sights of Marrakesh, and especially of eating all the incredible tangines. Curse this place for being so far away from where I live, because both of the dishes you described sound so delicious, and I know it’s something I’d eat all the time if they were closer. 🙁
It’s worth the trip if you can make it!
Uggggh, why must you describe the food so well?! I was fine before I read this, now I want to find a lamb and eat it.
I love it when new restaurants serving new cuisines open up in town. Pohang has changed a lot in the last 6 years, and it’s becoming more and more of an ‘international’ city. Fingers crossed the folks at Morocco Cafe decide to expand to the East Coast!
It’s become my new go to place!