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Deli Moroccan – Moroccan Magic

Rating:

By Veron Ang

Imagine having a Moroccan meal, alfresco style, with a cool breeze wafting past, the magnificent Sultan Mosque and its golden domes as a backdrop. Ain’t that quaint? I had it all at Deli Moroccan, a humble restaurant along Bussorah Street.

One afternoon I just had the sudden urge to go for an otherworldly cuisine. It would be something I’ve never eaten before — Moroccan food! A perfect place to have this exotic meal would be none other than the exotic Kampong Glam, a haven of various Mediterranean restaurants. It’s also where I had my first Egyptian meal.

So what’s Moroccan food like? As a first-timer, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had heard about the Moroccan tajines, which I knew was some kind of meat stew. So that’s the first thing I ordered. My tajine chicken with potato came looking like this.

Tajine Chicken with Potato

Tajine Chicken with Potato
S$6.50+
Rating:

The first thought that came to my mind was, “Whoa! That’s a LOT of potatoes on one plate”. For someone that prefers her potatoes to be either whipped or wedges, I felt a tinge of disappointment. But it was short-lived as I soon found the potato stew to be quite tasty, though not exactly in the bursting-with-flavour kind of way. The potatoes are lusciously soft and I even had the urge to ask them what kind of potatoes they use!

The chicken is succulent and tender, with flesh that falls off the bone easily. I found the taste to be a tad mild though. The next time round, I would go for the other slightly pricier tajine chicken on the menu that is cooked in a tomato-based sauce with onion, garlic and spices. Oh, and pita bread too to go with the stew sauce.

Mixed Kebab

Mixed Kebab
S$7.50+
Rating:

Something you can’t go wrong with over here is the mixed kebab, of chicken and ground beef, served with fresh lettuce, tomato and beans. My, that beef is good! I usually prefer chicken, but this time round, with both meats on the same plate and done the same way, my vote goes to the beef.

Each morsel of meat is soft and juicy and hooks you from the first bite. The meat is really flavourful, infused with the taste of onion and various Moroccan herbs and spices. This is one dish that would leave every meat lover craving for more! I guess it’s a good thing then that the prices here are extremely reasonable considering the rarity of this cuisine.

Dining with Sultan Mosque in the background

It is highly recommended that you patronise Deli Moroccan on a cool and dry day. This way, you can dine outdoors and people-watch. (But more likely than not, you’ll end up being watched by curious passers-by as you’re tucking into your unique Moroccan meal. My food and I received more than our fair share of stares.)

Deli Moroccan

The restaurant itself is pretty small and nondescript. I walked up and down Bussorah Street a couple of times and couldn’t find it, until I even had to stop to ask for directions! I behaved like a tourist, which in some ways, is the effect this place has on you.

Despite being a food blogger, I wouldn’t dare say that I am well-versed in all the cuisines of the world. Quite the contrary, I tend to linger in my comfort zone of Indian, Japanese or South-East Asian food. I think most people are like that. How often do you try out a new cuisine that you have never attempted before?

After enjoying two otherworldly cuisines — Egyptian and Moroccan — I can’t wait to go on my next foodie adventure! I had Turkish some time back and didn’t quite like it. What would you recommend?

Deli Moroccan
30 Bussorah Street
Singapore 199448
Tel: +65 6298 0113

Bus services: 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 100, 107, 145, 175, 197, 961, 980, 107x, 961C
Nearest MRT: Bugis

Opening hours: 10:30am – 11pm daily

Tags: African, alfresco/outdoor dining, Arab Street, casual, dinner, lunch, Mediterranean, Moroccan, restaurant

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Responses Leave a comment

py
183 comments

Oh, this is new to me. I have been to Bussorah St a couple of times, but have yet to try this. Looks like I could consider this the next time.
Reply
Posted October 6, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Veron
3438 comments

You are one of the few people I know that truly appreciate the charm of Kampong Glam. I’m sure you would enjoy the unique eateries in the area.
Reply
Posted October 6, 2008 at 10:30 pm
pkchukiss
82 comments

Oooo! I love stewed potatoes! Did the potatoes take in the flavour of the stew? I’ve eaten quite a few dishes that tasted of steamed potatoes thrown in within the last 5 minutes of cooking, and I’ve always wanted to eat a decent potato stew!
Reply
Posted October 7, 2008 at 12:15 am
Veron
3438 comments

You would totally love this. The stew is simmered for a long time, so you can be sure the potatoes would absorb the flavours. Tasty!
Reply
Posted October 7, 2008 at 12:18 am
miz_shortz
1 comment

i am just 14 but i am in love with cooking when did u know dat u wanted to be a chif
Reply
Posted October 7, 2008 at 12:19 am
dipak
2 comments

so nice preview of moroccan food with the view of kampong glam .i expect i can get know all major restaurant of that area which makes me try arabic food. And i try mint tea from deli moroccan cafe, yea its nice to drink for relax although hot.you should try.
Reply
Posted October 31, 2008 at 2:03 am
stardropx
19 comments

i went to try this out yesterday and woah! it was damn good! we tried the mixed kebab and lamb tajine! i think the mixed kebab was so so but the lamb tajine was FAB! hahaha. really you should try it! lamb tajine is cooked differently from the chicken tajine i see in your post. yups. and just to let you know, there wasn’t any 7% charge! all prices on the menu are NETT. thx for intro-ing this place! =)
Reply
Posted December 8, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Veron
3438 comments

No service charge AND taxes — this place is a godsend! Thanks! I’ll update my post and keep a lookout for that lamb tajine next time!
Reply
Posted December 9, 2008 at 9:08 pm
maryam
1 comment

would u happen to noe when it opens on a sunday? i LOVE their food. u shld try the beef dish too. the meat is super TENDER!
Reply
Posted May 20, 2009 at 6:51 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  Yes, they are open daily from 10:30am to 11pm. Oh after trying the mixed kebab, I fully believe that the beef dishes would be good!
  Reply
  Posted May 23, 2009 at 11:02 pm
abdou
1 comment

Hi
thanks for the article, it is really a nice place to dine when you are feeling bored and need a change of taste.
The best time to get there for diner is in the evening when there is a fantastic breeze.
I strongly recommend it, prices are affordable
Reply
Posted April 27, 2010 at 12:13 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  Yup, the prices are decent considering the exotic cuisine. I’m pretty sure it is authentic stuff, too, as I think the boss himself is Moroccan!
  Reply
  Posted April 27, 2010 at 12:19 pm
  - Linn
    1 comment
    
    Veron,
    Absolutely agreed! I was just like you one Saturday afternoon while taking some shots of Arab Street. With stomach growling I suddenly saw something on the menu and thot I should try. My first try was Mutton Tajine with bread and Moroccon tea. Oh my goodness, I fall for the food until today. Good food, good price and nice ambience.
    Reply
    Posted October 23, 2010 at 4:11 pm