I've been getting excellent food from here for a few years now. We come into Ann Arbor to visit family and friends... this place is one of the highlights of coming to town. I recommend picking up a variety of different things and sharing! read more

Shoutout to my friend and fellow foodie Tiffany for always being down to try a new spot together! We did a double date at El Harissa recently and it's my favorite kind of spot - welcoming and warm, with delicious food, and kind, patient employees. The cafe is a few tables inside of the market/deli, with a lot of takeout happening but I love that they offer dining in as they heat everything up for you and it's all presented very nicely. We ordered a ton of things: harissa dip, hummus, pita, spice roasted cauliflower, tabbouleh, lasagne verde, chicken tagine, and gelato. I loved that the menu indicates which menu items have a smaller carbon footprint - and we happened to be dining there on Earth Day! The food was all flavorful and the perfect temperature, which I appreciated. My favorites were the harissa dip, tabbouleh, and the lasagne verde. The chicken tagine was very good, and we enjoyed the leftovers the next day. The spice roasted cauliflower left us wanting it to be a bit more crispy, but it was a nice side. The gelato is delicious - it's made by Palazzolo's but El Harissa provides them with the unique ingredients for their specialty flavors. They were out of some but we got to sample several. We ended up with the roasted pistachio gelato and the apricot peach cardamom. The texture of the gelato was perfectly creamy and the flavors were strong. The market has lots of great items to buy: chips, tunisian olive wood pieces, spices, etc. I'm so glad we sought out this spot and can't wait to get more of their food! read more

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Finally got to try El Harissa with Yelper Katy C and our SOs! It's fast casual style - where you order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Had the: *Spice Roasted Cauliflower (Crispy cauliflower florets coated and baked in rice and chickpea flour and our North African spice blend. Served with Harissa Dip) Small/1-2 Portion - $11): A little soggier than I'd like but the flavors were good! I also like the harissa dip it came with! *Small Merguez Meatballs (Inspired by the Maghrebi sausage, our spiced lamb and beef meatballs are hand-rolled with onions and herbs and coated with a thick tomato sauce. Served with saffron rice or couscous - small portion came with 3 for $10): For meatballs that included lamb - it wasn't gamey at all and very tasty! I picked cous cous for my side. *Chicken Chermoula (Brined, seared, then baked to capture all of its flavor, our crowd-favorite chicken is juicy and delicious. Served over rice with our herby, garlicky, lemony Chermoula Sauce - Double Portion - $18): Our main entree to share. The lemony chermoula sauce was delish. Chicken was perfectly cooked - not dry at all! Mujadara Rice (A Levantine staple of spiced green lentils and rice. Ours is adorned with carefully caramelized golden onions for a touch of savory-sweetness - small for $8) - SO tasty! I could eat this on its own. Maghrebi Chili (Smoky and spicy. Ground beef seasoned with Harissa spices and slowly cooked with chickpeas, lentils, black beans, peppers, and loads of vegetables - Small/Pint - $9.50) - FIBER CITY! Flavors were really good! We also had SO much gelato - they basically let us sample all of them. ended up with the pistachio and tiramisu. I'll be back - especially for a salad with their wonderful chicken - seems like a great healthy option! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Chicken chermoulah - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

What a sweet spot! El Harissa has an in-restaurant market that adds to its cozy vibe. I liked shopping gifts for my friends and family. You order at the counter and they bring your food up at whichever table you decide to sit at. They have lots of options and the restaurant smells delicious. They also have gelato that I wish I tried! The owner is very kind and struck up a nice conversation with me and my friend. read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Awesome healthy spot for a quick lunch. The chicken with the green herby sauce was awesome, as was their lamb and beef chili. Nice Sun Salad with lots of textures--super fresh greens! I only take 1 point off for ambiance---it's kind of cluttered and that felt a bit weird. But otherwise, I can't recommend this little market enough. read more

First time here and won't be our last. The food was fantastic, from the chicken dishes to the lamb. The blend of the herbs and spices were amazing. Our server gave us some great suggestions which we had to sample each other's dishes. The Mongolian spiced tea was phenomenal along with their version of a really good rice pudding. They also have a small selection of North African gourmet items in their store. Lastly the business is kept very clean. North African, try it !!!! read more

I'm not sure how I never heard of this place, but I sure am glad I found it! This is a quaint gustatory gem hidden in a strip mall. The family that owns it is incredibly friendly and passionate about quality, healthy food. It is particularly noteworthy that they feature delicacies from Northern Africa. I tried: muhamarra, mam houria, Carthage salad, black tea and saffron rice pudding, tabboulah, cauliflower , Maghrebi chilli and carrot dip. I was lucky enough to try several gelato flavors and they were fabulous; such unique , well balanced flavors! I will be coming here on. Regular basis for sure! read more

El Harissa is one of my favorite cafes in Ann Arbor. I always spend a small fortune when I shop here because there are many unique goodies to purchase. There is so much to choose from, whether it's gelato, Torres chips, or their many delicious ready-made dishes. I've tried the Chicken Tagine, Skordalia, Saffron Rice, and Merguez Meatballs; everything is delicious. There seem to be a dozen more dishes I haven't tried yet, so I want to try something new every time I visit. read more

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Everything we tried was good!!! Gelato was unique with intriguing flavors. The seasoning of the meatballs was a whole life experience. The salad had an amazing dressing (on the side) perfectly complimenting the ingredients. read more

The three of us had a lovely dinner at this unassuming Café and store. It is truly a pleasure to have a meal here. The food is cooked to order and then saved for reheating later, so you're eating food that has been cooked long and slow as the cuisine dictates. The mom and son who do the work of this establishment are both charming and friendly. Highly recommend. read more

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Great food loved it customer service onion t would go back keep it up guys good job ery good job love it

We placed a large takeout order to El Harissa. I guess I would categorize them more like a deli, compared to a sit-down spot. They will warm dishes up for you, but we opted to do that ourselves at home. Everything was very flavorful, and it was the perfect balance of savory and fresh. The highlights were the whipped feta, harissa dip, and merguez meatballs. We also ordered the Tunisian salad and chicken chermoula, which were good, but not mind-blowing. The portion sizes varied; I felt like they were generous for the dips, more average for the entrees. Even for how much food we ordered, our bill was pretty sizable. But it's a family-owned shop that clearly cares about quality, so worth the occasional splurge. If you're looking for a to-go spot with plenty of veggie-heavy dishes, El Harissa is a great option! read more

Despite getting food from El Harissa multiple times, I unfortunately don't have any food photos because, well, I ate it all :) The food here is seriously top-quality, fresh, and delicious. The staff is always so helpful in explaining what's in each dish and giving recommendations. These are some of my personal favorites: Spice Roasted Mushrooms: I could just pop these, they are ridiculously good! El Harissa somehow gets this lovely, super light crisp on the mushrooms while keeping them juicy and tender inside. The flavor is slightly reminiscent of falafel (I'm figuring that's the chickpea flour) but with a little more zest. These are a must-get! Spice Roasted Cauliflower: like the mushrooms, delicious! Root Vegetable & Date Tagine: what a beautiful dish! The tagine is silky and thick from all the root vegetables, and the dates and pomegranate molasses add a complimentary sweetness. Even if you're not plant-based, I think this is worth an order! Bacalao Fish Pie: unique and yummy! It sells out fast though, so you might have to be like me and try multiple times to get your hands on it. Black Tea and Saffron Rice Pudding: a seriously beautiful dessert, in looks and taste! Super silky, cooling, and flavorful. I especially love the juicy raisins because boy are they juicy! They're basically fully rehydrated so eating them is kind of like eating nature's popping boba. Then the nuts add a crunchy texture into the mix, really great! Other items that I've tried include the Chicken Tagine, Mujadara Rice, and Lablabi. I wasn't as blown away by these items but they were still very good and wouldn't be mad getting them again myself. On the whole, I think El Harissa Market has some of the best food in Ann Arbor!!! Definitely check it out. They have a really cute market inside too which is nice to peruse when they're warming up your food. read more

Amazing, healthy, tasty food. Great service and friendly staff and owner. Indoor ans outdoor seating available. read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Beyond satisfied by this food! Always leave healthy and full. The menu offers some more cultured food that offers some diversity from traditional Ann Arbor Restaurants. Liberty (An employee) is my favorite to work with and very hospitable. I'm also planning on getting my wedding Catered from here. Inside the place is set up like a Deli with seating, during summer the place breathes life, plants inside and out as well as outdoor seating. read more

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I love El Harissa, but I am conflicted. The Harissa and the whipped feta dip tastes great. The saltiness of the olives in the feta dip hits the spot on pita or crackers. That said dropping twenty dollars for two small containers of dip does not feel like a good value. read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Excited to have another Ann Arbor go-to! The ambiance is casual and cozy, which is great for an anytime meal. We came around 5pm and there were plenty of seats available. It was a little chilly inside, but I think with all the windows that can be tough to change. The service was truly stellar. We said it was our first time and we got a run-through of the best selling items and prices. After ordering (a ton of) food at the counter, it was delivered to our table in minutes. The mint tea is unsweetened which is fabbbbbb and an essential partner for every dish. In order of our favorite dishes: Harissa sauce, roasted mushrooms, roasted cauliflower, chicken tagine, egg tagine, tzatziki, lamb meatballs, Berber pie, eggplant spread called zaalouk. We ranked the zaalouk last just because it was a little heavy on the smoky flavor for us, and maybe because it was cold. I still ate the whole dish although my two tablemates didn't. GELATOOO-YEAH. I usually stick to the big hitting sweet flavors, but this is the type of place where I'm happy I ventured. I sampled a few flavors and landed on the spiced hazelnut and fig. I paired it with Tahitian vanilla and...oh goodness I'm getting excited just thinking about it. They generously fill the 4oz size, which was perfect after a large meal. They do takeout! They have a little market! Prices are fair for the quality of the food! Parking! Sahit, El Harissa :) read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Gelato - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The best Middle Eastern food ever - so said all the crowd that came for a graduation luncheon!! We had a feast for 10 of us served outside at the picnic tables- pleasant area and the kids had a safe grassy area to run around. Had a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees thanks to suggestions from Yusuf. Merguez meatballs, chicken or veggie tagine, tabbouleh, chicken chermoula , seasoned mushrooms etc etc. Not one disappointing dish!!! I wish they'd open another restaurant near me. There's no place this good in Chicago!!! We're already planning our next trip to Ann Arbor. Then we can plan to pack a cooler to bring back more good meals!!! read more

This is probably our favorite place in Ann Arbor and we can't believe we didn't find out about this place sooner. Their food fills your stomach and your soul. We had three courses which were all small portions but very filling. Just goes to show when quality and taste are so good, quantity doesn't matter! Their tabbouleh is excellent - we added a bit of their Himalayan pink salt and it was amazing. Next we had their red pepper dip and warm yummy pita. Then we had the chicken tagine and that was so delightful and flavorful. Finally, we had their gelatos and the nice girl let us sample almost all of the flavors. We finally landed on Turkish coffee gelato and lavender honey gelato. Our meal left us feeling good and not one bit stuffed. And the ambiance is super cute too. You're transported into a coffee shop kind of atmosphere where you can sit and enjoy your meal where you want! We sat at the high table to see the plants and the entire Cafe. We will come back here again for more! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Chicken tagline - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I won a gift certificate for this place, and had a chance to try this today. I ordered the large portion meatballs. It came with rice, bread, and a sauce. The food was outstanding! Very flavorful! I will definitely be back to try some of their other selections. read more

I've been there a few times before though not recently and it's always been really amazing but I swung by there on the way home tonight to grab something quick for dinner. I got some Lasagna Verde for me, a Root Vegetable & Date Tagine for Larry, some (really good) tabbouli, spiced mashed potatoes, and the best rice pudding I've ever had that they made with tea. I'm sad I never tried that there before but I always got tempted by their fabulous gelato ‍ Hoping that becomes a regular on the menu!!! Sorry I didn't grab any pics as we ate it before I thought to take a picture of how pretty it was before we basically devoured everything read more

I have been coming to El Harissa for at least 2 years now. They have such amazing, flavorful and fresh foods. Their tabbouli is some of the best you can get anywhere and I love the chicken chermula with couscous. The mujudara and cauliflower are so tasty and I can't leave without at least 4oz. Of toum/ garlic paste. Whether you are a meat eater or a vegetarian, El Harissa will make you smile. You can find a small table just inside the front door full of housemade sweets, like lemon olive oil cake or macaroons. Last , but certainly not least, they make gelato and sorbet!!! The flavors are creative and it's really my favorite spot for ice cream in Ann Arbor. Try out the lemon ginger sorbet, it's the freshest tasting treat you can find anywhere! The food is amazing and the staff is phenomenal, so get in here!!! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Lemon ginger sorbet - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Amazing food at very reasonable prices. It all tasted fresh and was absolutely delicious, plus there was a variety of both meal options and desserts! Definitely planning on coming back. read more

Probably another Gem in A2 Food scene.It's been long on my list and finally tried it for Friday dinner with a friend and it was amazing. This place closes early around 8pm hence been here at 6.30 and chose my own table as there are couple of empty tables. The place is pretty much filled and with most coming for take outs. The staff were friendly and when they knew we are new they explained the stuff displayed and how we can mix and match stuff. Ordered chicken Tangine with Couscous, Meatballs with couscous,Mint Tea Pot and zalook( Egg plant dip) that came with complimentary pita bread.Everything was pretty tasty with good portions which costed us $36. Pros: -------- Great Food Friendly Staff Clean Restrooms Vibrant Ambience Some African plates n greeting card , bit of grocery Free Parking Couple of Food shops in the strip Heard of Great Gelato( but i was full) Cons: ------- None to Me TRY IT FOR SURE!!!! read more

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Very nice staff, great food. And I nice little market area with unique finds! Had the egg tagine. it was excellent.

Got the Sun Salad and it was delicious! I was licking the dressing off the plate. Love all of the unique spice blends available for sale inside as well. read more

Value for the money: 5 Food quality: 5 Dining ambiance: who the hell cares with food like this. Take that question and ram it Jack. Just eat it and be happy. FIVE FRIGGIN' STARS BOYS. read more

Unassuming place in a strip mall in Northwest Ann Arbor. North African cuisine that is OFF THE HOOK!! This food is made with love. Have eaten here multiple times and have tried everything on the menu. Top to bottom just amazing chow. Egg tagine - moist, light and just seasoned so well. Chicken tagine - chicken just falls apart and has such a unique flavor profile. Get it with the mujadara (a rice and lentil dish with caramelized onions). Flavor explosion. Mushrooms & Cauliflower - Spiced deliciously and cooked to perfect tenderness. The whipped feta - a mix of feta, capers and kalamata olives whipped to a light, fluffy cream. Spread it on some pita for a taste of heaven!! Meatballs, salad, etc. etc. all so good. All the staff is so nice and friendly. This place is an absolute gem!! Try it for sure. read more

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What an amenity!!! El Harissa is a delicious, guilt-free, loaded-with-flavor nutrition resource that can accommodate paleo-esque adherents to vegan connoisseurs. You can take your food from the showcase to go, or have it served up hot in their casual, light-filled dining area. The chicken tagine is my go-to, and I usually pair it with the curried mushrooms with a side of harissa dip. The hummus is really good, made fresh there like everything else. This place also appears to be a good spot for professional meetups/casual business meetings, and family dinner alike. It is family-owned, and the staff members are kind and helpful. Sue always brightens my day and Yusuf is is great. I don't know what I would do without El Harissa! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The food here is amazing, the people are friendly, the gelato is unique and insanely good! They were closed for a while due to COVID-19, and we heard about the restaurant through a friend. We waited until they announced that they were reopening. Their food is pre-prepared (for the time being), but put it in the oven and it is SO delicious! I ordered the gelato with fig. Best ice cream I've had in a while. I can't imagine how tasty the food will be when it can be ordered fresher and hot! So excited to go back to this place! Eat here. You absolutely will be happy you did! read more

Friendly and kind staff. First time we went for take away. We got the zaaltook and merguez meatballs. One of us is not a spicy food eater and was worried about the spice.. and ended up smashing on every bite! I'm glad we got the extra rice because it definitely made the zaaltook. I'm not sure if it was the proper way. All around, A+! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Merguez meatballs and rice on the plate. Zaaltook in the bowl. Complementary pitas. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Far more variety than most middle eastern restaurants, absolutely excellent quality dishes. Not over-salted like so many places.

Wow this place is a gem! Super clean, friendly staff and extremely tasty, fresh food. The spicy roasted mushrooms were delicious and filling. The grape leaves were so fresh! The whipped feta dip is a heavy cream cheese based spread that is very rich but very good! I'll be back for the gelato next time. Highly recommend! read more

El Harissa Market Cafe - Spice roasted mushrooms, grape leaves and whipped feta dip. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We came here for lunch. I ordered the stuffed mushrooms, Mujaddara and lentil soup. My friend got the soup and egg tagine. Wow! We loved it all. The service was wonderful and friendly. I love that they have vegan, vegetarian and meat options! Cant wait to go back! Outdoor seating available! read more

Best fresh bread. Grab tea and a treat. Fun gifts and other fabulous finds, check this place out. read more

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We met up here for a regular meetup event with friends. This was a first for me so I was not sure what to expect. It sits off of Maple rd in a small plaza. On entering I was met with a quaint, artsy environment. Very unique with pictures and other pieces. The menu is viewable from the glass counter that shows the food. You can select from Chicken tangine, chicken, lamb meatballs, fish based dishes and various salads. The owners were very helpful and even stopped by our table to chat. I decided to try the lamb meatballs with yellow rice, tangine and mushrooms. The items were very tasty with great flavor. This was an excellent place to have a good meal and conversation. read more

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My favorite. The most amazing food created by terrific people. Would give 100 stars if I could. Get the chicken chermoula & the sun salad. And save room for gelato :') read more

I love the food. I love the owners. And I love the calm feeling I always get walking in there. Better than that they have the BEST gelato! read more

Wow - amazing food. The market is very small from the outside but the food is so delicious. A MUST have!

This unassuming little Tunisian food storefront should not be passed up! El Harissa serves the most delicious North African fare with plenty of vegetarian-friendly options and endless delicious flavors and spices. I've sampled nearly all of their dips (love the eggplant dip and the hummus especially) and 4 of their entrees and have never been disappointed. Also, their tahini hot chocolate is delectable! read more