#52 on the YelpTexasTop100 We have been to Zoa Moroccan Kitchen a few times, but most recently for the Yelp Top 100 Elite Weeks. Easy to either order online or come in and order a custom bowl. Sign Up for their Zoa Moroccan Kitchen (ZMK) loyalty program. For every $1 you earn a point and for $50, you earn a $5 discount coupon. Build your bowl or sandwich with a base, protein, dips, toppings and sauces. The half saffron jasmine rice and lentils is a great combination for the base of the bowl. The leg of lamb meshoui slow roasted with garlic, saffron, turmeric and chicken charmoula cooked chicken in a Moroccan sauce are so tender and juicy. For sides/topping, everything is so fresh and healthy. Try the sweet cinnamon/cumin carrots, roasted beets, sweet potatoes, chickpea salad, cucumber tomato salad or the mixed pickle and olive salad. Sprinkle some feta goat cheese, mint avocado yogurt and harissa to complete the meal. The "Yelp 100" bowl check-in offer needs to be added to their list of favorites! This limited edition bowl was gifted to the first 100 Yelp check-ins and nicknamed the "mother of all bowls," it was a delicious sample of meats, saffron rice and vegetables. Three proteins (chicken, lamb, and beef tagine) on a bed of saffron rice were topped with roasted eggplant, taktouka, carrots, cabbage, feta goat cheese and drizzled with red Harissa. I also added some beets, which are one of my favorites. We also got a couple of orders of Zoa after Dark. Mondays through Fridays from 7-9 for $25, you can get two "our faves" bowls or sandwiches, two drinks and either two sides or two desserts. We chose a lamb bowl and a vegetarian. The Casablanca which is filled with lamb, tactouka, cucumber tomato salad, pickled red onions and cabbage on a bed of half saffron rice and half lentils. The Rabat is a vegetarian bowl that was served on a base of lentils and beans with a potato cake, zaalouk, fava hummus, cucumber tomato salad, and tomato chermoula topped with a harissa aioli. Both the Moroccan mint jasmine green tea and lemonade are so refreshing. Add an order or two of their fresh pita or pancakes. For dessert, try the tiramisu. Great way to end a nice take out dinner. Delicious food, great staff, cute interior and yummy desserts. It is worth the accolades. Definitely check out Zoa Moroccan Kitchen for a great taste of Morocco. read more

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Ohhhh yes. There's a reason this place has a 5 star rating. Think chipotle-style order counter for delicious Moroccan food. I opted for a to-go bowl with a variety of lentils, rice, pickled cabbage, greens, spicy sauce, and several other ingredients. Everything was super flavorful. The staff was also really friendly and knowledgeable about the ingredients. I'm vegan and the gentleman who helped me guided me away from the potato cakes which I was tempted to order letting me know that they contain egg. The lentils I got instead were excellent and definitely something I would order again. They also offer a number of delicious looking desserts as well as homemade lemonade and tea. Outside has a number of tables if you want to stay and eat. Great spot for a quick casual meal for yourself or to bring a friend or date. Definitely recommend and can't wait to come back. read more

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This was our second time at Zoa's and we were equally impressed. Not to be confused with the chain, Zoe's kitchen which also serves Mediterranean food. From the outside, the restaurant is an unassuming place in an area with not a lot of traffic and therefore low visibility. Parking is a bit tricky, but apparently you can park across the street in the church parking lot. It's a tiny restaurant where you order what you want, they assemble it, then you pay and take your food to either sit inside or on the quaint patio outside. They have a variety of different bowls you can customize with your choice of meats, veggies, on top of salad for a carb free option, with a pita bread or over rice. What makes the bowls stand out is the colorful ingredients from roasted eggplant and carrots to red cabbage and the various sauces. As a result, each bite is bursting with flavor. On this visit we ordered the free Yelp 100 bowl which had Chicken, lamb and beef tagine on a bed of lettuce with roasted eggplant, carrots, cabbage, feta goat cheese and a spicy red harissa sauce that burned so good. I love being able to sample all three of the perfectly seasoned and moist meats, the vibrant colors, the crunch of the salad, and the kick of the sauce. The prices also can't be beat considering one bowl can easily make two meals. They also have a variety of desserts and drinks. We tried the coconut macaroon and the walnut bar. Both were delicious and moist and were quickly gobbled up. For such an unassuming and small place, the flavor and options are better than most top dollar establishments. Zoa's will definitely be added to our rotating list of go to restaurants in days we can't decide on what to eat. For a quick, cheap and healthy meal this is by far my favorite place if you're in the area. But we will also make the drive for it because it's that good! Do not sleep on this place! read more

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Amazing food, every addition has it's own unique flavor. The team there is very helpful for first time visits.

Came here before heading off to UH for school after seeing it on many different halal food pages! I walked in and was immediately welcomed. The staff member asked me if it was my first time (which it was) and proceeded to take care of me and my order! They explained very well in terms of what I could get and answered my questions as to what their most popular choices were. I got the bowl with saffron rice with chicken. Everything tasted so delicious. Portion was pretty big and pricing was not too bad at all. I'll definitely be back again! read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Create Your Own Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Will definitely come back! This is my first time trying Zoa and I had an amazing experience! The owner/salesperson was very welcoming and guided us through the different options. If you haven't been to restaurants like this or Cava before, it's basically a choose-your-own-ingredients kind of restaurant. I personally prefer this place over Cava just because of the value for money. The portion was honestly huge for the price we paid. Each bowl was around $12 after tax and I almost felt like I could split the portion into two meals. Our favorites were the proteins. My sister got lamb and I got the beef and both were excellent! Very juicy and full of flavor. I had a blast tasting different toppings/mix-ins as well (the shop allows you to sample a topping before making the decision. Midway through our meal, the owner came check on us and gave us free Moroccan mint tea on the house. We obviously sincerely appreciate the gesture. The tea was also really sweet and perfect for a cold day. Overall, Zoa is a very cute shop and a great dining experience. Will definitely come back. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This place was everything I didn't know I needed the food is great. The atmosphere is relaxing. Mr Francisco help us put together a perfect bowl. The bread is so fresh btw read more

So many amazing flavors, good and affordable, good volume, need more locations! Got a Chipotle/Cava style bowl read more

What a hidden gem! The staff was very welcoming and walked us through choosing items for our bowls. Everything was delicious. The flavors are warm spices, and you can get more spicy if that's your jam. The portions are ample, so we had leftovers to take home as well. I would suggest transferring containers at home, as the paper ones started to get a little soggy after a while. We will definitely be going back! read more

Came here as part of #YelpTexasTop100 and ordered the promotional Yelp 100 bowl. This special bowl included lamb, beef, and chicken, with roasted various vegetables including eggplant and feta cheese, all topped with their special sauce. Think of this as a Mediterranean-style build-your-own bowl shop where you can "make" your own lunch/dinner using unique ingredients. I thought this bowl was really delicious and filling, but healthy too! A win-win. All of the ingredients worked REALLY well together and the flavors all blended together perfectly. You can tell they marinate their meats really well...the lamb especially had a lot of flavor and moisture to it. I look forward to coming back and trying many other combinations of their bowls. They also have in-house baked goods, so would love to give those a try as well. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Yelp 100 Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is good but I feel like the hype is a little bit strong. I love the concept--basically Chipotle style--in that you can customize your order. There are a ton of topping options, which is great. My regret though was my protein choice--I chose shrimp and it was so tough and overcooked, it really detracted from my overall meal. That being said, everything else in the bowl was good, and everyone else I was with loved their food, and had totally different proteins. It's worth a try if you're looking for something casual, quick, and different, but it's a small place and probably not ideal for groups. read more

I live down the road from Zoa on Lillian Street, and I have not been there for a year because of a previous bad experience. I went there tonight and was yet again disappointed. I selected lamb as my protein. It was tough, fatty and chewy. Obviously , cheap cuts of lamb. So disappointed! read more

Getting my Moroccan on at Zoa Moroccan Kitchen. It looks like colorful art but it's also beyond delicious. Houston is replete with these ethnic kitchens that allow lucky diners to travel the planet without leaving town! Today's selection was a bowl including: 1. Quinoa Brown Rice 2. Lamb Meshwi 3. Pickled Red Onion Cabbage 4. Feta Cheese 5. Lemon Garlic Spinach 6. Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower lmaakla bnina! read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Quinoa Brown Rice, Lamb Meshwi, Pickled Red Onion Cabbage, Feta Cheese, Lemon Garlic Spinach, Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Good service, ok-ish food. Meats were dry and chewy and they portion the meat out with a tiny scoop like it's a ration of two bites per customer. . Flavors were ok, Wouldn't go back. read more

I'm so glad they're staying open later so I can grab a flavorful and healthy quick dinner after work that's also really affordable. It's easy to miss, it's tucked right behind El Rey, just south of Washington. The important part, the food: so good! The first time I went, they let me taste most everything which made it even harder because everything is so tasty! The ingredients are fresh and although I haven't tried them, the pastries look really good too. I don't eat out terribly often but this place is making my short list of businesses to make sure and support, it cannot be easy to open a business in the thick of a pandemic. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - My favorite. Base is white beans/greens w 1/2 kefta/chicken w carrots, tactouka, cabbage, & hummus w yogurt mint sauce & side Zoa green - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was a little apprehensive to try out this place as I've never been to Moroccan inspired place before (outside of Morocco itself). But on a Sunday morning, after cycling, I figured I'd give it a shot. Parking was easy as the place was empty. I was immediately greeted by the kind employees and guided through the various options. While rice bowls are not authentic to Moroccan cuisine, I must say--my first bite of the chickens and confit onions literally took me back to my childhood. I sat in the beautiful terrace area smiling like an idiot. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who'd like to expand their palate and experience the complicated flavors of Morocco and looking for wonderful customer service. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Roasted chicken, Pickled Red Onions Cabbage, Pickles and Olives, confit onions - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

From the moment we walked in- visiting from NY - we were greeted with smiling helpful faces. Our first time, they talked us through the process and options for making a sandwich or bowl, with delicious Moroccan options. We (3 of us) ordered different things and were ALL delighted with what we got. I got the Tangier, and could not stop rolling my eyes in satisfaction at its layered, bright, savory flavors. They gave us a tasting of their bread, and afterwards, a taste of the mint tea. So generous, and kind. I only wish I could take them back to NY! Must go. read more

Was so excited to hear about the opening of this establishment. It's definitely a grab and go spot considering there is no seating inside. They have so many meat options (all of which are halal!), and also shrimp and veg friendly stuff. The Fave bowls seem to be pretty solid combos but I'd be interesting in building my own bowl/sandwich too. Very affordable and delicious! They have a good beverage selection including Mexican coke/Fanta! And the Pastries in the window are VERY tempting. I have it on good word that the spiced carrot macaroons are worth trying! read more

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I haven't been for a hot second but was in the area and hungry so I decided to drop in to pick up a quick delicious dinner and omigosh this place must have breathed some new life! The food was the same level of amazingness as usual but the place seemed to have expanded. Not only were there more people than usual but the dining area seemed brighter and sleeker and there was additional seating outside that I don't think was there before (unless I was really unobservant). As usual, I had a great flavorful bowl that I could definitely not replicate at home. I was also pleasantly surprised that I had loyalty rewards this trip! Ps pro tip: be patient with the people in front of you if they are figuring out what all the items they can choose from are. Just make sure not to drool while you wait in anticipation! read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Create Your Own Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I'm upset that I've been living in the heights for over a year and I am just now finding out about this place. I've never had Moroccan food before but if it's anything like Zoa's then I am hooked! I opted for the Create Your Own bowl with saffron rice, lamb meshwi, fava bean hummus, sweet potato, tactouka, egg potato salad, and garlic aioli sauce. Wow.. I had zero complaints about my bowl. I literally said "this is so good!" to my girlfriend at least five times throughout devouring my bowl. I can't remember all of the contents of my girlfriend's bowl but she was equally as happy as well. My only complaint is that the bowl has an end.. The food is so good that I wished it would have never ended. It would be amazing if the owners could create a bowl that constantly replenishes itself so that it never goes empty. Sure, this isn't the best idea financially for the restaurant, but let me be selfish a bit here please! TLDR: the food is amazing and you need to try it now! read more

While I didn't 100% love my meal, I feel that was just a matter of it being my first time here and my not yet having figured out the right combination of options to suit my palate. Also, I came pretty close to closing, by which time it seemed some of the offerings were no longer fresh. I'll write again once I've returned and figured it all out, but for now I'll just say I was impressed by the concept, the variety, and the friendly, helpful service. read more

This was such a pleasant surprise! A little confusing at the beginning....you basically choose between a Moroccan pita sandwich (which I had) or a bowl. Pick between one or two of the proteins and four sides or additional ingredients to your sandwich. I got the meatballs and the spices were delicious...layered some feta , pickled cabbage, avocado and tumeric cauliflower on mine. Yum!! Don't miss this gem!! read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat! The food is FULL OF FLAVOR, bright & colorful, easy on the eyes and tongue! Haha it's so good. I love it and will come back. The staff is kind & helpful and knowledgeable. I sat and enjoyed food outside and Francisco came out to check on me and gave me a sample of the Moroccan tea. In that tiny cup was was the best tea I ever had. Definitely getting that next time. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Couscous Create Your Own Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Absolutely delicious! It was our first time ordering Moroccan food and the staff was wonderful at helping us make our food selection. We loved it! I ordered the potato cakes, my husband the lamb and my son the meatballs. Wish we had one in Austin. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - . Rabat Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

I visited this charming restaurant for brunch, and it was delightful. The menu was creative, and every dish we tried was delicious. The atmosphere was perfect for a leisurely meal. read more

LOVE! Favorite part about this place is how customizable it is, especially their bowls! best way to describe it would be it's like chipotle style but all Moroccan food. The flavors are amazing and quality of food is really good and fresh. I also really like how healthy their options are and how authentic everything is from the grains to the meats and even colorful veggies and sauces. The interior itself is also mediterranean inspired and there's a cute outdoor space to dine in. Highly recommend getting the zesty mint avocado yogurt dressing on top and the saffron rice! Their lamb was also very delicious and the serving size was pretty good for its price. Parking is relatively easy since they have a lot in the front and it was empty when I checked it out on a Friday lunch. I will say it is definitely overwhelming if it's your first time here since there are so many customizable options but the staff were so friendly and helpful and gave me wonderful suggestions on what items and toppings were popular. It's a bit far from me but I can't wait to come back! read more

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We really enjoyed the food and the staff was very helpful in educating us on the menu items.

Been here a couple of times now and wow the flavors. So many unique tastes in each bowl. I have loved every topping I have thus far tried, though my go to's are the zaalouk (eggplant) and turmeric cauliflower, tried some tactouca (mixed peppers) and they added their own uniqueness to the bowl. Sauces (zesty mint and harissa alioi) are very complimenting, though I will maybe try some spicier ones next time. Really not needed because the bowl was delicious as is, but just to see. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Build Create Your Own Bowl - delicious - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great place, great portions, for a great price! I wished I had discover this place sooner because I think this will be one of my new go-to grab-and-go dinner places! It's pretty similar to Chipotle in the sense of ordering when you walk down and tell them what you want in your bowl. This is what I ordered: -base: saffron rice -protein: lamb -toppings: sweet potato, feta cheese, and zaalouk (eggplant) -sauce: Harissa aioli I also tried one of their desserts from their little bakery portion, the bread pudding! I split it with my friend. It was SO good. The sauce that goes with it was super good too. I was honestly SO full after eating everything. I highly recommend this place! I definitely will be back to try other proteins/combinations/sauces. read more

Why mess up a good thing with a rating less than 5 stars?! This place was amazing and did not disappoint! Had this location book marked for some time and was finally in the area. The service was great, location was cute, and the food was stellar. Plenty of vegan options available which i loved since i eat mostly plant based. They do have quite a but of meat options. I like the freshness and cleanliness of the restaurant! Staff was also very friendly and helpful in deciding what to get. Sample everything to see whAt your tastebuds are yearning for! read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Lentils, cabbage, eggplant, saffron rice with spicy (not that spicy) red harissa sauce...chef's - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hands down one of my favorite spots to get a quick bite in Houston. Every single dish is packed with flavor - you can't go wrong with any type of combo. My favorite sides are the cinnamon carrots, red cabbage and cinnamon onion and raisins. Absolute chefs kiss with the saffron rice, beef and meatballs! I've moved out of state and this is still a spot I add to my itinerary when I'm back in Houston. 10/10 add this to your rotation if you're wanting a healthy meal that hits the spot every time. read more

I came for Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Texas promo. I'm so so glad I did, because this place is so incredibly charming and was DELICIOUS! The place itself is cute, has nice art, is clean, and the employees were kind as well. They were willing to explain everything to those who were newer to Moroccan food like myself. The Yelp bowl was incredible. Flavorful, healthy, filling, just all around great. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - "Chipotle" style Mediterranean! - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I wandered into Zoa after seeing the glowing reviews here on yelp, it was a great decision! The decor is so bright and cheerful, and there's a nice patio to eat outside. I'd definitely suggest checking out the menu before you go, it can be a bit overwhelming. The employee assembling my bowl was very helpful though, I didn't feel rushed at all while making my choices. I went with a bowl with half rice/half greens as the base and chicken for the protein. My toppings included pickled cabbage (LOVED THIS), sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, and cucumber tomato salad. For the sauce I did harissa & harissa aioli, which was just the perfect level of spicy. The food quality was great, and this made for a filling but semi-healthy lunch. I do feel like it was a bit overpriced based on the portion, but I wouldn't hesitate to come back. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Chicken bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came by early evening and they were somewhat busy. Theres parking outside and in the lot across the street. Theres also plenty of seating, both indoor and out to accommodate for COVID. I dont remember exactly what went into my bowl but it was sooo good. The meat was tender and packed with flavor. All the flavors really worked well together. The bread pudding was dense and sweet but not too sweet. Will definitely be back soon and excited to try other bowls! Staff was super friendly and patient too. read more

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Wow I had no idea I lived so close to delish Moroccan food! Since they made Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Texas 2021 list, I got to try one of their giveaways (yes, a free meal when you check in at this location!). I got the Yelp 100 bowl, which had chicken, lamb, and beef tagine, on a bed of rice and with tons of veggies!! The beef tagine was my favorite protein in the bowl but it was all so good. The flavors were incredible (so savory and delish, with a spicy kick) and I'm so happy I discovered this spot. I'll be back and I'm bringing my friends with me!! The service was quick and super friendly! Loved that they had a variety of desserts as well. Parking situation: on-site (sorta limited) read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Chicken, lamb, and beef tagine bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Tried two different bowls from their "favorites" section. Both are excellent options that taste very different despite getting similar toppings/bases. The saffron rice is really fragrant and tasty - it makes a great base to go with the meat, veggies, and sauces to make an excellent rice bowl. Next time I will spring the extra $3 for extra protein. I would prefer more meat, but even without it, the bowl is a ton of food for the base cost of $10. Marrakesh bowl with saffron rice and couscous base. The base bowl comes with: beef tagine, onions, greens, pickled red onion cabbage, sweet potato, zoa green harissa. The beef is a slow-cooked stew beef cut into small cubes. It is tender and is coated with a sweet carmelized sauce. Casablanca bowl with saffron rice and couscous base. Added feta cheese. The base bowl comes with: Lamb meshwi, tactouka, cucumber tomato, pickled red onion cabbage, white beans, garlic aioli. The lamb is cooked with aromatic spices with a texture similar to a tender grilled lamb kebab. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Marrakesh bowl with saffron rice/couscous base (bottom). Casablanca (top) - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Came here with some friends yesterday and already talking about going back! I got a bowl with a couscous base, beef tagine as my protein (tastes kinda sweet), hummus/eggplant/lentils/taktouka as my (up to) 4 sides, and the tomato and garlic aioli sauces (I liked this one more). For $10 before tax and tip, I was blown away. I had about 75% of it and took the leftovers home so I'd say the portions were pretty good! There is a beautiful blue alley with flowers leading to an outdoor area in the back that has some shaded tables for larger parties. I was told to come back for the Moroccan pancakes and mint tea so those will be up next for me! read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Bowl: beef tagine, couscous, hummus, lentils, taktouka, eggplant, garlic aioli, tomato sauce - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Once I tried this place, I returned two more times in a one week span. I would recommend this to everyone! The food is very new to me, my first experience of Moroccan food. I didn't know the egg plant looks like that whenever I ordered, but I'm so glad that I ordered without seeing it because I wouldn't have ordered it. After tasting it, I will never NOT order it, it is delicious! I returned many times, and I've introduced it to a couple of friends as well. I am hooked! FYI - the parking is very limited and the inside is not very big. read more

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I enjoyed the bold, flavorful and tasty lunch I picked up from Zoa's. It's conveniently located near memorial park for a perfect opportunity to have a picnic outdoors. I loved every part of the bowl I got - saffron rice, beef tagine with toppings of hummus, eggplant, beans and tomatoes with cucumbers. There's a variety of sauces which all sound intriguing. I definitely want to try all of them! Considering covid, I felt safe knowing there's a panel separating customers with the food. Staff were all wearing gloves and masks. It's a little hard to enforce distancing inside though because the shop is small. One worker was taking my order while a second worker was taking orders from the guy behind me so it's hard to keep 6 feet that way although the process itself is efficient. So maybe next time it will be better to call ahead to pick up your order. I noticed there's a connecting area where people were dining indoors. The parking in front is only available for 3-4 spots. I was able to get a spot during a weekday noon lunch hour. read more

Zoa Moroccan Kitchen - Beef tagine with beans, hummus, eggplant and tomatoes with cucumbers - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Always delish! Fast service, but slow cooked food. Yum! New favorite for unique flavors and authentic Moroccan items. Very casual seating.