Zerza Moroccan Mediterranean

We loved the stew beef pita sandwich, the cauliflower was good too, just a bit under seasoned but overall a good experience. A little advice for the owner: I wouldn’t leave the display dishes in open air, the food dries and looks less appealing after a certain time!

Food tastes great. I got lamb tagine the other day and today chicken sandwich and eggplant spread. Also got beef sandwich and pepper spread the 3rd time. All delicious

If you love Moroccan food this is the place for you!! Tried the appetizer trio, lamb tangine, chicken tangine, lentil soup! You really can't go wrong with any of these choices !! All were hearty and delicious! Don't forget to try the mint tea!

I have been coming to Zerza (In Essex Crossing Mall ) which is a Moroccan Mediterranean eatery for quiet some time now and I must say I Absolutely Love their Falafel 🙌🏾. As a Vegan, I've tried many places that serves Falafel and almost always they are under sized peices and over priced. Not Zerza, The Falafel is ALWAYS made fresh in front of your face. That peices are large and the fresh spices that are used are so flavorful... The staff are very Friendly and Accommodating. This is my place, I will always come here and I am recommending that everyone come try them.

All I can say is wow! Zerza is like walking into your mother’s kitchen and getting a big hug. Food is favorful and portions are quite generous. I tried the chicken tfaya and the cauliflower. Definitely worth a visit!

Great food, great people, definitely recommend! The beef stew sandwich was incredible!

It was very good the chicken fell off the bone omg it was so good

We tried Chicken Tagine and Couscous Vegetables and enjoyed both. Especially the Tagine was so flavourful and tasty, would love to come back!

I didn't know what to expect, but this place was really great! It's tucked away in Essex market on the main floor. They usually close at 7 pm, but we got there around 7:10 and the guy was so friendly and still took our orders. I tried the Saffron Chicken sandwhich. It came in a pita pocket, which is nice as it contains everything. The filling was a mix of charred chicken, potato, and carrot. It was saucy and warm. There was great flavor and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I liked the combination with vegetables as it balanced it out. I would definitely come back! For around $12, this is a great option.

This spot is located in the Essex market, back right corner on the main level. The staff was so friendly and welcoming! I probably waited 8 minutes for my order. It wasn't busy when I came on a rainy Sunday at 1pm. The saffron chicken sandwich was very good and the portion was perfect for one person. Would come back for sure!

So I cheated on them earlier this week with another spot near my residence. I was so disappointed. Zerza hands down was better. I've had the stew in the pita and the kefta. Both are so filling. The mint tea is so refreshing as well. They are always friendly. I need them to open a kiosk in Brooklyn. I wish they delivered to Brooklyn.

Great service and delicious food! This is my first time with Moroccan food and it didn't disappoint! Super flavorful the chicken tagine was so tender

I had lunch here during my vacation in July. The Essex Market is full of restaurants, but Zerza got my attention and I made the right choice. Not only the food was good and the portion was big, but the guys at the stand were very friendly and gentle.

Conveniently located in the modern Essex Market, Zerza Moroccan Kitchen provides some of the most authentic and flavor Moroccan food I've have had in New York. Highlights for me were definitely the lamb tagine and the Moroccan sandwich. Portions were generous and plenty full. The flavors brought me back to the time I visited Morocco. If you are in the lower east side area and are looking to explore Moroccan food, I definitely recommend Zerza Kitchen. As it is located in the Essex Market you can also try a variety of other delicious treat form around the world.

Don't like writing reviews like this but I travelled to this stand in the Essex market specifically to have lamb tagine over rice--an item that's included on the website--and the signs on the stand itself. Well, lamb tagine is no longer on the menu and as of 6pm the rice was sold out. Only other option was couscous which, as a gluten intolerant person, I can't eat.

This is such a hidden gem at Essex Market in the lower east side. I tried the classic chicken tagine and it was SO good. Chicken was fall off the bone and so juicy. The sauce was amazing and the vegetables were perfectly soft and tender. Loved the preserved lemon. I cannot wait to have this again and support such a great business! Food was plenty for one person!

Very glad I finally decided to try this place even though I've noticed it quite a few times while strolling around Essex market. I ordered the chicken tajine and cauliflower side which were both so flavorful. The chicken was so moist and tender, falling off the bone, resting on a bed of summer veggies and cous cous. Cauliflower had the right amount of char and dressed with tahini, walnuts, and raisins. Would recommend placing your order online and then picking up. I ordered at the stall and the food took about 30 min.

I have to say the dedication of the staff and owner really surprised me , I had to write a positive review I ordered a beef stew pita sandwich and it toke sometime because they ran out of pita and made it with a wrap instead without telling me but either way it was Delicious and amazing and i would have just taken it like that and i went upstairs to eat it and a few minutes later the staff found me and insisted on returning my money because it was on a wrap instead of the pita !! it was really delicious anyways but my respect level for the owner and how he ran the business just blew my mind . I am so happy that such an honest business is so close to my home and i will continue to support them!!

Loved - Service - Portions Liked - Chicken tagine - Vegetables couscous Both dishes were good to very good but not great

I bought a bowl of tagine here on impulse; a casualty of grocery shopping while hungry. I brought it home with high hopes but pretty meager expectations. Zerza seriously overdelivered. The tagine was both delicious and enormous. So I got two restaurant-worthy moroccan meals for the price of typical Manhattan takeout. The lamb shank was great quality and perfectly tender. This is not a difficult cut of meat to cook well, but is quite expensive. It's a real treat to see it at a place like this and at these prices. The other ingredients were well chosen and made for a couple of satisfying meals. Maybe they could work on the seasoning a bit. The best Moroccan food I've had has more complex, layered flavors. But I'm really picking nits here. And this is something a restaurant can refine over time. I wish this place great success and hope to come back soon. I'd like to try everything on the menu.

Yum! Couldn't wait for a day to explore the new Essex Market and have lunch here. Zerza is delicious! We shared the freekeh salad, an eggplant dip/spread (kind of chunky, not really spreadable) called zalouk, and 1 hot dish, the vegetable tagine (veggies roasted until soft and sweet, served over fluffy couscous). At home I might make it spicier, but it was all flavorful!

Never had Moroccan food before this occasion at Zerza so judging it is difficult . I'd give it a 4/5 if the pricing was more reasonable . It is a couple dollars overpriced in my opinion. Nonetheless , the quality of the food is decent . I had the chicken tagine and also sampled their beef sandwich . The chicken tagine is similar to a curry chicken but way less robust as you'd get in an Indian restaurant . Chicken was very tender and the couple of veggies added some extra flavor but even that was scarce on the plate . I was surprised to find out that rice isn't served as I wanted to substitute it for the couscous. Maybe it's a Moroccan thing ? The couscous ended up complimenting the dish really well though so no complaints there . As for the beef sandwich, it again had an underlying curry flavor to it , similar to the veggies that was in the chicken tagine dish . Beef again was very tender and the sandwich overall again was decent . Not anything mind blowing but far from bad . Overall I liked this restaurant's take on Moroccan food and am likely to now scour yelp for more options on Moroccan food.

I had the chicken kebab this afternoon. It comes with butternut squash and couscous. Everything was so well spiced, which is unfortunate because I found the chicken a tad rubbery. Butternut squash was definitely the highlight. 3 and a half stars.

I visited Zerza when I came to the Essex Market for the first time since it was renovated. I decided to get the chicken tagine ($13). The drumstick chicken is tender and cooked perfectly. I also liked how there was two kinds of carrots in it too. I prefer saltier dishes so I had to add some salt, but I think it depends on your taste. The chicken tagine came in a big portion and I finished it over two meals. The dish actually tasted better the next day, maybe because the chicken and couscous absorbed the flavor more thoroughly.

Delivery review. Possibly the best lamb tagine I have had in New York. I have not been to Morocco (due to COVID and had to cancel my trip) but for what I gathered, they have got every single aspect right. The bone-in lamb shank was juicy tender; sitting on bed of rice mixed with spices and dried raisin, apricots. the sweetness of dried fruit balanced out the savory, meatiness of lamb. Delivery was fast and well package. Price is very reasonable. Will def reorder again!

the slowest takeout place there ever was. I waited 25 minutes for a falafel sandwich and a side of eggplant dip. the falafel was pretty good, the dip was not. Not worth the wait.

Wonderful! I passed by this place, and got the couscous and hummus on a whim. It was amazing. Warm, fragrant and spicy. The flavours were so rich without being overpowering. If you are looking for authentic Moroccan food that is reasonably priced, look no further than here. Can't wait to come back!

Moroccan approved! My (Moroccan) husband and I were checking out Essex Market and saw Zerza tucked away in the back corner. We ordered the chicken and lamb entrees and some Moroccan mint tea. Absolutely amazing, the meat fell off the bone and couscous was made in the right way. My husband thought it tasted as good as mom's back in Casablanca. We loved it so much, we went back the next day. They confirmed the meat is halal, for whom that may concern.

I grew up in France where there is a lot of legit Moroccan food, and it's been hard to find in the US. My best luck so far in NYC had been Cafe Mogador. Today I just had a Lamb Tajine (the best meal you can have honestly) with mint tea. It was delicious! My only wish is that there were some prunes in the tajine, but that's just a personal preference. The meat was cooked to perfection. The portion was generous. The couscous was perfectly seasoned. I'll be back! TLDR: Cafe Mogador quality without the price tag - highly recommended

I have been coming here every single day for lunch since I started working nearby. I haven't had such authentic Moroccan food since I visited Tunisia (different countries, I know, but similar cuisine/flavors). The chicken tagine falls right off the bone and the herbs and spices add such succulent flavors to the meat and couscous. I try a new dish every time I visit and have recently tried a cup of their homemade Moroccan mint tea which I think I am addicted to now. I plan on going there for lunch again in an hour or so!

As a Moroccan its difficult to find restaurants that serve quality and authentic food. Zerza exceeds my expectations. The lamb tagine brought me back to my childhood. Generous amount of meat, nicely cooked veggies and delightful sauce makes this place a must try.

We went to morocco around the spring of 2018 and I fell in love with lamb tagine but upon coming back home, moroccan food has since been forgotten. After re-visiting our vacation photos I started googling for authentic moroccan eatery that serves lamb tagine with apricot and almond and this IS the place !!!!

Really good. Tchicken tagine was great! Nice portions, classic food spot hidden in the back of Essex Market.

Delicious food cooked the way your grandma would right in front of you. The lamb tagine fell of the bone onto the cloud of spices, couscous and veggies cooked just right. A great treat and an amazing value. The bourekas with spinach, raisins and spices in a dough pillow were just as amazing.

Delicious! First time we ate here was pre-COVID and we had the lamb tagine. Our next visit we had the chicken tagine and it was equally delicious and very generous in portion; a great value.

This is the kind of place you go back to the next day. We got the lamb merguez sandwich and it was filled to the brim with spicy delicious meat that wasn't really spicy, it was perfect. It took them what felt like twenty minutes to make it because they took the time to make the pita perfect. Nice and soft. We ordered again the next day and got their tagines, the wonderful msemen, and beef stew pita. Then we came back the day after that and got two more lamb merguez pitas. Ahem. (My partner and I are not obese; it's practically paleo here.) This is a special place and I hope they get enough business and survive the pandemic. They are tucked away in the corner of Essex market with not as much foot traffic as they deserve. Please go say hi.

Visited Zerza at Essex market, a new food hall in the lower east side. Was pleasantly surprised by the affordable options offered by the menu. We got the hummus which was served with fresh pita bread. The Pita was great, the hummus was decent, a little less flavorful than I would have wanted. The rest of their dishes looked great and I would go back and try them.

Wanted to try something from the Essex market and tried Zerza. Not disappointed-had the lamb, so flavorful. Loved it and will go back.

Incredible spot for a meal, specifically the full entrees. Get the Chicken Tangine, it is the best chicken dish anywhere near this price point in the city. Period. Everything about it is great: the veggies, the couscous, the tenderrrrr chicken, the lemon, the portion, everything. Another treat is the lamb entrée, same pluses and a bit more rich. As a go to, the chicken cannot be beat. I prefer the entrees over the sandwiches mainly because the sandwiches aren't as hearty. The chefs/owners were kind enough to give us mint tea one time and it was the best mint tea we've ever had. Super friendly service, and just all around excellent food.

One of the only businesses to stay open during the public health crisis. With the friendly staff's recommendation I had the tender chicken on a bed of fluffy couscous. Their Vegetable Tagine is also mouth watering. A must have when visiting Essex Market!

The tagines are really great i like the lamb w couscous and dried apricot. The sweet mint tea is a delight. Service here is always great and everyone is friendly. Been here several times and have never had a bad meal!

Im just going to say the lamb sausage sandwich is just to die for. It literally melts in your mouth with so many different flavors. And let me not forget to add as a fellow African the chicken tagine with couscous is the best I ever had in nyc!. Loved everything I ever had from Zerza. And the owner is such a gem, humble nice guy that really takes pride in great service. Which makes me love the place even more. I wish he had a brooklyn location. I'd eat there every night! Not even kidding.fatima

bought dinner from Zerza in Essex Market. It looked good at the booth and was freshly cooked while we waited. The delight and surprise was that eating it was even better. Have had many Moroccan meals and I would rank this as one of the tastiest--salmon cooked perfectly, plentiful vegetables, cous cous just right. And, must mention the best prepared and unique cold appetizer...eggplant and pepper.

Ordered delivery last week, duck confit and lamb tangine, both very tasty, especially the lamb, with generous servings and very attentive customer service. Will definitely be ordering again!

I had the tagine chicken for lunch. Delicious, not spicy at all. Comes with an entire leg of chicken with many different spices and olives on a bed of couscous. I ate the entire thing. Not a steal at $12 but tastes very authentic and the guy at the counter is very nice and friendly. Recommended.

As a Moroccan I had a little higher expectations for the menu. It's tricky since it says tagine ( lamb or chicken) you would think it comes with bread. Instead they serve it over couscous. The lamb was okay over the couscous but chicken with olives and lemons had a weird taste. Overall is okay.

I can only speak for the vegetable tangible that I got to go today -- had it later for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. The serving size was pretty generous. Flavorful and very tender. Plus, the people behind the counter were very nice. I will definitely return.

I'll keep it simple. I got the chicken tagine. It was amazing. I cannot wait to go back. The best food I've had in a long time.