Eclectic Kim Review: Casa Aladdin Restaurant

After a few hours of driving from Rabat, I was more than ready for our first stop in Chefchaouen. After Kamal, our driver, dropped us off for a short walk through the Medina, we followed our guide, Rashid, through the narrow alleyways and up to Casa Aladdin Restaurant.

First up for me was the Moroccan salad (tomato, cucumber, onion). The combination of onion, corn and tomatoes was refreshing.

My main course for lunch – the Chicken tagine with plums (chicken in sauce, plums) – was a solid choice.

Over lunch, Rachid shared why many Moroccan people traditionally eat with their hands, saying, “My hand is for me. A fork is used by a thousand people. When you use your hand, there is more taste and more flavor.” He also explained the meaning behind Morocco’s famous high tea pour: “The higher they pour the tea, the more they like you. Pouring tea is a smile. Tea is a conversation. Tea is a story of community and love.”

My Orange salad (fruit salad) was MUCH larger and more expansive than I originally assumed it would be.

Whereas I thought it would be a small assortment of Mandarin slices or even larger Valencia orange slices – it turned out to be a cornucopia of fruit and pudding that I just didn’t want.

Denise also ordered something that she thought was one thing – and turned out to be a much larger dish.

Overall, lunch at Casa Aladdin Restaurant was a decent stop, but I wish the menu made it clearer how substantial each item actually is.