Taktuka Moroccan Kitchen is a SEVEN star experience - not a five star experience. It is truly the definition of a small joint with BIG HEART. Let me BEGIN with Khaled and Hamza. The most gracious and humble hosts - paying attention to every detail and stopping at nothing to bring whatever the customer wants to fruition. We don't realize that the place closes at 8:00 pm, and just kept chomping and socializing - they never once pointed it out to us. I begin with them because they were the friendliest folks, and their service was truly remarkable. Then comes the food - my goodness, the food. Let's begin with the Harira. Perfectly seasoned, but for me, it requires a little more salt (which is personal preference) and a pop of acid like lemon to bring out its true flavor. Overall, a really comforting, rich soup without being heavy or cloying. Then came the Moroccan seasoned potatoes - oooooweeee! These were little nuggets of pure deliciousness. Seasoned to perfection, crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside and every bite kept you wanting to go back for more. Then the lamb shank tagine - ummmm, excuse me?!?! What do you mean the meat is like butter? It literally falls off the bone and dissolves in your mouth. Rich, fatty, unctuous and truly a delight. The bed of couscous it came with was also great - made better by the sauce from the lamb shank. The highlight of this plate were the roasted prunes that are part of the sauce. Sweet, jammy prunes cooked into the sauce made them just truly a delightful mouthfeel in comparison to the couscous and the scrumptious meat. To top it all off, the cherry on top, is their comforting Moroccan mint tea. So very fresh and the perfect end to an absolutely DELIGHTFUL meal. Highly recommended!!! read more

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When it comes to holes in the wall, this is about as good as it gets. Taktuka is located in an oddly shaped plaza, hidden away in one of the corners. It's tiny inside and feels well worn (in a good way), but there are a few tables outside. We went at an off time (or so we thought), but eventually all four tables and all bar seating were taken up. The gentleman serving us seemed to be the only one there, but he was friendly. We ordered a taktouka sampler, mixed grill platter, and lamb shank tagine. If you go to a Moroccan restaurant, you've got to get tagine. It took a little while for the food to come out, but overall it was excellent. The taktouka sampler was full of veggies. It was tasty, but I wish the carrots were cooked more to soften them. The mixed grill platter had chicken and beef kabobs, as well as something like a kefta (ground meat) kabob. The meats and rice were good, although the beef and chicken could have been more tender and juicy. The white sauce was a nice accompaniment. The lamb shank was excellent; nice tender meat, tasty rice, and delicious supplemental flavors from the figs and apricots. Overall, a very nice lunch. read more

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We love checking out different local places. This restaurant should certainly be on your must check it out list. The food was delicious. Very fresh and featured great spices. The service was phenomenal and the place filled up very quickly for dinner. Be sure to check out this amazing jim! read more

Food was delicious! We tried several different dishes including the kefta tagine, veggie wrap, chicken kabobs and the hummus appetizer. All were really great. Very reasonable prices. We're looking forward to a return trip soon. read more

I have been dying to find a Moroccan restaurant in the suburbs! So when I found Taktuka, you can bet I had to order from there. The food was absolutely perfect! I am from France, and Moroccan food is definitely something we have often, especially couscous. Everything tasted fresh, and so flavorful, just like I remembered!. I ordered for delivery, so not sure how the actual restaurant is, but the food was packed very well, and transported without a problem. Food was cooked to perfection, the lamb just melting in your mouth. If you like flavorful foods (spices but not spicy), definitely give Taktuka a try. You will not regret it! read more

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Taktuka Moroccan Kitchen is a hidden gem in Darien featuring authentic Moroccan cuisine. It is a small establishment with seating inside and outside, the service is quick, and the food is absolutely delicious! We started with some hummus and pita bread - the hummus was so smooth and creamy and crunchy and savory. It was perfect - definitely one of the BEST hummus I've ever tried! The pita was right out of the oven - it was soft and warm and so so fresh! Next up, was the chicken kebabs which came with smoky and delicious chicken, flavorful rice, lots of grilled vegetables, and a refreshing salad. The mixed kebabs had chicken, lamb, and beef kebabs with the same sides. Both plates came with a tahini sauce on the side. These were some of the most juicy, tender, and delicious pieces of meat I've ever tasted. The rice, veggies, and salad were the perfect complement and made for a balanced and healthy meal! I am still drooling over the delicious food and cannot wait to take my friends and family to try out this hidden gem! I will definitely be trying one of their coffees and teas during my next visit! 10/10 recommend! read more

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We were told this restaurant was new and it was even more exciting to try! I love seeing a diverse range of restaurants near where I live popping up and it was my first time trying Moroccan food too. We got the sampler, chicken tagine, and the lamb tagine. My favorite was the chicken tagine, but everything was delicious. The meat was so tender and flavorful, they immediately fell of the bone. Both tagines had distinct tastes and you can taste how long the meat had been stewing in the seasoning. The rice in the lamb absorbed all the flavor and was super soft, while the fries were still crispy and seasoned really well. We also got a baklava sampler for dessert - I highly recommend trying all of them! read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - lamb tagine - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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Tuktuka Moroccan Kitchen was okay overall. The staff recommended the lamb shank, and while it was flavorful, it was a bit too fatty for my taste. The service was fine, nothing exceptional but not bad either. The atmosphere is very small and feels more like a quick in-and-out spot rather than a place to linger and enjoy a long meal. Decent experience, but not somewhere I'd rush back to. read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

The food was absolutely delicious!!! So flavorful and very tasty. From the Kabobs to the rice and veggies absolutely delicious. It's a cozy spot,and the service was great very welcoming. The quality for the price is excellent. My partner and I will definitely be going back again! read more

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This is a small establishment without any fancy frills. They are very new so there are some kinks to smooth out and efficiencies to be achieved, however the food is exceptional with generous portions and the owner is very friendly. Our family of six dined in on a Sunday evening and ordered the following: 1) Zaalouk consisted of roasted eggplant cooked with tomatoes, garlic, and Moroccan spices. It was topped with extra virgin olive oil and served with warm bread. This was our favorite appetizer and we easily cleaned it up and wished we had ordered more bread for the spread. 2) Harira is a traditional Moroccan soup made with vegetable stock, celery, onions, tomato, cilantro, chickpeas, lentils, and rice. This was homey and packed with plenty of protein and fiber. It would perfect for a wintry, cold day. 3) The lamb shank tagine was served in a rich Moroccan stew with prunes, cinnamon and almonds. It was paired with hand-cut fries and warm bread. This was hands-down our favorite dish of the evening. The meat was particularly tender in which it fell right off the bone without having to exert any effort. Every piece of meat was packed with flavor. We were told this dish easily sells out. 4) The vegetarian couscous was topped with a variety of vegetables and a great complement to the lamb shank. 5) The kefta kabob consisted of three skewers of ground beef mixed with Moroccan spices. It came with rice and grilled vegetables. I especially liked the yogurt that it was served with. 6) Moroccan-seasoned fries were flavorfully spiced potato chunks. I ordered these thinking they're French fries and that my two girls would enjoy them. Well, they are not French fries and only one of my girls went for seconds. Nonetheless, one can't really go wrong with fried potatoes and the majority of us enjoyed it. 7) They made a fresh batch of baklava for the day and I just had to try it even though we just had a very belly-satisfying meal. No regrets whatsoever though. The baklava was excellent! read more

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We had some wonderful food..from the dips, to the shank, kefta & lamb kabob... All exceptional...had a wonderful salad as well... read more

Nothing fancy, just great food and service! We tried the Taktuka Sampler and the Lamb Shank Tagine. Both are really good. The lamb shank is tender and just the right amount of spices. Good recommendation from the owner. He is really friendly and gave us a 5-star service. I will definitely coming back to try other dishes! read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Taktuka Sampler - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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What great food in our backyards!! The Lamb shank Tagine was so tender and flavorful. The chicken Kabobs were wonderfully marinated with rice, roasted vegetables and bread was a delicious sampling of their great food. The portions were so generous. I tried their mint tea while i waited for my food and it was sooo nice. Will definitely be returning . read more

My husband and I had another great date night at Taktuka Moroccan Kitchen! The food was high quality and super flavorful as always. We ordered two tagines and the mint tea. If you open your tea pot, you can actually see its basically a whole mint plant in there, so delicious. Can't find high quality Moroccan dishes like these in the USA! We're so grateful to have this restaurant in our community! Great service as well! read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Mint tea, chicken tagine and lamb shank tagine - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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My husband and I ate here last night-amazing Moroccan food! We tried a LOT and took home leftovers. The lamb shank stew is a must order-our favorite! We tried the appetizer sampler and the beets-our favorites were the hummus, beets and carrots! (All tasty though!) I had the lamb shish kebab with couscous and grilled veggies -very flavorful. It's small inside and has a few outside tables but we went off hours and sat inside-very friendly owners! Definitely will be on our list to return for take out and to eat there! read more

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Excellent. Outstanding food. Great service. Very down to earth vibe. I highly recommend!

Great food and service, we had the appetizer sampler, mogador salad, beef kabob dinner, and the Tangier wrap... all were very good, wife had the atay Moroccan tea and I had the Marrakech coffee, also very good. Fresh cut fries... Definitely will be back. Glad to hear they're celebrating their 1-year anniversary March 8! read more

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I had a craving for something new and different from what I was used to eating for my birthday. Having recently eaten out at Greek/Mediterranean restaurants, I was still searching for something more to satisfy my tastebuds. Taktuka Moroccan Kitchen did not disappoint. Hamza, the owner, was so welcoming and gave us suggestions of what to try, and everything we had was absolutely delicious! We ordered the taktuka sampler, Moroccan seasoned potatoes, mogador salad (without chicken), shrimp tagine, and mixed grill kabob. Everything came out hot and fresh. It felt like we were at a Moroccan family's home. We also ordered the Marrakech coffee. Hamza also let us try the Moroccan tea which was refreshing. Overall, my friends and I had a great experience, loved the food, and decor. It is a gem to have this type of cuisine in the western suburbs! Would love to come back! read more

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Yummy! This quaint restaurant has authentic fresh and healthy Moroccan food. The zaalouk, chicken kebab with grilled vegetables and kefkta tangine were flavorful and nicely seasoned without being overpowering. The atay was served warm and had a subtle and pleasant taste. The owner chatted, shared information about the food of his homeland. In a sea of endless burger and pizza joints, it is refreshing to find a unique restaurant with delicious food. I cannot wait to check out their catering menu. We will be back! read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Chicken Kabob kefta Tagine Zaalouk and Bread - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

We had an incredible meal at Taktuka today. We drove from the city to Darien and decided to explore the ethnic restaurant choices and we were not disappointed when we sat down to eat there. We ordered the Taktuka Sampler which was incredible. What flavors. My favorite was the carrot, my mom's favorite was the beet part, and my partner liked everything. It was as if the food exuded a perfume. We also had the Moroccan coffee and my partner had the hibiscus lemonade which was truly delicious. We ordered the salmon dish, the chicken tagine and the lamb shank tagine. We savored every bite. Just incredible! What an incredible restaurant. They also have a homemade spicy sauce which was so rich and filled with unusual flavors. We definitely feel like we struck gold by dropping in here. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKTUKA!! read more

First time visiting and I ordered the eggplant appetizer and shrimp tagine. The food is of great taste, and the plates are very attractive. The boss is very friendly. We had a nice conversation about the language differences. Definitely going back for the lamb one. Be aware that the final price includes tips already, and I did not know that and paid another 20% tip. but it's worth it for my Arabic lesson read more

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Stopped in for late lunch and the food was great. They even Hawaii and PoMS!! They have plenty of options to choose from left very satisfied. If you're in the area or even if you're not I recommend a visit. read more

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My husband and I stopped by this new restaurant to check it out. It's a small place, but the food is delicious! Ordered the Chicken Tagine and the Mixed Grill Kabob. The owner/chef also gave us a taste of the Taktuka appetizer which was a great way to start our meal. The entrees were unique and delicious!! The hot mint tea was wonderful and refreshing! We're very happy to have a Moroccan restaurant in our area. read more

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Had a late lunch with a friend who has been to Morocco and we loved it. Everything was spiced just perfectly and oh so delicious!! It will be a regular stop for me going forward. read more

The food was delicious and they delivered it ahead of time. Also, they realized an item wasn't included, so the owner delivered it himself.

Orders delivery . Food was amazzzing , and fresh . Delicious order left a tajin, chicken tajin. Side of beets, seasoned carrots n potatoes, mint ice tea . Every thing was amazing n delicious n warm read more

Love this place. Great service and good food. Yunis so kind and hustles. Have come here 5-6 times over the past year and every time so impressed. read more

Delicious authentic Moroccan food! Very friendly service! So excited to try out so much more on their menu! Loved the Taktuka sampler, chicken and kefta tagine and mint tea! Yum!! "Shoukran Hamsa!" read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Neat little place with authentic Moroccan food. We had their humus and Kafta Tagine. Both were terrific, freshly made, and delicious. Service was wonderful from the owner/manager to wait staff. Can't believe a gem like Taktuka is hidden in Darien. read more

Great place and very very nice friendly waiters. Beef kabobs is raw for us and they immediately replace a well done with no extra charge. So tasteful! Highly recommended! And we will be back for sure. read more

Amazing food Does not disappoint. Everything from the vegetables to the meats are delicious read more

Excellent Moroccan food. Excellent service. Superior service. Parking at front door. Highly recommended. Recommend completing the mal with Numi mint tea! read more

This is our first foray into Moroccan food. Apparently, we love Moroccan food. We had Zaalouk to start with warm bread. I chose Chicken Tagine as my main, with rice instead of fries. Great sub since the rice nicely soaked up the sauce from the tagine. Deeelicious dish!! Hubby chose Chicken Kabob. That was tasty as well. To end the meal, we were served complimentary slices of chilled watermelon. Nice touch. Service was great all around. We will be back!! read more

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Awesome addition to the neighborhood. Food and service are great! Authentic and fresh, will definitely return! Don't forget to get the tea. read more

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Food was so flavorful and fresh. Great service and well-decorated interior. Each plate was beautiful. read more

Taktuka Moroccan kitchen - Kefta Kabob - Moroccan Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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So great! It's a tiny little spot with great service and great food. I went with friends and we ordered a bit of everything: tea, tagine, baba gaboush, veggies, and more. Everything was tasty snd fresh. I especially recommend the tea! read more

my first true introduction to morrocan food. such an awesome little place. amazing food. like SO good. a random spot i found while i was in town for work - literally didn't have a bad thing here. you NEED TO GET THE LAMB SHANK! a must go. read more

Delicious! My husband and my first time tasting Moroccan food and we were impressed! Highly recommend!

Food was great! Ground beef kabobs and lamb kabobs! The sampler appetizer was really good! Highly recommend it. I will be back!

Taktuka Sampler and Chicken Kebab are amazing too. Not a fan of eggplant myself but still enjoyed trying it. Portion sizes are great. read more

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