ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Upper Kirby, Houston, TX: A Flavor Explosion That Transports You Straight to Marrakech ZOA Moroccan Kitchen is the hidden gem Houston didn't know it desperately needed until now. Tucked in Upper Kirby, this place feels like stepping into a vibrant riad: warm lanterns, intricate tiles, plush seating, and the intoxicating aroma of ras el hanout and preserved lemons pulling you in before you even sit down. The food? Absolute magic. Start with the zaalouk (smoky eggplant dip) and bastilla rolls--flaky phyllo stuffed with spiced chicken, almonds, and cinnamon sugar that somehow make sweet and savory sing in perfect harmony. The hummus is silky smooth with a drizzle of harissa oil that brings just the right heat. But the tagines are the stars. The lamb tagine with prunes and almonds is fall-off-the-bone tender, swimming in a sauce so rich and aromatic I wanted to bottle it. The chicken kefta tagine with eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce is pure comfort on a plate. Every bite bursts with layers of cumin, ginger, saffron, and cinnamon--authentic, bold, and balanced without overwhelming. The couscous is fluffy perfection, and the sides (roasted carrots with orange blossom, charred broccolini with tahini) elevate everything. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the mint tea--poured dramatically from a silver pot--is refreshing and endless. Service is warm and knowledgeable; our server guided us through the menu like a friend sharing family recipes. The vibe is lively yet intimate, perfect for date night or a group feast. ZOA isn't just serving Moroccan food; they're delivering a full sensory journey that makes Houston feel a little more worldly. If you've never had real Moroccan cuisine, start here. If you have, prepare to have your standards raised forever. Already planning my return--multiple times. Five stars, zero hesitation. Houston, get to ZOA now. You'll thank me with every spoonful. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Lamb with Quinoa and Zesty Mint Avocado Yogurt - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

The space is open and very spacious with many tables. However, the ordering counter set up is a little unique. They have two counters. One for ordering main dishes like bowls, salads, and sandwiches while the other counter is for coffee, crepes, desserts, and pastries. The lady behind the main counter was very friendly and helpful. Despite being the only one there, she took her time and helped explained the menu. I really like the concept and how there's a Create Your Own Bowl or Salad menu option. My lunch date ordered the Casablanca bowl which consisted of roasted lamb and said the lamb was a little on the dry side with an overly gamey taste and would not recommend it. I ordered a Create Your Own Bow ($12.95) with Saffron Jasmine rice, and 6 veggie choices: fava bean hummus, cucumber tomato, sweet potato, lentils, roasted cauliflower, egg potato salad, and for an additional $3.50, the Potato cakes. The Potato cakes had a very soft and almost mushy inside texture. I didn't mind and thought it was good with the Harissa Aioli sauce. However, my veggie options were on the bland side so I had to purchase additional sauce for my bowl. I wish the menu allowed for 7 options instead of 6 since the scoops are very small. When I went over to the other counter for some cookies and gelato, the staff there were too busy talking to each other to help. When I asked for help, they didn't seem too keen on it so I skipped dessert and left. The concept is great, the casual decorative ambiance is fantastic, and the food is pretty good. However, the customer service is hit or miss. Note: There's a few two-top tables for outdoor seating. Also, parking in the front is very limited and can be a hectic during peak hours. read more

See all

So many awesome flavors! I love all of the toppings you can add to your bowl. When I asked for almost every single item because they are all amazing, the nice staff do not hesitate. Last visit I kept it simple and ordered the Casablanca Bowl with half couscous & half brown rice quinoa for the base. The bowl comes with garlic aioli sauce drizzled on it and I got the green zen sauce on the side to go. It was labeled with 2 peppers and yes, it had a nice kick! Service is always good and they have mint water self serve as well as bottled drinks. The patio spans both Zoa and connecting CoCo Crepes. The vibe inside is chill. After an awesome bowl, get a scoop of gelato from those nice folks. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious!! Every bite was bursting with rich, layered flavor. Service was quick, warm, and welcoming, making the whole experience effortless. The space is paired with a bakery & has a relaxed, casual vibe, and while the parking lot is small, it's worth every bit of effort to get here! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

The sweet beef that I had was good alone, but when I added it to my bowl with all the other toppings I think it overpowered what I was eating. I like to add fresh vegetables and sauces to bowls, I maybe would have chicken next time. If you like salad/bowl bars this Moroccan place is a good one to try. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love the concept of chipotle and cava so I wanted to try this Moroccan version. Walking in, the aroma was soooo good. The employee was super helpful and let me sample all the stuff before I ordered, helping me make my decisions. There was such a wide variety of toppings in terms of flavor that stood out but everything blended together so well. I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of textures that I usually steer away from at other places, I really liked in my bowl. There was also complimentary Moroccan mint tea which was so refreshing and yummy! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Zoa has become one of my favorite casual dining options in Houston. On Richmond Ave near Greenway/Upper Kirby, it's located in a cute little shared building with a coffee shop next door. It has lots of windows and natural light and each time we've visited the dining area has been immaculate. Like other fast casual fare, you can start with a base (my suggestion is the saffron rice), add protein (lamb is a great choice), and add veggies and sauces (try the cilantro lime vinaigrette and/or garlic aioli). There are pitas or bowls and a selection of their "faves," which have proteins and veg selected already (if you have trouble deciding on your first visit, this is a great option). If you decide to go custom, you can also do as many veggies as you want, which is a fantastic perk in this day and age. Ultimately, you 'll decide how big to make the bowl based on how many toppings you want, but portions for each item are generous. Another plus is complimentary hot mint tea near the counter. To top it all off, service has been superb. On a recent visit, I enjoyed one of the bowls with pre selected ingredients called Casablanca. It comes with lamb, cucumber, white beans, pickled cabbage, garlic aioli, cucumber and tomato, and I chose saffron rice for the base. All of the flavors come together in an aromatic, nicely seasoned, and fairly hearty dish. I also enjoyed a cold hibiscus tea (separate from the complimentary mint tea at the counter) with a nice sweetness (but not overly sweet) that balanced out the bold and flavorful meal. Do yourself a favor and check Zoa out next time you're in this area (perhaps a post Costco lunch treat). read more

See all

It was very tasty! But, you might want to know want flavors work best with each other because you can chose from a variety of options. Service was fast and quick. Restaurant setting was also very small and cute. They had a separate room with some seating- however max 15 people could fit for seating. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Build Create Your Own Bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Stopped in on my lunch break for a delicious Beef Tagine Rice Bowl with all the fresh veggies topping it off with the Harissa and Garlic Aloli and that Green sauce, it was delicious. Staff and management were very friendly at the Richmond Avenue location. Definitely coming back soon!!! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Why 5 stars? Because this was something different, but ideal for what I was looking for. --- --- --- Full disclosure: my plan was to visit the ever-popular Trill Burger. But when I arrived, they had a sign on the door that they were not opening until later. So I sat in the parking lot and scanned through my nearby bookmarks. The original ZOA location had me quite intrigued, but it was just a bit too far out of the way for where I was heading after lunch. I then turned to just a regular nearby search, and as fate would have it, this ZOA was only a few blocks away and had just opened recently! I'm so glad it worked out this way because I really loved my experience. I walked in and there was no one in line. I built my own sandwich with a bunch of random items that sounded good on their own, but with no consideration on how they would fit together. It turned out they fit together like a glove. A delicious glove. The person making this sandwich offered me any samples I wanted to try, which was especially appreciated here where the options are not exactly things I eat every day. Ultimately, it ended up tasting amazing and was unlike anything else that I eat on a regular basis. I also ordered a coconut macaron and had some hibiscus tea, which were both quite enjoyable. If there was a ZOA near me, I would absolutely eat there on a regular basis. It's delicious, affordable, and it's certainly possible to build a healthy concoction. It's no wonder the original location has about 1,000 reviews a near perfect rating! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Coconut macaron - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I love Zoa's and this place is no exception! It's connected to coco crepes (same company) and has plenty of seating. The worker was generous with her portions and took the time to strain out the liquids which was nice. They also have complimentary tea which was a bit too sweet for my liking. Definitely will return soon! read more

We have been to Zoa Moroccan Kitchen a few times, but most recently for the Zoa's soft opening on Richmond. 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. The birthday $10 bonus is also a great reward. 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. Zoa after Dark is also a great deal available at the original Lillian and Bellaire locations. Mondays through Fridays from 7-9 (Lillian) or 3-8 (Bellaire) for $29, you can get two "our faves" bowls or sandwiches, two drinks and two desserts. 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. Hopefully, this after dark/afternoon option will be available at this location as well. 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

Cafeteria style little spot. The meatball stuffed pita bread thing was very good, but not every generous on the tiny meatballs so it was mostly bread. The bowl is pretty good bc it was very flavorful but the portions you get for protein is small like they're selling poke... but it's $5 to get an extra baby scoop. What's disappointing is the beef was super dry even tho it looked like it was gonna be tender and delicious. The toppings are decent to choose from and all great editions. The coconut macaroon was so dry most of it went in the trash. read more

See all

Great selection of healthy proteins and veggies! Food is well seasoned and staff if nice

This place is awesome. The lady behind the counter was very patient explaining the selection process. Food is awesome. A preview of what I will be looking for when I finally go to Morocco. It's cozy and shares the hallway with another restaurant. Will surely come back to visit. read more

Wow! Zoa is amazing! Everything we had was delicious! The chicken is flavored and spiced so perfectly. Even our 18 month old finished a side of chicken and sweet potatoes. The employees were very friendly and helpful when it came to figuring out what to order. The vibe of the restaurant is bright and airy. We can't wait to go back! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Chicken bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have been coming to Zoa for years now, but this Richmond location is my new favorite! I love how it's connected with Coco's, and the interior is decorated so cute. The food here is always amazing and service has been good as well. I always get a bowl with saffron rice and chicken chermoula. I also came here with 5 of my friends this past Friday, and they LOVED IT. I highly highly recommend for all fans of (inauthentic) Cava. We should all support this halal local business instead! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Found this place on a Yelp search while working in the lobby at the Omni Houston Hotel. Once I saw that they offered delivery and looked at the menu, I was in. I chose the Fez bowl, featuring chicken, a delightful pickle and olive relish, crunchy pickled red onions, a new favorite of mine, zaalouk, which is a savory almost stew-like preparation of blended roasted tomatoes and eggplant; it was almost the best part of the dish for me. A generous bed of saffron rice was the foundation of the bowl, and went well with everything therein. I selected the Marrakesh bowl for my wife, and the beef tangine therein presented as generous chunks of well seasoned meat along with little cubes of sweet potato and some sweet onion and raisins; it was definitely a sweet and savory dish. Also, be warned that, when the menu says "very spicy" on the red harissa, it's pretty darned spicy, but oh-so-delicious. Green harissa has a little less bite, but is every bit as tasty. I'd love to explore more of this menu, but these two bowls will be hard to beat, they were delicious! read more

I found out about Zoa from a Yelp list and saw that it had a really good rating and was interested in trying it out. It's like a chipotle or cava but Moroccan edition. You can get either a bowl or Fatima bread, which is stuffed with your toppings inside. The lady was so nice and will let you sample anything: the base, proteins, and any toppings. got a bowl with saffron rice and chicken chermoula. For toppings I got Zaalouk (eggplant), fava bean hummus, cucumber tomato, cinnamon carrots, pickled red onion cabbage, roasted corn, confit onions, egg potato salad, feta, white beans, lemon garlic spinach, and avocado. I topped it with their zoa green, garlic aioli, and zesty mint avocado yogurt sauces. Everything mixed together was sooo soo good, and they don't skimp on the toppings here either. The bowl was full of flavor and since I had almost every topping I had a good mixture of different textures and flavors. A lot of the toppings were either creamy, pickled, or savory. I really enjoyed this place, the bowl is big enough for 2 servings too. You also get a complimentary Moroccan mint tea which was actually really good. I don't really enjoy hot teas but it was so good. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Great food. Friendly service. Bright, clean, and comfortable atmosphere. Moroccan food shares influences with other Mediterranean countries and also Spain and France. You can choose from three or four recommended selections, or make your own combination. read more

Yelp search landed us at this funky joint. Staff were amazing and so friendly. Think Chipotle but for Moroccan food. We really liked it. Little on the sweet side with some of the sides but all in all a great find. Try it out if you want a different meal experience. read more

See all

We had a great takeout dinner from Zoa--it's one of those healthy-ish fast casual restaurants where you have the option to make healthy meals...or a little less healthy if you want to throw in some carbs or other treats. I really liked my fez bowl--the chicken was tasty! And I took a bite of my friend's marrakesh bowl (beef tagine) and thought it was even more delicious than my bowl. The fava bean hummus was good, though I might try something else next time. Be warned that the fatima bread is very good and giant--I made the mistake of ordering six (thinking you can never have too much bread haha), but one piece of the bread is the size of a small pizza. read more

Discovered this gem on accident. I like the built your own concept and their food is so yummy! Its healthy and delicious so it's guilt-free! So good I came back for 2nd :) read more

Well, holy-hell....where the heck have I been all of my life? I have never tried Moroccan food & I can't believe it's taken me this long to try it. Maybe because ZOA wasn't around. I ordered the spicy Fez sandwich: Moroccan khobz bread which is a pita-bun like bread that is baked golden brown with a crunchy bottom. Partially sliced this baby was filled with chicken chermoula, pickled red onions, olives, zaalouck, cabbage, greens & red harissa to give it a kick. I took one bite & I just could not believe how many flavors that popped. The chicken was steeped in parsley/ cilantro pesto like sauce. The chicken with the combination of the rest of the ingredients makes this my new favorite sandwich. Thanks to chef/owner Youseff Nafaa for sharing Moroccan cuisine with Houston, I love this place. read more

I have been to this place about 5 times now, and it does not disappoint!! Truly one of Houston's hidden gems!! Parking- Limited space in the front, but more around the corner. Interior- Beautiful decorations with a good amount of seating. Space is shared with Coco's, so there a good amount of room. Definitely gets busier around lunch time, but most people seem to come to pick up their food. Service- Everyone is so nice! The free mint tea is also a nice treat :) Food- I usually make my own bowl! They let you sample, so definitely ask if you want something. The chicken is my go to, and it's so flavorful and tender. All the toppings and sauces are very good, and they recently made it unlimited! The bread is very similar to pita bread, but maybe a little bit more tough. One bowl is around ~$12 and lasts me 2 meals! Special shoutout to the walnut date bar- truly one of the best dessert I have tried. Definitely give this place a visit!! Flavorful, healthy food at a good price! read more

Staff is very helpful and will give small tastes if you are unfamiliar with the cuisine. Vegan options available. The tagine beef in the Marakesh bowl is wonderful. Glad we tried it! read more

An excellent addition to add into my weekly lunch or dinner take-out rotation! Kind of, sort of like a Chipotle with a Moroccan twist! I took home 2 bowls: beef tagine and kefta (beef meatball). Both were absolutely delicious, but the beef tagine is truly phenomenal! There are choices for the bases such as leafy greens, then rice or quinoa, and several goodies to put around the protein. Lots of delicious choices (lentils, pickled items, cauliflower, sauces, etc). Honestly, the manager (Alice) was super helpful and had excellent recommendations for each bowl. She gave me samples of pretty much everything I expressed interest in. I also signed up for their awards program for future incentives. Very clean, spacious, and connected to the Crepes place next door (same owner), so you can snag a sweet treat after! read more

The people here are the sweetest! Like they go above and beyond. The food is really good, it's like a chipotle/subway model of Moroccan food where you build your own bowl. It's definitely worth the drive and they are attached to the old Coco's crepes so you can get coffee after. read more

Service was friendly and fast. The food was tasty, they have some really good options. The cinnamon carrot is one of my favorite options. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Lentils, couscous, salad as a base, hummus, cinnamon carrots and eggplant with harissa sauce on top - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

UberEats Review: I haven't gotten a chance to visit ZOA in person yet, but my boyfriend and I ordered from this location through UberEats. We both got the Casablanca bowl, which has lamb as the main meat. It was some of the best moroccan food I've had, everything was fresh and very tasty. The vegetables included in the bowl were so good mixed with my selection of quinoa for the base. I definitely want to go in and try this place in person. Stay tuned for an updated review. read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Casablanca bowl - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

The service was fine. The sides were good, but the beef was dry, and it was like eating cardboard.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I go here ALL the time. The ingredients are high quality and fresh. There are so many options for customization! The workers are so nice and even gave me a free tea sample once! Now I am addicted to their sweet mint tea . The inside is small but cute. They also have nice outdoor seating. The only thing is that they can be a bit expensive. Still worth it though, especially if you get the bread! read more

Pretty good food. Small place but can find a seat at coffee place next to it. I just ordered am the Casablanca bowl, and the special desert (forgot the name, Moroccan style, like pecan pie) read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

food is very nice. very tasty and meat is delicious. Place is very clean and well organized and they have free tea for takeouts. Love their chicken and lamb bowls with assorted vegetables. Very healthy food and glad i found this gem of a place. read more

Just came here for the first time, and the food was fantastic...SOOOO much flavor!!! I mentioned it was my first time and the person behind the counter proceeded to give me a sample of each of the proteins...and they were all juicy and tender and flavorful. I don't think I could have gone wrong with any of them, but i went with a bowl with saffron rice, and chose the lamb. I had a couple different sauces to top it off that provided a spicy kick, but wasn't overly hot...it was just right. The food and service were both excellent and the dine-in area was clean and nice. The only thing that would detract from a perfect 5-star rating would be the flimsy forks. But, if anything, the fork allowed me to savor the bowl of food for a little longer...lol!!! read more

Love this place! The ambiance is beautiful and the food is always delicious! The service is always quick and very helpful. I've started to go there to order the meal preps and really enjoy how the food reheats. 10/10 read more

One of our go-tos for lunch or dinner! The portions are good and the food is always delicious. The variety of toppings and sauces is elite. Recommend creating your own bowl with the chicken. read more

Chicken Charmoula bowl. The food here is good, the chicken is tender and the food tastes very fresh. However, the protein portion is pretty small. Not the same case for the sides or rice, but the protein portion is quite small, which is why I gave 4 stars. If the protein portion increases, this would be my go to lunch spot! read more

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen - Greenway - Chicken Charmoula - Moroccan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Very good food, excellent service, and great options for vegetarians. Will definitely come back.

Great food and service. I truly enjoyed the Kefta dish on bed of saffron rice. There are several locations too so check ZOA.