Moroccan Soup Bar II

Update 04/01/2023: Moroccan Soup Bar has now moved to North Melbourne, and offers pick-up and delivery only.

The Moroccan Soup Bar is one of those Melbourne institutions that seems to have existed forever. And been insanely busy the whole time. In some ways it's a precursor to trendy no-booking places like Mamasita: if you've got a group of less than 6 you can't make a booking and even now, more than a decade after it opened, there are queues waiting for the doors to open at 6pm.

We've been a few times and always loved it, but it's always hard to muster up the energy to go somewhere when you know you're going to have to spend an hour or so waiting for a table, so it's fallen off our radar a bit in recent years. At least it had, until we read Nouveau Potato's post recommending the combination of takeaway MSB and a picnic in Edinburgh Gardens. What a revelation!

You need to bring your own containers for takeaway at the Moroccan Soup Bar but it's well worth the effort - for $25 we got three containers full of typically delicious food (the chickpea and yoghurt dish the standout as always). Pack a picnic rug, a cocktail in a thermos, a couple of plates and some cutlery and, provided the weather's decent, you've got yourself the best damn picnic in Melbourne. The only disappointing thing about our meal on Sunday was that it made us realise how many fantastic summer nights we've wasted.

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The Moroccan Soup Bar is well-loved - read all the raves at: Veggie Friendly, Nouveau Potato, Green Gourmet Giraffe, I Eat Therefore I Am, Ruby Bean and The Hungry Peas, Melbourne Boozehag, Melbourne Dining Experiences, i found you in melbourne, juganaut's foodie thoughts, Urban Muslim, Iron Chef Shellie, i couldn't help but wonder, Melbcheapeats, i like your... flavours, little lady (twice), my garden feast, $30 date night, Food: alternative, exceptional, ethnic or otherwise and wooden spooning. Miss T: Princess Vegan and vegan about town testify to its vegan-friendliness as well!

There are a few dissenting voices, mostly finding the whole experience a bit yoghurt heavy: gila makan, Melbourne Culinary Journal, mochii eats, Let's Get Fat Together and because I cant cook.

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Moroccan Soup Bar
183 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North
9482 4240
We paid $12.5 a head for our food, but I think it varies based on how much they can fit in your containers.

Accessibility: We didn't really pay attention since we were eating in the park - there's at most a small step on entry, and the place is generally pretty crowded.