You have driven past El Harissa plenty of times. It sits up N. Maple on the west side, and one family has cooked some of the best North African food in Ann Arbor there since 2013. They run the whole place themselves, and they treat you like a regular from your first visit.
The food comes from a Tunisian point of view, with nods to Morocco, Italy, Greece, and the Levant. Start with the harissa dip. It is their namesake, a spicy roasted red pepper spread you will want on everything. The Chicken Chermoula is the dish regulars come back for. They brine it, sear it, and bake it, then serve it over rice with a bright, garlicky, lemony sauce. If you want something slow-cooked, get the root vegetable and date tagine, full of caramelized onion, Medjool dates, and preserved lemon. Everything is halal and made from scratch in small batches.
El Harissa is more than a cafe. It is also a deli, a market, and a gelateria. You can grab house spice blends and pantry gifts on your way out. And you cannot skip the gelato. They keep about twenty flavors going, from Mackinac Island fudge to banana with tahini and cinnamon.
You will find El Harissa at 1516 N. Maple Rd., up on the west side near Miller. They open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 7pm and close on Mondays. Here is the insider tip. They cook in small batches and sell out of favorites, so call ahead at (734) 585-0686 and reserve your order before you drive over.
