Moruno

The vegetarian dishes are to die for –I actually enjoyed the cabbage more than the chicken which was a surprise! Nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

I don’t know how this place has such a high rating.
First off, I love the décor. It’s very cute.
Now the food:
The fermented vegetables were awful. I thought I was going to throw up when I tried them. $ 14 for the artichokes is offensive. They are okay, but I laughed at how small the serving was for the price. (The artichoke app costs more than the meat skewers… I think they need to look at that, lol.)
Our waitress never came back after our apps (I think she saw my face when trying the vegetables) and I think she forgot to put in our mains, because it took SO long to get them. I had to flag her down and ask for them, and they came out about 10 min later.
We got the lamb leg skewer and the chicken skewer and the gunpowder fries. My bf loved the chicken, I thought it was good. I liked the lamb skewer better. The gunpowder fries are good. They’re seasoned fries. I was expecting them to be smokier or spicier or something.
At that point, I was super unhappy that the food took so long so maybe that skewed my opinion. I filled up on fries, and left kind of hungry still because I didn’t want to order more food and wait another 45 min to get it.
Honestly, I like the skewers at the Singaporean restaurant in the farmers market better.

Yummmmmmmyyyyy! Just loved the spices used at this place! I got the lamb bowl and it was just soooo good the lamb was perfect and the rice was just out of this world tons of spices ! Not your normal rice what so ever ! The fries had a great flavoring as well We got two drinks that were light and refreshing for our Sunday afternoon.

First off, you should know that this place is located right next to the Farmer’s Market near The Grove, so parking can be a serious pain to find. It’s literally right next to the Starbucks, and a good place to try if you’re already in the area and doing some shopping.
The ambiance is somewhat down home Southern, somewhat casual, and all LA. It’s super airy and fresh, perfect for a Sunday brunch or a late-​night dinner.
The food is pretty varied and brings with it a mixture of Mediterranean flavors and hearty American fare. They’re best known for their Rotisserie Chicken, Gunpowder Fries, and Roasted Butternut Squash made with Dukkah.
THE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ($ 16 FOR THE HALF, $ 28 FOR THE WHOLE): Very tender and juicy with a strong lemony to give it a nice balance. The half is definitely enough for one person.
THE GUNPOWDER FRIES ($ 6): A whole lot of fries made with Indian spices, sesame seeds, and served with a garlic dipping sauce to make them extra special. They’re really spice-​heavy, though, so be sure to bring those antacid pills with you.
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH with DUKKAH ($ 14): Roasted to perfection and served with roasted cashews and an enormous amount of sesame seeds to give it a pleasantly crispy texture. The nuttiness also serves to balance out the sweetness of the butternut squash beautifully. And the squash itself is so soft, your fork needs only the slightest amount of pressure to cut through it like butter.
The drink menu is enormous– if you like booze, that is. Otherwise, it is somewhat lacking. The portions, however, are well worth the price, and the quality leaves nothing to be desired.

***With talent in the kitchen and high quality ingredients, Moruno delivers some good plates of food though I found several of the flavors to be too strong***
Moruno replaced Short Order in The Original Farmers Market at The Grove. Like Short Order, Moruno is a sit-​down restaurant located among a variety of order at the counter eateries. Moruno’s approach is completely different though. Short Order specialized in comfort food and burgers while Moruno brings upscale but still rustic Mediterranean cuisine to this area of The Farmers Market.
My lunch started with a complimentary offering of marinated olives and garlic. Also to start, I ordered the gildas, which were anchovy wrapped peppers, olives and garlic. Like a lot of the menu, the salt content of this bite was high and definitely had a lot of acidity. For my entrée, I went with the lamb leg skewers that were marinated in turmeric. The lamb was good. There was a nice smoky char on the outside while the interior of the meat was moist and tender. The seasoning was definitely on the stronger side so this may strongly appeal to you or turn you off depending on your preferences.
I also had a side of basmati rice mixed with lentils. There was also a little bit of yogurt and a nice topping of lightly fried and crispy shallots, which provided a great crunchy texture to the soft lentils and rice. This was definitely the best dish I had at Moruno. The dish was very fragrant.
For dessert, I opted for their fried biscuits with vanilla ice cream and citrus marmalade. I have been seeing fried biscuits on a lot of menus lately (I recently had some in Nashville). These were fairly good. While slightly on the dry side, the outside was nicely fried, crispy and lightly sweet. The vanilla ice cream was decent though it was quite melted (probably due to the hot biscuit). The citrus marmalade featured a candied peel, but there was something incredibly bitter about this marmalade that kind of ruined the dessert. It tasted almost like a very bitter liqueur and it was overpowering. And because the sweet elements in the dessert (the ice cream, the fried biscuits) were on the mild side, some mouthfuls of the dessert were slightly unpleasant.
Moruno has a contemporary though still warm interior. It also has a very open setup, which makes it perfect for a nice afternoon day. Service was good – friendly and quick.
Prices are okay. Some dishes are very reasonable and feature generous portions at a low price while a few dishes are a little on the dainty side. Overall though, you can leave here with a filling lunch that does not cost you too much.
Moruno is a pleasant restaurant though I found several of the strong flavors too off putting. That being said, the skill in the kitchen and the quality of ingredients were both noticeable with each dish so I think you are likely to leave Moruno satisfied.
Parking at The Grove is expensive though several retailers offer validation so you can get parking at a discounted rate.

Cute new place in the Farmer’s market next to the Grove. The dishes are delicious and unique. I loved the roasted pork shoulder and don’t miss the bread! Great place to go if you’re looking for a variety and down to share!
Also, I recommend a weekday. The Grove is always a zoo on the weekends.

I’m so happy I had the chance to try this place. I left feeling truly gluttonous and in an amazing but slightly painful food coma. Yes, it was worth every bite!
We stopped by last Friday and pretty much split everything. I can’t stress enough how much I loved the chicken thigh kebab with garlic and cilantro. I’m also still thinking about the mejadra (basmati Rice with lentils). It’s especially tasty when you add a little bit of the garlic sauce over the rice.
Alright, what else did we consume? Gunpowder fries (ask for the aioli as a dipping sauce), lamb leg kebab and the pork belly chicharones (greasy but tasty).
We washed it all down with a bottle of Mencia. I would get it again.

This small quaint restaurant nestled in the farmers market (grove LA) serves up some eclectic fusion dishes that range from Spain to india to Morocco and all different regions. Being a tapas style restaurant, this places packs a punch. Big flavors in a small package.
The restaurant has an outdoor/​indoor feel and with more of a café vibe to it. With limited space, you get the feel of eating at the farmers market still instead of a restaurant that just happens to be there which is a bummer cause the food is worthy of a stand alone restaurant.
Food — spinach and chickpeas — my favorite. It was like the Indian version of Chana saag and it was delicious and perfectly flavored and spiced. It’s topped with fried chickpeas for a nice crunch and found myself going back for more. They have two sizes (SM and L) and small was large enjoying for two people.
Tortilla espanola — it was pretty good but more on the dried side instead of it having that nice creamy eggy texture. They topped with an aioli but wasn’t too fond it. But the lemon peel that was added to it was outstanding. I would order the lemon garnish on the side minus the aioli.
My husband enjoyed the fried anchovies and the chicken bowl with rice and lentils. He said it was one the best marinated chicken dish he’s had in a while. It was perfectly seasoned and similar to that of a shwarma style chicken.
If you love spicy food like I do, get a side of the chefs homemade hot chili paste/​sauce creation. It was so good and spicy but be warned — it packs a punch!
Overall, I loved the food but I have to be in the mood that atmosphere to really enjoy all of it.

A nice place that is located in the Farmer’s Market. Good service. The red vermouth is excellent but beware– you can’t have just one, as it is both a small amount and hard not to drink to finish. The small portions are a hit or miss. The chicharrones were properly fatty but over done. There was no pork in the first piece I bit into but it was all just fat. The few bites of meat that there were were burnt and I could’ve cracked my tooth on it. The pescado adobo was not worth it. The pieces of fish are too small and the sauce is meh. It’s like the size of mini popcorn shrimp but they don’t tell you that. The gunpowder fries were nicely seasoned and paired well with the garlic sauce. The lamb skewered were excellent! Loved it. The chicken Moruno sandwich was excellent too. The heat kicked in later. Not sure if I’ll come back, maybe if I’m in the area.

This place is great. I had a fantastic lunch here today. I’m definitely gonna recommend this place to anyone who wants to listen. There was no wait for a table at lunch time mid-​week. The waitress was great. Good vibes all over.
The Order:
Tortilla Española — This was great. Perfectly cooked. Not dry at all. I’ll order this again for sure.
Half Rotisserie Cabbage — Mmmmmmmm. I really enjoyed this dish. I haven’t had something like this before. The mushroom yogurt sauce that comes with it is a great compliment. The outer grilled layers of this plate were my favorite. You should definitely order this!
Radicchio Salad — Ehh. I didn’t care for this dish. I think it was the only dish that wasn’t finished. Too many sardines on the plate for my taste.
House Fermented Vegetables — I think this plate might change daily/​weekly. Today was beets, bok choy and carrots. All were great. I’d order this dish again.
Spinach & Chickpeas — We ordered the small. It was perfect as a side to our «main» dishes. The chickpeas gave a great little crunch to go with the soft texture of the spinach. I really liked it and would order it again.
Squid Stuffed Squid — This was pretty good. It comes out with like 8 pieces of squid and sits on great cooked/​grilled onions. If you’re a seafood eater you’ll enjoy this one.
Rotisserie Chicken — I love rotisserie chicken so I think I’m a good judge of it when it comes to the table. This chicken was delicious. Perfectly cooked. Juicy. Great flavor on the skin. Sitting on a green onion relish that complimented the dish perfectly. You won’t be disappointed with this one.
Lamb Leg Marinated with Turmeric — GREAT. Comes with 2 skewers of little chunks of lamb. We went through this dish in minutes. Order it. Trust me.
I’d love to go back for dinner with a large group of friends. The food was great.
You should eat here.

A friend and I were meandering around the Farmer’s Market. We were following the suggestions of the nice lady up in the office; we had stopped for toffee samples, and were headed for lunch at Moruno’s for chicken sandwich and gunpowder fries. Touted ‘second best fries’ in the entire farmer’s market. (I forget where the 1^st best fries were, you’ll have to go and ask the lady yourself) We entered the place and looked around.
We were quickly greeted by a hostess, who asked if we’d like to sit inside or outside. There were open tables in both areas. I felt an inside seat would be best as I didn’t want my chocolate melting in the heat outside. So, we got placed inside the small bar area. I put my bag on the empty table to the left of me, and looked at the menu for a beverage while the waiter guy chatted us up. I let him know I was here for the chicken sandwich and gunpowder fries, and my friend asked about the potato pie.
He was quite knowledgeable about the food, and as he described it, he talked her into one. He knew exactly what I meant when I said ‘the chicken sandwich and gunpowder fries’ so, I guess it’s a fairly common order. Meanwhile a large old – chemical-​medicine-​looking bottle of water was placed in front of us. So, we chatted and discussed school, work (or lack thereof) and other things we had seen during the day.
Before too long our food arrived. I was reminded of a Bahn-​Mi sandwich I’d had at Vietnamese places. As I investigated it more, it appeared that this was what I had. The gunpowder fries were simply fries with pepper. Not super hot, just a bit peppery. But they were good. The fries came with a lemon/​garlic mayo sauce that was also quite delicious.
After a little while I remembered that my car was parked in a potentially ridiculously expensive place, and I asked for the bill. They said that they do validate farmer’s market parking tickets, but not the tickets for the grove. The bill arrived, and I took care of it quickly. Suddenly quite worried about the exorbitant amount of money I’d have to pay to get my car out of the parking lot. The guy thanked us for our business, packed up our leftovers and we exited. I thanked them for lunch, and walked back out to the Farmer’s Market.

Great place. My next trip back that-​a-​way, I’ll definitely be back.
FYI: In theory, there’s a farmers market parking lot. I’ll try to find that next time and avoid the scare of parking in the grove’s structure.

It was definitely impressed by the taste of the food and the atmosphere in the restaurant.
I always like challenging my taste buds by trying cultures and restaurants that I’ve never been to. This definitely do that for me.
I had a chicken sandwich and truly enjoyed it only problem was I thought it was way too freaking hot. I was pulling all the peppers and was still on fire by the end of the meal. I have you recommend them to ask him like peppers the next time you order it if you can’t handle super hot hot peppers.
The chorizo and gunpowder fries were a great way to start the experience.
five stars from me!

Oh my gash, the butternut squash! So heavenly, so divine. my eyes literally POPPED as soon as I bit into a piece of the squash that was glazed in something sweet (honey?) and topped w crunchy cashews sprinkles w sesame seeds… WOW. I’m still drooling from it.
We also ordered the gunpowder fries that came w a cool white dipping sauce (so good!), the cabbage (if you like your food drenched in sauces, you may like this but I wasn’t a fan. it was completely drenched in yogurt (?)), and the rotisserie chicken which was perfectly flavored — it was really good!
But seriously, try the squash. Ah-​may-​zing!

It is as loud as it is delicious. The friendly staff does its best to make you feel super comfortable and to explain the menu as well as make recommendations.
When we got here around 8 pm the restaurant was packed, but our reserved table got free in no more than 10 minutes. Immediately after sitting down our waitress showed up to greet us and offer a beverage. Their cocktail, beer, and wine list has enough choices to satisfy even the pickiest patron and is priced just right. We opted for a 2009 «L’INFIDÈLE» Mas Cal Demoura, Languedoc. A Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault blend which was just fruity yet acidic enough to cut through some of the richer dishes.
Speaking of dishes, our choices included the Tortilla Española, Roasted Butternut Squash, Pork Belly Chicharrones, and the Chicken Morunos. And so the rumors are true, this place is delicious! For the exception of minor issues which are a personal taste rather than an error in execution, I loved it all. The potatoes in the Tortilla were cooked to perfection, leaving just the tiniest bite to them for texture and maybe needing just the slightest amount of extra salt to really make the spud pop. The chicken Morunos were cooked superbly for a supple, juicy finish. The Chicharrones had a crisp, a bit spicy exterior, with a juicy porky goodness on the inside. As for the squash, which was really ordered as a total ringer, well it turned out to be the favorite dish of the night. Perfectly roasted, seasoned, and topped with Dukkah to bring it all together.
Moruno is very much a welcomed addition to the Farmer’s Market and a great replacement of the previous establishment. Whether you choose to sit inside or just grab a few bites at their super convenient walk-​up window, you won’t be disappointed. Just don’t expect to use your inside voice, but do be sure to bring your appetite.

Two words: GUNPOWDER FRIES. That is all you need, trust me, these are everything you could ever dream of and this review is solely on that and here’s why: I think I have found my favorite fries in Los Angeles.
I have tried many many different fries all over LA, ranging from fast food fries all the way up the chain to gourmet restaurant fries and so far Moruno’s has become my favorite. I don’t particularly love the size of the fries but the tangy taste of the seasoning in combination with the zesty cream sauce is a match made in fries heaven. I do believe that Moruno is a little overpriced in general which is really my only complaint, but $ 6 fries here won’t break the bank and are totally worth it.
The parking at the grove on certain hours especially on weekends is not great, which is why usually takeout works the best here. Overall, I was very impressed on these fries and felt the need to post a review to commend them but I would like to return and try out some of their entrees to see if they match up with their killer gunpowder fries.

My boyfriend and I came here on a weekday night and it was pretty empty surprisingly. It’s located at the Farmer’s market in the space formerly occupied by Short Order. The space has been completely transformed into a classy open air area.
Right off the bat, I noticed how attentive and helpful all the servers were. This isn’t too pricey of an establishment, but the service you receive is truly first class. Between the two of us, we ordered the following:
PORK BELLY CHICHARRONES (⁴⁄₅) — Served with multiple cloves of grilled garlic and lime, this was delicious. There were parts of the chicharron that seemed to be overcooked and were a bit difficult to chew, but for the most part it was very tender and paired very well with the garlic. Be warned though — you will be in dire need of a toothpick afterwards.
SQUID STUFFED SQUID (⁴⁄₅) — The name of the dish is quite literally what you get — small pieces of squid stuffed into larger pieces of squid. It’s very well seasoned and garnished with shaved egg yolk. Definitely one of the more interesting dishes I’ve tried in a while. I only recommend this if you like squid to begin with, as it can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t.
GUNPOWDER FRIES (⁵⁄₅) — The gunpowder seasoning is A+ and made the fries too damn addicting.
WHOLE FISH A LA PLANCHA (⁴⁄₅) — Again, as the name of the dish suggests, you quite literally get a whole fish, so I recommend sharing if you do get this.
FRIED BISCUITS (⁵⁄₅) — Both my boyfriend and I lit up upon taking our first bites. On paper, this dessert sounds so simple and straightforward (and it is), but it is perfectly executed and absolutely fantastic. HIGHLY recommend ordering this one for dessert. Pictures don’t do it justice.
Since I live nearby, I think I’ll definitely be returning here. It looks like the sandwiches are very good too, so I’m looking forward to trying those!

This restaurant is in the old Short Order spot, with a vermouth bar upstairs in the old Short Cake spot (Short Cake, by the way, is still at the Farmers’ Market, around the corner from the restaurant). I really like the way they’ve styled the place; it is a very warm and inviting atmosphere.
They opened recently, so I am giving them a «pass» on some of the misses, especially in terms of service. We waited about 25 minutes for a table, which we found to be reasonable on a Saturday night. Once inside, there were long delays between being seated, the waitress introducing herself, and the waitress coming back to take our order. It was quite busy and I think maybe they could benefit either from better flow or more staff.
We ordered the Roasted Butternut Squash, gunpowder fries, chicken moruno, and lamb submoruno. The waitress repeated our order, came back to confirm it after going to type it in, and then when the food arrived, out came chicken moruno, lamb moruno, gunpowder fries, and the butternut squash. No submoruno. She brought the submoruno quickly and left the lamb moruno for us to enjoy.
We both liked the submoruno better for the lamb, and really enjoyed the chicken moruno. The gunpowder fries were also very good, and we actually really liked dipping the lamb moruno into the sauce that comes with the fries. The butternut squash was soooo sweet and really could have been a dessert.
I think they are still working out many of the kinks in service, as well as in the menu, as the menu online vs past Unilocal reviews vs the menu there weren’t all the same. I find it interesting that, for a restaurant called «moruno,» they only have two types of morunos.
PS «gildas» are like amuse bouche, and «A Moruno is a kebab cooked over live coals and marinated in spices (cumin, paprika, turmeric, peppers, etc.) highlighting Moorish and North African culinary influences» (per their website. I couldn’t find it anywhere on Google!)

Really wanted to like this place. I’ve been twice. Each time the food isn’t seasoned to the level that it should be. They are bringing it at a six or seven when with just a little more effort they could get to 10.
I’ve had the lentils and basmati rice and again it’s on seven when may be upping the flavor quotient would bring it a nine.
The butternut squash Is quite different and good. The gunpowder fries are really good and the sauce has no dairy which is great.
The squid stuffed squid is good not what I expected but a pleasant surprise.
The best dish I’ve had there is the spinach and chickpea side. That was tasty.
I had salted cod salad which was not good at all. Also the chorizo and sauerkraut wasn’t that good. The sauerkraut was rather light which was quite unexpected and appreciated but the chorizo just wasn’t right. And then lastly I had the whole fish which was only OK.
Again I really want to like this place because it seemed like they were almost there but almost isnt good enough. won’t be back.
Ps. All the food comes out borderline cold. they call it room temperature but why am I paying for food that is not as warm as buffet food?

I grew up coming to the Farmer’s Market, so it was quite the experience to dine at a restaurant at Moruno in that setting. I enjoyed the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant, as well as the rustic décor. The staff was very welcoming and we had a great experience with the chef. What makes this place special are the picked vegetable sides and the presentation of the food.
+ GUNPOWDER FRIES: Fun dish to share and it comes with a tasty dipping sauce. Ample seasoning and were prepared crispy, which is a must for me
+ SQUID STUFFED SQUID: All I could hear was Xzibit’s voice going «Yo, I heard you like squid, so i put a squid in your squid. beautiful dish, although I wish the filling had a bit more flavor. The Squid itself had a nice tender texture and wasn’t rubbery.
+ ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH DUKKAH: Now if you want to make your friends jealous or get those likes on Instagram, this is the dish to get. I’m a fan of the huge portion and luxurious presentation… this dish is definitely meant to be shared. The dish had an excellent crunch and mix of flavors and texture.
+ CHICKEN WITH CILANTRO SUB MORUNO: If you love cilantro, get this dish. The chicken was very moist and the citrus and cilantro taste really came through. I wish I could’ve eaten more of the dish (shared with 6 other friends) since the flavors were on point. Every time I see pictures of their sandwiches online, I salivate.
+ PORK BELLY CHICHARRONES: Prepared to a golden brown and extra crispy. The pork belly melts in your mouth.

Start with the positive. Really like what they have done with the place from the previous burger concept that was there. The staff is excellent as they help you with the menu and wine list. The food however is not that special. Oh yes they have items on the menu that sound interesting like an artichoke salad but when you taste them they don’t have the wow factor and you probably wouldn’t order them again. Big grip are the Gunpowder fries. Way over seasoned and they don’t offer ketchup. Come on guys. You are in America and no mater what theme you have going on, fries and ketchup are like love and marriage. At least you should have a bottle hanging around for those who want some. Customer is always right — aren’t they?
They highlight that the bead is flown in from Spain. Not sure exactly how that works. But it is very good. I would suggest to them that they can find better locally and not incur the expense and negative environmental factors associated with shipping it. Bad enough that water is shipped all over the world. Now Bread?
Definitely check this place out for yourself. It is a very welcome addition to the Farmers Market dining scene.