Marsaxlokk is one of Malta's best places to eat fish, and that is most of what people come for. A long line of seafood restaurants runs along the waterfront, all serving variations on the same theme — grilled or fried fish, octopus stew, aljotta (Maltese fish soup with garlic and rice), and the autumn special lampuki pie, a flaky pastry case filled with dorado, capers, olives, and mint.
The places with the most local custom are Tartarun, set back a block from the harbour and considered the best fish in the village; Roots, with a strong wine list and a more contemporary kitchen; and Ir-Rizzu on the waterfront — old-fashioned, busy, and reliable. Most restaurants are closed for a long lunch service after the Sunday market and reopen for dinner. Book ahead for any of them on a Sunday.