The summary
| Dish | What it is | Where to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Mansaf | Lamb, jameed sauce, rice, almonds | Jordanian restaurants, festive meals |
| Falafel, hummus, foul | Popular breakfast | Downtown Amman |
| Maqluba | Rice, meat and vegetables turned upside down | Homes and family restaurants |
| Zarb | Meat and vegetables cooked under the sand | Wadi Rum camps |
| Knafeh | Hot cheese and syrup dessert | Amman pastry shops |
The dishes to know
Mansaf is the festive dish: it is shared, often on a large platter, at wedding and welcome meals. Maqluba ("upside down") is a dish of rice, meat and vegetables served turned out. Zarb is the Bedouin speciality: meat and vegetables cooked in a buried oven, served in the Wadi Rum camps. Falafel, hummus and foul make a cheap street meal. Knafeh is a hot dessert of cheese and syrup.
Where to eat in Amman
Downtown Amman is the place for falafel, hummus and knafeh; a popular address such as Hashem, quoted in our pages, serves hummus, foul and falafel for a few dinars, and a hot knafeh can be had at Habibah with the usual queue. For an evening, see Rainbow Street and the Citadel. For a one-day programme, see Amman in one day.
In Petra and the desert
In Wadi Musa, restaurants are geared to visitors; try a Jordanian meal rather than a tourist menu. In the desert, a dinner at the camp is often included: see which Wadi Rum tour.
Practical tips
- Vegetarian: easy, thanks to hummus, foul, falafel and mezze.
- Alcohol: scarce during Ramadan, see Jordan in March 2027.
- Water: drink bottled water.
- Tipping: see money and tipping in Jordan.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jordan's national dish?
Mansaf, lamb in dried yoghurt served on rice.
Is it easy to eat vegetarian in Jordan?
Yes: hummus, foul, falafel and mezze.
What is zarb?
A Bedouin barbecue cooked under the sand, served in the desert camps.
La rédaction Jordan Authority, 24/10/2026.
