Jordanian hospitality is legendary. Guests are treated as an honor here, and meals come with warmth, generosity and more food than anyone could reasonably eat. The cooking itself is old, layered and deeply satisfying.
What should you eat in Jordan? Start with mansaf, the national dish of lamb cooked in jameed and served over rice, then knafeh, maqluba, falafel and fattet hummus in Amman. In Wadi Rum, eat zarb cooked under the sand and drink sage tea by the fire. Accept the Arabic coffee you're offered, and shake the cup when you've had enough.
Key facts
- National dish: mansaf, added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022.
- Where to eat in Amman: Tawaheen Al Hawa, Sufra on Rainbow Street, Fakhreldin and Hashem.
- Desert dining: zarb, the Bedouin barbecue cooked underground, at the Wadi Rum camps.
- Etiquette: eat with your right hand, and gently shake your coffee cup when you're done.
- Our trip: a cave-setting welcome dinner in Petra, a Bedouin dinner in Wadi Rum and a farewell cooking class on the Jordan Experience.
The National Dish: Mansaf
Mansaf is lamb cooked in jameed, a fermented dried yogurt, served over rice on thin bread. In 2022 UNESCO added mansaf and its customs to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
It's a communal ritual as much as a meal. Mansaf is traditionally served at celebrations and honored gatherings, and eating it is an act of belonging. It comes on an enormous platter, and guests eat with their right hand, rolling rice and meat into balls.
Must-Try Jordanian Dishes
| Dish | Description | Where to Try |
|---|---|---|
| Mansaf | Lamb in jameed yogurt, over rice | Tawaheen Al Hawa, Amman |
| Knafeh | Cheese pastry soaked in sweet syrup | Habibah Sweets, Amman |
| Maqluba | "Upside-down" rice, meat, and vegetables | Fakhreldin, Amman |
| Zarb | Underground-cooked Bedouin barbecue | Wadi Rum camps |
| Falafel | Crispy chickpea fritters | Hashem Restaurant, Amman |
| Fattet hummus | Layered hummus with bread and yogurt | Downtown Amman |
The Fine Dining Scene
Amman's best tables take traditional recipes seriously and serve them beautifully.
Top Fine Dining in Jordan
| Restaurant | Location | Cuisine |
|---|---|---|
| Fakhreldin | Amman | Upscale Levantine |
| Sufra | Amman (Rainbow Street) | Heritage Jordanian |
| Tawaheen Al Hawa | Amman | Traditional Jordanian |
| Romero | Amman | Italian |
| Family-home cooking class | Amman | Cook, then eat together |
On our trip, the first night is a three-course welcome dinner in a cave setting at Petra, paired with wine. It's the kind of table where a group of strangers starts to feel like friends.
Bedouin Tea Culture
Photo: Daniele Colucci / Unsplash
In Wadi Rum, when a Bedouin host makes sage tea for you over an open fire and shares stories under the stars, it feels like being welcomed into someone's home. The tea tastes different with that kind of hospitality around it.
Jordanian Hospitality Traditions
Photo: Ashkan Forouzani / Unsplash
| Tradition | Significance |
|---|---|
| Arabic coffee (qahwa) | Served to welcome guests, always accepted |
| Sage tea (maramia) | Desert tradition, medicinal properties |
| Mansaf sharing | Communal eating signifies trust and friendship |
| Right-hand eating | Cultural respect tradition |
| Coffee cup custom | Gently shake the cup when you've had enough |
Hungry for more? My Amman city guide has the Citadel, Rainbow Street and the downtown food tour, and my Wadi Rum glamping guide covers the zarb dinner and the stars.
Jordan's table is part of our Jordan Experience. Taste Jordan with us. Come hungry, and let someone else do the cooking.
Wine & Dine
Wine & Dine
Wine & Dine