Jordan Food and Drink
Jordanian food is generous, flavourful, and deeply social, with meals often shared and hospitality taken seriously. Dining options range from simple street food and local cafés to polished restaurants in Amman and resort hotels around the Dead Sea and Aqaba. Many traditional dishes are meat-based, but vegetarian options are widely available, particularly through mezze. Alcohol is served in licensed restaurants and hotels, though it is less common outside major cities.
In informal settings, flatbread is often used to scoop up mezze and sauces, reflecting the communal style of eating. Cutlery is widely available and commonly used in restaurants, but when eating with the hands it is polite to use the right hand only, as the left hand is traditionally considered unclean.
Hygiene standards in established eateries are generally good, though tap water is not usually drunk and bottled water is the norm. During Ramadan, daytime dining options may be limited, but evenings become lively and festive once the fast is broken.
Mansaf: Jordan's national dish, made with lamb cooked in fermented yoghurt sauce (jameed) and served over rice, traditionally eaten communally.
Maqluba: A layered dish of rice, vegetables, and meat, cooked in a pot and flipped upside down before serving.
Mezze: A spread of small dishes such as hummus, baba ghanoush, moutabel, labneh, and stuffed vine leaves.
Falafel: Deep-fried chickpea patties, often eaten in flatbread with salad and tahini; a popular and affordable street food.
Musakhan: Flatbread topped with sumac-spiced chicken, onions, and olive oil, commonly associated with the Levant.
Knafeh: A sweet dessert made with shredded pastry, soft cheese, and sugar syrup, often topped with pistachios.
Arabic coffee: Lightly roasted coffee flavoured with cardamom, traditionally served in small cups as a sign of hospitality.
Mint tea: Sweet black tea infused with fresh mint, widely consumed throughout the day.
Laban: A refreshing yoghurt-based drink, popular in hot weather.
Arak: An anise-flavoured spirit diluted with water and ice, traditionally enjoyed with mezze in licensed venues.
Local beer and wine: Jordan produces small quantities of beer and wine, mainly available in hotels, bars, and specialist shops.
Tipping in Jordan is customary but not compulsory. In restaurants, a tip of around 10% is appreciated if service is good, especially where a service charge is not already included in the bill. In cafés and bars, rounding up the bill or leaving small change is common. Hotel restaurants and higher-end venues may include a service charge, in which case additional tipping is optional rather than expected.
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