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Latest update: 19 September 2025
Before I left for Jordan, I knew little about the local cuisine. I knew about hummus and falafel, but that was about it. But Jordanian food is much more varied. From the national dish mansaf to sweet knafeh, discover the flavors of Jordan!
Getting to know Jordanian cuisine
I honestly have no clue what I will eat in Jordan – my knowledge of Arabic cuisine is pretty limited. And the Arabic script on the menu cards doesn’t help either, of course. That’s why I immediately book a food tour in Amman, and that’s really a good idea. Because it’s the perfect way to try many different things in a short time, and you’ll benefit from that throughout your entire trip.
Jordanian cuisine has influences from all over the Middle East: Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, and Bedouin traditions all come together. And what strikes me most is that eating in Jordan is a social event, an expression of hospitality and family traditions. Jordanians take time for their meals and love to share.
Mansaf: the national dish
If there’s one dish you must try in Jordan, it’s mansaf. This is the national dish of Jordan. Mansaf consists of lamb or chicken slow-cooked in a yogurt sauce (jameed) and served with rice and usually pine nuts or almonds. The jameed is dried yogurt diluted with water again, which gives it a very special, slightly sour taste. It’s really delicious!
Delicious hummus
Our supermarket hummus is nothing like Jordanian hummus. The real hummus is creamier and nuttier and served with olive oil and herbs. Bread is on the side—there is nothing more to it.
Falafel that isn’t dry
I’m not a fan of falafel because I find it pretty dry. But in Jordan that’s totally not the case. Here, the falafel is crispy on the outside but soft and flavorful inside. So if you’ve been put off by falafel elsewhere, you should definitely try it in Jordan.
Knafeh: sweet temptation
If there’s one dessert you MUST try in Jordan, it’s knafeh. This sweet dessert of white cheese with angel hair (a type of phyllo dough) and sweet syrup on top is delicious. At Habibah Sweets in Amman, I eat the best knafeh of my entire trip, and I tried quite a few!
Go for the variant with the crispy top. It’s sweet and sticky, totally not healthy, but oh so delicious.
Manoush: the Jordanian pizza
Manoush is flatbread topped with za’atar (a herb mix of wild oregano, sesame seeds, and sumac) or other toppings. It’s sometimes called Jordanian pizza, and you can eat it basically any time of day, even for breakfast.
Zarb: desert cooking
In Wadi Rum, I get the chance to try zarb, meat and vegetables cooked underground. This is a traditional Bedouin preparation in which a pot is buried in a hole in the ground with hot coals around it. The result is tender meat with a unique smoky flavor.
Mezze: sharing is caring
In Jordan, it’s all about eating together; you see this best with mezze. These are small dishes that are put on the table to share: hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, olives, cheese, and fresh bread. You don’t order one main course, but a table full of small bowls.
Arabic ice cream: stretchy and creamy
At Bekdash Ice Cream in Amman, I taste Arabic ice cream (booza) for the first time. Because of the salep in it (the same stuff that’s in chewing gum), the ice cream becomes very stretchy. They make it by pounding and stretching the ice cream in a freezing drum, giving it a special texture. It’s delicious and fun to watch how they make it.
Kofta: spiced meatballs
I know kofta, so I’m curious about real Jordanian kofta. These are meatballs of lamb or beef that are spiced with parsley, onion, garlic, and various Middle Eastern spices. They’re grilled or fried and served in a bowl with tahini (sesame seed sauce), potatoes (usually fries), and fresh bread. I think it’s really delicious and order this multiple times during my Jordan trip.
Arayes: stuffed and grilled bread
Arayes is a flatbread (pita) filled with spiced ground meat, folded shut, and then grilled until crispy. The result is a kind of Middle Eastern grilled sandwich with meat. The bread becomes deliciously crispy from grilling, and the meat inside is tender and full of flavor. If you love meat, arayes is a must-try.
Fukharat: eating from an earthenware pot
Fukharat is a traditional Jordanian dish served in an earthenware pot. What’s special about it is that bread serves as a lid on the pot. The variant I eat is filled with vegetables, but you can also order fukharat with meat. The way all the flavors are heated in that closed pot makes it extra delicious.
More Jordanian dishes to try
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try all traditional Jordanian dishes. For completeness, I’ll share them here with you – maybe you’ll encounter them during your trip:
Maqluba: the “upside-down” dish. Rice, potatoes, chicken, and eggplant are cooked in one pot and then served upside down like a cake.
Warak Enab: grape leaves filled with rice and meat. This is often mentioned as one of the most beloved dishes in Jordan.
Mulukhiyah: this green leafy vegetable is cooked until slimy (doesn’t sound appealing, but is supposed to be very tasty) and served with rice and chicken.
Musakhan: a Palestinian-Jordanian dish with chicken, onions, sumac, and pine nuts on flatbread.
Ful medames: cooked fava beans with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and spices. This is a popular Jordanian breakfast.
Shorabet Adas: lentil soup that’s especially eaten in winter. According to Jordanians, the perfect comfort food when it’s cold and rainy outside.
More Jordan inspiration
Useful links for your Jordan trip
- Accommodation. Booking.com is always useful, but be sure to compare prices. For example, through Trivago and Trip. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. “Free” walking tours book with Freetour or GuruWalk.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? You could check out Expedia or CheapOair.
- Flights. Compare all your options! At least check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Yoga retreat. Or: go for a yoga retreat in Jordan.
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