Food · Amman · Jordan
What to eat in Amman
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Amman, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Start with Mansaf, Falafel and Hummus and ful breakfast. Several cooking schools and family homes in Jabal al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman run classes where you cook and eat a full Jordanian meal, often including maqluba or mansaf. Friday is the weekly day off; many families eat a big late lunch, and some downtown shops close in the morning for prayers.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Mansaf
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- In restaurants, about 10% is usual if service is not already included; round up taxi…
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Mansaf
Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in jameed, a sauce of rehydrated fermented dried yogurt, served over rice on thin shrak bread and scattered with toasted almonds and pine nuts. Traditionally eaten from a shared platter at celebrations.
Where: Traditional Jordanian restaurants in downtown and Jabal Amman, often served at lunchtime and on Fridays.
Street food · Vegetarian
2.Falafel
Crisp chickpea fritters spiced with coriander and cumin, eaten in bread with tomato, mint and tahini or on a plate with hummus. Downtown counters fry them non-stop from morning to late night.
Where: Long-running counters in downtown's lanes and stands around the city.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
3.Hummus and ful breakfast
Bowls of hummus and ful (stewed fava beans with garlic, lemon and olive oil), with raw onion, pickles, mint and flatbread; the classic Jordanian breakfast.
Where: Downtown counters and neighbourhood breakfast cafés across the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Knafeh
Melted white Nabulsi cheese under a layer of orange semolina or shredded pastry, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachios, eaten hot from the tray.
Where: Sweet shops in downtown, especially in the lanes off King Hussein Street, often with a queue.
Dish
5.Maqluba
Rice, chicken or lamb and fried vegetables such as aubergine and cauliflower, cooked in a pot and flipped onto a platter at the table.
Where: Home-style restaurants and cooking classes; many families serve it on Fridays.
Dish
6.Musakhan
Roast chicken on taboon flatbread soaked in olive oil and piled with onions cooked with sumac, a Palestinian dish widely eaten in Jordan.
Where: Traditional restaurants and bakeries with taboon ovens.
Bakery · Vegetarian
7.Manakish
Flatbreads baked with za'atar and olive oil, cheese or minced meat, sold fresh from neighbourhood bakeries for breakfast or a snack.
Where: Bakeries throughout the city, especially in the morning.
Street food
8.Shawarma
Thinly sliced chicken or lamb from a rotating spit, wrapped in thin bread with garlic sauce and pickles; Amman's most popular late-night snack.
Where: Stands around the circles of Jabal Amman and on Rainbow Street.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Arabic coffee (Qahwa)
Light-roasted coffee brewed with cardamom and poured in small handleless cups as a sign of welcome; shaking the cup gently means you have had enough.
Where: Offered in homes, shops and Bedouin-style cafés; buy it freshly ground in downtown coffee shops.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Sage and mint tea
Sweet black tea infused with fresh mint or dried sage (maramiya), served in small glasses throughout the day.
Where: Every café and shop; downtown cafés with balconies over the street are a classic place to drink it.
Food experiences
Home cooking class
Several cooking schools and family homes in Jabal al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman run classes where you cook and eat a full Jordanian meal, often including maqluba or mansaf.
Downtown breakfast
Start the day with hummus, ful and falafel at a downtown counter, then walk to the Roman Theatre before the heat builds.
Knafeh queue
Join locals queuing for knafeh in downtown's lanes in the evening, eaten standing up from a small plate.
Quick bites and street food
- Falafel — Long-running counters in downtown's lanes and stands around the city.
- Hummus and ful breakfast — Downtown counters and neighbourhood breakfast cafés across the city.
- Manakish — Bakeries throughout the city, especially in the morning.
- Shawarma — Stands around the circles of Jabal Amman and on Rainbow Street.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Falafel, Hummus and ful breakfast, Knafeh, Manakish, Arabic coffee and Sage and mint tea. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Friday is the weekly day off; many families eat a big late lunch, and some downtown shops close in the morning for prayers.
- During Ramadan, many restaurants close during daylight and open for iftar at sunset; eating in public during the day is frowned upon.
- Alcohol is available in licensed restaurants, bars and hotels, mainly in Jabal Amman, Weibdeh and west Amman.
- Upscale restaurants often add a service charge and sales tax to the bill; check before tipping.
- Hospitality is generous: if offered coffee or tea, accepting at least one cup is polite.
Tipping
In restaurants, about 10% is usual if service is not already included; round up taxi fares and tip guides and drivers at the end of a tour.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Marhaba | Hello |
| Ahlan wa sahlan | Welcome |
| Shukran | Thank you |
| Min fadlak / min fadlik | Please (to a man / woman) |
| Kam? | How much? |
| Yalla | Let's go / come on |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Amman famous for?
Mansaf, Falafel, Hummus and ful breakfast and Knafeh. Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in jameed, a sauce of rehydrated fermented dried yogurt, served over rice on thin shrak bread and scattered with toasted almonds and pine nuts.
+Is Amman good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Falafel, Hummus and ful breakfast and Knafeh.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Amman?
In restaurants, about 10% is usual if service is not already included; round up taxi fares and tip guides and drivers at the end of a tour.