The best restaurants Jordan

This very small popular restaurant specializes in "pastries". These are not pastries, but pastry turnovers baked in the oven and filled with meat, cheese, spinach... The pastries cost barely 1 dinar and can also be taken away. You will also find the inevitable mezzes as well as grilled meat or fish. There is an air-conditioned room upstairs as well as a tiny terrace and some tables on the street. The sign is in Arabic, but you will recognize it by its large advertisement for Pepsi sodas.

This is a must for lovers of popular and very cheap Jordanian cuisine. The crowd testifies to the quality of the falafels, hummus and meat. You pay at the entrance, hand over your ticket and wait (for a short time) for the arrival of the sandwich or the dish. The name of the sign is in Arabic, but you can ask anyone to point out this large canteen on the corner of a street. And don't worry, there is a menu in English. The room is hidden by the stainless steel kitchen stand installed in the double window.

At first sight, it is not the setting of this small restaurant that should seduce you. The garden furniture made of woven faux-jonc, the TV on all the time, and the big pillars in the middle of the room do not give it any charm. On the other hand, the cuisine is prepared daily with fresh products. The mezzes attract a local clientele as well as those from nearby hotels for tourists. The waiters, who all speak impeccable English, will be able to decipher the menu and advise you on the house specialities.

This restaurant offers a regional cuisine (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon...) revisited, very creative and delicious. You can choose from a long list of hot and cold dishes, all very appetizing. We advise you to share several of them to taste as many as possible. In addition to the many dishes not found on other traditional menus, the pomegranate tabouleh and the rainbow shawarma are to die for. The atmosphere is very pleasant: the space is airy, the waiters in traditional Syrian dress are very professional.

The display windows, which are overflowing with pastries, will tell you that you have come to the right place. Crowded with regulars at mealtimes, this is the best place to try the traditional mansaf, a meat dish with fermented milk served with rice. Also try their excellent maqlouba, a stew with layers of rice, vegetables and meat. The popular and inexpensive address is one of the must-try places in the lower town.

Beit Sitti is a true Jordanian culinary and cultural experience: you can choose to come and eat there, but you can also opt for the cooking class followed by the meal. This beautiful architect-designed house has been transformed by Maria, Dina and Tania, three sisters who inherited the house from their grandmother. They will teach you the tricks of the trade and the secrets of traditional Levantine recipes: hummus, falafel, manakeesh (bread filled with zaatar)... You can also get some spices to put in your luggage.

Jabri is more than a restaurant, it is an institution that is part of Jordan's history. In 1935, Subhi Jabri opened a catering service in the old city of Amman. His talent was quickly appreciated by the bourgeois families who called upon him for their receptions, even the royal family itself. In 1962, he opened an inexpensive restaurant on King Hussein Street, which has never lost its success. The restaurant, of which there are now several in the city, is best known for its oriental and European pastries.

In the stone and wood decor of an old house converted into a restaurant, one can taste good local specialties, accompanied by a pleasant service. Popular with Madaba's wealthy families and youth, the restaurant is appreciated for its tasty food and old-fashioned tavern decor. We like the wooden tables and the benches covered with Bedouin fabrics. The restaurant is located in an alleyway on the edge of the city's archaeological zone, between the museum and the Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist. We recommend it!

Just opposite the previous one. A little cheaper.

This little snack, which is not very inviting, nevertheless offers good and truly inexpensive local dishes.

The Chinese chef offers classic dishes well known to those who visit Asian restaurants in Europe.

This restaurant, which depends on the Crowne Plaza, serves excellent but expensive food. However, the small budgets will be able to get off with about 5 Djs by mezze.

For those nostalgic for the country. One can taste a single fillet, frogs'legs or a chateaubriand. There are also salads, international dishes (burgers, spaghetti) and a beautiful wine list.

The proposed oriental and Mediterranean cuisine is obviously not given. But the specialities are delicious and well prepared. The buffet is the best in the city, but also the most expensive (13 DJ at noon and 17 DJ in the evening). And the decor… absolutely sumptuous.

One of those addresses that we appreciate because of its local side. Mensaf and maklouba are part of the specialities served there. Breakfast is also available.

Immerse yourself in this little gargote which, although it doesn't look like much, has some nice surprises. The very smiling Adel proposes tasty traditional home-made dishes as well as sandwiches for those in a hurry. For three times nothing, you can enjoy the dish of the day, a hummus, and a salad. The pocket-sized room only houses four tables painted in lagoon green and the kitchen area where Adel prepares the dishes before your eyes. Admittedly, the establishment could do with a facelift, but the main reason for coming is the owner's warm welcome and his good recipes.

When we asked passers-by for a good fish restaurant in Aqaba, at a reasonable price, this address came up several times. And we were not disappointed. The fish are displayed on a bed of ice in a refrigerated display case, just like in a fishmonger's shop. You choose the one you like and the way it is cooked. We opted for a grilled and stewed fish which turned out to be particularly tasty. The room is a little sad, but the terrace with its few tables, rather nice.

The cuisine is delicious and original with Mediterranean, Oriental and even Japanese influences. The terrace is most pleasant in the evening, while during the day, one will undoubtedly prefer the very stylish air-conditioned room. The service is very attentive and the prices are high but justified. If you want to enjoy the place without spending too much money, you can just have a drink at the bar upstairs.

One feels good in this pretty decor of bric-a-brac. You can sit on solid wooden tables, snug in soft cushions, on the terrace or inside, to enjoy Jordanian specialties, but also from other countries. You will be able to change your habits and enjoy a generous tajine or pizzas (for those who don't like oriental food). The portions are generous and the atmosphere really nice. To frequent also the time to sip a mint tea, a tight coffee or to share a chicha.

The locals will introduce you to Tatbileh as the best shawarma in town. It must be said that it defends itself well and allows you to eat for a handful of dinars. You will find it behind its green window. The shredded meat is wrapped in a bread cake then cut into slices. It is served with fries, vinegar vegetables and the famous white garlic sauce. But you can complete your order with other sauces. The fast-food restaurant has an outdoor terrace so you can enjoy your meal on the spot.

This small shop is well known to the inhabitants of Aqaba and to those who come here regularly. From early morning to late at night, the employees shape chickpea flour balls, fry them, and crush them in a hot bread. You will have understood, here the falafel is king. You have the choice of bread (traditional flatbread, saj, baguette, tortilla) and can decide which vegetables will go in the sandwich. You can do as the Jordanians do and eat them for breakfast. Freshness guaranteed.

This cheap address is located in an alley between Raghadan Street and Zahran Street. You can enjoy mezze, grilled meat and Jordanian specialties(sayadiyeh, maqlouba...) at low prices. The vast popular canteen has an air-conditioned room on the floor, which is usually a delight for tourists as well as its terrace with a view of the mosque of Sherif Hussein bin Ali. You can accompany your meal with a perfectly refreshing fresh lemon juice with mint. And if you are staying at the Amer Hotel, here is a good address for breakfast.

The Captain welcomes you to his den, decorated like an elegant fisherman's shack. Coarse-meshed nets hang from the walls and columns, rudders serve as capitals or chandeliers. As a result, you won't be surprised to find that the menu is essentially geared towards seafood. Whole fish are presented in a refrigerated display case in the shape of a small boat. If you're bringing a group, opt for the mixed grill, a selection of grilled or fried fish and shrimp served on a long plank.

Jordanians love Indian food, especially chicken grilled in the tandoor, a clay oven. Tikka Chicken Plus is reputed to be one of the best in Jordan... simply put. And if you don't like Indian food, don't worry, the restaurant offers the inevitable oriental mezzes. The whole family will be able to eat to their heart's content. The chicken tikka is of course the specialty of the house. The meat is marinated with spices and then grilled. It is served with French fries and puri, a fried and puffed bread cake.

This fast-food restaurant that combines American burgers and Middle Eastern dishes opened at the end of 2020 in the brand new square of Wadi Musa, located just above the main traffic circle. Quality of the products and friendliness of the reception are part of the menu. The burgers are delicious, as are the vegetarian options, all of which can be eaten in or taken away. The address is a good plan to create a lunch-box before going to survey the site of Petra.

The Petra Boutique Hotel's restaurant is located on the top floor (with lift) and is open to outside guests. It offers tasty local cuisine, a step above many restaurants in the city. For those who like exotic sights, try the burger made from .... camel meat. The mansaf is also worth trying, and is much less acidic than many tourist establishments. The room offers a contemporary setting in keeping with the hotel. The only regret is that the roof terrace is completely covered...

The restaurant is located in one of the city's oldest houses. The chef draws on his Lebanese and Egyptian origins to offer original dishes. Don't be put off by the presence of a (friendly) pusher on the sidewalk; the food served here is well worth the effort. The "Jordanian Potery" speciality is a mixture of chicken and vegetables simmered in an earthenware jar. A vegetarian version is also available.

You have to know the place to find it. Located on the second floor of a building on the corner of Main Street and Tourism Street, you could walk past it 10 times without seeing it. And lovers of grilled meat would be sorry to miss it. It serves delicious lamb, chicken or beef kebabs and kefta (spicy minced meat). The meats are barbecued and have that delicious smoky taste, without being dry. The dining room is semi-open, so you can enjoy the evening breeze on sunny days.

This restaurant is considered by Wadi Musa connoisseurs to be one of the city's finest restaurants. This is to say that the standard is not very high. It's good, but nothing more, and you can find better. On the other hand, the rooftop terrace, furnished like a Bedouin tent, is very pleasant. The menu is classic, from tabouleh and falafel to magloubah and chicken kebabs. All at reasonable prices. The restaurant is located in the lower part of town, where there is less competition.

Mr. Falafel is a friend of small budgets, of those who don't like to spend too much time in a restaurant or who are looking for a take-out meal. Omar Belal, the owner, has built his reputation on the famous fried chickpea dumplings, served as is or as a sandwich. But you can add to the menu of your desires hummus (declined in several variations), the inevitable tabouleh, kebbe, labneh or fattoush. The setting is simple, but not unpleasant for a fast-food restaurant and above all it is very clean.

With its elegant facade, its chairs and tablecloths in a shade of green, its Bedouin decorations (carpets, traditional costumes, stuffed Nubian ibex heads...), we can feel that the Kir Heres is playing the tourist card to the full. Sadam has created a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere, and this is reflected in his prices. Here, the dish is at the price of a meal in the other gargotes close to the castle. You will find the traditional Jordanian dishes you are now used to and some continental dishes.

Located in the tourist area of the Archaeological Museum, this restaurant may not be the best table in Madaba, but it serves quite decent food and the staff is lovely. The house specialty is sajiyeh, a lamb (or chicken, and sometimes even beef, though it's less available in these parts) dish cooked over a wood fire in shreds with onions and peppers in a clay dish. Don't be put off by the busloads of tourists who arrive here and let yourself be tempted.

The Mujib Chalets restaurant is primarily for residents. But you can also plan to have your meal there, as long as you book 24 hours in advance. The address is well known by the locals who appreciate the quality of the dishes, their abundance and their low prices. The setting is most remarkable with its large windows offering a view of the Dead Sea in delicate shades of blue. You can also order a picnic to take away for a day's hike in Wadi Mujib or at the beach.

This RSCN-run resort is perched above the Dead Sea on the slopes of Mount Zara. Its restaurant offers tables on the terrace with a breathtaking view, the most beautiful in the area. The best time to come is when the sun is setting, and then to dine there. But beware, seats are expensive on weekends, as the place is very popular with Jordanians. The menu is not cheap but the dishes are exquisite and rather traditional. Remember to take a little wool in mid-season or in winter because the wind is refreshing at night.

This adorable restaurant is located in the old Tax House, in the center of As-Salt. You can have lunch or dinner in the freshness of the old stones in a fin de siècle atmosphere 100% Ottoman. The windows have kept their stained glass windows, the row of rooms their vaulted arches. The Lebanese and French-speaking owner will guide you through the short menu, but will also be able to give you some fascinating information about the city and its cultural heritage. In addition to the restaurant, the place also serves as a store selling handicrafts made by women.

After the visit to Ajloun castle, take a break in this great café, located on the parking lot. You will be seduced by the warm setting created by the large wooden tables, the benches along the wall and the beautiful view of the mountains through the large bay window. The fruit juices and dishes served here are 100% organic. The café is run by a local cooperative of 25 organic farmers from the Ajloun region. The dishes are elaborated with the fruit of their harvest to which wild herbs are added. A delight!

The terrace at the entrance to the site of Pella offers an exceptional view of the Jordan Valley and the archaeological site. If you can, try to sit there at sunset, when the light embraces and embraces the old stones. Also, the food served is quite fine. The restaurant specializes in grilled chicken, free-range from the Jordan Valley, and grilled fish, from the same river. They are served with a mezze on the side.

This establishment is a little out of the way, but well worth a visit for the excellent Lebanese cuisine it serves. A local clientele of regulars has been frequenting it for a very long time. The many original mezze dishes are particularly tempting (frog legs, quail...), but the fish is also excellent. Wine is also served. The setting is very pleasant, with a large covered patio offering a breathtaking view of the countryside.

Opened in 1974, this huge restaurant (with a capacity of 600 people) is organized like a small village. The decor, which aims to immerse you in the dreamy atmosphere of Arabian tales, is a little artificial but rather pleasant. The restaurant has a large fountain, where ducks splash around, as well as a playground to keep the children occupied. The garden with its many nooks and crannies is much more pleasant than the somewhat kitschy Roman-style room. The cuisine is quite fine for this type of restaurant and the prices are affordable.

Take the elevator up to the restaurant's top floor. From here, the view stretches to the lights of the capital. Zuwwadeh serves excellent Lebanese cuisine, with specialties not always available elsewhere, such as kebbe naye, the local tartar, or raw chicken liver. In the evenings, a local band entertains diners with Arab music standards. It's a little kitschy, but a lot of fun. And don't miss the house specialty: arak hookah.

Located 200 meters from Yarmouk University, the second largest in the country, this restaurant is mostly frequented by students eager to mix local and international dishes, while keeping a tight budget. It is located on the ground floor of the Al-Joude Hotel. It serves hearty portions of pasta, pizzas, burgers, salads, but also a wide selection of Jordanian mezzes to share or eat solo. The meal can be accompanied by beer, which is not so common. The Turkish coffee or espresso is also very good.

A good place to eat in Azraq. Like everywhere else, these owners are obliged to adapt to the demand of tourists who come in groups, by offering an all-you-can-eat buffet. Their mezze is excellent, and you should also know that they occasionally serve the traditional mansaf, in high season, or a delicious maqlouba. You will also find alcohol, a service appreciated by the Saudis who cross the border just for that.

The Gadara Resthouse is mentioned in all the guidebooks and for good reason: not only do you enjoy a breathtaking view that stretches from the ancient city to the Golan Heights and Lake Tiberias on a clear day, but you can also eat really well there. So you can include a stop in this nice restaurant in addition to the visit of Umm Qais. The terrace at the end of the village, above the western theatre, is very pleasant. After walking around the city for a long time under the hot sun, a break is necessary.

We like this little canteen for its low prices, its shawarmas and falafels which attract local customers, but especially for its original setting. The decor is a bit messy with its old wooden tables and iron chairs covered with plastic, its collection of coloured lanterns and its small museum at the back of the restaurant. Indian dream traps stand next to old rifles, a 1927 transistor, copper pots or a Bedouin rug. And as people come here mainly to eat, you will find the great classics of Jordanian cuisine on the menu.

This pocket-sized restaurant is located just opposite the Institut Français de Jordanie, and is a regular haunt for its staff. With 5 tables inside and 2 on the terrace, Chapter is often fully booked and you have to wait for a table to become available. However, the bill is always reasonable and the dishes are really good, like the generously-portioned chicken sajjiyeh. If you can't finish your dish, you can ask for the rest to go. The menu is short but never disappointing.

It's best to come in fine weather to enjoy the terrace overlooking the ever-bustling street. Ciao Ciao offers a short menu of pizzas and lasagne, all very well made. The owner greets you in Italian, which is always a surprise. The products are of excellent quality, including mozzarella, burrata and salsiccia picante. The tomato sauce is creamy and the dough is as good and thick as that of real Neapolitan pizzas. A great place to eat on a budget. And in winter, if the dining room is a bit dull, it's warmed up by the oven.

If you feel nostalgic for the country, go to the Maison Verte, a French gastronomic restaurant with a refined setting. There are several atmospheres, with a lounge area for aperitifs or digestives in a roaring twenties atmosphere; a bourgeois dining room with emerald or olive green accents; a terrace with a chequered floor and a marquee reminiscent of the Belle Epoque. The menu is perfectly regressive for the French, with spit-roasted chicken served with a truffle sauce, veal with morels or fillet of sea bream.

Lale Sofrasi allows you to explore the subtle nuances of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. This Turkish specialty restaurant welcomes you to a light-filled room dominated by azure blues and creamy tones. You will be able to taste dishes that are difficult to find elsewhere, such as chicken in sauce, cooked in a salt crust, lamb with sweet spices, onions and almonds cooked in an earthenware pot or kebab roasted over a wood fire and presented in mini-portions at the end of a chain. It is up to you to cut it up.

A little out of the way, but in the trendy new Mecca Street neighborhood, Boho Haus has developed a simple concept: welcoming you from breakfast to late night. The bohemian atmosphere is proudly claimed here, and one takes place in an original and voluntarily loaded decoration. Antique golden frames, Indian dream-catchers, wooden boxes and spray-painted urban frescoes adorn the walls. As for the menu, the inspiration comes from an internationalist glossary, from Belgian waffles to American-style chicken wings.

Almathaq means "taste" in Arabic. This restaurant is particularly interested in the taste of chicken, which it grills according to recipes that are very popular in the Arab world. We find the chicken mandi, a Yemeni specialty where the chicken is cooked directly on the rice in a wood oven; the Indian chicken biryani, stewed with rice and spices; the chicken zurbian, a specialty of Hyderabad in India where some potatoes are added to the biryani... The restaurant is located right in front of the Roman theater.