Jordan » Dining in Amman

Eating out is not an everyday activity in Jordan.  Many restaurants also put on live entertainment. Proper restaurants will be visited only for business affairs or family celebrations. Restaurant meals are later than normal American evening meal times. Amman has plenty of nightlife to suit all tastes. The major hotels all have a variety of restaurants, but the best food is usually in non-hotel establishments.

• Fancier restaurants are typically open from 7:30 PM to midnight or 1 AM for dinner, with few people besides tourists appearing earlier than 9:30.
• A meal will cost JD 10 to JD 15 for two courses and beer or wine.
• Reservations are rarely necessary, especially if you go early, but all restaurants will now and then be reserved for a party.

In the evening, different clubs offer a wide range of musical experiences, from discos that appeal to the younger population with modern music, to the Arabic music and dance in more traditional places.

Informal restaurants

In between are a growing number of informal restaurants, and fast food places. Many are oriental, with staples such as humous or shawarma, but a growing number are western-style with hamburgers, pizza and chicken. Some are open all afternoon.

Hashem

In the 1920s founded Amman’s oldest and best-loved restaurant in the heart of downtown. There are just two dishes to choose from mashed black-eyed beans or some of the richest and tastiest humous. A stand opposite sells bags of falafel as a side-dish and tea-waiters stride around.

Shawarma stands

Shawarma stand in most cases is for carry-out only. Meat (beef or chicken) is wrapped in small unleavened bread, with some vegetables and yogurt or other sauce. The "sandwich" is smaller than the equivalent gyro, donor kebab, or roly-poly. Stands will normally be open from before noon to fairly late in the evening, and usually sell soft drinks and water.

Salah Ad-Din

Kaak are oval-shaped rings of bread, the crust sprinkled with sesame seeds. Every taxi driver in Amman, and your own tastebuds, will confirm this shabby little bakery, on the road leading downtown from Abdali, makes the best kaak in the city. Three fillings are offered:Cheese triangles, hardboiled eggs and, the thyme-flavored spice mix.

Cafeteria Al-Quds

Habiba