Food and drink

There are many fine restaurants in most Jordanian towns and cities, offering a wide selection of authentic Arabic food at reasonable prices. Larger hotels offer a more international cuisine. The Ministry of Tourism publishes a full list of hotels and restaurants throughout the Kingdom.

Jordan's national dish is known as mansaf; this is a whole stewed lamb, cooked in a yoghurt sauce and served on a bed of rice. Maglouba is a meat, fish or vegetable stew served with rice, and musakhan is a chicken dish, cooked with onions, olive oil and pine seeds. This is baked in the oven on a thick loaf of Arabic bread (pictured).

Also popular is the famous Middle Eastern sheish kebab, consisting of chunks of lamb or marinated chicken speared on a wooden stick and cooked over a charcoal fire with tomatoes and onions.

Wines, spirits and locally produced beer are available, together with imported drinks. All hotels and restaurants are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. The local drink is known as arak, an anis-flavoured drink served mixed with ice and water.

All water in urban areas is drinkable. There is plenty of bottled water available to take on trips to more out-of-the-way areas.

Cooked food is perfectly safe, but it is advisable to wash all uncooked fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.