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When I think of Jordan, I remember the food. Crispy golden falafel balls straight from the fryer, steaming shawarma meat tumbling out of the overstuffed bun, and the piles of fragrant rice and meat that land in the top 10 meals I’ve ever eaten in all my travels around the world. It’s all in Amman. Foodie itineraries to this city don’t have to break the bank either.
Jordan is one of the most expensive destinations in the world. But with Petra + Wadi Rum, phenomenal food, and unique cave Airbnb’s –Jordan is worth every single penny.
Here are the 5 Best Restaurants in Amman that you must eat at, even if you’re only in Amman for a day or two.
5 Best Places to Eat in Amman on a Budget
Traditional Jordanian food with a reasonable price tag. Let’s dig into it.
AlQuds Falafel
There’s a constant battle between Egypt + Jordan as to who has the *best* falafel. It’s not really a contest…because Egypt uses fava bean instead of chickpea. This tiny stand on Rainbow Street in Amman specializes in Falafel Sandwiches for $1.20 a pop. It’s always busy and that’s how you know it’s a local favorite.
Shawerma Reem
Juicy, meaty, sandwiches. This meat is carefully sliced off the rotating skewers decorating the windows. This entire region is known for phenomenal shawarma but this particular joint serves more than 5,000 sandwiches per day.
Beit Sitti
Calling Beit Sitti a “budget-friendly restaurant” would be a disservice to you for several reasons. For one, it’s not THAT budget-friendly. We got a single meal to share for $25. And two, it’s not technically speaking, a restaurant. Beit Sitti runs cooking classes for traditional Jordanian + Palestinian favorites. It’s also run by three sisters who’s goal was to cook their grandmother’s recipes to perfection. & they nail it.
We did not do a cooking class but instead showed up expecting a restaurant.
Fortunately, they do seem to have food readily available to serve. We ordered a plate for one + got a mountain of some of the best food I have ever eaten. It’s a meal that will stick with me forever. I can’t exactly explain what I got- some kind of marinated succulent chicken, a rice dish filled with nuts and berries, and a yogurt herby salad. It was to die for + easily the best meal I ate in the Middle East.
Hashem Restaurant
Sorry Egypt, this is the single best falafel in the world. Period.
This is an outdoor restaurant, visited by… everyone. This is probably not the first time you’ve heard of Hashems and I hope it’s not the last. Get the stuffed falafel and Fatteh.
Habibah Sweets
Another world-famous eatery. But this time for sweets. If you visit during the evening, expect to jostle in line with hundreds of others hoping to snag a hot pile of cheese, honey, and pistachio Kunafe.
Map of Best Restaurants in Amman on a Budget
For travelers on a strict budget, you’ll likely spend a lot of time searching the streets of Amman for the best street food vendors amidst the ever-changing tapestry of the city. There’s fruit juice, snacks, baklava, and lots of shawarma. But these are the 5 stops in my opinion you have to make no matter your budget in Amman to get a feel for Jordanian cuisine.
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