Talking about the best restaurants in Jordan is very difficult because each person has their own verdict. But if we accept the great rankings compiled by food critics, there are some establishments that shine brightly in the Jordanian landscape. And not precisely with the shine of Michelin stars, which currently shine by their absence (as of the date of this article, there were no local restaurants with this distinction), but with the light granted by another highly prestigious list. Let’s see it.
Jordan, in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants
The prestigious British company WilliamReem is responsible for the 50 Best Restaurants ranking, which tries to analyze and classify the best restaurants on all continents. While no Jordanian representative appears in the global list (World “s 50 Best Restaurants), it does appear in the list for its region: that of the Middle East and North Africa, that is, the MENA” s 50 Best Restaurants.
And it doesn’t do so residually, but with notable prominence, especially considering that the size of the country and its number of inhabitants is not comparable to that of other economic powers in the region. And that speaks very well of Jordan’s tourism capacity, but also of the demand for quality in its restaurants.
The 5 best restaurants in Jordan (if we accept the aforementioned ranking) are located in the capital, Amman, as it is the main gateway for tourists visiting the country and a place that combines cosmopolitanism and tradition like few other cities in the Middle East.
The 5 selected restaurants
A notable aspect of the five restaurants selected in the ranking is their authentic and local cuisine: unlike other countries with restaurants that have little to do with traditional gastronomy, in the case of these Jordanian establishments, the customer will be able to feel that they are tasting typical dishes and products.
The best positioned in the ranking is Fakhreldin, in 7th place. In the words of the critics, it offers “exceptional service and Levantine food in a historic villa”, as it actually occupies the former residence of ex-prime minister Fawzi Al Mulki, renovated by the prestigious architect Ammar Khammash. The list of recommendations is extensive, from fresh mezze to grilled meat with pine nuts and vegetables. And for dessert, the osmaliyeh (shredded phyllo pastry with cream).
In 18th place appears Shams El Balad, an establishment that started as a small café but has been climbing to become a reference very close to Rainbow Street, in Jabal Amman. Among its simple specialties are beet falafel, cauliflower fritters (mshat), and eggplant mutabal.
Jordanian Bedouin cuisine is also represented in this prestigious ranking thanks to Sufra, which modernizes traditional recipes to reach high levels of flavor. Among its most iconic dishes is the famous mensaf and sajjiyeh, the latter cooked wrapped in flames. And another detail to the taste of any customer: its cooking in clay pots, which give its dishes a characteristic touch. All of this served in small portions to encourage the tasting of many dishes.
The restaurant Alee (36th place) delves into Jordanian Levantine cuisine (with such genuine ingredients as fermented peppers, taboun bread, pickled onions, bulgur, or cauliflower with capers). And closing this Jordanian list is 3C Bar in the Back in 44th place, with an informal but very tasty izakaya or afterwork concept, where wine also offers an ideal pairing for each dish, something that is not always easy in the country.
