Quick answer
Jordan is good for vegetarians thanks to mezze: hummus, falafel, mutabbal, foul, fattoush, manakish and mujaddara are everyday food. Indian restaurants are few, mostly in Amman, with almost none at Petra or Wadi Rum. Jain travellers will find it hard, because onion and garlic are in nearly everything, so carry food and brief hotels and camps in advance.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Mansaf
Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in fermented dried yoghurt (jameed), served on rice and flatbread.
Maqluba
Upside-down rice with fried vegetables, usually with chicken or lamb; vegetarian versions exist but ask about the stock.
Zarb
Bedouin barbecue of meat and vegetables cooked in an underground pit; the classic Wadi Rum camp dinner.
Musakhan
Roast chicken with onions and sumac on taboon bread.
Falafel
Crisp chickpea patties; downtown Amman's falafel counters are famous and cheap.
Hummus and foul
Chickpea dip and slow-cooked fava beans with olive oil; Jordan's standard breakfast.
Mutabbal
Smoky aubergine with tahini, close to baingan bharta without the spices.
Fattoush and tabbouleh
Fresh herb salads with lemon, sumac and crisp bread.
Manakish
Flatbread baked with za'atar and olive oil or cheese; cheap and filling.
Mujaddara
Lentils and rice or bulgur topped with crisp fried onions; comforting and close to khichdi.
Galayet bandora
Tomatoes fried with garlic, chilli and olive oil, eaten with bread; simple and very common.
Knafeh
Warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup. Some cheeses use animal rennet, which matters to strict vegetarians.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ana nabati (man) / Ana nabatiya (woman) | I am vegetarian |
| Bidoon laham | Without meat |
| Bidoon dajaj | Without chicken |
| Bidoon samak | Without fish |
| Bidoon bayd | Without egg |
| Bidoon basal wa thoom | Without onion and garlic |
| Fee laham? | Is there meat in it? |
| Shukran | Thank you |
Is Jordan good for vegetarians?
Better than many travellers expect. Jordanian and Levantine cooking is built on mezze, and a vegetarian can eat well at almost any local restaurant: hummus, foul, mutabbal, falafel, fattoush, tabbouleh, manakish, mujaddara and galayet bandora. Hotel breakfasts add labneh, cheese, olives, eggs, fruit and fresh bread. Downtown Amman's falafel and knafeh counters are among the best cheap meals on the trip; see things to do in Jordan.
Indian food in Jordan
Indian restaurants are few. Amman has a handful, mostly in the newer western districts and in large hotels, and Aqaba has one or two. At Petra and Wadi Rum there is very little, though hotels sometimes offer a dal or vegetable curry for Indian groups if asked in advance. Plan on eating local most of the time. Restaurant staff in tourist areas usually speak some English, and the word nabati (vegetarian) is widely understood.
Jain food: plan ahead
Jordan is hard for Jain travellers. Onion and garlic are in almost every cooked dish, including hummus, and many dishes use potatoes. Carry khakhra, thepla, ready-to-eat meals and dry snacks for the whole trip, and brief every hotel and camp in writing. Fresh fruit, bread, labneh and plain salads are safe local fallbacks.
What to watch for
- Meat stock in soups and some rice dishes, including vegetable maqluba.
- Rennet in some cheeses used in knafeh and pastries.
- Wadi Rum dinners are usually zarb, a meat barbecue. Camps can prepare vegetables, rice and salads separately if told in advance.
Petra days are long and food inside the site is limited and expensive. Carry sandwiches, fruit and water from Wadi Musa.
Budget food costs on Jordan trip cost, choose your season on best time to visit Jordan, and check entry rules on our Jordan visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can vegetarians eat well in Jordan?
Are there Indian restaurants in Jordan?
Is Jordan suitable for Jain travellers?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
