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Jordanian mansaf
منسف Mansaf · Jordan (nationwide)
Lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yoghurt — Jordan's national dish and way of welcoming guests.
Know before you go
- Eat only with your right hand
- don't refuse your host's first invitation
- don't make a mess of the leftovers
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
King Mesha of Moab's dish?
Jordanian folklore traces mansaf back to the 9th-century BC Moabite king Mesha, who called on his people to cook the dish to set themselves apart when fighting the Hebrews. Some scholars caution against projecting today's eating habits onto the distant past; what is certain is that today's mansaf, built on white rice and a dried-yoghurt sauce, took its present form in the 20th century.
Source: Wikipedia: Mansaf
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Mansaf is a traditional Jordanian dish: lamb cooked in a sauce made from fermented dried yoghurt (jameed), served with rice or bulgur. It is regarded as Jordan's national dish. Jordanian folklore traces it back to King Mesha of Moab in the 9th century BC. The original Bedouin mansaf changed a great deal in the 20th century: rice gradually replaced bulgur only after it spread in northern Transjordan in the 1920s, and the dried-yoghurt sauce came after the Bedouin settled.
Local customs
- Traditionally people stand or sit around a large platter and use their right hand to press rice and meat into balls
- the host places the best meat in front of the guest
Religion & beliefs
The population is mainly Muslim, and lamb is slaughtered according to halal rules.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Jordan: stay out of canyons in the rainy season
- From November to March, check the weather before entering a canyon, and wait at least a day after heavy rain
- If a flash flood comes, move to higher ground
- Entering a canyon after heavy rain
- Trying to wade through floodwater
In the rainy season, canyons can flood suddenly and are very dangerous; call 911 for rescue.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Jordan: no drinking in the street
- Drink in bars, hotels or private homes
- Drinking in the street
It is illegal.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Jordan: don't stay in Petra outside opening hours
- Enter and leave at the park's set hours
- If you have questions about ticket prices or extra charges, ask at the visitor centre first
- Staying in Petra Archaeological Park after closing
You may be arrested and prosecuted; visitors have been locked in the park overnight.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Eat only with your right hand
- don't refuse your host's first invitation
- don't make a mess of the leftovers
Locals appreciate DO
Jordanians appreciate guests who accept hospitality and praise the food.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- You can try it at old-town restaurants in Amman and at Bedouin camps near Petra
- weddings and festivals are the grandest occasions. Prices and opening hours are set by each restaurant
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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