JERASH — Opening at dawn and closing by midday, Hmeidi Hummus draws queues of loyal customers “like a magnet”, with few, if any, rivals in the city.

 

Established in 1989, the small but well-known eatery has carefully preserved the distinctive taste and quality of its hummus, earning a devoted following over the decades.

 

Some customers have since moved to other cities across Jordan, but when they return to Jerash to visit relatives, many make a point of waking up early to pick up a large bowl of hummus or makhloutah, a mixture of hummus and broad beans, from Hmeidi or enjoy a nostalgic breakfast at the restaurant itself.

 

Asked by The Jordan Times how the eatery has maintained its reputation as one of the city’s best, owner Irgeibat said the restaurant is more than a family business. It is a legacy inherited from his father, which he hopes will continue through future generations while meeting the expectations of its loyal customers.

 

“Credibility is told by the taste and the aftertaste,” Irgeibat said, adding that the restaurant carefully selects high-quality chickpeas and broad beans.

 

The ingredients are prepared using traditional methods without flavour enhancers, which he said can be unhealthy and leave an unpleasant sensation after eating.

 

Preparation begins a day before the hummus is served, when the beans are soaked. After midnight, they are boiled and ground so everything is ready by dawn, when customers begin arriving, he explained.

 

The restaurant serves only hummus and foul, rather than a wider selection of dishes, allowing it to maintain the same high standard in its main offerings while also giving neighbouring restaurants an opportunity to do business, Irgeibat said.

 

“We have strictly adhered to the same system of work, including the original location, recipes and furniture, except for changes imposed by health requirements,” the owner told The Jordan Times.

 

“Maybe 37 years is not so old compared to others, but keeping the exact quality from day one till now is something to think about,” customer Khalid Mohamad said.

 

For Mahmoud Shawbkah, a tourist guide who has sampled hummus at eateries across the Kingdom, Hmeidi remains difficult to beat.

 

“My personal assessment of Hmeidi is ten out of ten,” Shawbkah said, adding that his rating comes after years of trying hummus at restaurants throughout Jordan.