Royal Visit After World Cup Defeat
King Abdullah II of Jordan dined at Khashoka Middle East Cuisine, a Jordanian restaurant in Richardson, Texas, on June 28, 2026, the day after Jordan's national team lost 3-1 to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium. The king was accompanied by family members, staff, and guards.
Owner Describes the King's Demeanor
Owner Mohammed Albakri, 25, whose family is from Amman, told Arab News that the king was “gracious, humble, supportive and proud” during his visit. Albakri said, “It was very exciting to have King Abdullah II visit our restaurant and enjoy a meal with us. The king very much enjoyed the meal. It was a privilege to have served him. It shows what we stand for.” He added, “The king is the most humble individual I have ever seen in my entire life. He insisted on us serving all the other guests who were in the restaurant while he was there. The same plate of food from the menu that the king enjoyed is the same plate and recipe that we served to every single customer.”
Authentic Jordanian Cuisine
Khashoka Middle East Cuisine, a franchise originally from Jordan, opened its first US location in November 2025. Albakri emphasized the restaurant's commitment to authenticity: “Everything we have, including 90 percent of all our food ingredients, comes from Jordan. We import all of our olive oil, our makdous, labneh; almost everything except, of course, the produce and the meat, which is raised locally and always fresh. Everything in the restaurant, from the decorations on the walls to the dining-room tables, chairs and furniture, is imported directly from Jordan. Our head chef is also from Jordan. We are the only authentic Jordanian restaurant in America. The king also noted the authenticity of what we offer on our menu.”
King's Meal and Interaction
King Abdullah ordered a Levantine-Jordanian meal of galayet bandora, a pan-fried vegetarian tomato stew. Albakri noted, “What we’re trying to do is spread the authentic Middle Eastern food properly and not just do a replica of what’s existing in the market.” The owner added, “He greeted our employees, said hello to a lot of our customers. They were all thrilled and he took a lot of pictures with different people. He enjoyed the food. He was happy. He was having conversations in the restaurant. We wanted the king to feel at home. We believe we did that. It was an absolute honor to have him with us and to serve him our authentic foods.”
Strengthening Jordan-Texas Ties
Albakri said Jordan has made a strong positive impression on Texans, thanks to the king's visit and the work of Jordan’s ambassador to the US, Dina Kawar. Kawar visited Khashoka a few months earlier while meeting local officials in Dallas to promote business relations and Jordan’s commitment to Christian protection. In a message on X, Kawar highlighted a special event at the First Baptist Church of Arlington showcasing “Jordan as an integral part of the Holy Land and home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.” She was accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, who emphasized Jordan’s commitment to interfaith coexistence and preservation of sacred sites, including the baptism site of Jesus.
