Reading Restaurant Menus - ESL Lesson Handouts - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

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Part 1A: Complete the famous dish names with country adjectives

We are given a list of countries (French, Japanese, Thai, English, Italian, Chinese, Irish, German) and 8 dish descriptions. We need to match each dish with the correct country adjective.

Let’s go one by one:

1. A soup made with onions served with bread and cheese on top.
→ This is classic French onion soup.
✔ Answer: French

2. A sausage made from beef or pork.
→ Bratwurst is a German sausage.
✔ Answer: German

3. Curry spices, coconut milk, meat, seafood, vegetables, or fruit.
→ Thai curry is famous for using coconut milk and bold spices.
✔ Answer: Thai

4. A pie made with lamb or beef, vegetables such as carrots, corn, and peas, topped with mashed potatoes.
→ Shepherd’s pie is traditionally British/English.
✔ Answer: English

5. An alcoholic drink made of hot coffee and whiskey topped with thick cream.
→ Irish coffee — made in Ireland, uses Irish whiskey.
✔ Answer: Irish

6. An appetizer made of grilled bread topped with olive oil, tomato, meat, or cheese.
→ Bruschetta is Italian.
✔ Answer: Italian

7. Specially prepared vinegar rice with a variety of ingredients, usually seafood.
→ Sushi is Japanese.
✔ Answer: Japanese

8. Tofu served in a spicy sauce with minced beef or pork.
→ Mapo tofu is a famous Chinese dish.
✔ Answer: Chinese

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Part 1B: Discuss the following questions

These are discussion questions — no single “correct” answer, but here’s how you might respond:

1. Have you ever eaten any of these international dishes? How were they?
→ Example answer: Yes, I tried sushi once. It was fresh and tasty, especially the salmon roll. I also had pad thai from Thailand — it was sweet and spicy, very flavorful!

2. What famous dish would you recommend to someone visiting your town, city, or country?
→ Example answer: If you visit my city, you must try our local BBQ ribs. They’re slow-cooked for hours and covered in a smoky, tangy sauce. Everyone loves them!

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Part 2A: Match the words to their meanings

Let’s match each term with its definition:

1. a side dish → g. Extra food you can order with your meal.
*(Side dishes like fries or salad come with your main meal.)*

2. a beverage → d. A drink.
*(Beverage = drink — water, soda, juice, etc.)*

3. a menu → b. A list of dishes with prices.
*(That’s what you get at a restaurant to choose your food.)*

4. an appetizer / a starter → f. The first course of a meal, usually small.
*(Like soup or salad before the main dish.)*

5. a tip → a. Money given for good service.
*(You leave extra money for the waiter if service was good.)*

6. bill (BrE) or check (AmE) → h. The money you must pay for your meal.
*(This is what you pay at the end — called “check” in America, “bill” in Britain.)*

7. cuisine → c. A country’s style of cooking.
*(Italian cuisine = pasta, pizza; Japanese cuisine = sushi, ramen.)*

8. a special → e. A dish that isn’t on the regular menu.
*(Restaurants often have daily specials — not always listed on the main menu.)*

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Final Answer:

1A:
1. French
2. German
3. Thai
4. English
5. Irish
6. Italian
7. Japanese
8. Chinese

1B: (Sample answers)
1. Yes, I tried sushi — it was fresh and delicious!
2. I’d recommend our local chili — it’s spicy and hearty, perfect for cold days.

2A:
1. g
2. d
3. b
4. f
5. a
6. h
7. c
8. e