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Describe a kind of foreign food you like and you have had: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What the dish is?
  • Where you tried it?
  • What ingredients or taste you enjoyed?
  • And explain why you like it.
Show all 157 answers

Cue 1:What the dish is?

  • Begin by naming the foreign dish you enjoy and give a brief description of it.
  • Mention any unique features of the dish that make it stand out.

Example

One foreign dish that I absolutely love is sushi. It's a traditional Japanese dish that consists of vinegared rice paired with various ingredients, including seafood, vegetables, and sometimes tropical fruits.

Cue 2:Where you tried it?

  • Describe the location where you first tried this dish, whether it was a restaurant, a friend's house, or during a trip.
  • Share any memorable experiences related to that place.

Example

I first tried sushi at a popular Japanese restaurant in my city called 'Sushi House'. I went there with my friends to celebrate my birthday, and the ambiance was vibrant and welcoming, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Cue 3:What ingredients or taste you enjoyed?

  • Talk about the specific ingredients that you liked in the dish.
  • Describe the flavors and textures that made the dish appealing to you.

Example

What I enjoyed most about sushi were the fresh ingredients, especially the salmon and avocado. The combination of the soft, sticky rice with the creamy avocado and the rich flavor of the salmon created a delightful taste that was both refreshing and satisfying.

Cue 4:And explain why you like it.

  • Explain your personal connection to the dish and why it holds significance for you.
  • Mention any cultural aspects or health benefits that contribute to your preference.

Example

I like sushi not only for its delicious taste but also because it represents a healthy eating option. It’s light yet filling, and I appreciate the artistry involved in making it. Additionally, trying sushi has opened my eyes to Japanese culture, which I find fascinating.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, sushi is more than just a meal for me; it’s an experience that combines flavor, culture, and health. I look forward to trying different varieties of sushi in the future and exploring more of what Japanese cuisine has to offer.

    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Being Too Vague

    Candidates often provide unclear or general answers without specific details about the dish. This can make the response less engaging and informative.

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    Tip

    Include specific details about the dish, such as its name, ingredients, and unique flavors to create a vivid picture.

    2: Ignoring the Cues

    Some candidates fail to address all the cues provided, which can lead to incomplete answers and lower scores.

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    Tip

    Make sure to cover all the cues: what the dish is, where you tried it, what you enjoyed, and why you like it.

    Lack of Personal Connection

    Responses that lack personal anecdotes or feelings can seem flat and uninteresting, making it hard for the examiner to connect.

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    Tip

    Share a personal story or memory related to the dish to make your answer more relatable and engaging.

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    IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

    Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

    Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

    Answer

    I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.
    Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

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    Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

    Answer

    The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.
    Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

    Answer

    As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.
    Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

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    Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

    Answer

    When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.
    Describe a book you recently read
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

    Answer

    It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 8

    One kind of foreign food that I really enjoy and have had on several occasions is Italian pizza. I first tried authentic Italian pizza at a well-known Italian restaurant in my city about two years ago during a special dinner with my family. The dish I had was a classic Margherita pizza which is quite simple yet incredibly delicious. It had a thin crispy base topped with a fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a few fresh basil leaves. What I really enjoyed was the perfect balance of flavors, the tanginess of the tomato sauce blended so well with the creamy cheese, and the basil added a fragrant touch that enhanced the overall state. The crust was light and slightly chewy which made every bite very satisfying. I particularly like this dish because it is not only tasty but also quite versatile. Whether you eat with a fork or pick it up with your hands, it never fails to make me happy. The freshness of the ingredients made it stand out compared to the frozen pizzas you typically get at home. Moreover, it reminded me of Italy's rich culture and love for food, which added an exotic touch to my dinner experience. Overall, I enjoy Italian pizza because of its simple yet rich flavors, the perfect combination of fresh ingredients, and the enjoyable atmosphere it creates when shared with family and friends.

    Band 8

    So, one foreign dish I truly enjoyed was Japanese sushi which I first tried at a traditional sushi restaurant in Singapore. I had heard a lot about it before but tasting the authentic version was an entirely new experience. Sushi is a Japanese delicacy made from seasoned rice combined with fresh food, vegetables or egg often wrapped in seaweed. The presentation was stunning. Each piece looked like a miniature work of art with vibrant colours and precise shapes. I tried different varieties including salmon, tuna and tamago which has a slightly sweet omelette on top. What fascinated me most was the balance of flavours and textures. The soft rice, the firm yet delicate fish, the salty seaweed and the occasional burst of heat from wasabi. It was light yet filling and incredibly refreshing compared to the heavy meals I was used to. The chef prepared the sushi right in front of me and there was an emphasis on freshness and craftsmanship which made me appreciate the skill behind it. Since then, sushi has become one of my favourite foreign foods, not just for its taste but also because it reflects a culture that values aesthetics, precision and respect for ingredients.

    Band 7

    I would say it's a curry called Mambara Pulisheri. It is this dish my mom makes very often. It has a lot of cultural significance. Plus its ingredients include coconut, mango, and coriander leaf, sugar, etc. Which is why as I previously mentioned this has a lot of cultural significance. It literally is our ingredients which are available in Kerala most of the time. In fact when I was in Delhi living in a place called Sarai Julena, I really missed having Mambara Pulisheri. Most of the time I would crave for it but I would not be able to find fresh ingredients. Even though I tried making this it did not taste the same as what was made at home. Primarily because half of the ingredients were not available. I have tried in other restaurants in Delhi but it does not reach the same level as what is being made in Kerala. What I like about this dish is the fact that it is so creamy and rich. At the same time you could argue that this dish is vegan because there are no milk products in it. The milk used in it is coconut milk.

    Band 7

    Asuwa Seirai I am extremely passionate about food and I take my meals quite seriously. While I might love a good old South Indian platter just as much as the next person, I do believe that the range of restaurants that have cropped up in the recent years have led my palate to become far more diverse. So, at the moment I have a strong inclination towards Asian cuisines and flavours, of which one of my favourite cuisines is specifically the Thai cuisine, of which my favourite dish is the Thai curry that is served alongside a fragrant bed of jasmine rice. I do believe that this offers luxury and comfort both rolled into one and takes your taste buds on a journey you won't forget. While most Asian restaurants offer it, one of my favourite places to have it is a Thai restaurant in the city. This Thai restaurant not only offers a diverse menu of items that you can try, but the restaurant is an experience in itself because it has various pavilions where people sit and play musical instruments that are traditional to Thailand to give you the complete Thai experience. The experience and the food both go hand in hand and deliver the ultimate culinary delight that you will never forget. There are a range of ingredients that are used to make this lovely dish and one such ingredient is the coconut milk that gives it a certain fragrance and delicate nuance unlike any other. I particularly like the taste of coconut oil and lemongrass that comes together in a perfect symphony to give this dish a very distinct yet comforting taste. It is definitely one of my favourite dishes and I would love to reach out to it at any moment.

    Band 7

    So, back in 2024, I remember that I had visited to Malaysia, there I went to a restaurant named Afghani's where I tried some Afghani's delicacies. One of my favourite was Afghani Malai Chaap, it is so sumptuous and delicious. The presentation was mouthwatering at that time. I loved this dish because of the flavour. What make this dish tasty was the aroma of different kind of spices, moreover the richness of flavours get released into the gravy of dish. This was the favourite experience of mine in Malaysia. While I am talking to you, it is my tongue right now flabbering with the taste of that dish. I can't forget the taste and smell of the food, it's like heaven.

    Band 7

    So, my favourite foreign food would undoubtedly be Italian food. Italian food provides a huge range of cuisines and my favourite cuisine is pizza. The authentic Neapolitan pizza that has its origins from Naples, Italy. Well, recently I have visited many cafes in Ahmedabad and most of the cafes have developed a culture for Italian food. The several cafes that I went to last month are Campanella, Capiche, Pepito, Ciao and From all these, my personal liking is inclined to Ciao. Ciao provided delicious Margherita pizza along with the Ciao special pizza. The quality of the ingredients were immensely good and my favourite thing about the pizza would be their authentic handmade dough along with tomatoes which were imported from Italy itself and the fresh basil leaves which they kept along with a juicy mozzarella cheese. This was a perfect combination that anyone can ever have on a slice of pizza. It was heaven in terms of food and even when I am talking about it right now, my mouth waters and craves for this food.

    Band 7

    Recently, I went to visit one of the hill stations in India. The name of that place is Guwahati, which is located in the state of Sikkim. It is at the border of India and Nepal, and China is around that area as well. So in Guwahati, I visited Mall Road, and in Mall Road, we have this Tibetan restaurant which serves really delicious pork momos. In that restaurant, I tried a lot of other things as well, but pork momos stood out immensely for me because it had a very different texture and different taste which I had never tried before. For me, it was like a foreign food. I had never tried pork in my life till then, but once I had it, I got really addicted to it because it tasted so well. It was scrumptious, it was extremely good, and it was cooked with love. I could feel the sense of ingredients, the sense of spice in that. It had really amazing taste, and one of the most important things that they did was they served it with the momos soup, which was one of a kind. It had a very delicious flavor, and I couldn't stop myself from eating and drinking all of it. I liked that particularly because of the flavorful bites that I could never forget since then. The owner of that restaurant was also very welcoming, and he gave us a big discount that day because of their anniversary of the shop, and the whole experience was really very joyful.

    Band 7

    One type of foreign food that I absolutely love is Japanese sushi. I had it for first time at an authentic Japanese restaurant in my city, which is run by a chef who actually trained in Tokyo. Until that moment, I had only seen sushi in movies and food shows, so I was quite curious to experience it myself. Sushi is essential is a combination of vinegar, rice, raw or cooked seafood and sometimes vegetables all rolled together in a sheet of seaweed called nori. It usually served with soya sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi, which add a extra layer of flavor and complexity to the dish. At first, I was little hesitant because I had never eaten raw fish before, but the taste completely exceeded my expectations. The texture was incredibly smooth and the flavors were delicate and refreshing, unlike anything I had tasted before. What really fascinated me was not just the taste, but also the presentation. Each sushi piece looked like a tiny work of art, beautifully crafted with precision and care. The chef explained the cultural significance of sushi in Japan, which is not only considered as a meal, but an expression of harmony and balance. I think people who appreciate fresh ingredients and subtle flavors would truly enjoy sushi. It's light, healthy and full of protein, making it a perfect choice for those who are conscious about their diet. The reason I like this food so much is that it opened my eyes to completely different culinary traditions. It made me realize how food can connect people to different cultures and broaden our understanding of the world. Ever since that experience, I have developed a love for food.

    Band 7

    Food is one of my favorite topics ever since childhood. My parents always told me that I have never been picky about any type of food. So when I grew older, I naturally had the tendency of trying different types of food from different cuisines around the world. Even among Indian foods, I love almost everything that there is for Indian food to offer. But international cuisine sometimes may or may not hit the spot. So when I first tried this dish, it is called a poutine. It is a Canadian dish. So basically it is fries which are golden brown, which are fried to a perfect shade of golden brown. These fries are so perfect and crispy. On top of these fries, there is a saucy cheesy layer along with jalapenos, peppers, bell peppers, along with some other spices, even some ketchup is there on it. So the flavor of this basically is a tanginess from the tomatoes that are there or the onions that are there on it. And also the spiciness from the jalapenos just makes an explosion of flavor in your mouth. When you take a fry up with all of those condiments, it just gives you perfection. I first tried it when I went with my friend to Colaba. There's a restaurant over there known as Cafe Mondegar. So they had this poutine fries. It was one of their specialty items. So we were thinking of ordering something different, something new. And we thought of ordering fries, which were the specialty item. So when we ordered it and we first saw it, we were extremely amazed by how fulfilling it looked. And also it was very colorful.

    Band 7

    A foreign food that I love to have is pizza. I love Italian food in general and pizza is one of my most favorite foods. I have had pizza in a restaurant when I was I think two or three years old. That was the first time I ever had the taste of it and I absolutely loved it. I love the fact that I can taste so many different flavors at one time. I love having a lot of toppings on my pizza. I love having a lot of vegetables and sometimes even a lot of non-vegetarian items as well like chicken or pork on it. I love the fact that I can taste basil and tomato sauce on it. I also love having some fusion with the Italian cuisine like having the incorporation of Indian flavors in the pizza as well. I have tried pizza in almost most of the places in Mumbai but I specifically love the K.S. Charcoal which is a restaurant in Borivali. I love the fact that they have the Napoleon style pizza and they incorporate the stove and the oven that exactly replicates the idea in Italy and I really love having pizza as a fast food. I can have it all time, every time, every day. I know I really love the fact that it was invented by the poor people in Italy during the World War time and they specifically made it because it was easier, it was cheaper to make, it was easier to eat, it was a very handy food. They would actually hold it in their hand and eat it while they were working and now the fact that it has become an international delicacy is something that surprises me a lot. I also love innovating new products with pizza. I have tried chocolate sauce on pizza, I've tried pineapple on pizza and I can very well say that
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