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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 182 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
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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    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 7

    The foreign food that I like is momos, that is a Tibetan dish. I had tried it recently near my house. There's a small little restaurant called as Sarnia, where they serve Tibetan food. There are many other types of Tibetan food that are available over there, but the most delicious food that I liked there was momos. It's basically a flour-based wrap, which has a stuffing of chicken minced with onions and some sauces, and they provide us with three dips, which are made of soya, cabbage, and chili, which makes it even more tastier.

    Band 7

    I personally consider myself a food lover and one of the most favorite foreign dishes that I've tried is definitely a Zinger burger. I had it for the first time around seven years back. I still vividly remember how it tasted at that time. It was my first time trying a burger itself and so I was very curious as to how it's gonna taste and when I had the first bite it was everything that I had hoped it would be. It did not have a regular patty like the other burgers. It had fried chicken in between the burger buns. That is what accelerated its taste to another level. It had this unique flavor which was given by the lettuce and tomato added to the burger and the icing on top is definitely the cheese and mayonnaise. I really loved them. It was very cheesy and crunchy because of the chicken and that is why I loved it. Moreover I love crunchy foods so it was soft buns on the top and crunchy fried chicken in between them which made them into a whole wonderful combo of the things that I love. That is why I enjoyed eating a Zinger burger so much the first time and I still love eating it. Zinger burger is definitely my favorite dish from the day I tasted it till now.

    Band 7

    I have tried different cuisines which I like a lot, be it Italian, Chinese or even Hyderabadi cuisine. But the most flavorful dish which I liked was Mandi. It's part of Lebanese cuisine and it includes different kind of meats prepared either in mild spices or roasted with flavorful rice which are topped with dry fruits. They usually give it with garlic mayonnaise or tomato puree. I tried it for the first time when I came to Hyderabad for job. I had just recently moved in and my friend suggested that we should go and try Mandi. At first, I got confused because Mandi is a word for fruit or vegetable market in the place from where I come in. But here, he told me that Mandi is a dish which is enjoyed in a group of people. They have a big plate which has a lot of rice. People eat together and form bonds while eating the cuisine. I like the mild savory flavor of the rice along with the spicy chicken.

    Band 7

    At first, one foreign dish I really like and I have tried is sushi, which is traditional Japanese food. I first tried it at a Japanese restaurant in Bangalore a couple of years ago. I was a bit hesitant at first because it was a raw fish, but I was also very curious. The sushi I had was made with vinegar rice, fresh raw salmon, sweet avocado and a bit of wasabi. It was served with soya sauce and pickled ginger on the side. What I enjoyed most was the fresh and clean taste along with the slightly spicy kick from the wasabi. I like sushi not only because of its unique taste but also because it feels very healthy and light. It is beautifully presented and eating it always feels like a special experience. It is very different from Indian food, but I enjoy trying new things. Sushi has definitely become one of my favorite international dishes.

    Band 7

    The foreign food that I particularly love is the Vietnamese noodles called pho. It has a clear soup and noodles with meat. I truly enjoy this dish because it is so hearty, it is like the food for the soul. I could say that it is my comfort food. I first tried it with my friends in a Vietnamese restaurant in Dubai and all of us were extremely pleased with the taste because we never had it before.

    Band 7

    So I really like Tukpa which is a Tibetan dish. I first tasted it in a restaurant called Aunty Fung's which is a Pan Asian restaurant. How they make it is they add rice noodles, momos, vegetables in a soup base along with the protein of your choice. So if you're a vegetarian it could be chicken and if you're a non-vegetarian then it could be paneer. It is quite homely and a very wholesome meal considering that we are getting all the nutrients that are required in one single bowl. It's quite economical. I can't really describe the satisfaction it gives me when I have it. It just feels extremely comforting and homely even though I did not grow up eating it and it was a very recent experience of mine to try out Tukpa.

    Band 7

    One foreign food that I thoroughly enjoyed is Sushi from Japan. I had my first Sushi experience a few years ago at a Japanese restaurant in my city and I was immediately hooked. The combination of vinegared rice, fresh seafood and wasabi created a flavor profile for that and it was both familiar and exotic. My favorite type of Sushi is Salmon Sashimi which is thinly sliced raw salmon served with soy sauce and wasabi. I love the delicate flavor and texture of the salmon and the way it melts in my mouth. What I find fascinating about Sushi is the artistry and attention to detail that goes into creating each piece. The presentation is always beautiful with intricate garnishes and carefully arranged ingredients. I have also noticed that Sushi is often served with a side of pickled ginger and miso soup which adds to the overall dining experience. Since trying Sushi for the first time, I have become a regular at Japanese restaurants and always look forward to trying new recipes or new types of Sushi. I think it is a great example of how food can bring people together and create a sense of community.

    Band 7

    One foreign food that I really liked was Allegheny Pasta. I first had it at the Paul's restaurant in City Walk. It's a very famous, very old Italian restaurant. Since then I've tried it at many different places but nothing in my opinion could beat that particular pasta. The amazing part of this is that it's a sauce-free pasta and you don't need to prepare any sauce. You just boil the spaghetti and cook it with minced garlic and chilli flakes. You can also add veggies if you like like broccoli, cherry tomatoes and zucchini but I don't like a lot of veggies in mine. I've also tried making it at home. I've made it 3-4 times now and I've still not made it as good as Paul's. But practice makes perfect so I'll continue trying my best to make the pasta.

    Band 7

    During one of my memorable trips to the mountains with my friends, we had an opportunity to indulge in a delicious culinary experience. It was there we discovered authentic Italian pizza, a dish that left a lasting experience on us. We enjoyed pizza at a charming little restaurant nestled in the heart of the mountains. It was a perfect place to try such a delightful dish.

    Band 7

    One of my current favourite dishes is sushi. I tried sushi around 4-5 years ago and I have been going back to it ever since. I tried it for the first time at a Japanese restaurant with one of my friends who was very enthusiastic about trying it and I was a little sceptical. But when I took the first bite, I instantly fell in love with it. Sushi has over the period of time become a comfort food. I do not eat it very very often because it is a little expensive but at the same time I can't stop myself so it's kind of once in a month kind of indulgence but I definitely look forward to it. I love the flavour, the textures and the complexity yet simplicity of the dish. I think it is an acquired taste for a lot of people but I loved it from the time I ate it. One of my favourite dishes is sushi which is a Japanese dish and I am absolutely obsessed with it. I tried it around 4-5 years ago with a friend. She was very excited to try it, she had heard a lot about it and she told me about it but I was a little sceptical because I had heard that it is an acquired taste and not everyone likes it in the first row and I tried it and I immediately instantly fell in love. I absolutely love the textures and how they play with the textures. I am a huge fan of a particular kind of sushi called the Californian roll which is not exactly the traditional sushi but it is an adaptation of it made with prawns which are deep fried in batter which gives it a very crunchy texture along with the soft sticky rice and the nori or the seaweed which kind of holds it all together and it is an explosion of flavours in mouth and I absolutely love it.

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