Food and eating out

eat in / eat out

to eat at home / to eat at a restaurant or café

take away / get something to go

to buy food and take it with you, not eat it at the restaurant

ask for the menu

to ask the waiter to give you the list of food and drinks

ask for the bill / check

to ask how much you need to pay after a meal

place an order

to ask for food or drinks in a restaurant or online

order a starter / main course / dessert

to choose and ask for the first dish / main dish / sweet food at the end of a meal

have a snack

to eat a little food between meals

eat a balanced diet

to eat different kinds of food that help you stay healthy

eat healthy / unhealthy food

to eat food that is good / not good for your health

cut down on sugar / fast food

to eat or drink less sugar / fast food

have a sweet tooth

to like eating sweet things, such as chocolate and cakes

be hungry / starving / full

to want food / to be very hungry / to have eaten enough and not want more food

have a craving for something

to really want to eat a particular food

eat on the go

to eat while you are busy or travelling

cook from scratch

to make food using basic ingredients, not ready-made food

be full of flavour

to have a strong, pleasant taste

be overcooked / undercooked

to be cooked too much / not cooked enough

be too salty / sweet / spicy

to have too much salt / sugar / spice

split the bill

to share the cost of a meal with other people

leave a tip

to give extra money to a waiter for good service

service charge

extra money you pay for the service in a restaurant

complain about the food

to tell the staff that there is a problem with your food

have a food allergy

to become ill or have a bad reaction after eating a particular food

have dietary restrictions

to have certain foods you cannot or do not eat

follow a vegan diet

to eat no meat, fish, eggs, milk, or other animal products

be gluten-free

to contain no gluten, a substance found in wheat and some other grains

contain dairy products

to have foods made from milk, such as cheese or butter

come with a side dish

to be served with extra food, such as rice, potatoes, or salad

check the expiry date

to look at the date that shows when food may no longer be safe or good to eat

freeze / heat up leftovers

to keep food in the freezer for later / to make food warm again after cooking

follow a recipe

to cook by using instructions

chop vegetables

to cut vegetables into small pieces

boil water

to heat water until it bubbles strongly

explore the local cuisine

to try and learn about the traditional food of a place or country