Each entry below links to a full dish page. For the full menu — every dish at once, with photos and personalized recommendations — use ChefBear to scan the menu with your iPhone.
Japanese dishes
Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu ramen originated in Fukuoka on Japan's Kyushu island and spread across the country.
Shoyu Ramen
Shoyu ramen is seasoned with a soy-sauce-based tare mixed into a chicken or pork bone stock.
Miso Ramen
Miso ramen originated in Sapporo in the 1960s and is associated with Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island.
Chashu
Chashu (チャーシュー) is derived from the Chinese char siu but prepared differently in Japan.
Gyudon
Gyudon (牛丼) literally means beef bowl.
Chinese dishes
Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) comes from Chengdu, Sichuan.
Dan Dan Noodles
Dan dan mian (担担面) is one of the most recognizable Sichuan dishes worldwide.
Kung Pao Chicken
Gong bao ji ding (宫保鸡丁) originates from Sichuan Province and is named after a Qing dynasty official.
Korean dishes
Bibimbap
Bibimbap (비빔밥) literally means mixed rice.
Kimchi Jjigae
Kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) is a simmered stew made with well-fermented kimchi as the base.
Thai dishes
Pad Thai
Pad thai (ผัดไทย) was popularized in the 1940s as a national dish of Thailand.
Pad See Ew
Pad see ew (ผัดซีอิ๊ว) means stir-fried soy sauce.
Green Curry
Kaeng khiao wan (แกงเขียวหวาน) means sweet green curry.
Tom Kha Gai
Tom kha gai (ต้มข่าไก่) means galangal chicken soup.
Vietnamese dishes
Pho
Pho (phở) originated in Northern Vietnam in the early 20th century and is now the dish most associated with Vietnamese cuisine worldwide.
Banh Mi
Banh mi (bánh mì) literally means wheat bread — the word refers to the bread itself.
Bun Bo Hue
Bun bo Hue (bún bò Huế) originates from Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.
Mexican dishes
Birria
Birria originates from Jalisco, Mexico, and traditionally uses goat (birria de chivo).
Pozole
Pozole (or posole) predates Spanish colonization and was part of Aztec ritual feasts.
Mole
Mole (pronounced MOH-leh) is not a single sauce but a family of thick, dark sauces with up to 30+ ingredients.
Italian dishes
Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) is a Roman pasta dish that uses no butter, no oil beyond the pasta water, and no garlic.
Carbonara
Pasta alla carbonara uses guanciale (cured pork cheek) rendered until crispy, then combined with an emulsion of egg yolks and Pecorino Romano thinned with pasta cooking water.
Amatriciana
Pasta all'amatriciana originated in Amatrice (Lazio) and is now a Roman staple.
French dishes
Cassoulet
Cassoulet comes from Languedoc in southern France, with the towns of Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, and Toulouse each claiming the original recipe.
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin (rooster in wine) is a braised chicken dish from Burgundy or the Auvergne — the exact origin is contested.
Spanish dishes
Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas (fierce potatoes) are fried or roasted potato cubes served with a spicy sauce.
Pan con Tomate
Pa amb tomàquet (Catalan) or pan con tomate (Spanish) is as central to Catalan cuisine as bread is to any culture.
Indian dishes
Dal Makhani
Dal makhani (makhani means buttery) originated in the Punjab region, now part of India and Pakistan, and was popularized globally by Punjabi restaurants.
Butter Chicken
Murgh makhani was created in Delhi in the 1950s.
Chana Masala
Chana masala (chole in some regions) is a Punjabi dish of chickpeas in a dry-ish, heavily spiced tomato and onion sauce.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dish dictionary?
A dish dictionary explains unfamiliar dishes on restaurant menus — what they are, what they taste like, common ingredients and allergens, and how they're served. This one covers dishes travelers often encounter on Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, French, Spanish, and Indian menus.
How do I look up a dish on a restaurant menu?
Find it in this dictionary by cuisine (Japanese, Chinese, etc.) or search the page. For dishes not listed here, use ChefBear to scan the menu — it identifies every dish and shows photos and descriptions in seconds.
Which cuisines does this dictionary cover?
Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, French, Spanish, and Indian. Each section has dishes that travelers commonly encounter on menus and find confusing to order.
See every dish on the menu — not just the ones in this dictionary.
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