# Describe a dish you enjoy eating: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Food

Describe a dish you enjoy eating.

You should say:
- what the dish is
- what is in it and how it is made
- when you usually eat it
- and explain why you enjoy it

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

The dish I'd like to talk about is momo, which are steamed dumplings that are very popular in Nepal, and I could honestly eat them every day.

Momo are small parcels of thin dough filled with minced meat, usually chicken or buffalo, or with vegetables for vegetarians. The filling is mixed with onion, garlic, ginger, fresh coriander and some spices. Then you fold the dough around the filling and pinch the edges, which is quite difficult to do neatly, and you steam them for about fifteen minutes. They're always served with a spicy tomato chutney, and for me the chutney is almost the most important part.

I usually eat them at weekends or when I meet my friends. There are small momo shops on nearly every streets in my city, and they're cheap, so it's a really common snack for students. But the best momo, in my opinion, are the ones my family makes at home during festivals. Everyone sits around the table and helps to fold them, and my grandmother always laughs at my ugly ones because they look nothing like hers.

I enjoy this dish for several reasons. First of all, of course, it tastes amazing. The dumplings are soft and juicy and the chutney gives a nice spicy kick. Also, it's quite a healthy food because it's steamed, not fried. But mainly I love it because of the memories. When I moved to another city for the university, eating momo made me feel at home, and whenever I smell them cooking now, I think about my family sitting around the table and chatting.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer gives a full, well-organised account of the dish, from ingredients to memories. Vocabulary is good and topic-specific ("minced meat", "pinch the edges", "a nice spicy kick", "feel at home"), though the reasons section relies on "First of all", "Also" and "But mainly" in a fairly predictable way. Grammar is generally accurate with good use of relative clauses, but there are typical slips: "on nearly every streets" (rather than "every street") and "for the university" (rather than "for university"). Band 8 would add more precise sensory language, idiom and greater flexibility in structure.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-dish-you-enjoy-eating).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.