Sounds like a party.

"Happy Family with Three Delicious."

From Zaragoza, Spain

So this one comes with a bit of a story. I occasionally visited a Chinese restaurant when studying abroad in Spain. There were many menu mishaps as the menu was literally translated from Chinese into Spanish then into English. We were always amused by one particular dish, the one above. Finally, I asked the waitress what the hell it was.

"Excuse me, can you tell me what happy family with three delicious is?" I asked. Her response? "It's very, very delicious."

When I visited China, I saw this item on a couple of menus and was surprised to learn it actually is a real dish and that the "delicious" element probably refers to the spices. Whatever the explanation, I still giggle every time I see it.

Or they could've just gone with lamb...

"Meat from the flesh of the young sheep born in the spring months march to june which migrte from the pain east of burgandy to the shallow hills."

From Paris, France and thanks to Sarah B.

Actually, I quite prefer mama-toes

"Roasted cock with friend papatoes." From Paris, France.

No idea where to start with this one...

"The solemnity of ouzo is connected to satiety of hunger, as much as, having sex with the child bearing." From Thessaloniki, Greece.

Um, wouldn't that be a felony?

"Rape of the pan", from Zaragoza, Spain.

Menu Mishaps: Introduction

Ever been traveling and encountered a restaurant menu that left you a bit confused? Not quite sure what "rape in a pan", "roasted cock", or "happiness with three delicious" exactly is? Do you really want to know what any of those items are?

This is a place to post those hilarious, overly literal, and maybe a bit too descriptive (mis)translations of dishes from restaurants where English isn't the first language. When an ESL restaurant menu writer gets a little too happy with a thesaurus, rest assured that his handiwork will end up on here.

Because sometime, the best part of a meal happens before your order gets taken.