A menu card is the printed or digital list of dishes, drinks and prices a cafe, restaurant, hotel or caterer offers. In India the term covers everything from a one-page cafe menu to a multi-page hotel menu card and a printed wedding food menu.
This page explains the main types of menu card, the standard restaurant menu format in course order, and sample food menus for Indian, Chinese, Italian, continental, South Indian, Bengali, dhaba and hostel kitchens that you can adapt.
Types of menu card
| Type | What it is | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| A la carte | Each dish priced separately | Restaurants, cafes, hotel coffee shops |
| Table d hote (set menu) | Fixed courses at a fixed price | Thalis, lunch specials, banquets |
| Buffet menu | A list of dishes laid out for self-service | Hotels, weddings, corporate events |
| Cyclic menu | A menu that repeats on a weekly or monthly cycle | Hostels, canteens, hospitals, offices |
| Du jour or specials | Dishes available that day only | Table tents, boards |
| Beverage menu | Drinks only | Cafes, bars, juice centres |
| Dessert menu | Sweets and desserts | Restaurants, bakeries |
| Catering or function menu | Per-plate packages for events | Weddings, parties, receptions |
For meanings of these terms in Hindi and other languages, see menu meaning and common menu words.
Non-veg section for a hotel menu card
| Item | Type | Price (Rs) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken tikka | Non-veg | ||
| Tandoori chicken | Non-veg | ||
| Fish fry (Amritsari) | Non-veg | ||
| Butter chicken | Non-veg | ||
| Chicken curry | Non-veg | ||
| Mutton rogan josh | Non-veg | ||
| Egg curry | Egg | ||
| Chicken biryani | Non-veg | ||
| Mutton biryani | Non-veg |
Dhaba, hostel and dinner menus
Dhaba food menu
Dal fry, dal makhani, sarson ka saag with makki di roti (winter), chole, rajma, aloo gobi, paneer bhurji, egg curry, chicken curry, tandoori roti, lachha paratha, aloo paratha, jeera rice, lassi, chaas.
Hostel food menu (weekly cyclic example)
| Day | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Dal, aloo sabzi, rice, roti, salad | Rajma, rice, roti |
| Tuesday | Kadhi, jeera rice, mix veg, roti | Chole, puri or roti, rice |
| Wednesday | Dal tadka, bhindi, rice, roti | Egg curry or paneer, rice, roti |
| Thursday | Sambar, rice, cabbage poriyal, curd | Veg pulao, raita, dal |
| Friday | Dal, aloo matar, rice, roti | Paneer or chicken, rice, roti |
| Saturday | Khichdi, kadhi, papad, pickle | Pav bhaji or chole kulche |
| Sunday | Special: biryani or puri bhaji | Light: dal rice, sabzi, sweet |
Rotate vegetables by season and keep one special meal each week to break the routine.
Menu card design tips
- Use the course order above so customers find things where they expect them.
- Mark veg, egg and non-veg clearly with Indian food symbols.
- Keep one consistent price column and state taxes once.
- Choose plain or lightly textured backgrounds; text over busy food photos is hard to read.
- For hotel menu cards, print on thick card and laminate, or use a hardbound folder with replaceable inserts.
See menu card design ideas for layouts and backgrounds, or build one with the free menu card maker.
Questions and answers
What is a menu card?
A menu card is a printed or digital list of the food and drinks a cafe, restaurant, hotel or caterer offers, usually with prices and grouped by course.
What is the correct order of a restaurant menu card?
A common order is soups, starters, salads, main course veg, main course non-veg, dal, breads, rice, desserts and beverages.
What should a veg hotel menu card include?
Soups, veg starters, paneer and vegetable mains, dal, Indian breads, rice and biryani, desserts and drinks, all clearly marked veg.
What is the difference between a la carte and table d hote?
A la carte prices each dish separately so diners choose freely. Table d hote is a set meal of fixed courses at one price, like a thali.
How do I make a menu card sample for my restaurant?
Write your dish list in course order, add prices, choose A4 or a bi-fold layout and type it into a menu maker. Print a test copy before printing in bulk.
Last checked: 14 October 2026