In most cultures and social situations, it is considered rude to ask to take food home when invited to someone's home for dinner. When you are invited to someone's home, it is a gracious gesture on their part to prepare and serve you a meal. Asking to take food home may be interpreted as presumptuous or impolite, as it implies that you are not satisfied with just enjoying the meal at their home.
There are a few reasons why it's generally not appropriate to ask to take food home:
Hospitality: When someone invites you to their home for dinner, they are offering you a meal as a sign of hospitality and friendship. Asking to take food home may be seen as an imposition on their generosity.
Presumption: Requesting to take food home can be perceived as assuming that there will be leftovers, which may not always be the case. It's best to let the host decide whether they want to offer leftovers or not.
Etiquette: In many cultures, it is considered good manners to accept the hospitality graciously and not ask for anything beyond what has been offered.
If the host offers to pack some leftovers for you to take home, then it's acceptable to accept their offer. However, even in such cases, it's essential to do so graciously and not take more than a reasonable amount.
It's always a good idea to show appreciation for the meal and the host's efforts by thanking them sincerely. If you genuinely enjoyed the food and would like to convey that sentiment, a heartfelt compliment to the host about the delicious meal is an excellent way to do so.