import pandas as pd
sample_df = pd.DataFrame({'menu_item': ['fresh fish', 'lasagna', 'spaghetti o\'s', 'fresher fish', 'something edible']})

filter_list = ['fresh, 'spaghetti']

filter_df = sample_df[sample_df['menu_item'].str.contains('|'.join(filter_list), na=False, case=False)]

Example Input:

          menu_item
0        fresh fish
1      fresher fish
2           lasagna
3     spaghetti o's
4  something edible

Output:

       menu_item
0     fresh fish
1   fresher fish
3  spaghetti o's

sample code screenshot from notebook