<li class="food_item">
   <a href="#" class="food_name" title="test">
       testtesttesttesttesttesttesttesttest
   </a>
   <span>(12)</span>
</li>
<li class="food_item">
   <a href="#" class = "food_name">a short one</a>
   <span>(12)</span>
</li>

.food_category>.food_item {
  width: 25%;
  float: left;
  line-height: 30px;
}
.food_category .food_name {
  font-size: 14px;
  margin: 0px 4px 0px 0px;
  overflow:hidden;
  text-overflow:ellipsis;
  white-space:nowrap;
  width: 80%;
  display: inline-block;
}