Food is a big part of our travel agenda. Wherever we go, we make it a point to try and eat like a local. This post is a collaboration with some of our favourite travel bloggers who have explored some amazing destinations through food tours. We hope it inspires you to try some of these mouthwatering delights! If you want to contribute to this series, the instructions are at the end of the post.
Table of Contents
Vancouver, Canada
Arriving via boat to the opening of the Lower Lonsdale ‘Lo-Lo tour’ in Vancouver, we were hit with the sea air and baked food scents enjoyed by the residents of North Van. Our guide was a method actor in the week, and personable, food tour leader at the weekend. He guided us from stall to stall in the Lonsdale Quay market, enjoying pear and gorgonzola stonebaked pizza, smoked salmon, seafood chowder, freshly baked bread and pan seared steak.
He entertained us with anecdotes about the food and the vendors before taking us to some local restaurants for craft beer, prosecco, and calamari. The last stop was a gluten-free bakery before the guests dispersed and we reluctantly made our way back to the ferry back to the city.
Elise | Travel Work and Play | Blog | Twitter | Instagram |
New York, USA
New York City is full of incredible food. Some of it’s dirt cheap street food and some of it is in restaurants with Michelin stars. My favorite way to find the best food in New York is on a food tour. And my favorite food tour is Tenements, Tales, and Tastes from the company Urban Adventures. It’s a half day tour of the Lower East Side that begins with a stroopwafel for your mid-morning snack. It’s a history walk where you get to eat the results of mass immigration to New York from around the world. The tour takes you through Chinatown for fried dumplings, Little Italy for fresh mozzarella, and the East Village for knish. At the final stop, it’s soft pretzels and the option to order a beer. If you’re still hungry after the tour (I doubt you will be), you’re in a great neighborhood to sample even more international cuisine afterward.
Erin Southerland | Blog | Facebook | Instagram |
Delhi, India
During my three days stay in Delhi, One of my friends in Delhi made sure that I took a food tour by Delhi food walks, which promised a whole lot of entertainment and delight to the taste buds.
I met Anubhav Sapra, the curator, and owner of Delhi food walks and other fellow tour participants who were ready to explore old Delhi’s heritage and food.
We started our journey from Chandni chowk metro station and paddled one way into the small and dingy by-lanes of old Delhi. After every few hundred Meters our guide made us stop at one of the famous food joints of that place and explained to us about the cultural significance of that place and the food. He even explained to us how the food that we were eating traveled from other parts of the world and got integrated into Delhi’s food culture. For example – at one of the food joints where we had Mughlai food, he explained to us that Mughal rulers, loved the spiciness in the food as they hailed from countries in which the temperatures were low. The spiciness in the food induced heat in their bodies, helping them keep warm. So now you know why Mughlai food is so Spicy! I must say the food tour was a true gastronomical delight!
Shaurya Jain | Blog |
San Fransisco, USA
San Francisco’s food is some of the best in the world, and, with the proximity to Napa Valley and the California wine country, enjoying the best of the best in food and wine is more than just a hobby, it’s a culture. Here are three can’t-miss spots for a killer DIY food tour in San Francisco.
Chambers Eat + Drink
Chambers, best known for their lively bar lights that spell out “BE AMAZING”, has become the spot to see and be seen in the Civic Center/Tenderloin neighborhoods. With a great DJ on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, there is no better spot to grab a drink and soak up the upbeat and classy ambiance. The red walls, velvety interiors create an elegant ambiance while the thousands of vintage vinyl records lining the walls add to the restaurant’s suave rock-and-roll vibe. But the real highlight here is the food. The contemporary American menu features options ranging from a creamy avocado tuna tartare to crispy pork belly to a to-die-for duck breast. And it’s to-die-for.
The Dorian
A two-story bar and restaurant on the prime real estate of Fillmore and Chestnut street in the Marina District- has quickly established itself as a San Francisco favorite for boozy brunches, delicious nouveau-American dinners, and classy late nights spent sipping cocktails in its parlor-like lounge.
Omakase
Walking through the doors of Omakase— a charming Michelin-starred 14-seat Japanese restaurant in San Francisco— you are immediately transported halfway around the world to Japan. Thick bamboo stalks line the windows, creating an oasis of quiet elegance. Soft instrumental spa-like music sets the mood. Waitresses in traditional kimonos pour sake into beautiful ornate glasses, which they explain are actually from Japan, as is the fish on the menu flown in fresh from the Tokyo Fish Market. It is the very best sushi in San Francisco and unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.
Christina Vidal | Blog | Facebook | Instagram
Kyoto, Japan
Nishiki Street Food Market was just around the corner from my capsule hotel in Kyoto. As it was lunch time, what better place to explore and fill your hungry tummy!
Before you try anything it’s great to walk the full length to check out what they have on offer and take a few photos before your hands are full.
There is such a huge selection of weird and wonderful types of food, fresh fish and shellfish, snack food, there’s also numerous items in packets which I have no idea what they were! But the great part is that you can just point at items that look good and try so many different things as you walk through the market. One of the stalls that caught my attention had ‘Octopus on a Stick’, I have to admit their appearance tempted me straight away. I love trying new foods and after walking up and down a couple of times I braved it and bought my first Octopus on a Stick! Another delicious shopping snack whilst you’re on the go!
Becky The Traveller | Blog| Instagram | Facebook |
Udaipur, India
Udaipur, the royal city of Rajasthan, is a paradise for foodies! If you think Udaipur is only as good as its palaces and lakes (which are nothing short of magical though!), you probably haven’t experienced the culinary delights the city has to offer. Catering to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, two signature dishes one must try in Udaipur are the Laal Maas (mutton cooked in a rich, thick, chilli-based gravy) and the Dal Baati Churma (traditional Rajasthani dish that comprises of balls made out of whole wheat and pulses ground to a paste and fried to crispy perfection, served with a lentil soup and a generous topping of ghee).
When visiting Udaipur, don’t forget to take pit stops at a few of its most famous restaurants for a taste of authentic local cuisine:
-Krishna Dal Baati Restro, for one of the best Dal Baatis in town (don’t miss out on their buttermilk too!)
-Nataraj Restaurant, for massive Rajasthani Thalis
-Tribute, for possibly the best Laal Maas in Udaipur (and a view to die for!)
Trippy Passports | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Have you been on a food tour? Which one was your favourite? We plan to make this post as a series in the future. If you are interested, send us a write up of 100-150 words with a minimum of 1/2 photos and your blog link and social media links at @info{at}siddharthandshruti{dot}com
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We love doing food tours when we travel around the world, espeically in London as we keep getting invited onto so many. Its a great way to meet new people, try out new foods and even learn about foods which sometimes we may never heard off. Great post guys 🙂
I am a big fan of food tours. Everywhere I travel I try to do a food tour as well. That way I learn more about the culture of the place.
Good to see Vancouver at the top of the list (: Food is always my #1 motivation for traveling. It’s so fascinating to discover new cultures and flavors through local dishes!
Love this round up! I too love food tours around the world, because it’s a great way to experience the local shops tourists would usually miss, and I’ve found they also incorporate somewhat of a historic city walking tour in most too 🙂 which makes it excellent value!
I love doing food tours. They incorporate history, since food culture is an integral part of another culture’s history, so you get to learn so much. I did one in Rome that was amazing, and I learned just as much about the food as I did the architecture and history. Getting to know more, while eating delicious food, is always a nice way to spend an afternoon!
What a great idea for a collaborative post; getting foodies together to share their stories! Fabulous! Food is a huge part of travelling if you ask me, you learn so much about the locals by eating the same as they do. Great work 😀 Pinned for later #feetdotravel
I especially like the section on Canada as I am heading there soon 🙂 Plus some good tips on Delhi too! 🙂
I love food tours and these are such a great collection! I think you really get to a heart of the place by taking a food tour and get to try lots of things that you ordinarily wouldn’t have thought to have.
Food is also a part of my agenda but more often than not, I tend to try the local homemade dishes prepared by a host family. It’s beautiful! The feeling of learning about their life while binging into delicious recipes is just amazing. Try it sometime.
How fun it would be to do a food tour. I have been to many countries and tried the local cuisine but next time I will take a food tour. Thanks for sharing this collaboration article. Great suggestions by all including wonderful photos! 🙂 #feetdotravel.
Wondeful article and Blog. I like the idea of collaboating posts.
Wow some great looking food! I am pinning as will check these places out when I get to the relevant destination !
Should not have looked at this when I’m so hungry!! Great collection. I’d love to make a trip itinerary out of these recommendations one day.
Love the diversity of the cities covered. Hopefully you make it to Washington DC soon.
We love taking food tours. We’ve even taken food tours from our own hometown. You really get to know the area’s food and culture!
I’ve never done an organized food tour (we usually just DIY) but I am interested in the one in Vancouver, and I will look into it for our trip at the end of the summer. That pear pizza sounds legit. Love this one 🙂
Completely agree with Delhi and Udaipur being a foodie’s haven. From the places I have been to, I would also recommend Thailand and Bali. The traditional flavors in these places are a perfect cultural experience. Cheers
Everything is looking good and delicious .Food is indeed an integral part of travel, as food is a window to a place’s culture and history. My favourites here are of course Delhi and Udaipur, where I can gorge on vegetarian delights.
I am a big fan of food in general! And I do believe that exploring various cuisines is one of the best ways to get to know a city or country. What a good roundup and it seems like you’ve had quite a foodie adventure!
All these food talk made me hungry! I absolutely loved the food in Delhi during my stay, such a shame I didn’t go for the dedicated food walk. The next time I visit I will go for the walk!
Who doesn’t want to snack on an octopus on a stick when they’re feeling a little bit peckish? Lovely selection of posts here. I also love enjoying the local food wherever I go. As I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s not always great, so nice to see this and know where to go. Happy travels
Fantastic! This post is right up my alley. I’m always on the look out for the local markets, diners, speciality and Michelin restaurants in every city I visit. A great post for future reference!
Food is a big part of my travels as well! Exploring the local cuisines wherever I go has become one of my favorite travel activities! From your list, I haven´t been to India and Japan yet, though it´s two of my top 5 cuisines across the globe! Would definitely enjoy these local specialties! #feetdotravel
I’m not really a foodie but I’m starting to get into it, especially in countries where I love the food. From your list of food tours I’d love to go on a food tour in Japan and the USA!
I have done a few food tours in South east Asia and they are amazing. Love street food an they tell us so much about the place. Would love to do some in India as well.
Your all these food photos made me hungry now.
Vancouver’s food sounds amazing! Love Stroopwaffles! The Japan market seems very fun and filling. Thank you for sharing! I am glad I ate before this.
Wow, you’ve eaten in some amazing places. What a great write-up. Glad you loved the food in San Francisco. I am from a town not far from there and that city is so rich with great food and drink places 😉
This article makes me really hungry! Great recommendations. Thank you.
This food looks delicious. I will need to try and visit some of these places!
Wow, these are so awesome! I’ve walked along Nishiki Market in Kyoto and that was amazing but some of these tours look incredible. Definitely something I try and do in every place I visit! Thanks for sharing
Nice collaboration article! Thanks for sharing! Food is also part on our agenda when we travel! There is nothing better than travelling and eating like a local! Last week we tried guinea pig in Peru and it was delicious (we didn’t expect it to be!). This post was Fantastic and made us want to destination that we haven’t been so we can try local food! Patrick and Cécile from http://www.travel4lifeblog.com
Loved your blog!
I organize food tours in Barcelona, if you are interested we can talk!
Wow great looking food! I will definitely need to try and visit some of these places! Wonderful blog!
Yum! You’ve made me so hungry to try all of this food! We also love to do food tours. They are a great way to learn more about what to order in restaurants while learning more about the culture of the city.
So blown away! I love food! I can say Vancouver, New York and San Francisco are foodie paradises. I went to New York last December and did a food tour of the East Village. Delicious!
I may be salivating a little after reading this, and am oh so hungry now. I love food tours.