taste santa barbara food tours

Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours

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Downtown SB Walking Food & Drink Tour

The Original Downtown Santa Barbara TACO Tour

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Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Playing in Downtown Santa Barbara can mean so much. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound, from world-class hiking to whale watching, from road and mountain biking to water sports. Playing can also mean discovering our child-friendly attractions or discovering new adventures at our major cultural institutions and museums. Santa Barbara offers several ways to tour Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. From the adventurous kayaks and Segways, to the leisurely food and wine tours, we believe there is a fun guided way for everyone to discover everything Downtown and the Santa Barbara region has to offer!

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Vehicle Tours

Santa Barbara Hot Rod Limo

Look out Santa Barbara, here comes the most unique and fun way to explore the city! Whether you are looking to book a private party, a corporate event or just take one of the daily tours of the coastal area, we have the most exclusive way to do it!

Santa Barbara Trolley Company

See the American Riviera in Comfort!

Santa Barbara sightseeing at its finest on the original, fully narrated Santa Barbara Trolley Tour. For over 30 years, we've been providing trolley tours in the Santa Barbara community. Join us as we visit local hot spots such as the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, the historic Santa Barbara Mission, and more, all fully narrated by our energetic and knowledgeable tour guides! Or, charter our newly renovated fleet of trolleys for your wedding, party or corporate event.

Segway of Santa Barbara

Take a tour of Santa Barbara on a Segway PT with one of our experienced guides and see the hidden gems it takes locals years to find. Segway Personal Transporters (PT) are a great way to experience Santa Barbara with friends, family, and kids– 12 years or older. Our corporate tours provide an excellent opportunity for staff building and bonding too.

** NEW – Polaris Slingshot Rentals ** Get behind the wheel of a 2018 Polaris Slingshot for an exhilarating cruise along the coast in style! Take it on the freeway to explore Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang, or travel south for an unforgettable coastal adventure. These open aired, three-wheeled roadsters are an experience you won’t want to miss!  

Specialty Tours

Welcome To Santa Barbara! See the sights of Santa Barbara with Captain Jack’s Tours. We offer wine tasting tours, kayak tours, horseback rides and historical tours of Santa Barbara. Our fun-loving and knowledgeable guides are here to make your day unforgettable. We’re committed to making your day special and we look forward to showing you the beauty of this wonderful region.

Condor Express

Condor Express Whale Watching is the premier Whale Watching and Charter Cruise venue along the coast of Southern California. We are one of the few whale watching companies to offer year round whale watching and a whale watch guarantee. Condor Express Whale Watching offers a variety of spectacular excursions in the Santa Barbara Channel including whale watching, pelagic birding, wedding cruises, dinner cruises, private parties and corporate events.

Climb aboard Santa Barbara’s original amphibious tour vehicle, the LAND SHARK, for a personally narrated 90-minute land and sea tour adventure. Experience the best of Santa Barbara, in comfort aboard the most modern state-of-the-art amphibious vehicle in the world.  

Santa Barbara Adventure Co.  

Since 1998, Santa Barbara Adventure Company has been the premier adventure travel outfitter on the central coast while serving thousands of guests every year. We’re committed to creating unforgettable adventures of the highest quality, focusing on the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside and coastal waters. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides offer exceptional service and share with you a side of the Santa Barbara area few visitors ever get to experience.

Santa Barbara Sailing Center

Santa Barbara Sailing Center is a whole community on and off the water, and Santa Barbara’s only all-ages concierge-level rental, charter, cruise, and bareboat event center. Choose from a wide variety of public cruises, including sunset cruises and whale watching cruises, and see oceans of marine life and spectacular coastline views. Learn to sail, rent a sailboat, charter a private sailboat with a captain, or escape on award-winning Liveaboard Instructional Sailing Vacations to the world-famous Channel Islands National Park. 

Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours

The Taste SBFT team all share our love for SB, celebrating local businesses, food, wine, people and fun! We have a passion for sharing our stories and showing people around. On our tours we combine a fun mix of food, drinks (with and without alcohol), Santa Barbara history, culture and architecture. We love to introduce our guests to new and old spots.

Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours

Hours updated 2 months ago

Review Highlights

“ From working with Evan to coordinate the tour, to Nancy our guide and all the people we met a long the way! ” in 41 reviews

“ This was our first food tour and I believe we have started a new trend for our exploration adventures. ” in 8 reviews

“ After hearing the rave reviews for Renaud 's Bakery, I had them put two almond croissants on hold for me until after the tour. ” in 8 reviews

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Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours is on a mission is to provide a fun and delicious walking experience through downtown Santa Barbara. Led by a local guide, you'll learn about the history, architecture, culture and of course, taste some of the best local food and wine that Santa Barbara has to offer. We strive for our guests to have a great time and learn something new - all while indulging in some amazing local cuisine! Semi-custom tours available. …

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141 reviews

Awesome tour! Evan was so helpful and the food was amazing. Would definitely do it again the next time I'm in town. I love ice cream! Henry

This food tour was perfection! We got to sample so many wonderful things. And everything was deliciousness! We can't stop talking about how enjoyable it was. Evan, our tour guide, did an amazing job of coordinating everything and taking great care of us. She was charming and a pleasure to be with. Even though she was just married two days before our tour, she still planned everything perfectly, and we so appreciated her. We went to Renaud's Patisserie, Santa Barbara Public Market, Cielito Restaurant, Isabella Gourmet Foods, Cebada Winery, Persona Pizza, C'Est Cheese, and McConnells Ice Cream. This was our first food tour. It was so great we hope it will be the first of many. Congratulations, Evan. We wish you and your husband a long and happy marriage!

Yes!!! I would absolutely recommend you do this next time you're in Santa Barbara! We had the best time on this tour. Maddy was our guide and she was warm and wonderful. She not only gave us the scoop on all the restaurants and wineries we went to, but she was a wealth of knowledge about the history and architectural details of Santa Barbara. It was so much fun and very interesting with delicious food and drinks along the way! Definitely take the afternoon to enjoy this tour. Well worth your time and money.

Santa Barbara food tours is a wonderful way to combine learning about our lovely city, sampling a wide variety of delicious and interesting food and wine and being entertained by our energetic and enthusiastic guide Brittany. My sisters and I so enjoyed this tour that we are already talking about doing it again!

Knowing I love food walking tours, my husband booked this for us today. It was awesome! Evan was very personable and fun. We lucked out because it was just my husband, me and Evan, our guide. So, everything pretty much went at our pace. The weather was beautiful (sunny, mid to high 70s) so the perfect day to walk around downtown. The tour provided a good mix of things from great wine tasting at Cebadas to kale quinoa fritters and margaritas at Cielito to incredible ice cream at McConnell's and much much more (pizza, macarons, noodles, cheese tasting etc. -- there were eight stops!). So, you won't go hungry. Evan mentioned she is working on creating a happy hour tour. Considering how well she did with us, I can't wait to come and try that too!

Nov 23, 2015

Thank you Siv. I had a blast with you and Carl! So much fun! See you soon!

Highly recommend this to anyone visiting and looking to go where the locals go! Was a great adventure with some staple bites. You even got to see some awesome spots in town while learning about history. Loved Linda our tour guide. She took tons of photos of us and offered great recommendations for other foodie spots in town for the rest of our weekend

This was a great experience! From working with Evan to coordinate the tour, to Nancy our guide and all the people we met a long the way! Definitely recommend-even if you have been to Santa Barbara before!

This weekend my wife and I tried the tour and it was as Amazing as the food, especially the Tacos from Los Arroyos Downtown Mexican Restaurant!! Our guide Brittany was so Fun and Engaging, giving us fun facts about the town and also introducing us to new things along the way. The food all delicious and never too filling, making it possible to try all the food within the 3 1/2 hours. I recommend trying this tour if you're new to the city and love having Great tasing food!!!!

Mar 2, 2019

Thank you so much Adrian! We hope to see you again soon!

Brittany was such a fun tour guide. We learned fun facts about the town while trying great food at places we most likely wouldn't have gone. I would really recommend doing this tour at the beginning of your trip. Brittany was the best.

We had a wonderful time on this tour! My wife and I were in Santa Barbara celebrating her 30th birthday, but we've never been there so we thought a walking food tour would be a great way to learn what SB has to offer. We got really lucky as well because no one else signed up and we had a private tour for just the two of us! Our guide took us around some of the best places and everything was taken care of, we felt like royalty. I would definitely recommend this to people who want a "taste" (see what I did there?) of the foodie culture in Santa Barbara

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Funk Zone Food Tour

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 3 hours
• User Ages: Ages 6+ years
• Users Group size: Up to 8 people
• Info More Information:
• Food tastings are enough for lunch.
• Great for large group outings & private parties.
• Tours operate rain or shine. (Please wear comfy clothes and shoes for walking.)
• Smartphone photography highly encouraged.
• Suitable for all ages and fitness levels

Discover the best restaurants in the Santa Barbara Funk Zone!

Taste Santa Barbara’s best food and drinks on this foodie adventure through the city’s most eclectic, art-driven neighborhood.

• 6 tastings & locations, bites, and sips – with a professional tour guide.
• Discover hidden street art and soak in the culture of Santa Barbara’s most eclectic neighborhood.
• Learn foodie photo tips and tricks using your smartphone’s camera.

What to Expect on Our Santa Barbara Funk Zone Food Tour

Our Santa Barbara food tour starts on the edge of the Funk Zone across the street from the beach and will walk you through the heart of Funk Zone and lower State Street neighborhoods where you will taste the cuisine that our city is known for!

Treat yourself to bites of artisan foods, seafood, and Mexican dishes as well as craft brews, local wines and hand-crafted spirits. Along the way, you’ll get immersed in the local culture, explore the neighborhood, discover local restaurants, and hear interesting stories about each place you’ll visit.

On this Funk Zone food & photo tour you’ll also learn easy-to-shoot photo tips from your pro tour guide and take your foodie photo skills to the next level using your smartphone’s camera app. By the end of your three-hour tour, you’ll be eating like a local and shooting like a pro! (Please note: we may not be able to accommodate shellfish or vegan/strict vegetarian dietary restrictions. This tour is also NOT suitable for celiac restrictions. Please call for more info or to get those burning foodie questions answered.)

Explore beyond Downtown Santa Barbara and let your local guide serve you the best of each menu at some of these local hidden hot spots.

• We Want The Funk : Eclectic hangout with beautifully elevated food truck eats nestled in the heart of the Funk Zone neighborhood.
• Fess Parker Winery :  A top-shelf winery featuring small-lot, vineyard-designated, and clonal selection Rhône and Burgundian varietals.
• Lucky Penny: Unique corner cafe serving creative wood-fired flatbread and housemade BBQ chips.
• Mony’s Mexican Food Taqueria: Family-owned and operated, hole-in-the-wall taqueria known for street tacos, housemade chips, and the best salsa bar in town. (Weekday and Saturday tours only.)
• Cutler’s Artisan Spirits: The city’s first legal distillery since Prohibition, featuring top-shelf bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, and apple pie liqueur.
• McConnell’s Ice Cream: THE best ice cream in Santa Barbara with recipes and methods that date back to 1949.
• Santo Mezcal: Southern Mexican cuisine with a Santa Barbara seafood influence.
• The Bier Garten: Lively bar and restaurant featuring German dishes and renowned beers.
• Santa Barbara Popcorn Co.: Locally harvested, hand-popped, organic/GMO-free artisan popcorn.

Where to Meet for Your Funk Zone Food Tour

You will receive a confirmation email after booking that direct you to your meeting location.

Still have questions?   Visit our FAQ page to submit your own.

Related Tours

• Users Up to 8 people
• User Ages 6+ years
• Hour Glass 4 hours

Solvang Food Tour

We’ll show you the best places to eat in Solvang on this mouthwatering tour that includes the best comfort food, artisan shops, and tasting rooms in the walkable downtown area.

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Santa Barbara’s Annual Ode to Julia Child

Taste of santa barbara’s weekend of delicious to-dos, by matt kettmann and george yatchisin may 16, 2023.

The beloved television star, cookbook author, and bon vivant extraordinaire Julia Child — who spent her waning years at Casa Dorinda in Montecito, surviving on tacos from La Super-Rica and hot dogs from Costco — would almost certainly have blushed and blustered to learn that there was an entire week-long culinary celebration dedicated to her in Santa Barbara. But then she would have dove in, taking (well, perhaps leading) the cooking classes, bouncing around on farm tours, carousing with the hottest chefs in town over meals, and indulging in the latest vintages from the Santa Ynez Valley. 

This is the spirit behind Taste of Santa Barbara , the annual event hosted by the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience (SBCE), an offshoot of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy & the Culinary Arts . Founded in 2020 — when the inaugural event slated for mid-March was the first of countless gatherings to be scrapped due to COVID — SBCE launched Taste of Santa Barbara in 2022, making this year the third-ever in-person affair. 

“Julia Child loved this city and county, and each year our goal is to curate a diverse set of events for locals and visitors to celebrate and invoke Julia’s spirit while shining a light on Santa Barbara’s culinary, hospitality, tourism, and wider artisan communities,” said Eric Spivey, who is the chair of the Julia Child Foundation and a founder of SBCE. “In addition to providing economic benefit to our area, a majority of the net proceeds will go to support local nonprofits tackling issues related to food access and the overall food system.” 

This year, SBCE enlisted the services of Solterra Strategies to handle programming with an eye on expanding the reach and building a larger platform for the event going forward. “Creating a signature event weekend was a strategic direction for 2024,” said Solterra’s Stacie Jacob, who is the event director for Taste of Santa Barbara. “The new Taste of Santa Barbara Soirée on Friday is an evening in classic Santa Barbara style, bringing together local chefs, vintners, and distillers for an exceptional culinary journey honoring the legacy of Julia Child at Casa de la Guerra’s historic courtyard.”

Jacob, who’s put on the World of Pinot Noir event for many years, is also excited about the Saturday wine experience, featuring nearly 30 wineries, and that evening’s screening event at the Metro 4, with clips of the Julia series as well as The French Chef . There’s also still tickets available for Sunday’s brunch at The Lark and that afternoon’s after-party at Mattei’s Tavern. Said Jacob, “Our team is honored to steward of the vision of the esteemed SBCE advisory committee.”

Read on for more details about what to expect this weekend. 

The TOSB Soirée

Friday, may 17, 6-9 p.m., casa de la guerra.

This is the first year that Taste of Santa Barbara is throwing this ambitious “signature event,” which is bringing together some of the best chefs in the region to prepare two dishes each, most of them inspired by Julia Child herself. 

In addition to the chefs profiled above , Massimo Falsini of Caruso’s in the Rosewood Miramar Beach will be serving what whimsically named “I Grew Up in Trastevere, You Should Try This Carbonara” as well as a Baja Kanpachi with spring legumes and ramps. Market Forager’s Justin West is making braised beef cheeks and a cream of chicken soup with vegetables inspired by a Julia Child recipe that was the first dish he ever cooked himself. “I was 13 years old and my parents were returning from a vacation and, under the supervision of my caretakers (Mom and Dad’s friends), I prepared this soup for their welcome-back dinner,” said West.

Live music will be performed by the Spanish guitar duo Calé, and Cutler’s Artisan Spirits will be crafting cocktails. Santa Barbara Vintners will be pouring top-shelf wines by Sandhi Wines, Star Lane Vineyard, Rusack Vineyards, Tyler Winery, Lieu Dit Winery, Marbeso Wine, Barden by Margerum, and Foxen. 

Use the promotional code SOIREE24 to get $50 off of the ticket price.

— George Yatchisin

Taste of Santa Barbara’s Saturday Wine Experience

Nearly 30 wineries, seven culinary stars, and three panels coming to the presidio.

Wine takes center stage at the Presidio on Saturday during the Taste of Santa Barbara’s third annual wine tasting experience on May 18. Nearly 30 wineries will be pouring (we cover just two here), and the afternoon’s three panels — hosted by the Indy ’s own Matt Kettmann — will focus on the enduring impact of Sideways , new grape varieties like mencía and clairette blanche, and what it’s like to craft pinot noir depending where you are in your winemaking career. 

There are also seven up-and-coming culinary stars on hand to feed the masses. In addition to the two profiled below, attendees can enjoy shrimp ceviche by Dusk Bar ; pulled osso buco from Las Cumbres Ranch with chimichurri, herbed crème fraîche, and bone marrow butter by Gala ; ceviche tostadas by The Victor Restaurant and Bar ; and savory pours by Luretík Estate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil .

Full details and tickets at sbce.events . Use the promotional code TOSB24 to get $50 off the ticket price. 

—Matt Kettmann

Big G’s Barbecue Fuses American, Mexican, and Guatemalan Cuisines

Momma’s soul food fusion invents soulshi rolls, chasing wine dreams and embracing curiosity with trippers & askers , winemaker dusty nabor’s powerful pursuit of every passion.

Taste of Santa Barbara’s Farm Tours

Wanderment farm and trinity gardens are just two experiences offered on sunday.

Wrapping up this year’s Taste of Santa Barbara on Sunday are a series of eye-opening farm tours, bringing participants face-to-face with the people and places behind the region’s foods and drinks. The Cultured Abalone tours sold out fast, but there’s still room for the others, including the horseback riding tours of Buttonwood Winery & Vineyard with Vino Vaqueros and the sustainable cattle ranching experience at Las Cumbres Ranch near Los Alamos. 

Featured here are two of the South Coast tours: Trinity Gardens, which is located right in town , and Wanderment Farms, located on the cliffs above Carpinteria . 

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Rail excursions through Central Coast wine country spotlight local wine tastings and terroir

By Cherish Whyte

All aboard!

To book wine-inspired rail journeys from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara with the SLO Railroad Museum, located at 1940 Santa Barbara Ave., visit slorrm.com . The first excursion is on May 18. 

For northern SLO County train excursions, check out Halter Ranch Estate at 8910 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles, or visit halterranch.com .

Inspired by a love of locomotives and the Central Coast’s viticultural bounty, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum is kicking off a special rail journey highlighting Santa Barbara County wines.

The museum’s 2024 Sunset Wine Rail Excursions, offered in collaboration with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and the Santa Barbara Wine Collective , will run on May 18, June 22, July 20, Aug. 17, and Sept. 21.

“A big highlight is the sunset ride along the Pacific and a chance to view unspoiled stretches of coastline that are only visible from the train,” said museum docent and Morro Bay local David Weisman, who will accompany guests.

For the May and June bookings, he added, “the hillsides … should be vibrantly green after all the winter rains, possibly with some wildflowers also.”

Priced at $129 and limited to only 24 guests, the tours depart SLO via motorcoach at 11 a.m. and arrive at the Santa Barbara Wine Collective at 1 p.m. Light snacks will be served aboard the motorcoach and at the collective.

Showcasing the county’s seven American Viticultural Areas and 60 grape varieties, the collective is dedicated to educating customers about its wines via tastings, maps, and displays of soil samples, Weisman explained.

“Our guests can sample the regions without having to do all that driving,” he added. “The menu calls for three reds, two whites, and a rosé.

“Wines purchased can be stored at the collective for pickup when guests return to board the train, and it is only about a five-minute walk from the tasting room to the station.”

Following the tasting, guests have approximately three hours to explore the Funk Zone, Stearns Wharf, or lower State Street, and enjoy a late lunch or grab takeout food for the return train trip. Weisman will provide a handout of suggested options.

The Pacific Surfliner will depart Santa Barbara Train Station at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in SLO at around 8:45 p.m.

“The return trip north is narrated by myself, highlighting historic spots, like the rocky cliff off which the tragic naval shipwreck took place off Honda Point in 1923 and also the western spaceport where the SpaceX rockets are launched today,” Weisman said.

“The train’s conductor, whose grandfather worked for the railroad in the last century, may have time to add some family reminiscences and history.”

During the three-hour journey, guests will be treated to a small dessert and can also purchase wine, beer, and cocktails.

“I will serve as the host in taking orders and delivering those items from the café car to the seated passengers,” Weisman said.

Then sit back and enjoy the sunset.

“The 60 miles the train travels along the coastal bluffs is considered one of the [country’s] top three most scenic rail routes,” he added.

However, if you’re more partial to wines of northern San Luis Obispo County, specifically Paso Robles, it’s worth the drive to tour Halter Ranch ’s oak-studded hills via vintage trains. The winery’s railroad whisks guests back in time as it meanders through 280 acres of the 2,700-acre property, with sights ranging from art installations and historic landmarks dating back to 1880 to a herd of 120 sheep.

The railroad was created by Halter Ranch proprietor Hansjörg Wyss, born in Bern, Switzerland, in 1935. Wyss turned his dream of experiencing some of Switzerland’s most prestigious locomotives, which traversed the Swiss Alps, into reality, hiring Balson AG in Switzerland to create trains at Halter Ranch that are a 45 percent scale model of their real-life counterparts.

Offered twice a day at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from May 25 until Nov. 3, the winery’s Swiss train tour takes place in the Krokodil No. 414. The replica is inspired by the 1929 original that was nicknamed the “Crocodile” due to its resemblance to a crocodile snout.

For a more luxurious experience, the Yellow Caboose transports up to four passengers for an intimate terroir tour.

“Guests of our Swiss train tour are welcomed with a glass of our 2023 Estate Rosé, crafted from 100 percent organic grapes,” said Halter Ranch winemaker Kevin Sass of Templeton. “Onboard, they’ll explore our organic practices, including year-round sheep grazing in our 256-acre vineyard, and the terroir that defines our timeless wines.”

The pairing of libations and locomotives is compelling—for both wine enthusiasts and train buffs.

“The Swiss train tour gives people a sense of place when they taste the wine,” Sass explained. “They better understand the soils, the climate, the landscape, the habitat surrounding the vineyard—a true farm-to-glass experience.”

Contributor Writer Cherish Whyte is planning her grape train escape. Reach her through the editor at [email protected] .

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Here Are 50 of America’s Very Best Food Tours You Can Try

Posted: February 4, 2024 | Last updated: February 4, 2024

50 food tours worth traveling for

Alabama: LoDa Stroll, Bienville Bites

This tour of Mobile was founded by a local couple dedicated to showing off their beloved Gulf Coast city. Join the LoDa Stroll  and you'll explore the city's mouthwatering culinary traditions through seven of the top restaurants downtown. A favorite stop is Wintzell's Oyster House which opened in 1938. You can add on a cocktail package too. 

Alaska: A Tour with Taste, Juneau Food Tours

This is one for seafood lovers. A Tour with Taste takes place in Alaska's historic capital, Juneau, with visits to nine of the city's best-loved foodie spots. Stop off at Tracy's King Crab Shack for crowd-pleasing king crab bisque, and indulge at SALT, a modern restaurant serving innovative Alaskan cuisine like cod tacos. Each tour is led by Kelly "Midgi" Moore, a local food blogger.

Arizona: Downtown Tucson Tour, Tucson Food Tours

In 2015, Tucson became the United States' first UNESCO city of gastronomy for its first-rate farm-to-table food and innovative dishes. Tucson Food Tours has been showing off the city's best bites since 2012. Its downtown tour visits some of the city's quirkier restaurants, including Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink, located in a former funeral parlor. The tour also drops into El Charro, which claims to be America's oldest Mexican restaurant, opening in 1922.

Arkansas: Booze and Chews Tour, A Bite of Hot Springs

The city of Hot Springs is well-known for its natural spas and mountain vistas, but the people here know how to cook too. A Bite of Hot Springs ' 'Booze and Chews' tour works its way through the city's downtown on foot, combining tastings and Hot Springs history. A highlight is the traditional tamales at Latin fusion restaurant Rolando's, where the tour begins.

California: West Hollywood Food Tour, Sidewalk Food Tours

The star-studded city of West Hollywood borders LA and has all the foodie clout of its glittering neighbor. Book onto this tour from Sidewalk to take a gourmet deep dive into the area, feasting on indulgent pastries at beloved Michelina Bakery, inside the city's original farmers' market; and slurping curries and noodles at Noree Thai. 

Colorado: Downtown Denver Food Tour, Taste of Denver

On this three-hour tour of downtown Denver , you'll hear about the city's Gold Rush past and learn how the surrounding land (the city is at the base of the Rocky Mountains) has been a crucial ingredient in its burgeoning food scene. Stops include beer and sliders at the city's oldest brewery, Wynkoop Brewing Company; and a scoop of Denver's finest ice cream at Milkbox Ice Creamery.

Connecticut: Live to Eat Tour, A Taste of New Haven

This small tour company offers a handful of tours showcasing the foodie delights of New Haven (pictured). The Pasta Tour is a firm favorite: join up to go on a tasting odyssey of the city's Italian eats, from perfectly prepared cacio e pepe at Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana to beloved Libby's ice-cream parlor, with its world-class gelato. Some stops include a tempting wine pairing too. 

Delaware: Walking Food Tour, Eating Rehoboth

Seafood is the star of the show in this gourmet tour of Rehoboth Beach, a laid-back coastal city in Delaware. Feast on food plucked straight from the ocean like pan-fried scallops and seared sea bass. The tour features five of the city's culinary stars and also delivers on creative cocktails and local beer. 

Florida: Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour, Miami Culinary Tours

For hearty Cuban cooking in downtown Miami, book onto the Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour . You'll sip Cuban cocktails at the Ball & Chain bar and lounge (a mainstay of the city's live music scene since the 1930s) and feast on fried plantains, guava pastelitos and a traditional Cuban sandwich. At each venue, you'll be greeted by enthusiastic chefs keen to share stories about the dishes they serve. The tour also includes a visit to a Cuban cigar factory.

Georgia: Modern Southern Food and History Tour, Atlanta Food Tours

Inman Park is one of Atlanta's trendiest neighborhoods, a leafy suburb known for its hipster hangouts and creative food scene. This afternoon tour samples the best the area has to offer, like the industrial-chic Krog Street Market (pictured). The steaming Szechuan dumplings from Gu's Dumplings are one of the best bites.

Hawaii: Chinatown Walking Food Tour, Tasting Oahu

Spend a delicious three hours digging into Honolulu's Chinatown district on this focused food tour . You'll graze on dishes such as Chinese-style barbecued pork and delicate dim sum as you move between some of the city's most historic restaurants. Along the way you'll see fascinating architectural sights such as the Buddhist Kuan Yin Temple. 

Idaho: Historic Downtown Boise Brunch and Arts Tour, Indulge Boise

Idaho's capital is one of America's most underrated foodie spots but Indulge Boise is determined to put the city on the gourmet map. This tour explores downtown and picks out the best dishes to try along the way. You'll dine at Stardust, known for its fun take on 1950s fine dining, and indulge your sweet tooth at Guru Donuts, who still follow a handwritten 1940s recipe. 

Illinois: Iconic Foods of Chicago Tour, Chicago Food Planet

Chicago is synonymous with deep dish pizza but there's a lot more to enjoy in the city. For a broader taste of the Windy City, opt for Chicago Food Planet 's "Iconic Foods" tour. You might taste an Italian beef sandwich at local institution Al's Beef or a Chicago-style hot dog from Portillo’s. Of course, you'll also get a bubbling slice of pizza from a beloved pizzeria such as Lou Malnati's.

Indiana: Massachusetts Avenue Food Tour, Taste Indy Food Tours

For a true taste of Indianapolis, you needn't look much further than Massachusetts Avenue, a bustling cultural district in the city's downtown area. On  this walking tour , you'll try local beers, handmade meatballs and German cuisine. The tacos and tequilas at modern Mexican joint Bakersfield are a highlight too. 

Iowa: Iowa Tenderloin Trail

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has put together the Iowa Tenderloin Trail , which highlights the best places in the state that make Iowa's most famous dish: the pork tenderloin sandwich. Think quality pork cuts covered with crispy breadcrumbs, barely contained by the bun. You'll have to go this tour alone but you can download a "Tenderloin Trail Passport" and get it stamped as you try each of the 14 sandwiches en route.

Kansas: Trail Days Cafe and Museum

The folks at Trail Days Cafe and Museum in Council Grove offer a time-traveling food tour, taking you back in time to the days when the Santa Fe trail, stretching from Missouri to New Mexico, was a major commerce route. Homes, like the Kansas spot pictured, would open up to feed hungry traders. Today, tour guides take you round a preserved period home, entertain you with stories and serve up homemade early American dishes for a taste of the past.

Kentucky: Roebling Bridge Food Tour, Riverside Food Tours

With  Riverside Food Tours  you'll sample hearty pub grub such as fish and chips from Irish tavern Molly Malone's, or feast on wood-fired pizza at The Gruff in the cute northern Kentucky town of Covington. There are also seriously good chicken wings on offer at local favorite Smoke Justis, as well as an indulgent bread pudding at Blinkers Tavern. 

Louisiana: French Quarter Tasting Tour, New Orleans Culinary History Tours

This tour takes you straight to the best Creole and Cajun food in NOLA. You'll pound the streets of the French Quarter for three hours, dipping into local haunts to try traditional dishes like seafood gumbo and beef brisket. You'll get to see a chef demonstration along the way, too.

Maine: Old Port Seafood Lover's Tour, Maine Foodie Tours

A food tour of Maine wouldn't be complete without sampling some lobster – and this entire tour  in Portland revolves around it. It takes place on the waterfront where you'll spot working lobster boats, before sampling a fresh lobster roll. Seafood chowder and lobster mac and cheese are also on the menu.

Maryland: Fells Point Tour, Charm City Food Tours

This three-hour tour explores a historic part of Baltimore's downtown: Fells Point. It's a waterfront area known for its maritime past and great seafood joints. You'll begin at the covered Broadway Market and sample Maryland specialties like crab cakes and pit beef – hunks of roasted meat served up in a sandwich.

Massachusetts: Boston Food Tour, Secret Food Tours

This tour focuses on Boston's historic North End, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. You'll feast on Massachusetts staples like lobster roll and clam chowder, as well as Italian classics like bubbling brick-over pizza. On every tour, there's also a "secret dish" that you'll discover on the day.

Michigan: Detroit Eats Food Tour

The Detroit Eats Food Tour is not to be missed. Journey around historic Corktown in the city's downtown – you'll learn about the area's importance, feast on traditional barbecue and sample craft beer.

Minnesota: St Paul Skyway Food Tour, Taste Twin Cities

This tour  makes the most of St Paul's Skyway system (suspended covered bridges connecting the city's tower blocks). You'll feast on local delights such as chocolate truffles, crispy sambusas and craft beer as you pass between the soaring passageways. A highlight along the way is Sawatdee (meal pictured), which is tipped as the first Thai restaurant in the state – the spring rolls are unforgettable. 

Mississippi: Historic Oxford Square Walking Food Tour, Oxford Food Tours

Make a beeline for the cute Mississippi town of Oxford, best known as the home of lauded author William Faulkner and the University of Mississippi, to discover its foodie offerings. This tour focuses on the college town's quaint square (pictured), allowing punters to feast on Southern classics such as shrimp and grits, and visit local favorites such as YaYa's Frozen Yoghurt. 

Missouri: KC Barbecue Tour, Barley Bus

One for meat lovers,  this tour  is all about barbecue and beer. Traveling by bus, you'll spend the day driving across Kansas City, sampling the best spots for smoked meat. Stops may include Gates Bar-B-Q, with its belly-busting sandwiches, and legendary joint Arthur Bryant's Barbeque, with its secret spicy sauce recipe.

Montana: Cocktails and Bites Tour, Taste of Missoula Food Tours

If you're a foodie, it's well worth paying a visit to the picturesque mountain town of Missoula (pictured), which is an underrated gourmet spot in Montana. Sink your teeth into the downtown area with this tour , which combines craft cocktails with some of the city's best dishes, from plantains to French onion soup. Your guides will feed you plenty of the town's history along the way too.

Nebraska: Mother Road Market Tour, Food Tours Tulsa

'Get your licks on Route 66' is the strapline of this fun foodie tour company. The best tour focuses on the Mother Road Market, which is tipped by the tour group as the best food hall in America. Decide for yourself as you wander with a guide and feast on tempting options such as chicken wings, Indian-inspired mac and cheese and small-batch ice cream.

Nevada: Savors of the Strip, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours

Las Vegas is known for slot machines and poker tables but it also has serious culinary credentials. The Savors of the Strip Tour is a fine dining restaurant crawl covering the city's most sought-after locations. Restaurants aren't disclosed until your tour day but stops have included fancy French restaurant Bardot Brasserie in the lavish ARIA Hotel.

New Hampshire: Best of Portsmouth Tour, Portsmouth Eats

Run by enthusiastic locals, this tour brings together the best of Portsmouth, a city with some of New England's best seafood. You'll get to sample The River House's clam chowder, which has regularly won best in show at Portsmouth's Chowder Festival.

New Jersey: The Hoboken Food and Culture Tour, Mangia Hoboken

The Hoboken Food and Culture Tour highlights Italian influences on New Jersey cuisine. You'll visit local institution Carlo's Bake Shop and taste handmade pastries and specialty cakes; and Antique Bar & Bakery, in operation since 1938. Beyond the bakes, try a hearty Italian sub at Fiore's deli and grab a slice of pie at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. 

New Mexico: A Taste of Santa Fe, Food Tour New Mexico

Led by locals, this lunchtime walking tour is a great way to explore Santa Fe and its New Mexican cuisine. You'll visit five venues including La Casa Sena and the Kakawa Chocolate House. The former is an elegant restaurant serving traditional enchiladas, green chile cheeseburgers and grilled elk tenderloin. The latter is a chocolate shop known for its chili-chocolate creations. 

New York: Best of Brooklyn Tour, Foods of New York Tours

You'll never go hungry in New York City, but for a true taste of the city's foodie scene, you'll need to head to Brooklyn. The area is renowned for its hipster hangouts and huge open-air food market. On this Best of Brooklyn tour , you'll travel by bus, stopping at the likes of popular Table 87 for a delicious slice of coal oven-fired pizza.

North Carolina: Wilmington Downtown Tasting Tour, Taste Wilmington

Indulge your stomach and discover the cute coastal town of Wilmington with this foodie tour . You'll wander between five or six of the town's most prized bars and restaurants, sampling delicious seafood plates and indulgent sweet treats. Some stops include a tipple too. 

North Dakota: Heritage Eats

The North Dakota tourist board has pulled together a guide to the best spots in the state. You'll have to download the map from North Dakota Tourism and take yourself on the tour, but it's worth it. The trip reflects the state's heritage and includes the 19th-century Buckskin Bar & Grill, serving hearty all-American dishes; and Reuben's Restaurant, a German-American joint that pays homage to the German ancestry of many North Dakota residents.

Ohio: Findlay Market Tour, Cincinnati Food Tours

Take a tour of Findlay Market , the oldest market in Cincinnati, and learn about its history as well as its culinary delights. During the tour you'll meet five merchants, who'll share their story and a sample. A highlight is Gramma Debbie's Kitchen, beloved for its tasty meatballs and wings. For a small extra fee, you'll get wine and beer tastings too.

Oklahoma: Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma Food Tours

Paseo Arts District is best known for its creativity, but it has a stellar food scene too. Eat your way around the art-filled district with a knowledgeable local guide, who will regale you with stories about the neighborhood and the city while you get your fill. Expect tasty dishes including killer tacos and great views of the Spanish Revival architecture all around.

Oregon: Food Carts, Pods and Patios Tour, Lost Plate Food Tours

Portland is awash with street food trucks and this tour shows off the best of the city's roving vendors. You'll visit up to seven food carts (including a popular food-cart 'pod'), plus a buzzing food hall and a brewery. Expect everything from barbecue plates to sweet pies and ice cream. 

Pennsylvania: Taste of Philly Food Tour

This local-led tour is operated out of Reading Terminal Market. Its leader, Carolyn Wyman, wrote an entire book about the Philly cheesesteak so she knows her stuff. You'll sample Philly classics like scrapple, pretzels and the famed cheesesteak itself.

Rhode Island: Downcity Providence Food Tour, Rhode Island Red Food Tours

This three-hour tour takes you through downtown, showing off Providence's hearty, farm-to-table food. You'll visit Dune Brothers Seafood Shack for clam cakes and chowder; feast on pastries at Parisian bakery Ellie's and try beautiful, modern plates at upmarket Gracie's. You won't go thirsty – there's a stop at The Malted Barley tap house too. 

South Carolina: Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour, Charleston Culinary Tours.

Eat your way around Charleston's historic French Quarter and learn about low country cooking at the same time (think rice, grits and freshly-caught seafood). You'll also taste some of the city's best barbecue. Poogan's Smokehouse and Oyster House on Market – serving barbecue food and seafood, respectively – are highlights along the way.

South Dakota: Downtown Sioux Falls Food Tour, Sioux Falls Food Tours

For comfort food with a modern twist, book a space on this Sioux Falls tour . It's run by Sioux Falls local and ex-barista Jenna Aukerman and you'll try comforting southern classics like shrimp and grits. You might sample one of modern Queen City Bakery's delicious sweet treats too. 

Tennessee: Midtown Tour, Walk Eat Nashville

The Midtown Tour in Nashville shows the best of the city's Southern joints, like Mason’s, a restaurant serving inventive twists on comforting classics. As well as plenty of food, the tour includes a walk along "Rock Block", the eclectic center of the city's rock scene. 

Texas: Up in Smoke: Texas BBQ Tour, Food Chick Tours

There's no better state for a barbecue tour and this is a pilgrimage to the best spots for ribs, brisket and juicy steaks in San Antonio. The tour lasts for four hours and carnivores will stop off at beloved joints like Smoke Shack BBQ, which serves barbecued meat with a whole lot of Southern hospitality. 

Utah: Gourmand Tours at Park City

A food and history tour in one, this culinary journey is led by local Chris through Main Street in picturesque Park City. The city is best known for its Mexican-inspired and modern American dishes, and you'll try both and more on this walking tour. The buffalo cauliflower from Handle Park is a winner. Beyond the food you can learn about the city's mining history and pop into the Park City Museum.

Vermont: Vermont Farm Tours

Get the chance to  visit farms across lush Vermont  and taste their gourmet delights. You can embark on a cheese-filled tour of Shelburne Farm, where you'll learn about the production process and enjoy plenty of samples. Or opt for Bread and Butter Farm, where you can have a go at making your own.

Virginia: Oyster & Tour, Taste Virginia

The state of Virginia is well-known for its oysters so there's nowhere better for an oyster and wine pairing tour . The tour begins in Lynnhaven Bay where you'll learn more about the history of this delicacy. Then, head along Virginia's oyster trail, sampling them raw and Rockefeller style (baked or broiled), with carefully selected wine pairings. Family-owned seafood restaurant Rockafeller's is a favorite stop. 

Washington: Signature Food Tour of Pike Place Market, Savor Seattle Tour

Pike Place Market has been the heart of Seattle's food scene since 1907. On this Savor Seattle Tour , you'll explore the marketplace, sampling the vendors' wares and learning about the venue's history. You'll try award-winning clam chowder from Pike Place Chowder and mac and cheese at Beecher's Handmade Cheese.

Wisconsin: Atwood Brew and Chew, Madison Eats Food Tours

Take a tour of Atwood , one of Madison's trendiest neighborhoods in the east of the city. Duck into gourmet spots including cozy Thai restaurant Monsoon Siam and Tex Tubb's Taco Palace. There's craft beer from Next Door Brewing on offer too.

West Virginia: Taste of Morgantown

While the Mountain State doesn't have a dedicated foodie tour just yet, its gourmet festival in cute Morgantown (pictured) is the next best thing. Taste of Morgantown sees a plethora of vendors come together to showcase West Virginia's foodie spoils: sample everything from Italian dishes and barbecue plates to tacos and burgers. 

Wyoming: Teton Food Tour, Teton Village

This isn't your average food tour – but it's a fantastic way to experience the best of the state's gourmet scene. Teton Village is best known for its winter sports and stunning scenery, and each summer the Teton Food Tour combines the great outdoors with some great foodie offerings. The tour sees participants cycle through the bucolic region (view from Teton Village bike path, pictured) stopping for provisions such as burgers and kombucha at the likes of Snake River Ranch.

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