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Los Angeles Food Tours | 13+ Best Tours & activities

Try these Los Angeles food tours and more for a culinary guide to every neighbourhood!

Los Angeles Food Tours! Sprawled along California’s Southern Coast, America’s second largest city has a lot to offer. Los Angeles is synonymous with endless beaches, palm tree-lined boulevards, Hollywood, and oh, so much good food !

LA’s rich diversity of cultures and year-long warm climate make the city one of the best places to eat in North America. Tacos, traditional Korean fare, food trucks, craft beers and plant-based cuisine, in Los Angeles the possibilities are endless. Soon, all you’ll ever want to do in LA is eat. And these Los Angeles food tours will help you do just that!

With the city’s large size and notorious traffic, LA is best explored one neighbourhood at a time. Whether you’re surfing in Venice, touring museums downtown, or strolling along Santa Monica Pier, there’s a vibrant food scene waiting for you.

Once you’ve beat the traffic out of town, head up to San Francisco and Seattle , or travel West through Las Vegas and Denver .

Los Angeles Food Tours

Endless possibilities are great, but also a little daunting: Let these local Los Angeles food tours guide you through the city’s vibrant culinary neighbourhoods.

1. Sidewalk Food Tours

Sidewalk Food Tours (Calendar) is a team of self-proclaimed foodies who want nothing more than to take you on a culinary LA adventure ! On their Downtown LA Food Tour , guides introduce you to exciting new dishes and tell you the stories behind local favourites. Skip the lines at the historic Grand Central Market and taste everything from authentic French pastries , savoury Texas-style BBQ to fusion sushi burritos .

2. Six Taste Food Tours

Since their start in 2009, family-run Six Taste Food Tours has established itself as one of the highest rated Los Angeles food tour companies. Their neighbourhood walking tours offer memorable experiences for tourists and locals alike. Owner and Los Angeles native Sally Tiongco takes you on a tour trough LA’s budding Arts District . Enjoy generous samplings of artisanal pizza and sweet potato tacos while you learn about the area’s history as an artist community. To complete the experience, visit the community’s art hub or simply take in the impressive street art all around you. Check out Six Taste Food Tours online for more information .

3. Avital Tours

The team behind Avital Tours believes that a great meal pairs best with a good story. On their neighbourhood food tours, Avital guides combine the tastes of signature LA cuisine with local story telling for an immersive food experience. The Venice Beach Food Tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at this laid-back beach community. Listen to chefs and restaurant owners tell stories of their food and neighbourhood while you bite into a decadent lobster roll or taste a blueberry bourbon basil donut . For more information on all their Los Angeles food tours, click here.

4. Melting Pot Food Tours

Melting Pot Food Tours is the brain child of two sisters, Lisa and Diane Scalia. The sisters translated their love for food and hosting into a successful food touring business in their hometown Los Angeles. Explore LA’s Original Farmers Market on the Farmers Market Food and History Tour and spend an entire morning sampling food from the artisan vendors and gourmet grocers . This tour is a great way to explore the history of this iconic LA landmark! Check online for more Los Angeles food tours offered by Melting Pot Food Tours.

5. Taste of Korea LA

You might not know this, but Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean community outside of Korea itself. The city’s Koreatown is located west of downtown LA and is home to famous Art Deco architecture, a historic plaza and some of the city’s best food. Taste of Korea LA describe themselves as passionate ambassadors for Korean culture and food in the city. Their Koreatown food tour is a must if you want to dive deep into the fascinating history of this diverse neighbourhood and broaden your perspective on Korean food. Find more information on Taste of Korea LA’s Los Angeles food tours online.

6. Wine and Dine Walking Tours

Wine and Dine Walking Tours is a young food tour company inspired by the love shared over a good meal with friends and, of course, a bottle of California’s finest wine . Owner Alexa and her team translate their vision into small neighbourhood food tours with a personal touch. Take their Studio City Dinner Tour for an off-the-beaten path local experience . Maybe you can even recognize some iconic movie sets while you wine and dine with your new LA friends. For more Wine and Dine Walking Tours, click here.

Los Angeles Beer Tours

If wine is not really your thing, give these Los Angeles beer tours a try!

7. SoCal Brewbus

Take a ride on the SoCal Brewbus and learn everything about the LA craft beer scene from experienced beer gurus . SoCal Brewbus offers public tours every weekend that provide safe and comfortable transport to LA’s best breweries and beer flights at every stop ! The all-inclusive South Bay Brew Bus tour takes you to the neighbourhood with the largest concentration of breweries in Los Angeles. The tours include a gourmet lunch and behind-the-scenes looks at the beer making process. Find all the tours offered by SoCal Brewbus on their website.

8. LA Beer Hop

LA Beer Hop has affiliations with local breweries in and around Los Angeles, and offers private and public beer tours for all occasions. Get out of the busy city and take The Valley tour bus to find out where some of LA’s best beers are brewed. LA Beer Hop guides will take you to the Valley’s most famous brew pubs and introduce you to their local favourites. Try anything from sour barrel-aged brews to traditional cask ales and fresh Valley taps . Have a look at all LA Beer Hop tours on their website.

Cycling & Hiking Tours

You can explore the city and the surrounding mountains on these cycle and hiking tours!

9. Bikes and Hikes LA

Bikes and Hikes LA ‘s motto is “Experience LA – don’t just drive past it!”, and as a leading outdoor and ecotourism company, they take their mission to heart. (check their Tours Calendar) One of their most popular hikes is the Griffith Park Experience: Hollywood Hills Hike . This easy to moderate route takes you to the top of some of the highest hills in Griffith Park, which will reward you with stunning views of the famed Hollywood Sign and the Los Angeles skyline .

10. LA Cycle Tours

Let’s face it, LA is huge and traveling by bike allows you to see a lot more, in less time. It is unsurprising then that the city is home to a thriving bike community , and you can join them too! LA Cycle Tours knows all the good routes and has options for all skill levels . If you want to combine exercise with all-you-can eat tacos , then definitely book the Taco Tour ! Ride alongside your guides to well-loved local taco spots, and eat as many tacos as you want! This still counts as exercise, right? For more information on LA Cycle Tours, click here.

11. Handlebar Bike Tours

Handlebar Bike Tours offers a variety of two-hour long guided bike rides in the Downtown Los Angeles core. All tours start at their home base, the Grand Central Market, and focus on the area’s history and architecture . Their signature Historic Core and More Tour , will give you a great overview of many famous LA landmarks . Highlights of this tour include the Disney Concert Hall , Chinatown and Union Station . Visit their website for more information.

12. LA Fly Rides eBike Tours

If you don’t want to pedal quite as hard, you can also opt for an electric bicycle ! Why sweat when you can cruise over the hills on LA Fly Rides Hollywood Sign eBike Tour ? Your guides will lead you to all the good spots and show you all the hidden mansions , while you just take in the beautiful views . Find out more on LA Fly Rides website.

Hollywood Celebrity Tours

Feel closer to the stars on a classic Hollywood Celebrity Tour!

13. Hollywood City Tours

Of course you want to know how the stars live, Hollywood City Tours gets it. Take their Original Hollywood Tour to see iconic sites like the Walk of Fame , Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip . Their open air busse s even take you past celebrity homes , and maybe you’ll get lucky and catch a glimpse of Leo, Tom, or Katy. Check out Hollywood City Tours online for more information.

If you’re ever curious about a world much further north than LA, try one of our Canadian food tours!

• Toronto Food Walk
• Montreal Beyond Poutine Tour
• Historic Quebec City Food Tour

Things to do in Montreal

Things to do in quebec city, things to do in toronto.

Where should you travel next? Take the free quiz!

A Food Lover’s Guide to the Most Drool-Worthy Los Angeles Food Tours

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read  full disclosure  for more information.

Being the cultural hub that it is, Los Angeles is a foodie’s dream. That’s why you’ll want to check out these Los Angeles food tours.

But with a seemingly numberless amount of restaurants, how do you know where to spend your time getting the best of the best that LA has to offer?

Luckily, we’ve visited LA numerous times since we live in the southwest USA. It’s only a short drive from us here in Nevada (plus, we are major foodies ourselves).

We’ve put together this list of Los Angeles food tours so you can find one that fits both your schedule and your palate the best.

Table of Contents

Top Picks: Best LA Foodie Tours

Los Angeles Venice Beach walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours

✅ Incredible local tastings

✅ Great length tour at 3 to 3.5 hours

✅ Venice Beach

Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour

✅ Small group size

✅ 6 food tastings

West Hollywood Food Tour

✅ 5 food stops

✅ Explore West Hollywood

Best Los Angeles Food Tours

⭐️ Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars ( 118 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 3 to 3.5 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, bottled water, coffee/tea, Sambazon açai bowl (contains hemp seeds), Cali-style cheeseburger, crispy fish taco, quesabirria with consomé, locally-made ice cream, delicious Secret Dish | 🍴 Book now

Venice Beach is one of the most vibrant areas in all of Los Angeles, bringing in all kinds of people and food.

On this tour , your guide will lead you on a walking tour of Venice Beach, stopping at some of the must trys as well as underground gems that the locals frequent.

“Our tour guide Bella was fantastic! We had a great walking tour of Venice Beach and she did an excellent job of showing us sights and tasting delicious food that we may not have know about (there are so many places to choose from) or where to go to see the historical places (Muscle Beach, Venice Canals, Skate Park). All of the food choices were great and she was accommodating if needed for dietary restrictions.” kdh2003 ( see more reviews )

Throughout the tour, the guide will share stories and facts about the rich history of Venice beach. You’ll come away an expert on the area’s eatables and its past.

You’ll be booked with a small group, so the group is easy to maneuver. And who knows? After the surreal experience of tasting the best of Venice Beach, you may come away with a few new friends.

This tour lasts from 3 to 3 and a half hours. 

FREE TRAVEL QUIZ

⭐️ Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars ( 354 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 3 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, food tastings, water | 🍴 Book now

This Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour caps its guests at 12 and explores the LA food scene by visiting six different eateries.

These six eateries range from bakeries to restaurants, and the food hails from a variety of different ethnicities.

“It was interesting to hear about the history of downtown LA and how it’s changed over the years, especially coming from our guide who was born and raised in the LA area. There was a nice variety of food, and everything was delicious. The 3 hour duration was a good time frame to see everything and have lunch while still giving us enough time to do other things during the day. Would highly recommend!” Michelle S ( see more reviews )

The food tour cost includes the food tastings (so no extra spending!), water, and of course, your guide.

You’ll literally get a taste of downtown LA with this 3-hour food tour.

⭐️ Rating : 4.5 out of 5 Stars ( 34 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 3 hours | ✅ Includes: 5 food stops, professional guide, water | 🍴 Book now

West Hollywood Food Tour is one of the best food tours in Los Angeles for avoiding tourist traps.

The guide will lead you to 5 food stops that you may even want to come back to. With this tour, you won’t have to go through a few bad restaurants before you find a good one.

“This was an amazing tour…. WE HAD MORE THEN ENOUGH TO FOOD!!! Every food stop, the food was delicious!!! We learned the history of LA … Robbie ( I think this was his name) was an excellent tour guide…. He followed up the tour with a text recommendation g places we should go see, eat, and party.” Griselda R ( see more reviews )

You’ll dip your toes in cuisine from Mexico to Thailand. So you can think of it more of a world tour than just a food tour. Water is available at all food stops.

This food tour also has a maximum of 12 guests and lasts 3 hours.

LA Food Tour: Exploring America’s Culinary Frontier w/ Culinary Backstreets

⭐️ Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars ( 25 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 5.5 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, coffee/tea, snacks, alcoholic beverages, lunch | 🍴 Book now

If you have a lot of time and want to get an extensive array of the delicacies LA has to offer, this is the LA food tour you should opt for.

Starting in Chinatown, you’ll weave on foot through LA’s oldest street, even getting to see the city’s oldest residence. Ending up at Grand Central Market, you’ll have plenty of chances to get to know the culinary side of LA.

“This was one of the best food tour experiences we’ve ever had. Jannine was an excellent guide! Super warm & attentive. We enjoyed every single food/culture stop & appreciated the clean bathroom stops too! You will get your steps in on this tour. We walked approximately 4 miles, so wear comfortable shoes & save your appetite! You will eat…A LOT!” Bianca C ( see more reviews )

This tour only allows a maximum of 7 guests, making for an intimate and comfortable setting.

Your guide will take you throughout LA’s history by introducing you to its comfort foods over time.

Downtown Los Angeles: Food, Arts and Culture Walking Tour

⭐️ Rating : 4.8 out of 5 Stars ( 18 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour guide | 🍴 Book now

This food tour in Los Angeles offers a comprehensive view of not only the food scene in LA, but also an overview of the city’s most prominent arts and culture spots.

The tour will start with an overview of the unsung triumphs of the LA transportation system. You’ll get access to architectural wonders, like The Bradbury Building and Union Station.

“Excellent walking tour with a very helpful and friendly guide (sorry cannot recall his name but he was from Michigan) . The inside of the Bradbury building (which you would miss if it were not for this tour) and the Angels Flight being the highlights. Overshadowed by Hollywood and the coast Downtown LA may not the first place one would consider to visit but there are some hidden gems here and seeing them on a tour such as this is highly recommended.” Get Your Guide Verified Reviewer ( see more reviews )

This tour comprises of places that are distinctly LA, and will check off quite a few boxes on your Los Angeles bucket list.

However, food tastings are not included in the price of this tour, so if you’d like to try any of the food it will be out of pocket.

Los Angeles: East LA Latin Flavors Walking Tour

⏳ Tour length : 3.5 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour guide, 8 tastings, METRO tap card | 🍴 Book now

Love Mexican food, but didn’t want to constrain your Los Angeles food tour to just tacos? East LA Latin Flavors Walking Tour guides you to 8 of the best Hispanic and Latin restaurants with a variety of options.

Many of these family-owned restaurants have stood the test of time in the largest Hispanic community in the United States. With your guide, you’ll get to learn about their stories and culture as well as revel in their tried and true dishes.

The tour price includes all tastings and spans about 3 and a half hours. This is one of the best Los Angeles food tours.

Los Angeles: Old Pasadena Food Tasting Walking Tour

⏳ Tour length : 3.5 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour guide, 10 tastings | 🍴 Book now

From one foodie to another, if you’ve never been to Pasadena, you need to. And this Old Pasadena Food Tasting Walking tour is the perfect way to experience the food here.

This tour has a total of 10 stops. Most other food tours have only 5 to 8, so you will definitely be getting the best bang for your buck here.

As you delve into the local spots, you’ll learn about Pasadena’s colorful city and walk through the even more colorful and energetic streets.

This tour is 3 and a half hours long, and it is recommended to bring your own water.

Los Angeles: Original Farmers Market Food & History Tour

⏳ Tour length : 2.5 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, tastings | 🍴 Book now

Los Angeles has always been a hub for people to bring their talents and allow others to delight in them. This is especially true of the food scene, which we can see at the Original Farmer’s Market.

Taste history with this Los Angeles food tour as your guide leads you through the farmer’s market, providing facts and stories of LA’s history at every stop.

You might even get to visit LA’s first pizzeria… (spoilers: you will.)

This tour runs for 2 and a half hours.

Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting

⭐️ Rating : 4.4 out of 5 Stars ( 9 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 4 hours | ✅ Includes: Wine tasting with 4 wines, guide, cheese/bread/salami plate | 🍴 Book now

Looking to get out of the busyness of the city and cruise around in a groovy 1970s VW van? 

With this Malibu food tour , you can do that! And you get 4 wine tastings and a cheese, salami, and bread plate included.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

“What an awesome tour of Malibu! Our guide, Alexy, was great! He took us to very beautiful and iconic spots. The wine tasting at Rosenthal’s was a nice experience complete with music, and cool ambiance. Being in the 1972 Volkswagen van, we were a tourist attraction ourselves. What a fun trip. Highly recommended!” Marlene F ( see more reviews )

This tour is 4 hours long and in that time you’ll cruise around the coastline, seeing some of LA’s most wealthy households and most picturesque coastline views. Take a walk on the Malibu Pier before heading off to see the Santa Monica Mountains.

Bonus: Every stop is an unreal photo op!

Underground Donut Tour – Santa Monica

⭐️ Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars ( 6 reviews ) | ⏳ Tour length : 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour guide, breakfast | 🍴 Book now

Now we all love Krispy Kreme, but you have got to see how the locals do it in LA.

The Underground Donut Tour comprises 3 stops, starting at the famous Randy’s Doughnuts. You may have seen this shop featured in a few films before.

“Jasmine was a great guide! Like touring Santa Monica with a friend. She’s funny, gave us the history of the donut shops and Santa Monica. The donuts were incredible! The Huckleberry in particular. We will be back.” Kim R ( see more reviews )

Then you’ll go to Sidecar Doughnuts for some creations that are almost too artistic to be eaten. Maybe they’d be better off in a museum.

You’ll also make a stop for churros. Depending on the group and the weather, the last stop is subject to change, but either way it’ll be delicious.

This tour is 2 hours long.

Final Thoughts: Best Los Angeles Food Tours

You can’t go wrong with any of these Los Angeles food tours. You’ll walk away feeling stuffed and maybe with a new favorite food.

If you ever need a reason to come back to LA, there’s always another food tour you can embark on!

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KP is the head blogger and founder behind Volumes & Voyages. After studying abroad in Dublin for a semester, KP got bitten by the travel bug. Now, she writes articles to help other travelers in between trips where she chases her wanderlust. KP has lived in many different places, including Boston MA, Denver CO, Las Vegas NV, southern VT, and Dublin IE.

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Walking Food Tours in Los Angeles

Explore multiple restaurants for a prix fixe, progressive meal with appetizers, entree, dessert, and drinks, each served seated at a different restaurant during one of our walking food tours in Los Angeles. 

Unique Walking Food Tours in LA

Explore All Experiences

What’s the Occasion?

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How is avital different than a typical food tour , quality over quantity.

But we promise, you won’t leave hungry! Our goal is to have you sample the highest quality ingredients – small plates with huge flavor.

Expertly Guided

All of our walking food tours in Los Angeles are led by a vetted and trained expert Avital Guide.

Seamless & Special

No waiting in lines and each course is served seated at a reserved table. Public tours are capped at 12 guests for an intimate, small-group experience.

Dietary Restriction Friendly

We understand dietary restrictions and want everyone to leave feeling cared for and full! We’ll ask for your restrictions after booking.

Taste The Best

Instead of visiting a whole bunch of average places with tiny toothpick bites, we visit 3-4 incredible LA restaurants that serve stellar food and drinks, and are passionate about storytelling.

“ The food and drinks were GREAT! ”

We have been on several of Avital’s tours and LOVE them! She is warm and entertaining and knows her history. The food and drinks were GREAT! I would especially encourage locals to take their out of town visitors for a food adventure with Avital Tours. Enjoy!

Pam G. via Google DTLA Food Tour

“ Food was unreal and history tidbits were awesome. ”

Had an amazing experience with Avital Tours and our guide Penny! Food was unreal and history tidbits were awesome. I felt emerged in the city in a way i haven’t been before.

Nikki J. via Google Venice Beach Food Tour

“ This is a tour for local foodies looking to explore new neighborhoods…not a generic food tour! ”

We have done 2 walking food tours with Avital and both have been amazing. First, the tour of Venice and then second the tour of Korea Town. The guides were knowledgeable, fun and we tried some really great spots. In Venice my highlight was the hands on sushi experience and in Korea Town I loved the different venues our guide showed us. In K town, our guide Penny was really great, she added humor and so much personality to our tour. This is a tour for local foodies looking to explore new neighborhoods…. not a generic food tour! Very well done!

Andy W. via Google Venice Food Tour & Koreatown Food Tour

What Are Los Angeles Walking Food Tours? 

Walking Food Tours in Los Angeles are guided culinary expeditions in Los Angeles, CA, where guests explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods on foot while sampling local food along the way. These tours are designed to showcase the rich culinary scene of LA, allowing participants to discover a wide range of flavors and dishes. Led by knowledgeable guides , the tours typically focus on specific areas known for their food offerings, such as Venice Beach , Koreatown , and Downtown LA .

Resources for Walking Food Tours in Los Angeles

Explore More LA Walking Food Tour Ideas

Recommended By Foodies Like You

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A walking food tour of Los Angeles, guided by chef Kathy Gunst

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• Kathy Gunst

Los Angeles is one of the most exciting, diverse food cities in the country. There are more than 4,000 taco trucks and close to 25,000 restaurants in LA County that represent cultures and cuisine from all over the world. A few months ago, I took a five-hour walking food tour of several LA neighborhoods. Here’s my report.

Walking is not exactly what comes to mind when you think of LA. Most people in LA drive and drive and drive … and sit in lots of traffic. But walking is a unique way to see parts of the city you can't see behind the wheel. So let me set the scene. We met our guide, Ulysses Salcido from Culinary Backstreet’s Culinary Walking Tours of LA, on foot under the arch at the entrance to LA’s New Chinatown.

Ulysses pointed out the dumpling shops and small mom-and-pop shops that sell basic home goods. We walked past the Bruce Lee statue where so many movies were filmed.

And then we headed to Mandarin Plaza, where we found the James Beard Award finalist restaurant the Angry Egrette , which does not serve Chinese food at all but some of the best fish tacos I’ve ever tasted.

Next door at a tiny shop called Steep , we had a traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony, sipping black tea that had been aged in dried tangerine peels for 8 to 10 years and sampled savory BBQ pork bao and sweet Taiwanese egg tarts.

The thing about LA is the way cultures collide. You’re walking through Chinatown, but within five minutes, you’re walking past a Vietnamese sandwich shop specializing in bahn mi, a Filipino wine bar, California burger joint, French cafes, and a Southern hot chicken restaurant.

Despite the number of restaurants and dim sum parlors in Chinatown, we noticed something else: There are no supermarkets in Chinatown. It is what you call a food desert. The community tends to shop for vegetables and basic homewares at small local shops rather than Whole Foods. As Ulysses pointed out, “The community here relies on each other.”

What Ulysses is speaking to here is that LA is a city with huge economic divisions. Los Angeles has some of the most glamorous neighborhoods filled with hillside mansions, but it’s also a place with a crippling unhoused population. The thing about this walking tour is that it’s focused on food, but it’s also a way to experience so many aspects of this city.

We walked on to Markey’s Plaza just off North Broadway to Baker’s Bench , a vegan bakery. Yes, a vegan Chinese bakery.

According to owner and baker, Jennifer Yee, “Many Asians are lactose intolerant. Our best seller is black sesame cookies, chocolate croissants and plain croissants.”

Her flaky, buttery furikake croissant — a plain croissant sprinkled with sesame seeds, seaweed and soy sauce — really won us over. It was so incredibly flaky like a really good French croissant. It was nearly impossible to believe there weren’t layers of butter inside.

Across the street at Katsu Sando , we ate a remarkably moist egg salad sandwich on homemade milk bread.

We walked on and it started to get noisy. Very noisy. We walked across an overpass above the 101, one of the city’s major freeways that runs north to south, and saw the murals that were painted for the 1984 Olympics and looked down into the ever-present traffic. We walked onto Olvera Street, the historic commercial hub for LA’s Mexican community where you can still buy a tortilla press, eat homemade taquitos and listen to live Mexican music.

Next stop, Little Tokyo! There, our guide Ulysses introduced us to one of the city’s oldest shops — Fugetsu Do Bakery Shop where the same family has been making mochi since 1903.

Mochi is a small round cake made from glutinous rice, pounded with a large wooden mallet. You could hear the pounding in the back of the shop as we looked into the glass and wood display cases. All the colors of the mochi looked like artistic jeweled cakes. There was strawberry, white bean paste, chocolate, orange, lemon, and other flavors. I’ve never been a fan of mochi until I tasted these soft, almost creamy little cakes. Totally memorable.

And then we meandered through Little Tokyo past sushi restaurants, ramen bars, and Japanese street food stalls to our last stop, one of LA’s most well-known tourist attractions — Grand Central Market . Grand Central is the city’s oldest and largest public market, opened in 1917 in a Beaux-Arts-style building with more than 40 vendors ranging from tacos and sushi to pupusas, German sausages, BBQ meats, fried chicken, ice cream, coffee shops and several bakeries.

In the front of the South Broadway market entrance, we noticed a banner with a photo of Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer prize-winning food critic for the LA Times who passed away in 2018. And taking Gold’s advice, we ended the day at the well-loved shop, Donut Man . The doughnut we tasted — an oversized, fat, glazed yeasted donut — was split in half and filled with freshly whipped cream and massive, ripe California strawberries.

We ended up walking close to five miles. We had sore feet and very full bellies. It was a day that totally reinforced my belief that LA is a remarkable, wildly diverse and delicious city to explore.

Find more information on food tours of LA with Culinary Backstreets here .

More stops on the walking tour :

• My Dung Bhan Mi - bahn mi sandwiches
• Cielito Lindo - taquitos with Avocado Sauce and tamales
• Mitsuru Café   - Japanese street food and snacks
• Vila Moreliana - carnitas michoacan for tacos

This segment aired on May 17, 2023.

• Peas, please! 3 fresh pea dishes to celebrate the end of winter
• 3 brunch recipes that will make your palate blossom this spring
• Whether sweet, salty or savory, it's a date: 3 recipes that make use of this underappreciated fruit
• 3 recipes that will bowl you over at breakfast, lunch and dinner

Kathy Gunst Resident Chef, Here & Now Kathy Gunst is a James Beard Award-winning journalist and the author of 15 cookbooks.

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LOS ANGELES FOOD TOURS

EXPLORE THE LOS ANGELES FOOD SCENE WITH MELTING POT TOURS

We commission 10% to all travel agent bookings! Contact us directly to book.

FARMERS MARKET TOUR

Artisan butchers, bakers and candymakers, a gourmet grocery emporium with one of L.A.’s finest cheese counters, local celebrity chefs, and more….

OLD PASADENA TOUR

Colorful alleys and secret thru-ways spice up our walk as we seek out spectacular ethnic eateries and sweet-stuff havens in historic Old Pasadena. 

EAST LA LATIN FLAVORS TOUR

Tres Leches cake, hand-made Tamales, a Tortilla factory, dips & delicacies are just a few things you will experience on the East LA Latin Flavors Tour.

Maritime Tour East Village Long Beach

Join us for our very own “Maritime Tour” steps from the Pacific Ocean in East Village Long Beach. Take a stroll through alleyways for a viewing of public art, plus meet amazing merchants, experience personal family recipes, and so much more.

Pasta, Pasta, Momma mia! Old Pasadena

Thai town tour.

You’ll experience the best tastes of Thai Town including papaya salad, jade noodles, and a curated selection of traditional Thai bakery treats.

Thanks for waiting – We’re currently organizing this tour and hope to have something soon!

Private and Group Tours

Groups or special events, we can help! Book us for your next corporate or private group, birthday celebration, or outing. We are accepting bookings for private and group tours now – Please call ( 323-664-4472 )  or email ( [email protected] ). We look forward to hosting you!

Amazing food, history and culture.

Southern california food tours.

Melting Pot Food Tours offers delicious food tasting tours throughout the Southern California area that will indulge your taste buds and delight your senses! Whether you’re looking to explore the Original Farmers Market , discover the vibrant past of Old Pasadena , or enjoy a fabulous guided tour through East Village Long Beach + San Pedro , Melting Pot Food Tours will be your guide.Melting Pot Food Tours continues to add new Los Angeles food tours and events, so check back often for tour updates.

Melting Pot Food Tours are designed to entertain and educate locals and visitors alike. Its tours and events strive to ignite in its participants a passion for and appreciation of Los Angeles as a world-class culinary destination. 

We offer translator services for all of our tours!

Available for the following languages: 🇯🇵 Japanese 🇮🇹 Italian 🇩🇪 German 🇫🇷 French 🇪🇸 🇲🇽 Spanish 🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)

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Los Angeles culinary walks

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Culinary Backstreets covers the world’s best eating destinations, with city guides, food tours, multi-day trips and daily dispatches.

Los Angeles: Exploring America’s Culinary Frontier

Quick Bite: Our 5 ½-hour Los Angeles food tour explores the extreme culinary diversity and ingenuity of LA’s oldest neighborhoods, out of which a staggeringly enormous and magical city has developed. Reserve

US $175/adult

Pair these L.A. road trips with a hike and a lunch

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In April 2020 — only a month or so into the COVID-19 pandemic — my wife and I were running out of things to do. The novelty of Zoom calls with friends was wearing off. We’d watched lots of movies and TV. We were itching to get out of our apartment, but with the virus still raging, we couldn’t risk being around other people. Then we had an idea: Why not go for a drive?

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For our first trip, we drove the length of Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. After that, we were hooked. In the ensuing months, we crisscrossed the Santa Monica Mountains and made trips into Los Padres National Forest and beyond.

My wife bought me a California road atlas, and it became part of our scenic drive ritual: We’d consult its pages for inspiration, looking for two-lane roads and state highways that squiggled through mountain ranges or meandered through deserts. After returning home, I’d highlight our route. Four years after our first drive, the atlas is full of highlights documenting our travels — and there’s still a lifetime’s worth of backroads we haven’t covered yet.

No matter where we go, each drive gives me a deeper appreciation for the incredible range of landscapes in Southern California. And these journeys have led to many rewarding discoveries, from out-of-the-way diners to new trailheads for hiking and biking.

If you’re tired of visiting the same places, it’s time to hit the road. These two trips — all within a three-hour drive of the city — will get you started.

Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument This route traverses winding mountain roads through Los Padres and spits you out near the southern entrance to Carrizo Plain — a vast preserve of native grassland and a hotspot for wildflowers (at least on some years ) and birdwatching . From Interstate 5, take Exit 205 and head west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. This two-lane road changes names several times as it ascends into the San Emigdio Mountains, passing forested slopes and epic canyon views along the way.

After about 42 miles, you’ll meet California 166. Take a right here and then a left on Soda Lake Road to enter Carrizo Plain National Monument. Drive northwest for 35 miles to the parking lot for the Soda Lake Trail, a short boardwalk that gets you up close to the park’s salt-crusted lake. If you plan ahead, you can also book a guided tour of Painted Rock, a sandstone outcrop with Native American rock art.

Hungry? Head back the way you came, take a right on California 166, and drive west 15 miles to the Cuyama Buckhorn , a renovated ’50s motel, restaurant and bar. The eatery’s Santa Maria-style tri-tip is superb, and if you grab a room, you can turn this scenic drive into a full weekend escape .

Volcan Mountain and Julian This route will take you to Julian , a mountain town famous for its apple orchards and delicious pies. From Interstate 15, take Exit 58 for California 79. Take a right on Pechanga Parkway and head south. The road becomes Pala Temecula Road and emerges into a wide canyon with mountains towering on either side. Take a left at Pala Mission Road and continue east on California 76, which hugs the San Luis Rey River before ascending more than 1,000 feet up a chaparral-covered ridgeline.

After some hairpin turns, the road levels off and skirts Lake Henshaw, a picturesque reservoir. Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road. Follow that road for about 3.5 miles, then take a left on Farmer Road to arrive at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Stretch your legs on the Five Oaks Trail , a 1.2-mile path that ascends the western flank of Volcan Mountain and offers sweeping views of the orchards below.

With your appetite revved up, head south on Farmer Road into Julian and make a stop at the Julian Pie Co . Grab a well-deserved slice of apple pie and some apple cider and rest your feet at a picnic table while you chow down.

3 things to do

1. Race plankton in Manhattan Beach In celebration of Earth Day, the Roundhouse Aquarium will hold a day full of educational activities inside and outside its facilities. Highlights include dolphin spotting, a fish feeding, crafts, games, a “shark shack” and, yes, plankton racing. The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and go until 4 p.m. The event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time at roundhouseaquarium.org .

2. Go gardening in San Pedro Give back to the land by planting native species, removing weeds, mulching and watering the White Point Nature Preserve’s garden with the folks at Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. You’ll also have the chance to enter a raffle and take a guided nature walk. As a bonus, refreshments will be provided by Starbucks to keep you cool and hydrated. The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. All volunteers under age 16 should be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver at the event. Register at pvplc.com .

3. Stretch your legs on Venice Boulevard CicLAvia is back. And this time it’s shutting down a 5.75-mile stretch of Venice Boulevard that connects Palms, Mar Vista and Venice Beach for walkers, joggers, bikers, roller skaters, unicyclers, penny-farthings, pogo sticks — anything as long as it’s completely powered by humans. There will be three local hubs along the route where you’ll be able to partake in family-friendly activities, pump air into your bike’s tires, refill your water bottle and use the restroom. Be sure to reference CicLAvia’s digital map so you can scope out the local businesses you’d like to visit along the way. It all takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the event and the area it covers, visit ciclavia.org .

The must-read

The Klamath River in Northern California has turned brown and muddy, but that’s a good thing. As Times writer Ian James reports , it’s a side effect of the largest dam removal project in history, which aims to restore the river to its natural state. Four dams are being removed along the Klamath, and the river is passing freely through tunnels in three of them, draining reservoirs and churning up an estimated 2.3 million tons of sediment that had settled along the bottom of those man-made lakes. Although the turbid water might look ugly, restoration advocates and tribal leaders see it as a sign of healing. The muck is passing out of the Klamath, and new life — everything from salmon heading upstream to native plant seedlings along the riverbanks — will soon take its place.

Happy adventuring,

Want to try birding but don’t have binoculars? Head to the Audubon Center in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and you can borrow a free pair of binoculars (as well as a birding guide, backpack and other gear) to help you spot the 140 species of birds that call the park home.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild . And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here .

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We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

Michael Charboneau is a freelance writer covering gear and the outdoors, and he’ll be writing The Wild newsletter for the next few months. He has written for a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Runner’s World and InsideHook, and he lives in West L.A. When he’s not writing, he can be found running, hiking and biking around Los Angeles and its mountains.

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Celebrating 12 Years of Delicious Food Tours - Small & Large Group Team Building Available

ABOUT SIDEWALK FOOD TOURS OF LOS ANGELES

A CULINARY EXPERIENCE COMPANY

Sidewalk Food Tours was inspired by a deep love of food, history, and the unique stories of different neighborhoods in different cities. The first Sidewalk Food Tour was launched in NYC, and since then, the Sidewalks family has grown to include tours in Chicago, San Francisco, Paris, New Orleans and now LA.

Our goal is to provide exceptional walking food tours of Los Angeles so you can revisit these neighborhoods with confidence and enjoy the array of culinary options they have to offer. We want you to feel as if you’re exploring the city with a close friend who’s showing you all their favorite local hideaways.

We’re self-proclaimed foodies. We’ve made it our mission to eat our way through LA, doing a lot of delicious research (and some not so appetizing) to bring you the best food options the city has to offer. There is no better way to learn about the history and culture of a neighborhood than to eat its food. The food and the people who prepare it tell the story of a neighborhood. Join us on a real foodie adventure as we eat our way through our favorite neighborhoods and uncover the best off-the-beaten-path food spots in LA.

We look forward to having you join us on a Sidewalk Food Tour of Los Angeles and can’t wait to show you the sights. Happy eating!

Bon voyage!

SIDEWALK FOOD TOURS OF LOS ANGELES

EXPLORE NEIGHBORHOOD DELIGHTS

Savor the sights, sounds, and flavors of LA on a Food Tour of Los Angeles! Your expert tour guide leads you on a walking adventure through this extraordinary city, sharing stories of early settlers, Hollywood’s heyday, and the transformation of LA’s culture and food scene.

On your food tour, you get to enjoy tastes from unique LA eateries, including the best bakeries, authentic ethnic eateries, and renowned establishments creating a buzz in the foodie universe. Along the way, your tour guide introduces you to the city’s unique history, evolving food culture, and fascinating architecture. At the end of your tour, with your newfound knowledge of LA’s best hidden gems, you’ll feel like a true Angeleno!

FIND THE TOUR THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU!

Meet the team.

JOSHUA HIRSCH

On a six-hour historical tour of Lower Manhattan, Joshua’s stomach began to grumble as the guide pointed out some delicious food spots. It was then that he had an “aha moment.” He decided to include his favorite food places on a history and culture walking tour, so folks wouldn’t be hungry while discovering the city!

He wanted his tours to tell the story of the neighborhood through its food and the people who prepare it. The rest, as they say, is history. Sidewalk Food Tours, a culinary experience company, was born. He has since expanded into six delectable cities. His goal is to expand to every major U.S. city you travel to, so you can experience its food and culture on a Sidewalk Food Tour.

CHIEU HIRSCH

We are honored to have Chieu Hirsch on our team. She plays an integral part in the company’s overall success. Her family bravely refuged to the U.S. from Vietnam in the 1980s. She brings years of business experience, previously working for Sprint, Principal Financial, Morgan Stanley, and Hartford. In addition to her business acumen, she is extremely passionate about feng shui, astrology, food, and culture. She loves meditation, traveling, and hiking to beautiful mountaintops. Spending quality time with her eight nieces and nephews is what brings her the most joy.

ROBBIE BRUENS

Robbie is a comedian and filmmaker who also eats food from time to time, a habit he developed during childhood and can’t seem to kick. He loves to find the best spots to eat and drink in every city he visits and share these discoveries with anyone curious about such matters.

He also has a degree in History and will talk your ear off about the past if you let him.

SCARLET CUMMINGS

Scarlet grew up in Los Angeles and received a BA in film and art history from UC Berkeley. She loves sharing downtown LA’s delicious food, stunning architecture, and fascinating history with visitors and locals alike. Scarlet is an actor and standup comedian, and an avid traveler, bibliophile, and language enthusiast.

MONICA CERESETO

Monica is a professionally trained chef and people lover that was born and raised in Los Angeles. She’s worked it all from low brow delis to Michelin starred restaurants to food styling for advertising campaigns to programming and testing smart ovens! When she isn’t cooking or touring she’s checking out local comedy shows and taking long walks in LA.

Favorite cocktail: Mezcal Negroni

Favorite LA restaurant: The Apple Pan

JESS CASHIN

Jess comes from a background working for years in the travel industry, and what was her first move whenever scoping out a new city? Book a food tour! From Rabat to Reykjavik, Lisbon to Beijing, and many places in between, she’s always found that one of the best ways to get to know a city is through its food, so she’s thrilled to now be giving food tours in her adopted home of Los Angeles (though she remains a Bostonian at heart – she’ll defy you to find a chowder that meets her standards!)

Favorite cocktail : Margarita in summer, Old Fashioned in winter

Favorite LA restaurant: Melrose Umbrella Co.

CHRIS SUZUKI

Chris is a fifth generation native of Los Angeles, having studied art, history, and theatre in college he has been leading tours around Los Angeles and its museums for almost ten years. Living in downtown LA, he started leading tours at the Getty Villa, later moving to the Marciano Arts Foundation, and currently also leading private tours of Los Angeles museums for ArtMuse LA . He loves getting to share his hometown, its amazing stories and incredible food with guests from all over the world.