Chicago Food & City Tours

Chicago Food & City Tours, which also calls itself The Original Chicago Food Tours, is a local company whose owner has been hosting food tours in the city for more than 15 years. Its tours introduce visitors to Chicago through what it eats, mixing tastings with stories about the neighbourhoods along the way.

The best introduction is the company's three-hour tour of classic Chicago foods, which includes full-sized tastings of local specialities such as deep-dish pizza, Italian beef and the Chicago-style hot dog. Fans of the TV series The Bear can book Yes, Chef! Chicago: A Bear-Inspired Food Tour, which lasts three and a half hours and visits restaurants featured on the show.

Neighbourhood tours go further. The Gateway to the West Loop tour spends three hours on and around Randolph Street, with stops at restaurants, homegrown breweries and dive bars. The Chinatown Adventure Food Tour and Street Foods of Pilsen each last three hours and explore two of the city's food neighbourhoods, while the two-hour Lincoln Park Walking Tour includes local coffee. There is also a longer seasonal bakery bus tour to Milwaukee.

Tours are booked online through the company's website, using FareHarbor availability links, and a tour calendar shows upcoming dates. Private tours can be arranged for corporate groups, celebrations and bachelor or bachelorette parties. Tours run in most weather, as the company says, and ponchos are provided if it rains, so dress for the forecast and wear comfortable shoes.

Dietary needs are an important point to check. Vegetarian-friendly tastings must be requested when you buy tickets, and the company cannot accommodate other allergies or dietary restrictions, including vegan and gluten-free diets. If those apply to you, a different kind of tour is a better choice. Groups should book together so that everyone is on the same departure.

The tours suit food lovers, first-time visitors who want to try Chicago's classics in one go, and travellers who enjoy learning about neighbourhoods on foot. Come hungry, as the tastings are substantial, and avoid a large meal beforehand. Check the meeting point for your tour when booking. For enquiries, call +1 312-932-0800 or use the contact form on the website.