Best food tours in Chicago

Eating is one of the must-do things to do in Chicago no matter what time of year you travel. Chicago is known for having some of the best pizza in the United States. Chicago has become iconic around the world for being the birthplace of the Deep Dish Pizza, which is very different from the thin-crust pizza we all know.

As well as being home to the iconic Uno Chicago Grill, where the pizza originated, the city has many restaurants and food stalls where you'll find delicious recipes. Italian cuisine, unique hot dogs, doughnuts and even Chinese food are just a few of the foods you'll be able to sample. What are you waiting for?

One of the best ways to get to know a city is on foot. I invite you to take this kind of walking tours around the most emblematic places of the city while you taste pizzas, hot dogs, chocolates and all the typical food of the Windy City. These tours average 3 hours in length and cost approximately €74.

This is one of the things you can include in your winter things to do in Chicago, as on cold days your guide will take you through the Chicago Pedway system. This is a network of tunnels, lobbies and bridges that keep you warm. If you go in a warm month you will have the opportunity to walk the Loop walkways.

You will begin the tour by meeting your guide at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. After a lively introduction to the history of Chicago, you'll enjoy a cheese-filled pizza pie. Next stop is the Wrigley Building, where you'll sample Chicago's iconic Deep Dish Pizza.

On the tour you'll also pass along the elegant Michigan Avenue and grab a hot dog at Max's Take Out. Other stops include Italian food and beverages such as beer. In addition to the tasting, you'll pass iconic attractions and sites such as the Chicago River, Millennium Park, The Loop, Chicago's Marquee Theatre on State Street, the Crown Fountain, the Pritzker Pavilion and the Cloud Gate or "The Bean".

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 74 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you can stroll through iconic Chicago sites while eating the best and most popular food in the city. In addition, all meals are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: Since the main focus is on food, you won't have much time to visit the sites you want to see on the spot. You must follow the itinerary to make the most of your time.

If you like sweets and especially donuts, this is the right kind of tour for you. For 2 hours you will tour the city and taste the best doughnuts. The whole tour has an average cost of 40 € which includes the tasting and bottles of water. You'll find classic glazed doughnuts, cream-filled doughnuts and much more.

You can order vegan, gluten-free or nut-free options along the way. You won't have to worry about dietary restrictions as long as you can eat sugar, lots of sugar. These tours usually start in the morning when you meet your guide and group at the Chicago French Market.

The best doughnut shops in Chicago are located in The Loop area, so you can take advantage of these tours to get to know this place. Some of the shops included in this tour are Firecakes Donuts, Stan's Donuts & Coffee and Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken. All of them are included in the tour. At each stop you will receive a donut and you can purchase additional donuts if you wish.

These tours usually end near Michigan and Erie Avenue, so you can plan your next plan from this point. Remember, you can always book passes or tickets to visit Chicago's iconic sites and attractions.

Details of interest

• Price: around €40.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: the tour takes place in the morning and with all the sugar consumed, you will have enough energy to continue touring Chicago during the day.
• Disadvantages of this option: this is not the most ideal option if you can't eat too much sugar or fat.

Do you like pizza? Then Chicago is the place to be. I invite you to book this kind of tour of about four hours where you can stroll through neighbourhoods, popular and not so popular places in Chicago that hide the best pizzas in the city. For 74 € you can take a minibus tour of several pizzerias, taste a small sample of their best pizzas and learn about the history behind each one.

These tours usually start at a meeting point in the city centre. Here your guide will begin by telling you why pizza has a special place in Chicago's history. You will then board the minibus and make your first stop at Pizano's Pizza, located on The Magnificent Mile. This place is known for being part of the creation of the Deep Dish Pizza.

Next stop is Flo & Santo's, located near Grant Park. Here you will enjoy a tavern style pizza. The dishes are a delicious fusion of Italian and Polish cuisine that you will love. Then stop by Pequod's, a restaurant that is a local legend thanks to its caramelised cheese crust with sweet sauce. You'll find this delicacy near Lincoln Park.

Just a few metres from the United Center you'll find Coalfire, where they make delicious coal-fired pizzas. This pizzeria is followed by Piece Brewery and Pizzeria, known for its New Haven-style pies, a favourite on the tour. Remember that the minibus will take you to each of the restaurants, so you won't have to walk.

If you feel like exploring the city, don't forget that you can always take a sightseeing bus. This way you will get to know every corner of the city.

Interesting details

• Price: around 74 €.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: by bus.
• Advantages of this option: if you are a fan of pizza, this is perhaps the best plan. For 4 hours you can enjoy as much pizza as you want and the best part is that transportation is included for convenience.
• Disadvantages of this option: Pizza can be a heavy meal and some people may have an unfavourable reaction to too much pizza.

The Chinatown of American cities is always an attractive spot for tourists. It's worth a visit because it gives you the feeling of having visited two different cultures in one trip, don't you think it's amazing? Well, you can do some walking tours to see all the nooks and crannies of this Chinatown while tasting the delicious food for 3 hours for an average cost of 74 €.

The best thing about this kind of tour is that you get to taste recipes from different parts of China in one place. After meeting your guide and group at the Chicago Dragon Gate, you will begin your tour. Don't be surprised when you're taken to some very discreet shops, as this is often where you'll get the best dish of the tour.

The first thing you'll try is dim sum fritters, a classic Chinese food. Then you'll eat a sample of the cuisine of the Xi'an region. Sometimes it is a spiced meat sandwich. You will receive these food samples at each shop or restaurant where your guide tells you to go, where you will make a short stop to get the best tastes. You will then begin a tour through Chinatown Square where you will see the markets and multiple souvenir shops.

Other sample foods you will try include Beijing-style lacquered duck, Szechuan stew, custard tarts and dessert pastries that are a blend of Chinese and Portuguese culture. Also not to be missed are Sichuan-style chicken and traditional Chinese stew accompanied by slices of meat and vegetables. Your guide is sure to explain how to eat this delicious delicacy to round off your gastronomic tour.

At the end of this type of Chinatown tour, you can plan some activities to do at night in Chicago and continue enjoying the city.

Interesting details

• Price: about 74 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: visiting Chicago's Chinatown gives you the opportunity to get to know another culture besides the American one. You'll taste flavours totally different from the rest of Chicago and have a totally different day.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you just want to get to know American culture, this may not be the plan for you. Here you will only see typical Chinese food and things.

Worried about gaining a few extra pounds on these food tours? Then a bike tour is the way to go. Cycle around the city with your guide as you sample food of all styles for four hours at an average cost of €90. Not only will you get to see the city's most iconic sights and attractions, but you'll also get a taste of what Chicago tastes like.

The meeting point for this type of tour is usually near Navy Pier. There you will receive a helmet, a bike and instructions from your guide. When the whole group is ready you will head to the River North neighbourhood, cross the Chicago River and ride to the historic Fulton Market district. This area is full of restaurants.

Normally the first thing you'll try is a typical hamburger with a beer at Roister's restaurant. Then it's time to head past the Google headquarters, where you'll see beautiful murals made with street art. At one point along the way your guide will tell you where to eat an amazing taco while you have the opportunity to admire historic mansions from the 19th century. These imposing structures are located on the way to the modern neighbourhood of Wicker Park.

You'll continue cycling as your guide directs you to the 606 trail to a pub in Bucktown. There you can enjoy a "Chicago handshake", a drink made from a local liquor known as Malort. To top it all off, you can enjoy a delicious chocolate in Chicago's Old Town.

If for various reasons it's difficult for you to do a bike tour, but you still want to explore the city, I recommend a Segway tour of Chicago. This option is great fun and suitable for the whole family.

Interesting details

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: rented bike.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will be able to see a large part of the city and get to know it up close as you travel by bike. In addition, you will eat in popular restaurants in the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: for people who have a sensitive stomach this may not be the best option. While your stomach is digesting, you will be pedalling and it can be counterproductive.

Food tours are always exciting and fun. However, you should be careful about all the food you are going to try. If you have any allergies or special dietary requirements and you are on a guided tour, it is best to tell your guide. I'm sure he or she will look for options that you can enjoy.

On the other hand, I recommend that you take some medicine to help you digest better or to soothe stomach pains. It is best to always carry it with you to prevent any eventuality. If you feel you can't eat all the food samples, it's best to order a takeaway: many of the tours offer this option included, so you won't be alone.

The great thing about food tours is that they leave you plenty of time to get to know the city. I recommend taking a tour of Chicago so you can continue to be amazed by the beauty of this city.

Chicago is a city full of popular restaurants, especially those that make pizza. The history of this dish in this city is very iconic so if you travel to Chicago it is almost a priority to try it. On the other hand, Chicago is also home to a special Chicago-style hot dog, so you can't miss it either.

Chicago's most famous foods are not only famous for having a special style, but also for having a story behind them. It's often the result of different cultures mixing together thanks to migration - doesn't it seem strange that pizza is the most popular thing to eat in Chicago if it's an Italian recipe? If you're dying to know what's behind this story, you can't miss the food tours of this city, which bring much more than just food.

If you've never been to Chicago before, you'll probably feel a little lost. That's why it's best to have the help of a guide who knows the city and where to get the best food. Plus, a food tour allows you to try a little bit of everything.

On the other hand, if you travel on your own, you will have to buy the whole plate and you will be left wanting to try others. On the other hand, this type of tour allows you to meet other people who have the same interests as you. This type of plan is ideal if you want to socialise and make friends from all over the world.

At the end of the food tour you can continue your tour by visiting the best museums in Chicago. The best thing is that you won't have to stop for lunch so you can enjoy the rest of your afternoon. If you like this plan, I advise you to buy your ticket in advance and get to the museum of your choice on time.