Complimentary Food Tour
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Get the Avital Self-Guided Chinatown Food Tour in San Francisco. Escape the “tourist traps” and get a glimpse into how everyday locals feast.
Summary
Updated March 10, 2025
The San Francisco dining scene is one of the best in the country. With innovative restaurants, the best ingredients, and experimental concepts, it’s no wonder people travel far and wide to eat in SF. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or are a local and want to experience your city in a new way, these food tours in San Francisco are guaranteed to please.
At Avital, we’ve been hosting 5-star San Francisco food tours since 2011. We are experts in all things San Francisco dining for both travelers and locals alike. A few of the tours below are our own tours, which we think are truly the best. But we’ve also including many other great San Francisco food tour companies that we know offer an excellent experience.
Here are the best food tours in San Francisco, mapped. Whether you’re looking for a Latin lunch tour in the Mission or a full day wine tour in Napa, we’ve got you covered.
Avital Food Tours of San Francisco, Godeus Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
Explore the Mission District or North Beach on a 4-Course Dining Experience with Expert Guide and Seated Courses View on Google Maps ⧉San Francisco Native Tours, Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, USA
View on Google Maps ⧉San Francisco Pedicab, San Francisco, CA, USA
Gears & Grapes, Commercial Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
Vantigo Tours, Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, USA
Platypus Wine Tours, Camino Oruga, Napa, CA, USA
Sonoma Food and Wine Tour – by Gourmet Food & Wine Tours, Donner Avenue, Sonoma, CA, USA
Chances are if you love food tours, you also might enjoy beverage tours—like brewery tours, cocktail crawls, and wine tours! So we gathered them all in one place for ya.
Number | SF Food Tour | Neighborhood | Cost / Person | Duration | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Avital’s North Beach Food Tour | North Beach | $115 | 3 Hours | Food Tour |
2 | Avital’s Mission District Food Tour | Mission District | $115 | 3 Hours | Food Tour |
3 | Ultimate Chinatown Tour | Chinatown | $89 | 3 Hours | Food Tour |
4 | Mission Street Art & Food | Mission District | $85 | 3 Hours | Food Tour |
5 | Ferry Building & Farmers Market | Ferry Building | $90 | 1.5 Hours | Food Tour |
6 | Japantown Food Tour | Japantown | $130 | 2 Hours | Food Tour |
7 | Little Italy & Chinatown Food Tour | North Beach & Chinatown | $84 | 4 Hours | Food Tour |
8 | Ate My Way Through Chinatown Food Tour | Chinatown | $95 | 3 Hours | Food Tour |
9 | SoMa Craft Beer Tour | SoMa | $100 | 4 Hours | Brewery Tour |
10 | Pedicab Brewery Tour | Ferry Building & Beyond | $295 | 3 Hours | Brewery Tour |
11 | Beers & Bikes Tour | SoMa | $75+ | 3.5 Hours | Brewery Tour |
12 | VW Van Beer Tour | Varies | $99 | 3 Hours | Brewery Tour |
13 | Tipsy Tour | 4 SF Neighborhoods | $129 | 4.5 Hours | Cocktail Tour |
14 | Taco Tequila Tour | Mission District | $85+ | 3 Hours | Cocktail Tour |
15 | Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour | Napa & Sonoma | $109 | 9 Hours | Wine Tour |
16 | North Sonoma Wine Tour | North Sonoma | $129 | 6.5 Hours | Wine Tour |
17 | Sausalito Food & Wine Tour | Sausalito | $149 | 3.5 Hours | Wine Tour |
Discover hidden gems and iconic eateries alongside an expert guide. Walking food tours are a great way to experience many different dishes for a single meal. Food tours are great for travelers, but they’re equally as great for locals. Maybe it’s a team building outing, a way to treat clients in town, or for relatives visiting you in SF, food tours are the perfect way to eat, drink, and connect.
Our North Beach food tour, the Little Italy of San Francisco, highlights the Italian restaurant scene while also getting a taste of SF’s iconic Chinatown with a dim sum stop. You’ll taste authentic wood-fired pizza, award-winning Italian gelato, and famous Cioppino seafood stew paired with a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Our North Beach food tour accommodates all dietary restrictions as well, making it great for groups.
Our Mission food tour showcases innovative and classic Latin restaurants, as well as the amazing murals this neighborhood is known for–the best in San Francisco! You’ll taste luscious pork tamales, authentic empanadas, freshly fried clam rolls, mezcal margaritas, and more! This historic neighborhood is a must-see and must-learn-about for anyone living in or visiting San Francisco.
Image Credit: Unknown
If a perfect afternoon includes for you includes Hong Kong egg tarts, juicy pork buns, a tea tasting, and some flavorful Szechuan cuisine, then add a Chinatown Food Tour to your list. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America, meaning there’s lots of history and culture to take in. And, so much food! The best part about a Chinatown Food Tour is being able to taste the best of the neighborhood, while scoping out the places you want to try next. We guarantee you’ll be back for more.
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A great way to learn about this iconic neighborhood is with a Mission District Street Art & Food Tour! Indulge in a “Super” taco, Detroit-style deep dish, and Salvadorian pupusas as you stroll the streets and take in the incredible artwork of the Mission. The tour can accommodate vegetarians, but unfortunately no other dietary restrictions. This tour is only offered for private groups at this time.
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The Ferry Building is home to some of the freshest produce and best craft artisans in the city. In just one building you can find the creamiest cheeses, decadent macarons, and tastiest oysters. This Ferry Building food tour expertly picks out some of the best merchants to taste from and gives you history about the build itself. After the tour, browse around some more and grab extra treats, or just enjoy the waterfront with a great cup of coffee— or wine!
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Transport yourself and your tastebuds in San Francisco’s Japantown. There are only three Japantowns left in the United States, making this a unique cultural experience, as well as a chance to support the neighborhood. Though Japantown is small, it is packed to the brim with great restaurants, markets, and cafes. This Japantown Food Tour offers tastes of traditional Japanese treats like mochi, okonomiyaki, and onigiri. Plus, many of the tour guides are Japantown locals and can tell you more of the delicious places to visit, and perhaps the best place to go karaoke.
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You may think Chinese food and Italian food all at once? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying on the Chinatown & North Beach Walking Tour! Chinatown and North Beach have some of the most delicious restaurants in all of San Francisco. Homemade, authentic meals – where you’ll even get the chance to see how Fortune Cookies are made! You’ll indulge in chocolates from one of the top chocolatiers in the U.S.A. and get a behind-the-scenes look at how it’s made.
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Chinatown is chalk full of incredible restaurants (over 100!) so it’s no wonder it shows up multiple times on a list of foodie-approved San Francisco food tours. This Chinatown Food Tour is offered in both English and Cantonese and takes you beyond the tourist traps. You’ll visit a Chinese deli, fortune cookie factory, a classic cookware purveyor/museum, plus a family-style Chinese lunch. A tour for food-lovers only!
If you’re looking to embark on a hoppy adventure, a brewery or beer tour is just the ticket. From historic breweries to trendy taprooms, these brewery tours offer a taste of the city’s brewing heritage and innovative flavors.
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Feeling at home in a neighborhood is, as we all know, not only about its eateries, but its breweries, too. On this awesome craft beer tour, you’ll be guided all over San Francisco’s SOMA district, tasting some of the best hops the city’s got! From learning about the unique craft beer scene here, and what role these local microbreweries play in elevating San Francisco’s game, a true beer-lover wouldn’t want to miss this!
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Every wanted to take a brewery tour on a mobile couch? Well now’s your chance! On this Pedicab Brewery Tour, you’ll relax and ride in style as your visit several of San Francisco’s best breweries. The ride starts at the Ferry Building where you’ll kick off the tour with a beer from Fort Point, before being whisked away for more delicious brews. A unique experience, great for couples!
Update March 10, 2025: This tour is on pause. Please check back later for availability.
Life is all about balance, right? So why not get a little exercise in while enjoying some of SF’s best local brews?! On this Beers & Bikes Tour you’ll stop at three breweries via bike, plus you’ll get to experiences some of San Francisco’s coolest neighborhoods along the way. The tour includes your first pint, a guide, a bike and helmet.
Image Credit: Neko Reindl via creativelive.com
Step back in time for this Brew Tour in a vintage VW van! You’ll hear about the rich history of beer in San Francisco as you sit back, relax, and enjoy. The tour stops at three breweries, with tastings at each, plus a brewing facility tour and a special souvenir.
Savor the spirit (pun intended) of San Francisco with cocktail or distillery tours. You’ll discover the city’s cocktail culture, like hidden speakeasies and artisanal distilleries along the way.
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On the Tipsy Original Tour, you’ll explor eSan Francisco through the lens of a few cocktails. You’ll go through the Financial District, Barbary Coast, North Beach, and Chinatown – which means you’ll be hitting the best food spots in the city all in one tour. From paninis to pizza to hot carmel popcorn and authentic dim sum…I’m drooling as I type. You’ll be both satisfied in both belly and heart with this one!
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Nothing goes together quite like tacos and tequila. This spirit-forward tour in the Mission District features a complimentary tequila shot to kick things off before embarking on a taco crawl at a James Bear award-winning taqueria, plus other Mexican establishments, before finishing with, you guessed it, more tequila! You’ll also receive a souvenir shot glass, plus pickup and drop-off is included.
Escape to the picturesque vineyards just outside the city on these San Francisco culinary tours. Experience the terroir of the region with wine tastings, guided tours, and breathtaking views.
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While not technically a part of San Francisco, the city, the Bay Area’s wine country is a part of the experience of visiting and getting to know San Francisco and its culinary scene. So, we included a wine country tour on this list. Green Dream Tours specializes in wine tours that can last as short as a half day and go as long as a full day. They even have an Alcatraz and Wine Combo Tour (one of our favorites they offer) that takes you to two different Sonoma wineries, lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, then the iconic Alcatraz Island for a historic tour.
Image Credit: platypustours.com
If you’re looking for small family wineries, this North Sonoma Wine Tour is for you! You’ll experience the hand-picked wineries of North Sonoma, Russian River, and Healdsburg, each with their own rustic charm. The tour includes a picnic lunch and shuttle service, but does not include the wine tastings, which are typically $20-25 per person, per winery.
Want to experience the wines of Sonoma and Napa in a downtown village with delicious food? We thought so! This Sausalito Food & Wine Tour is a historic journey featuring culinary delights, local history, and delicious wines. After a refreshing ferry ride over from San Francisco, you’ll enjoy a 1/2 glass wine pairing at 4 different restaurants. The ultimate tour for food and wine lovers!
The best food tour in San Francisco depends on the type of experience you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a higher-end experience with seated tastings, Avital Experiences offers the best food tours. But if you’re looking for small, quick bites, another company, such as Secret Food Tours or Sidewalk food tours, might be better for you.
There are also themed tours to match your interest, like food and art tours, brewery tours, or wine tours. San Francisco is full of amazing food tours for everyone.
San Francisco food tours are not only food tasting experiences that take place in San Francisco, but they also provide contextual and historical information about San Francisco via its culinary landscape! Most San Francisco food tours not only teach you about what’s on your plate, but also about what local ingredients they’re using, how the restaurant began in the first place, or what significance the cuisine has in the city.
Most San Francisco food tours cost between $75-$150 per person. Prices can range dramatically and it’s important to note that it’s not always easy to compare apples to apples. For example, Sidewalk’s North Beach tour is $89, while Avital’s North Beach tour is $150. However, Avital’s tastings are more robust, featuring 2 appetizers, an entree, and a dessert, PLUS 3 alcoholic beverage pairings. So although the cost is higher, the value is better.
Most San Francisco food tours last 1.5-3 hours.
North Beach, Mission District, Chinatown, and the Ferry Building are the most popular neighborhoods/locations for San Francisco Food Tours.
North Beach: San Francisco’s Little Italy is all about house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and strong espresso. Cozy trattorias and historic cafés line the streets, while old-school bakeries serve up cannoli and focaccia.
Mission District: A mix of authentic Latin flavors and new creative restaurant concepts. You’ll find iconic taquerias serving up some of the best burritos in the city, alongside trendy spots plating innovative Mexican and Californian cuisine.
Chinatown: The oldest Chinatown in the U.S. is really a food lover’s paradise. From steaming baskets of dim sum to hand-pulled noodles and Cantonese BBQ, every corner is packed with bold flavors and generations of tradition.
Ferry Building: For foodies who love farm-to-table style dining—think artisan cheeses, fresh oysters, and gourmet bites—the Ferry Building is a dream. This waterfront marketplace is packed with top-tier food vendors, farm-to-table restaurants, and some of the city’s best coffee.
Yes! All dietary restrictions are accommodated on Avital tours. You’ll be asked about your dietary preferences during booking.
Most tour companies can accommodate vegetarian and other more common dietary restrictions, but check before booking.
Yes! All of Avital’s San Francisco food tours have the option to upgrade to include 3 alcoholic beverage pairings (or high-quality, non-alcoholic alternatives). However, most tours don’t include the beverage pairings in the base price so be sure to check if the beverage pairings are important to you.
Yes! At Avital, we focus on quality over quantity, but we promise you won’t leave hungry. You’ll indulge in two delicious appetizers, a hearty entree, plus dessert. All tastings are served seated at reserved tables for a real VIP feel.
A food tour is one of the best way to really experience San Francisco. And there’s no better, more experienced food tour company than Avital.