Best food tours in Chicago

Eating is one of the things you must do in Chicago no matter what time of year you travel. This city is known for having the best pizzas in the entire United States. Chicago has become iconic around the world for being the place where the Deep Dish Pizza originated, very different from the thin pizza we all know.

Besides being home to the iconic Uno Chicago Grill restaurant, where this pizza originated, the city has many restaurants and food stands where you will find delicious recipes. Italian cuisine, unique hot dogs, doughnuts and even Chinese food are among the foods you can sample. What are you waiting for to enjoy all this food?

One of the best ways to tour a city to get to know it completely is by walking. I invite you to take this kind of walking tours through the most emblematic places of the city while you taste pizzas, hot dogs, chocolates and all the typical food of the Windy City. This kind of tours have an average duration of 3 hours and an approximate cost of 74 €.

This plan is one of the things you can include in the things to do during the winter in Chicago, because 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 signature Deep Dish Pizza.

On the tour you'll also pass along the elegant Michigan Avenue and eat hot dogs 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 Theater 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 transportation: the tour is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you can stroll through iconic sites of Chicago while eating the best and most popular of the city. In addition, all meals are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: since the main focus is on food, you will not 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 ideal tour for you. For 2 hours you will tour the city and taste the best donuts. The whole tour has an average cost of 40 € which includes the tasting and bottles of water. You will find the classic donuts with glaze, cream filled and much more.

On the way you can ask for vegan, gluten free or nut free options. 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 your group at the Chicago French Market.

The best donut stores in Chicago are located in The Loop area, so you can take advantage of these tours to check out this location. Some of the stores 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 that 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 transportation: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: the tour is done 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 destination you should visit. I invite you to book this type of tour of about four hours where you can stroll through neighborhoods, popular sites and other not so well known of Chicago that hide the best pizzas in the city. For 74 € you can travel by minibus through several pizzerias, taste a small while of their best pizzas and learn the history behind each one.

These tours usually start at a meeting point in the center of the city. 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.

The next stop will be 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. Next you will stop by Pequod's, a restaurant that is a local legend thanks to the caramelized cheese crust with sweet sauce. You'll find this delicacy near Lincoln Park.

Just a few meters 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, one of the favorites of the tour. Remember that the minibus will take you to each of the restaurants, so you won't have to do the tour on foot.

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

Details of interest

• 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 all the pizza you want and the best part is that transportation is included for your convenience.
• Disadvantages of this option: pizza can be a heavy meal and some people may have an unfavorable reaction to too much pizza.

The Chinatown in the cities of the United States is always an attractive spot for tourists. It is worth visiting them because you will have 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 know all the corners of this Chinatown while you taste the delicious food for 3 hours for an average cost of 74 €.

The best thing about this kind of tour is that you can taste recipes from different areas 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 are taken to visit very discreet stores, as this is often where you will get the best dish of the tour.

The first thing you'll try will be dim sum fritters, a classic Chinese food. Then you will eat a sample of the cuisine of the Xi'an region. Sometimes it is a meat sandwich with spices. You will receive these food samples at each store or restaurant where your guide indicates, where you will make a brief stop to get the best tastes. Then you will start a tour through the Chinatown Square where you will see the markets and multiple souvenir stores.

Other food samples you will try are the Beijing style lacquered duck, Szechuan stew, custard tart and dessert pastries from the mix of Chinese and Portuguese culture. You also can't miss the Sichuan-style chicken and the traditional Chinese stew accompanied by slices of meat and vegetables. Your guide will surely explain you how to eat this delicious delicacy that will end your gastronomic tour.

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

Interesting details

• Price: more or less 74 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: 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 will taste flavors totally different from the rest of Chicago and you will spend a totally different day.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you just want to know the American culture this may not be a good plan for you. Here you will only see typical Chinese food and things.

Worried about gaining a few extra pounds with these food tours? Then a bike tour is your best option. Cycle around the city following your guide while sampling food of all styles for four hours at an average cost of $90. Not only will you get to admire 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 neighborhood, 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 the Roister 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 incredible 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 neighborhood of Wicker Park.

You will continue pedaling as your guide directs you to the 606 trail to reach a pub in Bucktown. There you can enjoy a "Chicago handshake", a drink made with a local liquor known as Malort. To finish with a flourish you can taste a delicious chocolate in the old town of Chicago.

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

Interesting details

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: rented bike.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will be able to see a great part of the city and get to know it very closely as you travel by bike. In addition, you will eat at 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 pedaling 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 diets and you are on a guided tour, it is best to tell your guide. I am sure he or she will look for options that you can enjoy.

On the other hand, I recommend that you bring 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 them to go: many of the tours offer this option included, so you won't be alone.

The good thing about the 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 emblematic so if you travel to Chicago it is almost a priority to try it. On the other hand, in Chicago you will find a special hot dog in the style of the city, so you can't miss it either.

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

If you have never traveled to Chicago before, you will probably feel a bit 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. In addition, 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 socialize and make friends from all over the world.

At the end of the gastronomic tour you can continue your tour 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 arrive on time to the museum of your choice.