Los Angeles - Exploring America’s Culinary Frontier

From$175

5.5 hours

Max 7 people

Los Angeles, USA

About this activity

Our food journey of Los Angeles is a banquet laid out for the bold, the curious, and the intrepid as they explore the extreme culinary diversity and ingenuity across the oldest areas of the seemingly boundaryless and magical City of Angels.

Highlights

Visit to the oldest food market in LA
Tasting of delicious tacos and taquitos
Experience a reinvented tea ceremony in Chinatown
Sample of authentic japanese specialties in Little Tokyo

Full description

We’ll begin our day on this Los Angeles food tour with a tea ceremony in its atmospheric Chinatown, followed by a taste of some of the most innovative tacos around. Afterwards we’ll rummage through a tiny Vietnamese bodega to find LA’s best Báhn Mì and continue our walk down Olvera Street, stopping for taquitos at the spot where they were invented, before checking out Union Station and Pueblo de Los Angeles, including Avila Adobe, built in 1818 – the oldest existing residence in the city.

Traversing the Hollywood Freeway, we’ll discuss how cars and then later freeways transformed Los Angeles into the postmodern paradise it is today before we make our way into the pedestrian-friendly backstreets of Little Tokyo to sample some of the most authentic Japanese food in America. Walking down Broadway we’ll marvel at the most impressive architecture and sample some of the best bites inside LA’s oldest food market. All along the way we’ll stop for other surprises, both edible and cultural.

Included / Excluded

All food consumed on the walk
Culinary Backstreets Guide

Transportation to and from the meeting point

Meeting point

Start Location

495 Gin Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Important information

Know before you book

The tour is conducted in English; proficiency is recommended.
Some stops may not be suitable for individuals with mobility impairments due to stairs and uneven terrain.
The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Know before you go

Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets.
Bring a light jacket or sweater as evenings can be cool.
Ensure you have a valid ID if you plan to participate in wine tasting.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

More than one week before the beginning of the activity: 90% Refund Less than one week before the beginning of the activity: 50% Refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: No Refund

Reviews

5.0(37 reviews)

Justin Markley

Jun 2026

5.0

We really enjoyed our tour with Dennis, great food and conversation! It was a great introduction to Tokyo and we really appreciated all his helpful tips for navigating the city

Liu Marian

Jun 2026

5.0

My husband booked the Monzen-Nakacho tour a couple of months ago. We wanted to do a food tour in Japan, because did a food tour in another country with another company and had a good time. This tour is the next level. Dennis and Kan (invited by Dennis so we had two guides!) are not only personable and knowledgeable, they know how to break down the barriers for us to learn Japanese culture. My husband understands Japanese food while I’m completely ignorant, and both of us had a wonderful time. We were (apparently) there for the food, but we got to learn the history, beliefs, and culture behind and beyond the food and drinks. Getting to meet locals who are masters of their crafts is another highlight. Dennis and Kan were great in getting us to interact with locals and with each other within our small group. Six hours flew by and it felt like we have known these people for much longer because of the meaningful conversations! Will return for their other food tours when we visit Japan again!

Ditha Rimadiputri

Jun 2026

5.0

I wanted to taste and get a better grasp of Tokyo’s culinary scene, and this tour delivered exactly that. Elly, our wonderful tour guide, shared a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating insights about the city and its food culture. As a professional chef, I left the tour feeling inspired, satisfied, and genuinely impressed by the variety of foods I was able to experience. My biggest thanks go to Elly for guiding us to some of the best bites in Tokyo and making the experience so memorable.