Secret Food Tours Chicago

Highlights / General details

You and your group will embark on a three-hour tour of Chicago's culinary hits, and see what sets this friendly Midwestern metropolis apart. All food and a professional tour of the city are all included in the price. Our passionate guide will share with you insider local knowledge of one of the most beautiful and important North American cities, and give you tips on further sightseeing that will help you make the most of your precious vacation time.

By booking on our Classic Chicago Food Tour, you'll experience all the city's biggest everyman food hits, many of which have roots in the Italian immigrant experience. This moving feast incorporates a walk through some of the city's world-renowned architecture and public art in the famed "Chicago Loop".

As with all our tours, there is a secret food, which you will only learn about on that day.

Inclusion

Food tour of Chicago area; 6 stops around the city; A passionate and experienced local guide; Great insight about local food, history, art and architecture; A bonus free admission to the Art Institute immediately after our tour.

Exclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Additional Food; Gratuities.

Hours of operation

Available daily starting at 11:30am.

Duration

Approximately 3 hours.

Location

Tour departs from meeting point Gino's East Pizzeria, 521 S. Dearborn Avenue. The Harrison stop on the Red Line and the Harold Washington Library stop on the Brown, Purple, Pink or Orange Lines are the closest El stops. Look for the orange umbrella that signifies Secret Food Tours on the tables or ask a server to direct you to our table.

Finish point: We end our tour at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.

Itinerary

We begin with one of Chicago's most iconic foods and one that sets us apart from New York: deep dish pizza, a marvel of both flavor and engineering built "upside down" for the 45 minutes it takes to bake. We next take a lakeside stroll to Buckingham Fountain to begin what is a wide-ranging historical and architectural introduction to one of the most important US cities.

Next, we head to the original purveyor of another iconic Chicago food: the Italian Beef. There are many ways to order a beef: our will be sweet, hot and dipped, like the locals do! Next up, yet another icon: the Chicago dog. By the end you'll not only be able to name the seven essential toppings on a Chicago dog; you'll know which immigrant group contributed each.

Prohibition famously fueled the rise of Al Capone's bootlegging, machine-gunning empire here in Chicago. We stop in an 1898-founded bar and restaurant that made it through the dry times serving near-beer. We drop in for a root beer brewed with their own recipe. Many cities boast about their public art. How many have a Chagall, a Miro and a Picasso sculpture on display within three blocks of one another? We'll stop for photos and a quick chat about them.

Next up is a sweet and salty secret food beloved by Chicago commoners and celebrities alike. Here's where we begin to "move on up," as the City's immigrant founders eventually did, passing through an important cultural building to take a peek at a Tiffany masterpiece: the largest skylight ever designed by the glassmaker.

Break out your cameras for the next leg of our journey through Millennium Park, with several selfie-worthy stops, including the iconic reflective "Cloud Gate" sculpture (otherwise known as 'The Bean.'). A magnificent bridge offering skyline views brings us to the Art Institute, where we will enjoy a rich sweet and salty chocolate dessert while feasting our eyes on the cityscape from a chic outdoor terrace.

For those who want to immediately follow our tour with an Art Institute tour, our guide will use our company membership to take you in for free - a $25 value for out-of-towners!

Additional Information

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes.

Please bring your camera because you’re sure to have special memories.

Participant restrictions

Not wheelchair accessible.

Policies

Cancellation: 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.

For your Secret Food Tours Chicago, you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

When making a reservation please inform us for any dietary restriction.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**