Discover San Francisco's culinary scene with Stretchy Pants Food Tours. Photo courtesy of Stretchy Pants Food Tours. 

The Bay Area is the ultimate culinary destination. With dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants, diverse international cuisine and fresh California produce, this food mecca is hard to beat. To taste the region’s best dishes, a food tour is an excellent (and fun!) option. From gastronomical excursions through San Francisco’s Chinatown to tasty bites in Berkeley, these BARTable food tours are the Bay’s best.

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BARTable food tours in San Francisco

Enjoy fantastic food in the Mission District with Sidewalk Food Tours. Photo courtesy of Sidewalk Food Tours. 

Mission District 

The Mission is one of San Francisco’s most colorful and eclectic neighborhoods. Sidewalk Food Tours combine food, culture and history over a 3-hour foodie excursion. You’ll visit five tasting spots, which are subject to change, but are likely to include popular spots such as Craftsman & Wolves, Taqueria Cancun, Arepas Latin Cuisine, Curry Up Now, or Venga Empanadas. What sets this tour apart is its unique mix: world-renowned bakeries like Tartine, artisanal Latin and fusion eateries, Diego Rivera-inspired murals, and a knowledgeable guide who tells the story of the makers behind the food, as well as the history of the neighborhood. The Mission food tour begins at 826 Valencia (0.5 miles from 16th St Mission). The address is also home to a pirate-themed store, a Bay Area hidden gem worth checking out. Sidewalk Food Tours also conducts food tours in Chinatown and North Beach. 

Indulge in Italian eats in San Francisco's North Beach food tours. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Travel. 

North Beach 

Local Tastes of the City's “Tastes of Little Italy” tour is three hours well spent in San Francisco’s charming North Beach neighborhood, which is known for its delicious Italian cuisine. Starting at 480 Columbus Ave. (0.8 miles from Montgomery St), you can savor a cappuccino, stroll past family-run bakeries like Stella Pastry and old-school delis like Molinari Delicatessen and indulge in arancini, pizza and a century-old cannoli baked in a brick oven. You’ll also stop at a gourmet chocolate boutique, enjoy views of Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid and hear stories of Beat poets. More tours offered by Local Tastes of the City include Chinatown and Chinatown/North Beach Combo.

Blend ghost stories and culinary delights on a food tour with Stretchy Pants Food Tours. Photo courtesy of Stretchy Pants Food Tours. 

North Beach + a Gourmet Ghost Tour

Stretchy Pants Food Tours' "North Beach: Gourmet Ghost Tour" blends food and ghosts as you explore the historic streets of San Francisco's Little Italy. Over three hours, you can expect four tastings, starting at the haunted San Remo Hotel (1.3 miles from Montgomery St). This culinary adventure includes focaccia bread sandwiches, stories of kidnapped sailors at The Saloon and slices of history at a local pizzeria. You'll also explore Chinatown’s mysterious streets, ending the food tour with a sweet treat tied to the Beatnik era. More tours offered by Stretchy Pants Food Tours include the Chinatown Dim Sum and Tea Tour, the Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39: Maritime Food Tour and a variety of private tours.

Explore culinary cuisine in Chinatown and North Beach on Secret Food Tours' combo option. Photo courtesy of Secret Food Tours. 

Chinatown/North Beach Combo

Secret Food Tours’ "North Beach & Chinatown" combination tour is a feast of flavor and history. Starting at the San Francisco Cable Car Museum (0.8 miles from Powell St), this food tour includes tastings from local coffee roasters, 45+ year-old pizza joints, authentic gelato and family-run dim sum houses. Between bites, you'll pass landmarks like the church where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married, the cafe where Francis Ford Coppola wrote “The Godfather," and one of the oldest Chinese temples in the U.S. The tour culminates with a very anticipated “secret bite.” Enjoy this two-for-one tour with friends any day of the week. 

Discover Japantown with Edible Excursions. Photo courtesy of Edible Excursions. 

Japantown 

Edible Excursions' "Japantown" food tour is an immersive flavor journey through one of the only three remaining Japantowns in the U.S. You’ll sample a range of bites from savory salads from a local market and onigiri at Kissako Tea to street-style takoyaki at Yama-Chan and ramen at Hinodeya Ramen Bar. You'll also get a matcha soft-serve boba sundae at Matcha Café Maiko. Along the way, mom-and-pop shops, ethnic markets and cozy corners offer authentic touches. You might even fold origami at Paper Tree. More San Francisco tours provided by Edible Excursions include North Beach, the Ferry Building and the Mission District.

Explore cuisine in San Francisco's Chinatown with Avital Food Tours. Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.

Chinatown 

Led by an expert guide, Avital Food Tours' "Chinatown Food Tour" is a three-hour stroll through North America’s oldest Chinatown, blending classic Cantonese staples with inventive fusion dishes. You’ll enjoy a full four-course meal across three to four excellent restaurants. Food lovers receive two appetizers, an entrée and dessert — with optional beverage pairings. Highlights on this Chinatown food tour include dim sum, spicy noodles, beef and dumpling plates and dessert treats infused with seasonal flavors and a regional stamp. Between bites, you walk about one mile, soaking in Chinatown’s architecture, murals and history. All dietary and allergy requests can be accommodated. The starting location varies, but Chinatown is approximately 0.6 miles from Montgomery St. Avital Food Tours also leads groups in North Beach. 

BARTable food tours in the East Bay

Discover food tours in Temescal. Photo courtesy of Edible Excursions. 

Temescal 

Edible Excursions’ "Temescal Tastes Food Tour" takes foodies on a Sunday stroll through one of Oakland’s most dynamic food neighborhoods. You’ll begin at the Urban Village Farmers Market for seasonal produce, then sample hand-crafted pickles, Baja-style tacos from Cholita Linda, a flaky kouign-amann at Starter Bakery and much more. The tour ends on a sweet note with handmade ice cream from Curbside Creamery tucked into Temescal’s alleys. The tour begins at Urban Village Farmers Market, 0.9 miles from MacArthur. 

Check out North Berkeley's top eateries on an East Bay food tour. Photo courtesy of Edible Excursions. 

North Berkeley

Edible Excursions’ "North Berkeley Food Tour" is a culinary lesson on the birthplace of California cuisine. Running Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., this tour weaves through the area’s legendary eateries and artisan producers. You’ll stop by Peet’s Coffee flagship, sample the pizza-of-the-day and gourmet cheese at The Cheese Board Collective, enjoy house-made pastrami and artisan soda at Saul’s Jewish deli and peek into sustainable whole-animal butchery at The Local Butcher Shop. Guides are chefs, food writers and locals. Tour stops are subject to change. Edible Excursions also leads a West Berkeley Wine Block Tour. 

You'll love sweet and savory treats on a Walnut Creek food tour. Photo courtesy of Secret Food Tours.

Walnut Creek

Secret Food Tours’ "Walnut Creek Food Tour" is a taste-filled journey through a cool East Bay city. Over a couple of hours, you’ll wander past boutique shops, historic landmarks and lush outdoor plazas while stopping in five restaurants for bites reflecting the region’s diverse flavors — think global fusion, artisan sweets, hearty breakfasts and elevated comfort food. Between tastings, guides share insights about Walnut Creek’s history, architecture and community vibe. It’s a relaxed walk, perfect for sampling signature dishes without rushing.

Where's your favorite Bay Area food tour?