Victoria Chinatown & Old Town Food Tour: Chef-Driven Tastings

Taste your way through two neighbourhoods with a guide who knows why they matter

A small-group food tour of Victoria's oldest Chinatown and Old Town, led by a professionally trained guide, with multiple chef-driven tastings from local culinary partners and storytelling about the districts' cultural history and architecture. The tour runs 2.5 hours, includes a guide and all tastings, and operates in all weather. Vegetarian options and non-alcoholic samples are available with advance notice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chinatown and Old Town food

• Meet guide at central location
• Explore Victoria’s oldest Chinatown
• Enjoy multiple curated tastings
• Experience Fan Tan Alley with stories
• Walk through Market Square and Old Town
• Enjoy additional chef-driven tastings

The experience

The tour starts at a central meeting point where your guide introduces the small group and kicks off with the first tasting. From there, you spend roughly 30 minutes in Canada's oldest Chinatown, moving between carefully selected restaurants and food stops while your guide unpacks the cultural layers, architectural details and stories that shaped the district. Fan Tan Alley (the narrow, photogenic street that draws every visitor) becomes something more than a photo stop: your guide reveals the hidden details and history that only a local with 14 years in Victoria's food scene would know.

After Chinatown, the tour transitions into Old Town, walking through Market Square and along heritage brick streets. Over the next 45 to 60 minutes, you taste additional chef-driven plates (elevated South Indian cuisine, farm-to-table dishes, handcrafted dumplings, standout tacos, artisan pastries, craft beer), while learning how Victoria's dining scene has evolved over the past century. The tastings come from award-winning culinary partners, not chain restaurants, and the portions are generous enough that you're eating real meals, not samples.

The guide is professionally trained and speaks English. Children from age 4 are welcome. If you have dietary requirements (vegetarian, allergies, non-alcoholic preferences), you'll need to flag them at booking so the restaurants can prepare. The tour runs rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Gratuities for the guide are recommended but optional.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• all food tastings from local culinary partners.
• GST.
• vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available with advance notice.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 11:00 and 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (19 and older) · Youth (4 to 18 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Off the Eaten Track

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're new to Victoria and want to understand the neighbourhoods through food and stories rather than just walking past them: the guide's 14 years in the industry means you'll learn why these streets and restaurants matter, not just visit them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 18 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do we taste on this Victoria food tour?

The tour includes multiple tastings from carefully selected local restaurants: elevated South Indian cuisine, farm-to-table plates, handcrafted dumplings, standout tacos, artisan pastries, and craft beer. The portions are chef-driven and generous. You're eating real food, not tiny samples.

How long is the Chinatown & Old Town food tour?

The tour runs 2.5 hours total: roughly 30 minutes in Chinatown, then 45 to 60 minutes in Old Town, with the remainder spent at the meeting point and walking between stops.

Can I do this tour if I'm vegetarian or have dietary restrictions?

Yes, vegetarian options are available, and the tour accommodates allergies and other dietary needs. You'll need to tell the operator at booking so the restaurants can prepare alternatives for you.

Who designed this tour and what makes the guide different?

The tour was designed and curated by Bonnie Todd, an award-winning food writer and restaurant judge with 14 years in Victoria's food industry. Your guide is professionally trained and brings that insider knowledge to the storytelling. You'll learn the cultural history, architecture and hidden details that shape each neighbourhood.

What if I want to skip the alcohol tastings?

Non-alcoholic samples are provided for anyone under the legal drinking age (19 in BC) or anyone choosing not to drink. Let the operator know at booking if you'd prefer this option.