Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: 6 tastings in 3 hours

Taste six stops without planning the route or the stops

A 3-hour walking food tour through Downtown Los Angeles with a live guide, stopping at six different eateries including Grand Central Market, Thai street food, Korean homestyle cooking, French pastry, braised tacos and artisanal donuts, plus landmarks like the Bradbury Building and The Last Bookstore. Water and food tastings are included. Groups stay under 12 people. The streets have a slight incline and some establishments require climbing small stairs, so advance notice helps if stairs are difficult for you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Grand Central Market25m
2. Bradbury Buildingpassing by
3. The Last Bookstorepassing by

Downtown LA food and culture tour

• Start 3-hour food tour
• Eat at 6 different food places
• Visit Grand Central Market
• See Bradbury Building
• Pass by The Last Bookstore
• Enjoy Pitchoun! French bakery
• Taste Sticky Rice Thai street food
• Try Shiku Homestyle Korean food
• Eat Guisados braised meat tacos
• Visit Donut Friend shop

The experience

The tour runs for three hours and covers six food stops across Downtown Los Angeles. You'll walk through the neighborhood with a guide who shares stories about the city's history, the transformation of its food culture, and the architecture you pass. The route takes in Grand Central Market, a downtown landmark since 1917 that brings together the cuisines and cultures of Los Angeles through its vendors; the Bradbury Building, the oldest commercial building still standing in central LA; and The Last Bookstore, California's largest new and used bookstore. Water is provided throughout.

The six tastings come from places the guide has chosen: Sticky Rice serves Thai street food from the cornerstone stall at Grand Central Market; Shiku Homestyle Korean is a mom-and-pop restaurant with doshirak-inspired lunchbox meals; Guisados makes slow-cooked braised meat tacos; Pitchoun is a family-owned French bakery and pastry shop; and Donut Friend offers warm, colorful artisanal donuts with ice cream and coffee. Each stop is a working neighborhood spot, not a staged tasting room. The guide narrates the history and food scene as you walk between them, so you're learning the neighborhood's story alongside eating from it.

Groups max out at 12 people, which keeps the pace manageable and the guide accessible. The streets have a slight incline and you'll climb small stairs at some of the establishments, so comfortable shoes matter. If stairs are difficult for you, let the operator know when you book and they'll make arrangements. Tours run rain or shine. If you have dietary restrictions, tell them at booking so they can plan your stops.

What’s included

• Professional guide leading the walk.
• food tastings from six different eateries.
• water throughout the tour.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:00, from US$ 89 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 11:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

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

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sidewalk Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to explore Downtown LA's food scene without researching vendors or planning a route. The guide chooses the stops, handles the timing, and tells you the neighborhood's story as you walk. Small groups of up to 12 keep the pace social without feeling crowded.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Grand Central Market and why does the tour stop there?

Grand Central Market is a downtown landmark since 1917 that brings together the cuisines and cultures of Los Angeles through its vendors and event spaces. The tour stops there because it's a working food hub where you'll taste from Sticky Rice, the Thai street food stall that's a cornerstone vendor in the market.

How many food tastings do I get on this tour?

You'll taste from six different eateries: Sticky Rice (Thai street food), Shiku Homestyle Korean, Guisados (braised tacos), Pitchoun (French bakery and pastry), Donut Friend (artisanal donuts and ice cream), and one additional stop. Water is included throughout the three hours.

What is the Bradbury Building and what makes it worth seeing?

The Bradbury Building is the oldest commercial building remaining in central Los Angeles and one of the city's unique treasures. The tour passes it as part of the walking route through Downtown, and the guide shares its history and architecture along the way.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour, or are there stairs I should know about?

The streets have a slight incline and you'll climb small stairs at some of the food establishments. Comfortable shoes are recommended. If climbing a few flights of stairs is difficult for you, let the operator know at booking and they'll arrange an alternative route.

Can I tell the guide about dietary restrictions?

Yes, advise the operator of any specific dietary restrictions when you book, and they'll plan your stops around them so you can still taste from the six eateries on the route.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, though the streets have a slight incline and some establishments have small stairs. If you use a wheelchair, contact the operator at booking to confirm the route works for your needs.