Visit San Francisco’s culturally rich Japantown and discover its unique culinary offerings on this San Francisco food tour. You’ll take an afternoon walk through the neighborhood with an epicurean concierge, who will be on hand to help guide your palate and share must-try treats. Your guide will also share the historical relevance of San Francisco’s Japantown, one of only three remaining Japanese neighborhoods in the United States, while you take in the sights, smells and sounds of this bustling area.
On this San Francisco walking tour of Japantown with a local food guide – your epicurean concierge – discover neighborhood ‘secrets’ often missed by rushed visitors. Hear stories from shop owners; taste delicious specialties made with authentic Japanese ingredients; visit several food shops and Japanese markets; and learn about the history and culture of this unique American neighborhood.
Your 6-7 tastings may include onigiri (traditional rice balls), Osaka-style okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza), red-bean-filled taiyaki (a type of cake) from a local coffee shop, savory salads from a specialty food market, mochi (a rice cake) from one of the last remaining manufacturers in the US, a creamy sweet-potato latte, or a Japanese tea tasting inside an omiyage shop. The tour will end with a masala dosa and chutney tasting.
You’ll leave Japantown with a full belly and a newfound appreciation of a lesser-known San Francisco neighborhood.
My partner and I went on the Japantown Tour food tour a couple of weeks ago and it was great. We were a relatively small group 5 of us - a couple of other guests had cancelled on the day and Lisa we were very lucky to have the company owner leading this tour and she was perfect kept us entertained, informed and fed as we wandered around the historic and vibrant area. The tour is a very interesting mix of culture, history and food...lots of food! We visited, amongst others, a cafe for sweet potato latte a delicious, caffeine free start to a morning tour!, a ramen restaurant for noodles and soup a real stand out and is the best ramen we have EVER tasted...and we have been to Japan - as we were in the city for a while we returned to the restaurant!, a Japanese market for snacks and a little shop around!, onigari very tasty rice and seaweed snack with tea, mochi sweet Japanese rice cake, okinamiyaki Japanese pancake/pizza and finished the tour with a visit to an Indian restaurant. I am sure I have forgotten some food stops along the way! Come hungry and expect to leave very satisfied/full. We have been on a number of food tours in different countries and this ranks as one of the best. We would recommend this food tour without hesitation.
Review by: Thyra A J, August 2016
This food tour offers a mix of Japanese history and food for which Japan is widely known as well as a few surprises. This included stopping at some stores to buy items that are not easily found elsewhere. Additionally, it was very nice to become acquainted with others also taking the tour.
Review by: Thyra A J, July 2016
This food tour offers a mix of Japanese history and food for which Japan is widely known as well as a few surprises. This included stopping at some stores to buy items that are not easily found elsewhere. Additionally, it was very nice to become acquainted with others also taking the tour.
Review by: Mark K, October 2015
This is a great tour lead by a knowledgeable guide that is into not only the food but the history of the area as well.
Review by: Jane B, December 2014
Loved the tour, and loved Alice! Great food, and interesting information.
RSS Feed