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The World’s Best Food Tours: A Chef’s Tour

When looking for the world’s best food tours, you have to start with A Chef’s Tour. Started in Bangkok, Thailand by a group of chefs that were tired of the same old boring westernized food tours found throughout the world including their own country, and more importantly their own city. As westerners, we sometimes expect the world to cater to us and THAT is the most egregious thing that can happen with food.

A Chef’s Tour set out to remedy this, starting with one simple aim: “To create and curate food experiences good enough for chefs. After travelling the world over, we became bored with the same mediocre food tours. We wanted a tour which helped us truly understand regional food, its history and ingredients. A tour which pushed our limits and didn’t pander to western palates.”

As someone who has been on their tours in 5 different cities around the world, I can assure you they have achieved their goal. Let me tell you more about them and why you should take these tours.

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How The World’s Best Food Tours Started

A Chef’s Tour started with a single chef in Bangkok who was determined to design a tour that he would like to go on himself. That tour has since become the city’s highest rated food tour. A Chef’s Tour first expanded by teaming up with local chefs, home cooks and passionate foodies to design food tours in some of Asia’s largest cities including, Singapore, Hanoi, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur to name a few. More recently they have moved into both North Africa and Latin America with tours in Marrakech, Cairo and Bogota.

They’ve now spent years building relationships with long standing street food vendors and some Michelin rated food establishments around the globe. Their commitment to giving their clientele not only a gastronomical adventure but crash course in cultural immersion is unmatched in my experience. Does that mean I don’t like some of the other food tour companies I have worked with? Absolutely not. I’ve had some truly memorable meals on other tours. Jian in the Philippines and Harry in Vietnam are two that quickly come to mind. But with A Chef’s Tour, it goes beyond the food. It’s the conversations with generations-old street vendors, learning the stories behind the dishes, and feeling like a welcomed guest rather than a tourist.

Related Reading: Thai Food to Die For

My Experience with The World’s Best Food Tours

First off, get ready to be so full you will feel like you’re going to explode. Every tour I have been on with them, I can’t possibly eat anything else. 23 dishes sampled in one of the Bangkok tours I was on and 15 on the other. Yes, I have loved their tours so much that I booked two of them in the same city.

Next are the amazing guides. This isn’t the hand over your dollars and let us shove a satay in your mouth tour. Harsh I know, but most tours you go on, especially in Asia, are exactly like that. You travel for almost 24 hours to get to Asia, book a food tour and they shove a crummy Satay that their Auntie makes in your mouth. Or a plate of Pad Thai and tell you, now you have experienced Thailand. Thai’s don’t even eat Pad Thai for God sake.

The world’s best food tours will give you a deeper insight behind the tales of the dishes and how locals actually live. For instance, the bustling Long Bien market at 4:00am in Hanoi is a sensory overload of sights and aromas. With everybody hustling out fresh produce and seafood to be distributed to nearby villages and local grocery stores. Chef Duyen, your guide in Hanoi, will give you the backstory of the operations of the market and introduce you to dishes I guarantee you have never heard of before. Ever had a wild cosmos omelette? I didn’t think so. Let me give you a little of what to expect on the tours I have been on.

Bangkok Old Siam Tour – 🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand

This tour starts off with a boat ride through the Bangkok canals before disembarking at the Bobae Market pier. Earlier I told you about 23 dishes on a food tour. This was the tour. Some of the dishes you will try on this tour includes Hoi Thod, which is a staple dish in Thai cuisine. Made by one of Bangkok’s Shell Shuan Shim establishments. Shell Shuan Shim is the equivalent of a Michelin guide in Bangkok and you will notice them by the green bowls on their signage. The signs can be taken away at any time upon regular inspection and Thai’s regard this as more important than Michelin.

I can’t name all of the dishes as it would be too long, but a few more. Roasted pork belly and duck. Thai crispy pancake where you will get to meet the legendary owner. She has cooked for both the Thai royal family and Thai parliament. You’ll also try several dishes at Nang Loeng Market which has been in constant operation for more than 120 years. Youtube Video I Made of this Tour

Bangkok Backstreets – 🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand

Venture into Chinatown and explore it at night with an amazing guide. You’ll learn about the history of Bangkok’s Chinatown and eat at some very notable establishments. Michelin Bib Gourmand on this tour include Jok One Table and Guay Jub Ouan Pochana. You will also get to stop by one of Bangkok’s most storied seafood restaurants for amazing mussels. Expect no less than 15 dishes on this awesome night time tour. Youtube Video I Made of this Tour

Lanna Kingdom – 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

Up in Chiang Mai join Moui on an awesome tour that will feature the city’s best Khao Soi. This is a staple in Northern Thailand and is a must try even on a food tour. If you’re bold enough you can try the Laab at a quaint out of the way establishment run by a lovely family. This version of Laab is a raw buffalo meat salad. You will also get to try some amazing pork belly and Gai Yang chicken cooked in clay pots. Finish up at Tha-Nin Market and be over more ballsy and try some pig brains. 15+ dishes. Youtube Video I Made of this Tour

Hanoi Dawn – 🇻🇳 Hanoi, Vietnam

In addition to the Long Bien market I previously mentioned, you will also explore Phúc Xá. Sampling dishes from the wild cosmos omelette, fried squid, the famous bun Cha, Xôi Thịt Kho Tàu and Banh Da Cua. As mentioned this tour starts at 4:00am so be prepared for one of the world’s best food tours. Youtube Video I Made of this Tour

Sambal Streets – 🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Head in to Kuala Lumpur’s Chow Kit and Kampung Baru for another night of non stop eating and storytelling. You’re almost assured to be the only foreigner in Chow Kit as you chomp down on the famous Ramly burger, Durian and Mi Goreng Mamak. An Indian inspired spicy noodle dish that is a must try. Youtube Video I Made of this Tour

A Complete List of All A Chef’s Tour Food Tours

While I have not been on the following tours, you can rest assured I will the next time I am in any of these cities. To book these tours or to learn more, just click on the name of the tour below.

Southern Flavours – 🇹🇭 Phuket, Thailand

Explore the culinary influences that have led to the island’s UNESCO gastronomy status. Tours operate 7 days a week at 10:00am and are 4 hours in length.

Baba Tastes – 🇹🇭 Phuket, Thailand

Go off piste in Phuket Town, ground zero for the island’s flavours on Phuket’s no.1 food tour on Tripadvisor. Tours operate Wed.- Sat. at 3:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Northern Flavours – 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

Forget green curry and pad Thai, welcome to the exotic world of Thailand’s Northern flavours. Tours operate 7 days a week at 5:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Laksa Lanes – 🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Those in the know head down to KL’s Chinatown for the best street eats in town. Tours operate Tue.- Sun. at 10:30am and are 4 hours in length.

Penang Plates – 🇲🇾 Penang, Malaysia

Explore the culinary influences that shape Penang’s cuisine from Indian, Malay, Hokkien Chinese to Nyonya. Tours operate 7 days a week at 4:30pm and are 4 hours in length.

Good Morning Penang – 🇲🇾 Penang, Malaysia

Morning’s the time that George Town’s street food scene comes to life. Four tours of delirious street feasting awaits. Tours operate 7 days a week at 9:00am and are 4 hours in length.

Bali Bites – 🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia

Hit the streets of Old Denpasar to get to grips with the island flavours on our chef-designed Bali food tour. Tours operate Mon.- Sat. at 3:30pm and are 4 hours in length.

Singapore Bites – 🇸🇬 Singapore

Private food experience exploring the hawker stands and local eats known only to locals. Tours operate 7 days a week at 3:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Singapore Stories – 🇸🇬 Singapore

Evening food experience hitting up three distinctly different districts of Singapore in search of the best street eats. Tours operate Tue. – Sun. at 3:00pm and are 4 hours in length. This one fills up fast so book early

Chandni Chowk – 🇮🇳 Delhi, India

Wind around the rabbit warren of old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk in search of the best street eats. Tours operate Mon. – Sat. at 12:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Bombay Express – 🇮🇳 Mumbai, India

Explore over a dozen dishes in old Mumbai on our nightly four hour moveable food feast. Tours operate Mon. – Sat. at 4:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Bengali Nights – 🇮🇳 Kolkata, India

Get off the beaten track to find street eats and local dishes you’d simply never find alone. Tours operate 7 days a week at 5:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Medina Stories – 🇲🇦 Marrakech, Morocco

Explore Marrakesh’s culinary heritage in places you’d never find alone. Tours operate TUE / THU / SAT / SUN at 3:30pm and are 4 hours in length.

Cairo Nights – 🇪🇬 Cairo, Egypt

Get to grips with old Cairo’s cuisine on a journey through its culinary underbelly. Tours operate Mon. – Sat. at 4:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Viejo Bogota – 🇪🇬 Bogota, Colombia

Truly understand Bogota’s food scene and play Colombia’s national sport tejo curated by a food historian. Tours operate 7 days a week at 12:00pm and are 4 hours in length.

Final Thoughts – The World’s Best Food Tours

Traveling with A Chef’s Tour has been an eye opening journey, not just for my taste buds, but for my understanding of the world. Food is a powerful bridge that connects us to different cultures and traditions. As a full time traveller and one that travels specifically for food this company has been a one of a kind experience for me. I’m not a chef nor a gastronomical expert by any stretch of the imagination. But I do enjoy immersing myself into cultures around the world and the best way to do that in my opinion is through food.

I will never claim that I know anything of a food in the world and honestly, half of the countries I end up in I have no idea what to expect. It’s a God send that A Chef’s Tour offers a unique way to explore the world, one delicious bite and heartwarming interaction at a time. Making them the world’s best food tours

A Chef’s Tour is all about meeting the passionate people behind the food! Have you ever connected with a local chef or food vendor on a tour? Tell me about your experiences in the comments!. I’d love to hear from you

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