Gourmet Santa Monica Walking Food Tour
Meeting point
departure time
What's included
- Food tastings
- Bottled water
What's not included
- Pick up from hotel
- Alcoholic beverages (available for purchase)
Experience the vibrant beachside city of Santa Monica with Delicious Dish Tours. While enjoying views of the ocean, the mountains, and the famous pier, taste some of the best food SoCal has to offer. Between tastings, learn about the history of this hip seaside resort town from an expert guide.
On this tour you will:
- Enjoy 6-8 stops at top-rated eateries
- Sample unique dishes beyond typical tourist fare
- Delight your inner child with an adventure on Santa Monica Pier
- Learn how a 1970s drought created modern skateboarding culture
- Sip soup from the juiciest Chinese dumplings
- See where Old Hollywood stars drank illegal liquor during Hollywood’s Golden Age
- See where SoCal fitness culture got its start
Perfect for food lovers, beach enthusiasts, and those seeking to experience Santa Monica’s unique blend of laid-back coastal vibes and sophisticated cuisine.
Great experience
Aphrodite was amazing and explained the history of the city well. She fit right into our family and was willing to make some modifications due to allergies. Would definitely recommend it
Interesting and Innovative!
This was much better than a regular food tour. We got to enjoy some great dishes at sit down restaurants. I was really impressed by the variety of cuisines we got to try. It was really cool how the guide was able to connect the stories of the people who live in the LA area to the food. Surprisingly innovative way to approach a food tour. Highly recommended!
An evening of fine food in Santa Monica
Good interaction with our guide Penelope, excellent range and choices of restaurants. Gained an overview of the culture and history of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Check-in details
Meet in front of the large “TONGVA PARK” sign outside the park entrance on Ocean Ave.
Parking Recommendations
The cheapest places to park in LA and Santa Monica are in public parking lots run by the city. You can find these lots using this public parking locator website. Street parking is generally metered and parking is often allowed for only 1-2 hours. This is shorter than the length of any of our tours, so we do not recommend it. You can also find parking using a website/app called Spot Angels or using a website/app called Parkopedia. Just enter in the address of the starting point a list of parking lots, their prices, and the time you’re allowed to park will appear. In Santa Monica, we recommend Parking Structure 6 at 1431 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401. This is a short walk from the meeting point which is located at the Tongva Park sign at 1633 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Taking LA Metro to and from Meeting/Ending Points
You can take LA Metro light or heavy rail to many of our tour locations. This is by design. Although we love our car centric city, we believe in mass transit and we really want people to use it. There are metro stations near many of our meeting points, and for some of the tours, the metro stations are the meeting points themselves. You can find the LA Metro map here. You can pay to get onto the Metro using a TAP card. Get a TAP card at any of the fare machines outside or inside the stations or get the TAP App and add a virtual Tap Card to your smartphone’s virtual wallet. The physical TAP card costs $2, and the fare per ride is $1.75 per person with free transfers for 2 hours after the first entry into the transit system. Each tap card can only be used for one person, so you will need to get a separate TAP card for each person in your group. Cash can be used to load TAP card at the fare machines. If using cash instead of a TAP card on the Metro bus service, you will need to pay with exact change.
To reach the meeting point, take the Metro E Line to the Downtown Santa Monica Station, then walk down Colorado Ave towards the ocean. Turn left on Ocean Avenue and walk the the side of the street furthest to from the ocean until you reach the Tongva Park sign. To get back to the station from the ending point, walk up Broadway away from the ocean and turn right onto 4th Street. Walk until you see the Downtown Santa Monica Station.
Cancellations
Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
FAQ
What Makes Delicious Dish Tours Special?
What makes our food tours special is our focus on exceptional food and the people who create it. We take you to top-rated restaurants loved by locals, where the dishes are full of bold, unforgettable flavor. Each stop highlights the stories of the chefs and owners, many of whom come from LA’s immigrant communities and have built something special here. These aren’t the places you’ll find on typical tourist lists—they’re hidden gems with deep roots and rich histories. Our tours are about meaningful connections, cultural discovery, and the most delicious food in the city.
What makes a Delicious Dish Tour a Premium Experience?
We partner with acclaimed restaurants that serve exceptional, thoughtfully prepared food. Our tours include seated tastings at celebrated local spots—places known for their flavor, quality, and atmosphere. We pay full price and tip generously because we believe in supporting the chefs, staff, and small businesses that make Los Angeles such a remarkable culinary city. We also compensate our expert guides well, reflecting the professionalism, insight, and warmth they bring to every tour.
Can You Really Walk in LA?
Yes! You can absolutely walk in LA—especially in the neighborhoods we explore. While Los Angeles is known for its car culture, many areas are surprisingly walkable, vibrant, and full of character once you’re on foot. Our food tours are designed to showcase these pockets of the city where walking makes the experience more immersive. You’ll stroll through lively streets, historic districts, and culturally rich neighborhoods, discovering local restaurants, hidden gems, and stories you’d miss from a car. Walking allows you to slow down, take it all in, and truly connect with the city’s food and culture.
How Much Walking is Involved?
We understand that walking tours can sound intimidating, but there’s no need to worry. We walk at a relaxed pace and stop frequently to sit, eat, and explore. You’ll never be walking more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time without a break. That said, guests should be comfortable walking 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) over the course of a 3.5 hour tour and be able to keep up with a small group.
Will I eat a lot of food?
You will eat as much food as you would have for a standard meal. We don’t recommend having a large breakfast or lunch before one of our tours because we want you to be able to taste and enjoy all the delicious food you’ll be served.
Do I need to pay for my food on this tour?
No! Your tour fee pays for your food. Just enjoy each tasting as it arrives!
Are children welcome on your tours?
Yes! Children are welcome on our tours. These experiences are especially well-suited for families with teenagers and older children. Younger children are welcome too, though they may not be as engaged with the stories of history, culture, and cuisine that our guides share throughout the tour. You know your child best, and we trust you’ll decide whether this experience will be enjoyable for them.
Babies and toddlers are also welcome. Our tours are stroller accessible, though high chairs may not be available at all restaurant stops, so you may need to hold your little one on your lap. Children under the age of 3 may join at no cost. All guests aged 3 and up will need their own paid ticket.
I Have Dietary Restrictions. Can I Take This Tour?
If you cannot eat a particular ingredient (e.g. pork, shellfish, etc) we will get a dish free of this ingredient for you at each restaurant where those options are available. If there is no option available for you at a particular restaurant or we believe that the option provided is not delicious enough, we will order more food for you at other tasting stops along the tour.
I am a Vegetarian/Vegan. Can I Take This Tour?
If you are vegetarian, we will ask our guides to order more food for you at restaurants with the most delicious food options for you. There may be restaurants you have to skip because there is not a delicious food option for you. If you would like to set up a purely vegetarian tour in any of our tour locations, please consider contacting us to book a private tour.
There are many restaurants in LA which have great vegetarian options but excellent vegan options are harder to provide. If you would like to organize a vegan tour, please contact us so we can work to put together a private tour which includes the most delicious options for you.
I Have Allergies. Can I Take This Tour?
It really depends on what you’re allergic to and how severe your allergies are. If you have a mild allergy, we ask our guides to order more food for you at restaurants with delicious food options for you. There may be restaurants you have to skip because there is not a delicious food option for you. Our guides do not carry Epipens or any other allergy medication and are not authorized to administer medications. If you have a severe allergy, we would suggest, out of an abundance of caution, that you do not participate in one of our tours.
What Should I Wear?
Please wear comfortable walking shoes. We recommend sneakers or comfortable sandals.
What Should I Bring?
Depending on the time or location of your tour, you may need to bring a jacket. It tends to be cooler on the beach (Venice and Santa Monica) and can be windy, so we’d recommend bringing a light jacket, sweater, or shawl on those tours. If you are on a tour in an inland location during the day, you may not need to bring a jacket. Please keep in mind that anywhere you go in the LA area, the temperature drops precipitously when the sun goes down. We are basically in a desert, so there is very little humidity to keep temperatures from falling at night. If you are going on an evening tour, or are planning to be out all day before going on an evening tour, please bring something warm to wear. Most restaurants have heaters for their outdoor seating and sitting indoors is almost always an option, but we can’t do much to help you if you are cold while walking on the tour.
We provide a bottle of water, and most stops offer additional water. However, it can get hot in LA, so we recommend bringing a reusable bottle to help you stay cool and hydrated throughout the tour.
Los Angeles can get very sunny, especially during midday tours. For this reason, please consider bringing a hat to keep you cool and comfortable while walking between stops.
While not required, many guests choose to tip their guide as a thank you. If you’d like to do so, bringing a bit of cash is appreciated.
Does the tour end where it starts?
Only the Silver Lake and Thai Town tours end where they start. All other tours end a 15-20 min walk away from their starting point or the starting point can be easily reached via LA metro. Learn more about LA’s mass transit system here.
What if it’s raining on the day of my tour?
We have designed our tours so that you can enjoy them in all weather conditions. You can still enjoy all of the food tastings and sightseeing on each tour. All tastings will be served indoors or in an outdoor area protected from the rain. Just bring a rain jacket or an umbrella and be prepared to have a great time!
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Free Cancellation up to 1 hour before with Trip Protection
Free Cancelation up to 24 hours before start
Likely to Sell Out May Through October
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