Rated 4.9 out of 5 by over 3,800 travelers, the Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tours delivers a unique 5.5-hour trip through Los Angeles’ most iconic food spots.
The tour takes you from the historic Griffith Observatory to the scenic Santa Monica Pier and includes exclusive kitchen experiences behind the scenes. Small groups of just 12 travelers pay $89 to enjoy individual attention while exploring Beverly Hills’ luxury restaurants and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Let me tell you everything about this complete LA food experience. You’ll meet local chefs and find hidden culinary gems in a variety of neighborhoods. The tour offers great tips and experiences that both first-time visitors and returning food enthusiasts will appreciate.
Exploring LA’s Diverse Food Neighborhoods on the Taste of LA Tour
Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour takes you through an array of food neighborhoods in Los Angeles. We’re proud to be the #1 bus tour provider on Hollywood Boulevard. Our team has created a culinary trip that goes beyond typical tourist spots to authentic food havens. These spots truly represent LA’s multicultural identity.
From Little Tokyo to Koreatown: Cultural food havens
Little Tokyo is one of just three Japantowns in the United States. This cultural landmark dates back to the late 1800s and now has more than 400 small businesses, restaurants, and shops. Our tour guides you through this historic district. You’ll taste authentic Japanese delicacies at 6-7 carefully picked eateries within a 4-block radius.
Your Little Tokyo experience has freshly made imagawayaki (red bean pastry) from legacy businesses. You’ll love our Japanese beer-braised short rib tacos and homemade gyoza from the “gyoza capital of Japan.” Husband-wife teams who’ve managed to keep their craft for generations prepare fresh sushi. Your taste buds will dance with specialty items like curry doughnuts, okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and rainbow dango from a confectionery that opened in 1903.
Koreatown sits just a short drive away. It’s the largest Korean community outside Korea. This buzzing 3-square-mile neighborhood bursts with authentic flavors. Our tour takes you to reserved tables at 3-4 of K-town’s most acclaimed restaurants. You’ll skip those notorious lines that often wrap around these popular spots.
The K-town stops feature Korean BBQ pork ribs, spicy rice cakes, and handmade dumplings. These come from renowned spots where LA Dodgers players regularly eat. You’ll walk through this historic neighborhood between tastings. Our guides share stories about the chefs, restaurant owners, and industry experts who call this area home.
The historic flavors of Olvera Street
Olvera Street makes our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour special. People know it as “the birthplace of Los Angeles”. This Mexican marketplace opened in 1930 “to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California”. It recreates a romantic “Old Los Angeles” with its block-long, tree-shaded, brick-lined market.
The aroma of fresh taquitos and tacos fills the air from outdoor cafes. Many of these spots have served food for decades. To name just one example, Cielito Lindo has made “world famous” taquitos since 1934. La Luz del Dia has served authentic Michoacan Mexican cuisine since 1959.
Mariachi music and Aztec and Mexican folkloric dancers bring the atmosphere to life. This creates more than just a food experience – it’s true cultural immersion.
Beverly Hills: Luxury dining experiences
Beverly Hills raises your culinary trip to new heights on the final leg of our tour. You’ll enjoy five generous food tastings and two adult beverages at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the 90210. This part lasts about 3.5 hours.
Our Beverly Hills experience takes you to renowned spots like The Farm Beverly Hills, Via Alloro, and Bouchon Bistro by Thomas Keller. Many tours end sweetly at famous Sprinkles Cupcakes with their creative flavors.
This part of the tour gives you insider access to one of the world’s most exclusive neighborhoods. It ends on world-famous Rodeo Drive. Our guides share stories about local landmarks and celebrity hotspots. This makes it much more than a regular food tour.
Start your exceptional culinary trip today from The Hollywood Visitor Center at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard. Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour captures LA’s true essence through its amazing food scene.
Seasonal Specialties and Local Favorites on Our Gourmet Bus Tour
LA’s endless sunshine shapes a special food calendar that our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour brings to life each season. The tour lets you taste LA’s seasonal delights and the iconic dishes that make the city’s food scene special.
Spring and summer food festivals worth visiting
LA’s food festival scene bursts with energy as temperatures rise. Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour matches up with the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival (February 28 through April 21, 2025). This celebration showcases California’s amazing produce with delicious food, entertainment, and special tastings.
LA Beer Fest takes over LA Center Studios each April. You’ll get to sample from 80 breweries and 200 beers while enjoying food trucks and live music. The FoodieLand Night Market lights up Rose Bowl Stadium (July 4-6, 2025) with 200 food vendors creating an amazing food paradise.
Wine lovers should check out the Los Angeles Wine and Food Festival in March. This three-day food celebration pairs well with Frieze Week Los Angeles. Smorgasburg LA runs through summer Sundays. The country’s biggest open-air food market gives nearly 100 small food businesses a place to shine.
Fall harvest specialties in LA restaurants
Fall brings unique flavors to LA’s food scene. Philippe’s famous baked Rome apples come with cinnamon sugar syrup and vanilla ice cream on top. This comfort food classic sells so well they serve it year-round. Only 30-50 apples are made daily and sell out fast at $3.50 each.
Wurstküche’s seasonal spiced mulled wine (glühwein) tastes sweet but packs a punch. This German drink goes great with their signature sausages.
Halloween brings special treats like Edelweiss Chocolates’ dark chocolate candy corn bar ($10.95) and Littlejohn’s Candies’ caramel-dipped and almond-encrusted Granny Smith apples ($10.95). Porto’s Bakery creates seasonal Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls – breaded and deep-fried treats filled with turkey breast, vegetables, and seasoning in porcini mushroom gravy.
Year-round iconic LA dishes you must try
Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour takes you beyond seasonal items to LA’s must-try foods that define the city’s taste. Mariscos Jalisco’s $3 shrimp taco is “the best way to spend $3 in this city”. The double-dipped beef sandwich at Philippe’s remains “a sacred act” for locals, especially before Dodger games.
Langer’s #19 pastrami sandwich stands out as “the greatest pastrami sandwich on earth.” Hand-sliced meat sits on twice-baked rye with Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and coleslaw. Koreatown’s galbi-jjim serves tender beef, vegetables, and rice cakes in fiery sauce. This shared meal has become a “Koreatown rite of passage”.
Wolfgang Puck’s smoked salmon pizza at Spago and Night + Market’s bold Thai flavors show LA’s food identity. Chefs keep reinventing classics, like “mortadella, the official sliced meat of 2024” that shows up in Italian-inspired sandwiches across the city.
The Hollywood Visitor Center at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard books these amazing Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tours. Stop by to secure your spot on this culinary adventure.
Behind the Scenes: Meeting LA’s Top Chefs and Food Artisans
The passionate chefs and artisanal food producers who bring flavors to life represent the true heart of any culinary scene. Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour goes beyond simple tastings. You’ll build personal connections with culinary masterminds who shape LA’s food world.
Exclusive kitchen tours on the Taste of LA gourmet experience
Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour gives you rare access to working kitchens where culinary magic happens. You’ll meet acclaimed chefs like Executive Chef Jesus Medina at select stops. His experience from Acuña, Mexico to LA’s prestigious kitchens showcases the international influence that defines LA’s food scene. Chef Medina trained at Laureate International Universities and blends his Latin roots with Southern California’s vibrant produce. His bold, seasonal dishes celebrate both his heritage and local bounty.
On top of that, you might meet artisans like Executive Pastry Chef Riccardo Menicucci. He brings his artistic vision from Florence to create stunning desserts. As he explains, “Being a professional pastry chef allows me to combine my passions for art and cooking and express myself in creative ways.”
Our expertly guided experience stands apart from standard food tours. We connect you with 3-4 incredible restaurants that serve stellar food and share compelling stories. You’ll enjoy seated tastings while chefs share their culinary philosophies firsthand, rather than quick sample bites at average establishments.
Artisanal food producers who supply LA’s best restaurants
Our tour takes you beyond restaurant kitchens to meet artisanal producers who drive LA’s food revolution. Milkfarm, an artisan cheese shop in Eagle Rock, lets you meet local cheesemongers. They introduce their creations during special “Meet the Maker” Saturday events featuring Los Angeles-based, small and independent producers.
Your experience might include visits to environmentally responsible butcher shops that practice old-world techniques. These meat artisans support small family farms. They hand-butcher whole animals on-site to create products free from antibiotics or hormones—the foundation of quality in LA’s finest restaurants.
These artisans make handmade tofu fresh every morning and craft stone-ground chocolate using traditional Aztec methods with mano and metate. They show LA’s dedication to traditional techniques and environmentally responsible practices. Many supply the restaurants you’ll visit during your tour, which creates a complete picture of LA’s food ecosystem.
Start your behind-the-scenes culinary adventure today. Visit us at The Hollywood Visitor Center at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard to find the passionate people behind LA’s most remarkable flavors.
Hidden Gems: Off-the-Menu Items and Secret Food Spots
LA’s glitzy restaurants and tourist spots might grab headlines, but a wealth of culinary secrets lies hidden in plain sight. The Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour takes you to these hidden gems that most locals haven’t even found, giving you special access to LA’s most authentic food experiences.
How our guides get you access to unofficial menus
Our expert guides have fostered strong bonds with restaurateurs across Los Angeles. These connections help them arrange special off-menu items you won’t see anywhere else. Take Jitlada, where you might get to taste the legendary “Jazz Burger” – a low-carb creation with two beef patties studded with chilis. The patties come caramelized with garlic and palm sugar, served on a lettuce wrap with Thai basil, red onion, and tomatoes. You’ll only get this special when owner Jazz Singsanong is around and feels like making it.
On top of that, our tours give you access to Smorgasburg LA’s exclusive “secret menu passport.” This special pass opens doors to unique international specialties that regular customers never see. Our guides also help you grab spots at invitation-only supper clubs with exclusive tasting menus.
The hidden menu treasures don’t stop there. Night + Market serves a ranch dressing and papaya salad-topped fried chicken sandwich that’s off the regular menu. Mariscos Jalisco’s famous “Poseidon” features a crispy corn tortilla topped with shrimp ceviche, aguachile, and blazing hot salsa.
Hole-in-the-wall eateries with world-class food
Of course, LA’s food scene shines brightest in unassuming spots that pack extraordinary flavors onto their plates. Our Taste of LA tour leads you to these hidden jewels. Kobee Factory in Van Nuys stands out as a Syrian kebab specialist. They serve amazing grilled meat skewers from a plain strip mall location.
The tour introduces you to Banadir in Inglewood, LA’s only Somali restaurant. Here you can try anjera (fermented sorghum flour pancakes) paired with chicken suqar. Singapore’s Banana Leaf at the Original Farmers Market might be your next stop. Their laksa curry soups and satay are simply exceptional.
The Hollywood Visitor Center at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard is where you can book your culinary adventure. Food enthusiasts call our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour the ultimate insider’s guide to LA’s secret food scene.
Practical Tips for Your LA Gourmet Bus Tour Experience
The right preparation makes your Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour a smooth and fun food trip through the city’s food scene. We’ve helped thousands of food lovers get the most out of their LA food experience as the #1 bus tour company on Hollywood Boulevard. Here’s what you need to know.
What to bring on your food adventure
You’ll walk quite a bit during this 3.5-hour tour, so comfortable shoes are a must. The tour moves at an easy pace with rest stops at each tasting location, but you’ll spend most of your time walking to discover LA’s best food spots.
Make your tour better by bringing these items:
- A water bottle that keeps you hydrated, especially during outdoor stops
- Clothes that match the weather (check the forecast before you come)
- A light breakfast since your first tasting starts about 1.5 hours into the tour
- Camera or phone to capture memories at iconic food spots
Dietary accommodations available
Our Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour works with guests who have different dietary needs. All tasting spots have vegetarian choices, and some spots offer vegan options too. Guests who need gluten-free meals can get them for a $15 cash fee paid to the tour guide on tour day.
Let us know about any food allergies or dietary needs when you book. The menu gets planned ahead, so we can’t handle last-minute diet changes. Still, everyone gets plenty to eat with 5-7 different food tastings that satisfy most appetites.
Booking your tour from the Hollywood Visitor Center
Book your spot at The Hollywood Visitor Center at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard. Our team will help you pick the perfect tour time that works for you. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure so the group can leave on time.
Your ticket gets you a 3.5-hour food trip, special access to LA’s famous eateries, guided tours, tastings, and a goodie bag with hand-picked snacks from Bristol Farms. A big part of what you pay goes straight to the Hollywood Heritage Museum to help preserve our city’s history.
You’re not just tasting amazing food—each bite helps keep LA’s rich history alive.
Conclusion
LA ranks among the world’s best food destinations with countless culinary treasures to find. The Taste of LA Gourmet Bus Tour takes you on an amazing trip through Little Tokyo’s authentic Japanese delicacies, Koreatown’s vibrant flavors, and Beverly Hills’ luxury dining spots.
This 5.5-hour tour gives you more than typical tourist spots. You’ll get exclusive kitchen access, meet talented chefs, and taste special off-menu items. The small groups let guides focus on each guest while sharing stories about LA’s rich food heritage.
The tour costs $89 per person and delivers great value whether you want seasonal specials, hidden spots, or classic LA dishes. You can book your spot at The Hollywood Visitor Center to start an amazing food trip through LA’s heart. Make sure to come 15 minutes early, wear comfy shoes, and bring your camera – you’ll want to capture all those Instagram-worthy moments.
