7 delicious local eats on the Chicago food tour
Last updated on February 10th, 2026.
I was lucky to grab a last-minute spot on a Chicago food tour with Chicago Food Planet.
The Second City Classic Tour* would include a visit to some of the best places to eat in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. It was my chance to get to visit Chicago through its food culture.
Perfect material for your USA bucket list, I highly recommend booking a Chicago food tour.
Many people tend to overlook booking food tours in favor of a bus tour.
And while a hop-off hop-on bus tour of Chicago helps you get your bearings, a food tour teaches you about the cuisine as well as the local area.
Chicago food tour with Chicago Planet
The first thing you can expect on this Chicago food tour is a vivacious, fun and a ‘laugh a minute’ guide. Our guide, Jaci, not only ticked all 3 boxes, but her upbeat attitude and quick wit made the experience far more enjoyable.
Walking around the Old Town, you’ll see several buildings from the Victorian times, plus a few structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
This post lists the 7 places we visited while on this tour. Take note: the places may vary depending on season and availability.
7 delicious places on the best Chicago food tour
1. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria has been a long-time favorite for many locals, and is also a beloved Chicago institution.
The pizzeria wanted to create a place where people could come, sit down with their families and eat good pizza. If you’re not familiar of the difference between Chicago and New York-style pizza, it really comes down to depth.
New York style pizza tends to have a thin, crispy crust, while Chicago style is a deeper crust with plenty more tomato sauce and toppings.
Whatever your preference, Lou Malnati’s is delicious, and I could easily have wolfed down another slice.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, 1120 N State St
2. TeaGschwendner
**TeaGschwendner is now closed**
What better way to cool off after a steaming slice of pizza than with a refreshing tumbler of iced tea?
TeaGschwendner is a mecca for tea lovers and drinkers alike. You won’t be surprised to hear read that it was originally a German brand as its name suggests. A franchise across the United States, it set up shop in the Old Town in 2005.
Hot and cold tea
Here, you can find a wide variety of premium quality handpicked loose teas from around the world.
After a brief talk on tea from a staff member, we sampled a few of the delights on offer. At the end, we took away with us, a generous-sized tumbler of the mouth-quenching pineapple iced tea — perfect for the 35° weather.
Map: downtown Chicago
3. Old Jerusalem
The next stop was a taste of the Middle East at Old Jerusalem restaurant. For me, I was doubly excited as it was a fond reminder of the food I’d eaten during my travels to Jerusalem.
A family run and owned restaurant, we were treated to a delectable pitta sandwich. Homemade crunchy falafel, salad, and with some hummus on the side, it was just the right size to save room for the next place.
Old Jerusalem, 1411 N Wells St
4. The Spice House
An array of fragrances and aromas hit you the second you enter The Spice House. We came to get a brief spice 101 lesson and to also learn something new.
The shop has an impressive range of spices, salts and seasonings on offer. I also ended up buying a small bag of Vietnamese cinnamon; something that'll come in handy for my next apple pie.
The Spice House, 1512 N Wells St
5. Fudge Pot
A Chicago food tour wouldn’t be complete without some kind of chocolate temptation — and ours came in the form of Fudge Pot.
This local confectioner has been keeping the locals happy, and maybe making them a little rounder, since 1963.
The sweet spot
Suffice it to say, this isn’t a place for anyone on a diet, nor a place where you should visit every day.
From homemade chocolates to truffles, the Fudge Pot is where you come to satisfy your sweet tooth. We tried the chocolate toffee block, which was so good, I had to stop myself from finishing the whole thing.
The store’s open till midnight on Friday and Saturdays, meaning plenty of opportunity to grab something sweet after last orders from the restaurant/bar.
Fudge Pot, 1532 N Wells St
6. Old Town Oil
There’s only one place in Old Town where the locals come to get their hands on good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and that’s Old Town Oil.
The owners of Old Town Oil work directly with producers around the world to create their own unique products.
From extra virgin olive oils to aged balsamic and specialty vinegar, this store inspires you to want to try everything.
I particularly enjoyed trying the strawberry balsamic vinegar alongside Nana’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Both were unique in taste, and I couldn't stop dipping the bread into both.
Old Town Oil, 1543 N Wells St
7. La Fournette
A taste of all things French was our last stop on the Chicago Planet Second City Classic Tour at La Fournette.
The creation of French husband and wife duo Michele and Pierre Zimmermann, they wanted to bring a taste of home to their favorite American city. And so, Old Town welcomed the addition of La Fournette to its vibrant neighborhood.
Eating French
As you’d imagine, the café serves up a mouth-watering selection of handmade croissants, artisan breads and sweets.
We each gobbled down a classic Ham and Cheese Croque Monsieur, followed by 2 delicate meringue-y (raspberry-chocolate) macarons.
La Fournette, 1547 N Wells St
Would you like to try the Chicago Food Planet Second City Classic Tour for yourself? Head to the website to see availability of this, and other Chicago Food Planet tours. If you enter FOODIE at the checkout, you'll receive 10% off the ticket price.
*Please note, the Second City Classic Tour is no longer available.
Disclaimer: Even though I was invited by Chicago Food Planet, all views are my own and based on my own experience. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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Wow, Lisa, you have really brought the foods of Chicago to life with great article and enticing pictures. It makes me want to get on a plane today and visit. The deep dish pizza Chicago is so known for makes my mouth water. It looks so filling and tasty. The French Bakery reminds me of Paris. The pastries and bread look like they could provide the authentic French experience. Freshly brewed ice tea must have have been such a treat when most beverages these days come pre-prepared and packed. Please make sure you do an article on your apple pie you will be making with the spices you brought. I can't wait to see and hear how it turned out. This tour seems like a must for any foodie visiting the Chicago area. Once again your website has inspired us all
Thank you, I will! The Vietnamese cinnamon I bought also goes well in other desserts and even hot chocolate too. I really appreciate you dropping by!
OMG this sounds amazing! You can't have a Chicago food tour without pizza, but I'm also pleasantly surprised with the variety of food you tried! It's great to get a range of what's available in the city. And I need to go to the Fudge Pot ASAP!
The Fudge Pot is a must! And it's reasonable too, meaning you can try everything. It's dangerous 😀
I have yet to experience a food tour and this one looks like so much fun. I like how not every stop is a food stop because it would be so hard for me to pace myself with all that good food. Tea Gschwender and Old Jerusalem sound so lovely!
I know what you mean! It's a great tour with just the right amount of food 😀
It’s years since I’ve been to Chicago but I’m not sure where the old town is. It sounds like there are some good options there though. I loved the pizza in Chicago butbthat fudge looks incredible
The fudge was so good! It's a great food city for sure 😀
I agree...food tours are such a great way to discover a new place, and give you a real sense of the local culture. And this looks like a really good one. I’ve never been a fan of deep dish pizza but I think it’s because I’ve never had it in Chicago. I may have to take this tour! ?
You must! I've tried it a few times, and you definitely need to be hungry! The tour is excellent too!
Being a foodie, I'm totally loving this post. Guess when I venture to Chicago, I should dedicate a day just for food!!! The falafal salad and iced tea sound like a match made in heaven!
It's an excellent food tour, and you won't leave hungry that's for sure!
Chicago is my favorite!! I love the food here and all the activities, you can literally do it all. And the deep dish is delicious!
The food is pretty sinful but delicious! I do miss the deep dish, it's so good.
Wow Chicago has so many options and I love all of them. My first choice would be thin crust pizza from Lou Malnati's Pizza. I also love Arabic cuisine so definitely would try crunchy falafels. Will save your post.
That's great to hear! The pizza's very good, if not a little indulgent! The falafels were very tasty too.
I will be honest, I have been to Chicago so many times that I have taken for granted all the awesome food places. Thank you for reminding me. There are a lot of hidden gems listed here.
You're so welcome Eric! I always like to visit the US for the food, and Chicago really has some awesome places 🙂
I love food tours! My first experience with one in Berlin, however, was less than satisfactory. So sad! I have yet to visit Chicago, but it's been a place I've started making plans to visit soon. I'll for SURE have to give this tour a try! It has everything I want to experience in a trip to Chicago! Thanks for sharing!
You're very welcome! The tour was excellent, mainly because of the hilarious guide we had. She really made sure we had a good time!
You've photographed that slice of pizza so well, it made my mouth water. I will definitely check out Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. I didn't know the difference between NYC and Chicago pizza but prefer the thicker style of Chicago. I agree that the Iced Tea at TeaGschwender would be perfect after a huge pizza!
Thanks James! Honestly, pizza is good whether it's NYC or Chicago style! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Wow! Quite interesting
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Ohhh my that pizza!! YUM!! The olive oil place also sounds like an awesome place to pick up cooking supplies, our life isn't complete without good olive oil!
I share your sentiments completely! Good olive oil makes anything taste 100 times better. Thanks for dropping by!
A food tour is a great way to understand the fabric of a place. Food is indeed a window to the lifestyle and culture of a place. This food tour indeed takes you to some of the most amazing eateries in Chicago. TeaGschwender is a place I would freak out on as I love my tea,
The Chicago Food Planet tour is excellent; I'd encourage you to check out their other tours too. TeaGschwender is really nice, and the iced tea was yummy!
Food tours are so intriguing! There's one here that I've been wanting to try here in Raleigh NC and your post definitely makes me want to make a reservation!
Thanks Yasmin! They're so much fun, especially for foodies and travel lovers!
Yasmin,
Randi from Chicago Food Planet here - we highly recommend trying food tours in any city! I might be biased but I love to take them in any city I visit to learn more about the history and culture and to be indulgent and eat my face off 🙂
I actually just got back from a trip to Raleigh and can't say enough good things about Taste Carolina's Raleigh tour. Beasley's Chicken and Biscuits is something I am already craving and I just got back to Chicago yesterday! Their portions are crazy huge too - and coming from someone within the industry believe me it's incredibly filling.
If you're ever in Chicago - let me know!
Chicago pizza is the best! I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be figuring out a way to make it to Chicago soon!
Ha, thanks Alexa, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for dropping by!
Alexa,
I totally agree with you, as a pizza lover I try them all over and there's still something about Chicago Pizza that will always tug at my heart strings (I have a feeling it's the mass amount of Cheese)!
If you book that flight to Chi-town, use code FOODIEFUN for 10% any of our tours 🙂
Stay hungry my friend!
I love food tours! This one looks great - so many different and unexpected places on the itinerary! I bet you learnt loads about local food culture and history 🙂
Me too Kathi. I learned so much on this tour, and met some lovely people along the way!
Wow what some amazing looking food, I think I have to book a trip to Chicago so I can try some of these especially the pizza my mouth is watering.
Thanks Jenni! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😀
The min I saw the first picture I thought this was going to be a pizza hop post...but glad you gave so many options!!! I would love to visit Old Jerusalem and La Fournette 😀
Thank you! I really enjoyed the falafel sandwich, it was so good and reminded me of my time in Jerusalem!
Ah what a delicious tour to take. Looks like a whole lot of fun. I'd love to have some of that iced tea right now.
It was so refreshing Jean! The tour is excellent, and I hope others experience it for themselves one day.
Wow, that's too many good things in one post! This won't be a good idea for a person on diet. he he
But I am not and I would love to go on a binge eating rampage through the city some day.
I hope you do! Chicago is one of those places where you can pig out, and the food is so tempting!
Chicago has long been a destination I want to travel too - A Chicago Pizza pie, has been on top of that list of things to eat but I must admit I didn't know about the others. Well looks like my list of food to try just got longer - thank you for this 😀
You're welcome Amit! And sorry to continue adding to the list of foods you have to try!
Amit,
There are so many amazing Chicago-style foods you HAVE to check out. Lisa's list doesn't even begin to chip the top. If you're ever in the city, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for recommendations! Even just a quick look at the places our tours visit could give you a guide.
Cheers!
Randi
Marketing Director, Chicago Food Planet
The Old Jerusalem photo is really mouth watering. What a great tour to experience food and beverages of Chicago. For sure I would stop and get some good stuff from The Fudge Pot.
Yes Marlies! The Fudge Pot is so good, it's bad! Lucky it's not so close by, otherwise I'd always be there 🙂
You got me at locally-made chocolates but I really find it interesting when immigrants to a country start a restaurant because they miss the food at home and also want to share it with their neighbours so kudos to the French couple and other immigrants who share their love of food and never forget where they come from!
Completely agree with you Justine. It's so nice to see a mix of culturally diverse shops and cafes, wherever they're from the in the world!
To be honest I've always been more of a NY style gal but that's really just because I can eat more slices of the thinner crust. Having said that these photos may convert me!
I like both Sarah, but the Chicago style is very indulgent! It's a good thing I'm not from the US, I wouldn't know how to stop!
Looks like a delicious food tour through a city brimming with choices. But I couldn't help but notice the tea was served in a plastic cup and macarons wrapped in cellophane. That screams the opposite of foodie, but maybe I'm just jaded, you made everything sound tasty anyway.
Hi Peter, I understand your point, but what counts are the contents of the packaging, and how it tastes! And trust me, everything was so good!
I've never had a deep dish pizza like this - so reckon this is something I should save for when I actually visit Chicago (which I will do one day, I promise). I do like taking food tours (or drink tours), so think I could learn a lot from this one! x
It's so good Becca, you won't be sorry! The only problem is knowing when to put the pizza down! Thanks for dropping by.
This is not an ideal post to read when you're hungry, Lol. This looks amazing, specially the Old Jerusalem restaurant and that delicious looking Chicago style pizza 🙂
Hehe yes Roxanne, I should have put a warning to others before reading it!
I've actually never taken a food tour anywhere but the idea sounds very exciting. Especially the way you've described it, that you can explore the city as well as its cuisine in one go. You tried a lot of different things in your tour here, that's pretty cool !
Thanks Medha, I had an excellent time on the tour, I highly recommend going, especially if you're a foodie!
Oh man, that pizza looks heart stopping! I loved the deep dish in Chicago but didn't know about local eats beyond that. Will have to check this out when in town next!
Thanks Shaun, yes, everyone's loving the pizza right now! Glad you stopped by and will check it out next time you're in Chicago!
Shaun,
Randi here, Marketing Director for Chicago Food Planet. We would love to host you when you are in town next to show you some local eats! Be sure to use the discount code FOODIEFUN when booking for 10% off 🙂
Cheers!
All this food looks fantastic but i think the Jerusalem sandwich wins it for me!
Thanks David, not many people enjoyed it, I think I was the only one!
This tour sounds fab. First stop had to be for a chicago pizza and it looked great. Choc toffee block sounds amazing too. I love that it included lots of different food types and orgins, one for the list if I make it back to Chicago.
Thanks Fiona! It was such a great tour, and the food and shop stops were fantastic!
You seem to had a great time during your food tour. Everything looks so delicious. Being a tea lover i would love to try TeaGschwender.
It was so much fun, mainly because I had such a good time trying everything and having a laugh with the guide!
What a great choice! Would love to visit the Pizza place that looks amazing!
Thanks Natalia, the pizza is super good, and very moreish!
Looks really good! I've been in food tours in a variety of different countries and I never regret it. I believe that food is a really important part of a place's culture and a good way to get a feel of a place. I also just really really like eating.
Thanks Kate, me too! Food is so important to knowing, and finding out about a country's cultures. Haha, me too, always happy to speak to a fellow foodie!
I definitely wouldn't be on a diet here! I've always wanted to try a deep dish pizza and see how much I could eat. Saving room for ice cream, of course:)
Good to hear that Jen! The deep dish is soooo good, I'm glad Lou Malnati's isn't near me, otherwise I'd be there all the time!