Where to Sit Down: The 10 Best Food Experiences Around the World

1.Jakarta: Volcano, Tea/Rice Fields, Hot Spring, Local Food

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 515 reviews · 14 hours · from $114Our pick

Leave Jakarta early for Tangkuban Parahu Volcano, Subang rice fields, Lembang lunch, local fruit tasting, tea plantations, and Ciater hot springs. An English-speaking guide such as Rizky, Bryan, Nanda, or Vincent leads the small group, with transport, entrance fees, lunch, and a massage included. Expect long mountain roads and a full day.

“Bryan was a great guide. He was very informative. He was very accommodating. Made sure to listen to what we wanted and tried hard to make sure we got what we wanted.”

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2.SF’s Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour – Includes full meal, 3hr

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99Top rated

Start with a full dim sum meal, then explore fortune cookies, bubble tea, a Chinese bakery, Portsmouth Square, and a tea shop. Guides such as Robert, Jacob, Robin, and Marcy mix food with Chinatown stories. The small-group tour costs $99, runs about three hours, and ends five blocks from the start.

“Wonderful Day! Jacob was very informative. Highly recommend! We learned so many thing that we would never have known about.”

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3.Experience all of Japanese culture and Japanese food experience classes “origami, udon, Japanese food, green tea, calligraphy” in 4 hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $92

Meet Taka at JR Omori Station, then walk eight minutes to his home for a hands-on Japanese culture and food class. You’ll fold an origami crane, make udon from scratch, prepare sushi and gyoza, enjoy tempura and small dishes, drink matcha with Japanese sweets, and take home a calligraphy souvenir. Private groups, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.

“Taka and Keiko are wonderful hosts. They are friendly, inquisitive, welcoming and full of information. Our noodle making experience was delightful and a little unexpected with a fun surprise. All food was delicious. I learned a lot and can’t wait to make the recipes at home. Thank you for such a great experience”

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4.Street Food Cooking Class in Taipei : Gua Bao/Lu Rou Fan/Boba Tea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $79

At CookInn Taiwan’s Zhongshan classroom, spend two hours making Taiwanese small eats with a guide such as Angela. Prepare steamed gua bao buns, braised pork belly for lu rou fan, and chewy tapioca pearls for bubble tea. The class is capped at eight people, ends with a meal, and includes a recipe book.

“This cooking class was fantastic. The instructor was super friendly and helpful, and the food came out amazing. It was an interesting way to learn about how some of the street food we've been getting is made, and the recipe book we received will make a great souvenir. I look forward to trying what I learned again at home”

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5.Full Day Food Tour Of Delhi with a chef. Includes Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $200

Spend 8 to 9 hours eating across Old and New Delhi with a chef-guide such as Aditya or Ashwani. Expect up to 25 tastings at more than a dozen local food shops, from paranthas and kulcha to kababs, lassi, sweets, and tea. Central Delhi pickup and drop-off are included, with vegetarian options available by request.

“Brilliant. This tour was an excellent way to see and learn about Delhi while tasting a wide selection of delicious food, most of which I'd never tried before. Our guide Aditya was informative, funny and a delight to spend the day with. I'll admit I was nervous about the risk of Read more”

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6.Tea and Doughnuts: Historic Walking Food Tour of Southwark

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 14 reviews · from $90

Spend two hours walking from Borough Tube station through Borough Market toward Tower Bridge, stopping at four bakeries and doughnut shops. You’ll taste four doughnuts, hear stories about Southwark, and finish near a fine bridge view. Guides such as Dan and Bhavani add food and local history to the route.

“Bhavani was great - very cheerful. Doughnuts were all amazing!! You get 4 whole ones each. The price for the tour did feel pretty high, but each doughnut costs around £4 so taking that into account it felt better value.”

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7.Eat Your Way Through Yunnan’s Tea & Horse Road, from Dali to Lijiang, 8-day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $2,200

Follow Yunnan’s old Tea and Horse Road from Dali to Lijiang in a small group of up to 10. Eat at family-run restaurants, shop Lijiang’s oldest market, cook with a Naxi family, cycle near Shaxi, and stay beside Tiger Leaping Gorge. Daisy, Ruixi, Alison, Brian, Evon, and Longjiao are among the guides associated with past departures.

“Lost plate tours brings together likeminded travellers who love trying new foods and being outdoors. Small groups (maximum 10) allows for a personalised service where we could move at a pace not so different than if we were on our oRead more”

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8.Yarra Valley Foodie Tour, Devonshire Tea, Cheese and Chocolate

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $142

Join local guide Mimi for a four-hour Yarra Valley food tour built around small producers and scenic back roads. Taste 12 Belgian couverture chocolates, five artisan cheeses, Devonshire tea, a choice of banh mi and more. Pickup begins at Lilydale Station, with drop-off at Mooroolbark Station. Groups are limited to four.

“The tour was a great experience. I really enjoyed the scenery and the many food spots we stopped at. Healesville is a beautiful town and we took some of the back roads that Mimi, our guide knows well. It gives much better scenery than tRead more”

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9.Kimono and Tea Ceremony in Asakusa Private Food Tour With Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $290

Spend four hours in Asakusa dressed in a traditional or modern kimono, with help choosing your outfit, obi sash, and wooden sandals. Guide Adam is named in guest feedback, and the walk includes Sensō-ji, Nakamise Street, a tea ceremony, A5 wagyu, drinks, ice cream, and local desserts. Groups are limited to eight.

“Guide was very flexible. We decided to skip onsen so had more time to do other things. My favorite part was the sushi player went to.”

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10.Tokyo Vegan Tour : Miso Making, Tea Ceremony, Rickshaw Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 4 hours · from $62Best value

Meet at Daimon Station for a four-hour private vegan food and culture tour. With an English-speaking guide such as Konomi, you can make miso or onigiri, taste five kinds of amazake, join a matcha ceremony at Kōdōin, ride a rickshaw near Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple, and sample sake at Minato Shuzo. Optional fees may apply for extra food activities or longer rides.

“Konomi was a fantastic guide who was knowledgable, approachable and spoke perfect English. The Miso making/Sake tasting/triangle rice making was very interactive. Shortly after we got a tour of the Mita Tower area on the human pulled rickshaw which looked like hard work but was very comfortable for us. We felt like king and queen. The tea ceremony was very authentic but also friendly. We enjoyed our fun filled day. As someone who is often critical of the value for money of tours, I'd say this package offers good value for money.”

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