Six hand-picked stops across downtown Calgary, from the Chinatown counters where Chinese-Canadian cooking took hold to a hand-painted chocolate shop by the river. Vietnamese, Chinese, Afghan, Colombian, and Alberta beef, all on one flat walk.












Six hand-picked stops across downtown Calgary, from the Chinatown counters where Chinese-Canadian cooking took hold to a hand-painted chocolate shop by the river. Vietnamese, Chinese, Afghan, Colombian, and Alberta beef, all on one flat walk.
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A Chinatown Bánh Mì Counter
We start on Centre Street, in the Chinatown Chinese railway workers built, lost to fire, and rebuilt twice more. You'll taste a satay chicken bánh mì, the chicken warm and faintly sweet, cut through with pickled carrot, cucumber, coriander, and a slice of jalapeño. Vietnamese bakers here bake the bread for these sandwiches specifically, lighter and thinner-crusted than a French baguette.A Chinatown Dining Room
Ginger beef was invented in Calgary in 1975, when a chef battered thin strips of beef, deep-fried them, and coated them in a sweet chilli, ginger, and garlic sauce to sell alongside drinks. It travelled from here into Chinese restaurants across Canada, and most Canadians assume it came from China. A few doors from our first stop, you'll taste it as a dim sum portion, hot and sticky.A Downtown Sandwich Counter
Alberta beef is the thing Calgary is known for, and here it turns up as brisket, cooked low and slow, sauced with ancho chilli, and packed into bread with red cabbage slaw and garlic aioli. The counter sits in the old commercial core, a short walk from the sandstone banks and warehouses raised after the fire of 1886.An Afghan Kitchen
East of the core, an Afghan kitchen steams dumplings filled with spiced ground beef and dresses them with sauces made in house. It is a newer take on a dish Afghan families have made for generations, and the sauces are what carry it.A Colombian Bakery
A buñuelo is a ball of fried dough shot through with fresh cheese, crisp outside and soft in the middle, faintly salty rather than sweet. Colombians eat them at Christmas and all year round, usually with hot chocolate. You'll taste one warm.A Hand-Painted Chocolate Shop
We finish in East Village, a warehouse district left half empty for decades and rebuilt along the Bow River in the last fifteen years. The chocolate shop here works with Alberta ingredients and paints its bonbons by hand, up to seven colours on a single piece. You'll finish the walk with a small drinking chocolate.*Please note: the itinerary and menu is subject to change, based on the locations' availability, weather, and other circumstances.
Lowest price guarantee
If a tour is fully booked, or you are looking to book a *Group or Private Tour - please email us about Group & Private Tours options.
*Please note - Group & Private Tours are specifically organised for your group and therefore subject to a premium price.

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How do I order?
That is very easy! Go to our "Book Now" page, where we detail our tours. Select your tour and the time of your tour and book it! Are you looking for something special or are you organizing an event? Just email us at Group & Private Tours and we will do our best to arrange something that suits you. After your booking is made, we will send you an automatic e-mail confirmation. If you have any questions before booking, feel free to contact us via email
*Please note if you are using a special promo code then enter it in the "Voucher Code" section before you select the amount of tickets you would like to purchase*
What is included in the Calgary Food Tour?
Six hand-picked food and drink stops across downtown Calgary, and a local guide for the full three hours. You'll eat a satay chicken bánh mì and ginger beef in Chinatown, an Alberta BBQ beef sandwich in the commercial core, steamed Afghan dumplings, a Colombian buñuelo, and a drinking chocolate in East Village. Gratuities at the venues are covered in the ticket price.
Where does the Calgary Food Tour meet?
You can find the meeting spot here and if it's not clear you can always contact us.
The tour begins in Calgary's Chinatown, a few minutes on foot from the downtown LRT. Your booking confirmation carries the exact meeting point with a map link, so look for it in your email the day before.
Your guide will be carrying an Orange umbrella so will be easy to spot.
»»CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS««
Do you cater for dietary restrictions on the Calgary Food Tour?
Note your requirements when you book. Our Calgary team confirms with each venue what it will do for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergy requests, and comes back to you before the tour. We would rather tell you what is possible after asking the kitchens than promise something in advance.
Are children welcome on the Calgary Food Tour?
Yes, and there is a child rate. The pace is gentle and the walk is flat, so most children manage the three hours well. Tell us their ages when you book so your guide knows what to expect.
I don't drink alcohol. Can I book your tour?
This is not a problem. Just inform our guide before the tour starts. During the tasting you can select another beverage you like.
Is there enough food during your tour?
We give enough food to all our customers. Trust us, you will not need to go to any restaurant after the Food tour!
Where do I add my discount voucher?

I would like to take your tour but it is already fully booked. Is there a way I can do the tour?
Our tours are often sold out very quickly. If the date you requested is not available, please do not hesitate to email us and we can see if there is anything we can do.
How long is the Calgary Food Tour and how far do we walk?
Three hours, six stops, on flat ground through Chinatown, the downtown core, and East Village. The walking is spread across the three hours in short stretches between stops, with plenty of time seated or standing at each one.
How many people max are on this tour?
Twelve guests maximum. Small groups are the point, because a group of twelve fits inside a Chinatown dining room without taking it over, and because you'll get to ask your guide questions rather than listen to a speech.
I cannot find a way to print the confirmation. Is it OK if I have it on my phone?
You do not have to print your voucher. A confirmation on your phone will be fine!
If I purchase a voucher as a gift, or am given a voucher how long is it valid for?
All of our vouchers expire one year from the date of purchase.
Can I choose my own cheese and meat?
Our guide will take care of everything. Should you wish to try something special, please inform our guide and he will do his best to make you happy.
Where does your food come from?
Top - quality, fresh and local!
What if it rains or I change my plans?
Unfortunately, the weather is unpredictable. We do not issue refunds as per our terms and conditions. We also inform you that we never cancel a booking even if we have only 2 people! However we do reserve the right to cancel the tour if we feel the weather is extreme, and we cannot run the tour due to this for more info see our Terms and Conditions.
Can I pay the tour in cash?
You must book directly on our website. We do not accept cash payments. Our online payment is safe, secured and SSL protected.
Why do we need to pay for a booking fee?
The booking fee that you have to pay is up to our ticket provider and we can't change it. All our clients need to pay for it upon booking. The booking fee charged contributes to the cost of the ticketing system to provide an excellent service to our customers.
Foreign Transaction Fees
A few banks have charged their customer an extra fee while booking with us (this isn't the booking fee but another fee added by the bank). We think this is unfair, if this happens let us know by showing us in your bank statement and we will refund this fee as a gesture of good will.
Are the food tours wheelchair and/or stroller accessible?
Many of our tours are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. We recommend contacting us before booking to discuss this specific tour and accessibility options.
What is the lowest price guarantee?
We always offer the lowest price on our Secret Food Tours. If you find one of our food tours listed at a lower price, contact us and we'll match it.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes and a jacket suited to the day, because the walking is outdoors between stops and Calgary weather shifts fast. Bring a water bottle in warmer months. Come hungry enough for six stops, and bring an appetite for the ginger beef in particular.
Why is downtown Calgary worth a food tour?
Because the interesting eating is packed into a small area and easy to miss from a car. Calgary's Chinatown dates to 1883 and the community bought its land outright in 1910 to stop being moved on, East Village went from empty warehouses to a riverside neighbourhood in fifteen years, and Stephen Avenue between them has been a national historic site since 2002. Three eras of the city, and five communities' kitchens, inside a twenty-minute walk.
Is this a good thing to do in Calgary for first-time visitors?
It is one of the better first days in the city. You get the food, the history of how Calgary was built and rebuilt, and a local's shortlist for the rest of your trip, all before mid-afternoon. Guests often use it to work out where they want to come back to eat.
Where the tour will end?
The tour will end at the cochu chocolatier.
Book our award-winning Secret Food Tours: Calgary before it fills up!


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