When planning our adventures, our first decision is where we will stay, followed very closely by, where we will eat. Food is always a high priority during our travels. We love to experience different styles of food that are authentic and unique to the area. When planning our trip to Chicago, two food items were high on our list: a classic Chicago-style hot dog, and a deep dish pizza. Needless to say, when Chicago Food Planet Tour invited us to take part in one of their food tours, we were over the moon!
While I prefer to plan most of our dining ahead of time and make reservations so that we do not miss the experiences highest on our list. I do leave some meals open to try new, different things. What can I say, I’m a planner! So being able to plan in these bucket list foodie items via the Chicago Food Planet Tour company, made me super happy.
Disclaimer: We were guests of Chicago Food Planet; however, as always, all opinions are my own.
Chicago Food Planet Tours to Choose From
There are 5 Chicago Food Planet tours to choose from, each with a different angle or range of cuisine.
Best in Chow Food Tour – Try Chicago’s most famous dishes, and skip the lines to these popular establishments!
Navy Pier Signature Food Tour – All year round tour, thanks to being undercover inside Navy Pier
Gateway to the West Loop Food Tour – Discover the foodie paradise of West Loop
Second City Classic Food Tour – Live like a local on this tour around the Old Town and Gold Coast neighbourhoods
The Chinatown Adventure Food Tour – This seasonal tour takes you around the best spots in Chicago’s Chinatown
We chose the Navy Pier Signature Food Tour. Partly because it was due to be cold, and being from South Georgia we don’t like the cold! And also because we wanted to explore Navy Pier anyway, so this was a two birds, one stone situation. We ended up learning loads about the pier and its history, which was great for this homeschooling family!
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The Navy Pier Signature Food Tour
America’s Dog & Burger
Our first ever Chicago-style hotdog did not disappoint. A Vienna all-beef hot dog with mustard, tomato, relish, onion, sport peppers, pickle spear, a dash of celery salt, piled into a poppy seed bun.
Payton got a surprise when she bit into the sport pepper thinking it was a banana pepper. Her bottle of water was finished quickly!
One tip, don’t ever ask for ketchup on your Chicago hotdog.
Navy Pier History
Our next stop was in this beautiful indoor garden area in Navy Pier. Here we learned more about the history of the pier, all of the changes it has been through, and where it is now.
Check out these 10 facts that you may not have known about Navy Pier. Additionally, if you’re looking for even more activities and attractions while visiting Navy Pier, be sure to take a look at this 27+ Navy Pier Things to Do and Restaurant Guide!
Brown Sugar Bakery
In this relaxing garden area we enjoyed the most fabulous cupcakes ever which were made by Brown Sugar Bakery. The bakery itself is not located at Navy Pier, but on 75th Street in Chicago. All of their desserts are made fresh every day and delivered to their Navy Pier location.
Once they sell out of an item, it’s gone. Our group shared a variety of cupcakes during our tour. Even though we all enjoyed a different flavor, everyone agreed it was the best cupcake they’d ever had!
Tiny Tavern
Our next stop was Tiny Tavern, to sample the famous Wisconsin fried cheese curds. We had sampled cheese curds the day before, but they did not compare to these. Talk about mouth-watering deliciousness!
Giordano’s Pizza
The fourth stop on our tour was Giordano’s, to sample the famous Chicago deep dish pizza. I am not going to lie, pizza is my favorite food. This was my first experience with the traditional deep dish, and it was heavenly! We were also seated close enough to the glass-walled kitchen to watch as they hand tossed the crusts. Payton was mesmerized by their methods.
Tip: Don’t order too big a pizza when eating deep-dish, they are SO filling!
Garrett’s Popcorn
Our final stop on the tour is Garrett’s Popcorn. This mixture of cheddar and caramel will delight any tastebud. Garrett’s popcorn has been made in Chicago since 1949. Despite being very very full, we couldn’t resist giving it a try!
Chicago Food Planet Tour
We had such a great time learning about Navy Pier and some of Chicago’s most famous food. The Chicago Food Planet tours are a fantastic way to experience local food, and learn about the history of a place, all from your own guide. I will warn you though, you will leave heavier than you arrived!
Learn about our favourite hotel in Chicago, and our fun dining experiences in Chicago for more travel inspiration!
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Wow, 5 food tours to choose from!! This was a great choice, I had no clue celery salt was sprinkled on a Chicago dog, of course, I’m from NYC. But it looks so fresh and delish and cupcakes you know I’m down for some sweet treats any day. Such a fun tour, love your pics, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Have a friend who lives in Chicago and am definitely sending her this link! Thanks for sharing!
I ne we heard of food tours. I love it! That one looked like a perfect food tour. Yum and fun!
Love the idea of a food tour! What a great way to experience a place! Great summer excursion idea!
Oh my gosh! Soooo much food! I would be bursting at the seams!
It looks like I need to plan another trip to Chicago! I love planning where to eat on trips, too. This tour looks like so much fun. My family would definitely like the American Dog and Burger!
It sounds like you picked a great tour! The hot dog, pizza & cheese curds looked especially amazing. Chicago is such a foodie town – love the idea of combining learning some history while sampling food!
I want to go to Chicago so bad!!!!! Thanks for the info
The hot dog looks so delicious! I mean….. All the food looks delicious. I am drooling over here.
All of this looks so, so good! When I go to Chicago, I now know where to eat. Thanks!
So yummy! To go containers would definitely be in my bag 🙂
Food is my favorite part of a trip! Now I want to go try all of these out!
I live just north of Chicago and have never heard of food tours. You hit some of the best including Giordano’s and Garretts. I will definitely have to look into tours when traveling.
That’s how like to travel, try all the best restaurants and snacks around! It look delicious!
My husband had to go to Chicago twice this year on business and wants to take me back badly just for the food! He talks about that trip often! Your pictures look great =)
Brown Sugar Bakery?? Wow!! Those cupcakes look amazing!!! I have never been to Chicago, but it’s on my list. Great information – thanks for sharing!
That is my kind of tour! The popcorn would be a great souvenir too
We also love doing food tours. My cousin lives in Chicago and ships us a deep dish pizza for Christmas every year. My husband is always on the lookout for it. LOL!
Amazing! Good places to eat 🙂 we do the same thing!
I just had dinner, but this is making me hungry! What a fantastic idea for a tour.
Such a great idea! I love the idea of a food tour. We, too, are foodies when we travel. Love trying different cuisines!
What a fabulous opportunity! All the food sounds and looks amazing. I think I like the look of the deep dish pizza the most, however. That’s one big pizza! I would have been mesmerized too!
I’m so jealous! What a great tour! Definitely on my list!
We were just talking about Chicago and how much we need to go! Now we know what food tour to indulge in!
This was lovely. I spent 2 years in Chicago during nursing school. Once a month, Giordano’s was our reward for hard work. I agree…. BEST pizza I have EVER had, even 30+ years later. Our weekly reward was a walk down to a neighborhood (winter and summer) for an Italian Ice. I wish I could remember more about it, because I’ve never had an ice like those. Thanks for the memories!
I had to reread the hot dog toppings. Poppy seeds on the bun???? Hmmm . . . I may have to try this one.
Food tours are so fun and a great way to learn about foods culture and the city. Glad you enjoyed!
Wow! Sounds and looks like fabulous food and a fantastic tour. Thanks for sharing. I need to put this on my to visit list!
What a fun idea! I’ve never been on a food tour before. Those cupcakes look amazing!
OMG, I want to try those cupcakes! Just about anything with pecans is an automatic win for me!
Oh this post makes me want to plan a day trip to Chicago for all those tasty treats! What a beautiful indoor garden too, I would love to check that out.
Yum! I would love to try a food tour like this sometime! Looks so fun!