Victoria Food Tour: Uncover Chinatown's Hidden Gems
4.8
80 Ratings
Victoria
Uncover the hidden gems of Victoria's Chinatown on a food tour. Experience authentic local cuisine, explore historic sights, and support small businesses. Book now!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Chinatown - We do a deep dive in to Canada’s oldest Chinatown including visiting heritage sites such as the Chinese Language School, The Gates of Harmonious Interest, and some of the oldest buildings in Western Canada.
- Victoria Public Market at the Hudson - We start the tour at the historic Hudson Bay Building. Completed in 1922, this iconic building is now the home of the bustling Victoria Public Market. Here we will get a tour of the market that includes a coffee from a local roaster, a savoury hand pie from Victoria Pie Co. and a traditional arancini from La Pasta.
- Fan Tan Alley - Named after the Chinese gambling game Fan-Tan, the alley was originally a gambling district with restaurants, shops, and opium dens. It is the narrowest street in Canada, only 0.9 meters (35 in) wide. It was designated as a heritage property by the local government in 2001 and remains a popular attraction. Let us take you through this bustling alley and show you the best places to get the iconic picture that visitors love to get!
- Market Square - This bustling square used to be home to opium dens, brothels, and bars back in the rough and tumble gold rush days of the 1860s. Now it is home to cute local shops, modern restaurants, and breweries. Here we will stop at our favorite brewery (Whistle Buoy) to sample some of the best craft beer in the city.
What's Included
- Expert local guide
- Inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- Authentic food tasting experience
What's Not Included
- Gratuities (recommended) for tour guide
Additional Information
Explore secret and stylish culinary hotspots in Canada’s most ancient Chinatown and lively Old Town. Dine like an inhabitant at our latest dining establishments away from the tourist crowds, featuring rich South Indian food, farm-fresh dishes, Thai dumplings, an impressive taco, pastries, artisanal beer, and much more. Ideal for the bold traveller seeking a genuine encounter.
WHAT’S ON THE PLATE: A diverse range of international cuisine from some of the latest and trendiest hidden spots in the city. South Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Filipino, and more.
WHY CHOOSE THIS TOUR?
- You’ve heard of the wonderfulness of Chinatown and wish to explore it differently. Yes, we do venture down Fan Tan Alley!
- You’re a history buff and love visiting historic sites & buildings and listening to tales about Victoria’s fascinating past
- You enjoy unearthing little-known businesses that aren’t catering specifically to tourists
- You’re after a real local experience and wish to eat food prepared by residents
- You’re looking for deals at local food joints
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Minimum drinking age is 19 years. We have a non-alcohol sample for youth and for those looking for a non-alcohol experience
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking, we need to know of any dietary issues before the tour starts.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Location
Victoria Public Market at the Hudson
Douglas Street
We meet inside the Victoria Public Market. Enter the building through the front doors and head to the middle of the market. We meet at the Community Kitchen space, located near the washrooms. Look for guide holding clipboard and wearing a lanyard nametag.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(80 Ratings)
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A7502jcjoannea
May 27, 2024
Delightful and tasty - We had a blast. The food was delightful, unique and delicious. We learned more about the area and local chefs. Great portions we were more satisfied than expected ending the tour. So yummy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariemb5431ax
May 22, 2024
A fun way to get a taste of both the history and the food of The Chinatown area. - This was so much fun and so delicious. We learned about the area and sampled foods at seven different eateries! Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. We had such a good time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebecca_p
May 13, 2024
Delish and informative - Tasty bites and then...beer! Excellent tour guide, Brenda made us all feel included. Lots of walking so wear comfy shoes
Review provided by Viator
916elisek
Apr 29, 2024
My first taste of Victoria - Fabulous walking tour and great food along the way. Learned a lot about the city. Our tour guide, Jo, was knowledgeable and extremely helpful and welcoming. And even though it was Chinatown, we went to a few surprising choices! It was obvious she loved her job!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mark_w
Apr 25, 2024
Victoria Must-Do Tour - Our guide, Brenda, was both a fun and very knowledgeable guide. The food selection was unique and delicious. A must-do for visitors to Victoria!
Review provided by Viator
Jannym691
Apr 23, 2024
A must to do while in Victoria - We went on the Chinatown and Old Town tour with Julie. She was great!! Very knowledgable, positive and energetic. We loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
840tamil
Apr 20, 2024
Great tour - Our guide Jo was fantastic and knowledgeable. Everything we tried was really good. Close distances and interesting places you probably wouldn't find on your own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Albina2
Apr 19, 2024
A little bit of this and a little bit of that - We had an accidental private tour with knowledgeable and generous guide, Brenda. Brenda's many years in the hospitality industry showed during this 2 hour tour. She knows everybody! All of the food sampled was delicious, but highlights were the breakfast puff with the mint tea and the 2 delicious pastries we had at Friends and Family Bake (Philipino bakery). Part of the tour is a exploration of some of the cultural history in both old town and Chinatown. Brenda was able to give us lots of tips and advice on negotiating Victoria, a city we are not familiar with. The tour was well worth the time and money. Thanks Brenda!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H8940ecangelaj
Apr 10, 2024
Delicious food! - Had a great time with Jo on our tour! Everything was delicious and the tour was perfectly paced. I didn’t feel rushed and I didn’t get too full.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathleen_k
Apr 8, 2024
Delicious, filling, humorous food tour - Our tour guide Brenda was humorous and provided good details about the areas we walked through. We stopped at 7 different food places with an eclectic mix of food culture such as Indian, Mexican, Filipino, Chinese and Japanese. The walk itself was not difficult, although, there were some stairs to navigate. We left satiated and very happy with our experience and would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
