OUR STORY
A CULINARY EXPERIENCE COMPANY
Sidewalk Food Tours was inspired by a deep love of food, history, and the unique stories of different neighborhoods in different cities. The first Sidewalk Food Tour was launched in NYC, and since then, the Sidewalks family has grown to include tours in Chicago, San Francisco, Paris, New Orleans and now LA.
Our goal is to provide exceptional walking food tours of Los Angeles so you can revisit these neighborhoods with confidence and enjoy the array of culinary options they have to offer. We want you to feel as if you’re exploring the city with a close friend who’s showing you all their favorite local hideaways.
We’re self-proclaimed foodies. We’ve made it our mission to eat our way through LA, doing a lot of delicious research (and some not so appetizing) to bring you the best food options the city has to offer. There is no better way to learn about the history and culture of a neighborhood than to eat its food. The food and the people who prepare it tell the story of a neighborhood. Join us on a real foodie adventure as we eat our way through our favorite neighborhoods and uncover the best off-the-beaten-path food spots in LA.
We look forward to having you join us on a Sidewalk Food Tour of Los Angeles and can’t wait to show you the sights. Happy eating!
Bon voyage!
SIDEWALK FOOD TOURS OF LOS ANGELES
OUR TOURS
EXPLORE NEIGHBORHOOD DELIGHTS
Savor the sights, sounds, and flavors of LA on a Food Tour of Los Angeles! Your expert tour guide leads you on a walking adventure through this extraordinary city, sharing stories of early settlers, Hollywood’s heyday, and the transformation of LA’s culture and food scene.
On your food tour, you get to enjoy tastes from unique LA eateries, including the best bakeries, authentic ethnic eateries, and renowned establishments creating a buzz in the foodie universe. Along the way, your tour guide introduces you to the city’s unique history, evolving food culture, and fascinating architecture. At the end of your tour, with your newfound knowledge of LA’s best hidden gems, you’ll feel like a true Angeleno!
MEET THE TEAM
On a six-hour historical tour of Lower Manhattan, Joshua’s stomach began to grumble as the guide pointed out some delicious food spots. It was then that he had an “aha moment.” He decided to include his favorite food places on a history and culture walking tour, so folks wouldn’t be hungry while discovering the city!
He wanted his tours to tell the story of the neighborhood through its food and the people who prepare it. The rest, as they say, is history. Sidewalk Food Tours, a culinary experience company, was born. He has since expanded into six delectable cities. His goal is to expand to every major U.S. city you travel to, so you can experience its food and culture on a Sidewalk Food Tour.
CHIEU PHAM
PARTNER
We are honored to have Chieu Pham on our team. She plays an integral part in the company’s overall success. Her family bravely refuged to the U.S. from Vietnam in the 1980s. She brings years of business experience, previously working for Sprint, Principal Financial, Morgan Stanley, and Hartford. In addition to her business acumen, she is extremely passionate about feng shui, astrology, food, and culture. She loves meditation, traveling, and hiking to beautiful mountaintops. Spending quality time with her eight nieces and nephews is what brings her the most joy.
Tory is a former math teacher and Philadelphia native with a passion for travel. Having lived overseas in Scotland, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates, he is always on the lookout for his next adventure- and those adventures will always involve trying new foods. His goal is to travel to and eat at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Outside of work, you can usually find him coaching baseball, endlessly scrolling through Netflix, or in pursuit of high-quality BBQ food.
Favorite Cocktail: Bourbon on the rocks
Steve Gelder has been a morning show radio host, a stand-up comedian and currently makes his living in an actor here in Los Angeles, appearing on such shows as “1000 Ways To Die”, “People Magazine Investigates” and “truTV’s Laff Mobb”. Steve was also a contestant on the long-running game show “Jeopardy!” in 2001, where he came in third, making him the stupidest person on “Jeopardy!” that day. He’s a fan of food, knowledge and random trivia, so he really enjoys conducting tours for Sidewalk Food Tours!
Favorite Drink: Margarita
Favorite Restaurant in LA: Taylor’s Steak House
Sam’s love of food started at eight years old, when he began to tell people his favorite food was duck. Since then, he has made it a point to find the coolest and most exciting places to eat wherever he lives or goes. Sam has been a California resident for his whole life and would put LA’s diverse food scene up against any other city in the world’s. Ask him his favorite food now and he’ll probably think back to the last few restaurants he’s eaten at and what made each of them great, before just telling you it’s pizza. Even LA’s most creative, culinary award-winning chefs would surely agree that it’s hard to argue with a good pizza.
Favorite cocktail: Sazerac
Favorite restaurant: Guerrilla Tacos
Kayli’s life was forever changed the first time she tried a Guisados taco and she is bent on making sure everyone else knows the same joy. She is an accomplished eater and has a major soft spot for old buildings (the creepier the better!). She’s lived in sunny LA for 3 years and is still blown away by the fascinating history that this ever-changing and glamorous City of Angels has to offer.
Favorite drink: gin and tonic
Favorite restaurant in DTLA: Ramen Hood
Tora is a self-professed bon vivant whose dedication to the discerning art of eating and drinking began when she was a teen in New York City. She continues to eat and drink her way around the world, recently visiting her 25th country. As a resident of Los Angeles for the past 7 years, Tora finds joy in sharing the diverse riches of her adopted hometown with other curious travelers and food lovers alike.
Mike has been guiding or directing tours since 2005. After guiding educational tours around The UK, Europe, Asia and much of the US, Mike decided to start guiding tours in his own backyard at the time, Manhattan. Based now in Los Angeles after 14 years in New York City, he is thrilled to share the hidden culinary and historic gems of DTLA with locals and visitors alike. There’s nothing more fun than pointing at buildings and telling stories, especially when there are snacks!
Dara has been a tour guide for over 10 years. She lead tours in New York City and is happy to call Los Angeles home now. She has traveled throughout Europe and the Caribbean and marvels at the many cultures and cuisine the heart of DTLA. She looks forward to sharing her passion for the city’s remarkable history and the amazing food.
Favorite Cocktail: Caipirinha
Favorite Restaurant in DTLA: Blue Cow
Lana is a writer and Indie Filmmaker with a passion for History and Architecture and for living in Los Angeles. She was born in Athens, Greece and raised in Houston, Texas and Tampa, Florida where her mother owned a Greek Restaurant before getting into the home design business.