Guadalajara
Guadalajara Food Tours
Viva Guadalajara: Exploring Mexico’s Culinary Frontier
AS FEATURED IN
On this full day tour in Guadalajara, we’ll explore the delicious contradictions that make this historic city. From deliciously messy tortas ahogadas to classic cantina cocktails, we’ll uncover the influences – pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary – that have shaped Guadalajara’s world-renowned cuisine.
ABOUT
Guadalajara – Mexico’s 2nd-largest city – is at once a symbol of both old and new Mexico, a “frontier” town where modern Mexican urban life collides with older traditions. On one hand, it is a young and lively university city that has grown into a sprawling metropolis, a booming tech and innovation hub, and home to a vibrant LGBT scene. On the other, Guadalajara is the home of so many of Mexico’s emblematic traditions: mariachi music has its roots in the city, and the state of which it is the capital, Jalisco, is the birthplace of tequila, birria, and so many other regional culinary treasures. There’s no doubt about it: Tapatíos, as the locals are known, will tell you that some of Mexico’s best eats can be found in Guadalajara. On this full-day tour, we’ll explore Guadalajara’s past and present, art and architecture, and influences old and new through the many dishes and drinks the city has to offer. From smoky street stands to music-filled cantinas, the energy – and flavor – in Guadalajara is undeniable.Our day will start in the epicenter of Guadalajara’s flourishing creative community, the eclectic Americana neighborhood, where we’ll stop by a beloved cafe for some of their freshly-baked breakfast pastries. From there, we’ll make our way to another local favorite, a restaurant run by a woman chef who’s made it her mission to revive recipes and culinary traditions from the surrounding Jalisco region. Here we’ll have some classic regional breakfast dishes that reflect the variety of climates found in Jalisco. We’ll taste more of the region’s – and Mexico’s – unique flavors at our next stop, a small shop that sources some of the finest chocolate throughout the country, flavored with everything from chipotle chiles to grasshoppers. Taking in Guadalajara’s cultural riches, we’ll visit a 19th-century neo-Gothic church that’s considered one of Mexico architectural gems and then at a nearby museum admire stunning murals painted by Jose Clemente Orozco, a revered Guadalajara artist who was a contemporary of Diego Rivera’s.
As we continue through the city’s backstreets, we’ll stop at a small fourth-generation family business for one of the most iconic Guadalajara bites: the torta ahogada. Made out of a crusty roll filled with carnitas and chicharon that’s then “drowned” in a fiery red-colored chile salsa, this torta is as delicious as it is messy. Making our way towards Guadalajara’s historic center, we’ll pass through a park designed by another celebrated local – the architect Luis Barragán – and then visit a street stand for a taste of refreshing tejuino, a slightly fermented corn-based drink topped with a scoop of lemon sorbet. From there, we’ll pay our respects at two local shrines – the Guadalajara cathedral, built in 1542, and then at an old-school restaurant thought to be the originator of another classic local dish: birria. We’ll wrap up our day at a venerable cantina for a well deserved drink (or two), accompanied by some live music and some small Guadalajara-style bar bites. By the end of our tour, it will become clear that when it comes to eating, there are no contradictions – Guadalajara is simply a food town that can’t be beat.
Read more Show lessDETAILS
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Group size: 2-7 -
5 hours long -
Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am -
Americana - Mexicaltzingo -
Price: Adults x $125
Dietary
Mobility
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is included in the fee? In addition to your Culinary Backstreets guide, all food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties – are included in the price.Why is the Culinary Backstreets tour more expensive than some other walking tours? Our approach is different than most tour companies. Each of our culinary walks is the outcome of considerable research. We work with academics in the field and our own team of experienced professionals – both guides and local journalists. Our ongoing publishing of articles, from restaurant reviews to features about the intersection of food and culture, constantly feeds new material into the culinary walks, so they evolve and constantly improve. Though costly, we believe that this is how to create the quality experiences we strive for. We practice honest tourism and would never accept a free lunch or any sort of commission. On the contrary, we are proud to know that the money spent during the culinary walk goes to support businesses that we believe in, helping to preserve the social and cultural fabric of the cities we love so dearly.How does the payment process work? Once you have made a reservation, we require the full fee to be paid in order to complete the online booking. Our online booking system uses Stripe to process secure payments.What is your cancellation policy? 90% will be refunded if given 1 week notice prior to walk and 50% will be refunded if given 72 hours notice or more. Less than 72 hours is non-refundable.Are your walks public or private? How many people are on them? Our walks are 2-7 people and are open to the public. If you would like to do a private walk, you can book it for a supplement by selecting book entire excursion. If it is not available on booking, we may be able to arrange one for an additional fee. Please contact us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com for more information.Can I get a discount if I join more than one walk? Yes, we offer a 10% discount to those who join more than one walk. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com if you’d like to join multiple walks.Are your walks suitable for people with food allergies? This can vary based on a number of factors, including the food item in question. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com to discuss your situation before booking.Are your walks suitable for vegetarians and pescatarians? This route is suitable for vegetarians and pescatarians.Are your walks suitable for a gluten free diet? We cannot accommodate a gluten free diet on this walk.Is alcohol served on the walks? Alcohol is served as part of this experience, but can be substituted.Can children join the walks? Of course! We offer a 50% discount to children ages 12 and under, and we charge $25 for children 6 and younger.Can you pick me up from my hotel? How will I return, once the tour is over? Our tour prices don’t include transportation. If you book a tour, you’re responsible for arriving to the pre-arranged meeting spot on your own. Once the tour is over, we will help you get an authorized, safe taxi to your hotel, or provide directions on public transportation, if you’re interested in that.How much food will I get to try? This is really up to you. We generally make between 9 and 12 eating stops on our walk and try to include some breaks from eating along the way. The price includes as much food as you’re open to trying. We offer a suggested portion size at each stop and you can take our recommendation if you’d like. Our walks often involve street food and sharing food.How are you dealing with COVID-19 risk on your walks? We have reinforced our commitment to safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our walks in terms of social distancing and hygiene while maintaining the quality of the experience. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our routes have been altered during this period of time to ensure the safety of our guests, guides and community. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
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