Food Tours of Chicago

Of course! For our Bike & food Tours we have hot deluxe comfort bikes for you to ride and helmets to keep you safe. Each bike is labeled with a name that describes its personality but you can also tell them apart by their distinctive markings and behavior. They each have front pouches and back racks for storage of smaller items. Although we recommend riding our bikes, you can bring your own but we don’t offer any discounts for doing so. Moreover, due to so many types of bike makes and models, if you bring your own bike and have a mechanical issue it will be unlikely we will have the proper tools to fix the issue. But we will have the tools to fix any issues that might arise from use of our bikes. All of our bikes are deluxe comfort bikes with fat tires, cushy seats, and fenders to keep you clean.

We offer pouches on the front of our bikes that allow you to store wallets, cameras, cell phones, and other smaller items, and you are welcome to keep any larger items back at our shop while you are out on a tour or rental.

Absolutely! Many of our attendees live right here in Chicago or the outlying suburbs. Locals often attend to learn things about the neighborhoods and the city in which they live that they did not know beforehand. We mainly stay off the beaten path and thus avoid being consumed by crowds. Locals, and those that want to feel like locals, can often get the MOST out of the tours since the tours are designed to show you how the locals live, work, eat, and play in each neighborhood we cover.

Yes, most of the restaurants we visit will have restrooms to use. We do recommend using the restroom prior to arrival to your tour, however, to expedite the start of the tour.

Sorry, we do not allow pets on any of our tours. Actually, you can bring a goldfish in a plastic bag. Actually, no don’t bring the goldfish either.

We CAN provide food substitutions for vegetarians on ALL tours. Gluten-free substitutions are available on certain tours. While we try our very best to accommodate food allergies, we cannot guarantee certain avoidance from various food allergies. We would encourage you to ask questions along the way and see if our guide might recommend a substitution.

We change the tour slightly every six to eight months. Many parts of the tour remain the same, but we do our best to improve upon and enhance the tour. Don’t be embarrassed to come back for more and repeat the experience – many people do! We had one guest tell us he has taken the same tour 8 different times. When we mentioned he should look at one of the many other tours we offered, he stated no need. His reason is every time he takes the same tour he gets a different tour guide and each tour guide provides their own unique spin and presentation style. So if you come back to the same tour, be prepared for a new and engaging experience each and every time.

Yes, we provide water on all of our food tours. And most of our tours involve some sort of beverage, whether it be craft beer or hot tea.

You should wear clothes, of course, but beyond that you’re free to show your expressive nature in what you decide to wear. We recommend you bring small items such as an ID, credit card and cash (to tip the guide), cell phone, and camera.

Bike Tours:
We suggest tennis shoes and comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that are appropriate for the weather conditions on the day of your tour. We strongly suggest you wear layers, particularly in spring and fall, as you can always take a layer off if you get too hot or add a layer if you get too cool. Many of our tours ride close to Lake Michigan, which is one of the largest lakes in the world and can alter the temperature quickly based on the direction of the wind. We offer pouches on the front of our bikes that allow you to store wallets, cameras, cell phones, and other smaller items, and you are welcome to keep any larger items back at our shop while you are out on a tour or rental.

Walking Tours:
We suggest tennis shoes or boots, depending on the season, and comfortable loose-fitting clothes that are appropriate for the weather conditions on the day of your tour. The key to comfort in Chicago’s seasonally variable weather is layering, so you can adjust to changing conditions on the spot. That’s why you see so many Chicagoans wearing light coats even on cold days: odds are good they’ve got 2 or 3 sweaters under there. Chicago borders Lake Michigan, one of the largest lakes in the world, and can alter the temperature quickly based on the direction of the wind.

For all of our Food tours, whether by bike or walking, we max at 15 people per tour which seems to be the perfect number! All of our guides can manage 15 people with ease and still make sure that everyone gets a personalized experience. Saturday is the busiest day of the week for all of our tours. If one tour is sold out there is a very good chance we will offer another that same day.

Our food tasting and cultural walking tours have been developed for food and history lovers. In our vast touring experience we have found that those under the age of 16 might be indifferent, fidgety, and may not fully appreciate our food tours. More importantly, their disinterest could interfere with the exciting experience which Bobby’s Bike Hike has carefully crafted for you. Although, we do find that some children are super excited about the tour (the history, the food) and if your children are – please bring them along!

Whether to bring your child is ultimately up to your discretion, but please note that ALL CHILDREN, ages 3+, need a paid ticket. We assume that if your child is below age 3 then they will not be participating in the food tasting portion of the tour or that they might be sharing food with a parent. Therefore, for children below age 3, no ticket is required and there will not be a food portion dedicated to this child. If you’d like food for your child under 3, then please do purchase a ticket in advance. Either way, please indicate when you sign up whether you are bringing a child on the tour so that our tour guide can be prepared.

Please also note that if you are bringing kids on our bike tours, you will need to indicate what additional equipment they will need during your reservation of the tour. We can accommodate small strollers on most of our walking tours, although please note we do have some stairs at some of the restaurants that you’ll have to contend with. If your child becomes unruly we would just ask that you step away from the group for a bit to calm your child down before returning to the group.

Not more than you can handle! The pace is usually good for everyone, whether it’s a bike tour or a walking tour. We’ve rated each tour level so that you can pick the right tour for you. Our food stops are perfectly laid out so that you never are on your feet or biking too much in between stops. While you want to make sure the distance we cover is suitable to you, remember that we will never be biking/walking continuously for that amount of time. We will have 5-7 food stops mixed in along the route for resting periods. Please note that with some of our walking tours there are some stairs that we navigate during the tour. If stairs are a problem for you or any of your guests, please indicate that when you purchase your tickets so we can do our best to accommodate your needs.

We serve enough food tastings that for most people lunch/dinner afterwards is not needed. We have toured hundreds of thousands of guests and it’s very rare that anyone walks away hungry!

All food tastings and paired beverages are all included in the cost of the tour. There are additional beverage upgrade options that are in addition to the tour ticket price. There are 5-7 delicious food tasting stops on each tour. Each tasting has been chosen and paid for by Bobby’s Bike Hike staff based on what we think is the best of the best in the neighborhood.

At the end of the tour, most people are stuffed and lunch/dinner afterwards is not necessary. In addition to feeling full, our goal is to introduce you to some new local favorites and even old school food items in each neighborhood. Some foods might be familiar and other might be a new experience for you!

Totally up to you. Our Bike Tours allow you to cover more ground and see many more Chicago neighborhoods and attractions. But our Walking Tours are fun as well, where the intimate setting allows you to really dive deeper into the specific areas we cover.

Yes, big time. Chicago has been introducing innovative food concepts since its inception. And during the Chicago Columbian Exposition, the World’s Fair of 1893, Chicago introduced a number of products still in play today income Hershey Chocolate, Aunt Jemima syrup, Twinkies, and even Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. The latter so named because it won the blue ribbon at the actual fair. I guess beer standards were quite low back in 1893. Today, Chicago’s most famous foods are its Chicago-style pizza, Chicago style Hot Dogs, and Italian Beef.

Regarding Chicago style pizza, probably the best known food to come out of Chicago, the pizza’s foundation is simple. It uses a thick layer of dough (made with olive oil and cornmeal) that is formed to a deep round pan and pulled up the sides. The pizza crust is then baked before the toppings are added to give it greater spring. The crust is then covered with cheese (generally sliced mozzarella) and covered with meats and/or vegetables such as Italian sausage, onions, and bell peppers. A sauce consisting of crushed or pureed tomatoes is then added. Usually this is topped with a grated cheese blend to add additional flavor. On the usual pizza, about a pound of cheese is added. Because of the amount of ingredients in this style of Chicago deep dish pizza, it is usually eaten with a knife and fork. It’s quite messy to eat with your fingers. Check out our blog on the best pizza in Chicago and visit a few iconic pizzerias with us on a tour!

Other than the Chicago staples, Chicago has a very vibrant culinary scene inspired by the diversity of the neighborhoods and melting pot of local flavor and culture.

Our bike, walking and tasting tours are led by experienced Bobby’s Bike Hike tour guides. During our tours you will learn about the history and culture of a neighborhood while tasting delicious food specialties from Mom and Pop food shops, unique eateries, as well as established restaurants. Bobby’s Bike Hike has been offering quality tours since 2002 and we are proud to have put bike and food tours on the map! The success we have had with developing a high level of tour guides led us into other types of food tours, most notably by foot on our walking tours. Bobby’s Bike Hike Tours is a mid-sized local tour business that concentrates on details, organization, and accuracy. We will not show you anything unless we know about, believe in it, and love it! We use old school methods, modern technology, and a lot of personality with everything that we do. We focus on good honest food and fun, striving to make sure each person that takes our tours has a memorable Chicago experience.

Foodies, Food Lovers, Food Explorers, and everyday people too! Our tours are designed for anyone that loves great food and loves to discover the hidden gems and interesting stories of our favorite Chicago neighborhoods and attractions. If you are in search of mom and pop food establishments, well-known Chicago restaurant staples, history, architecture, culture, and entertainment is what you’ll get on a Bobby’s Bike Hike food tour.

We provide water free of charge on all of our Bike & Food Tours. Unfortunately, because our Walking & Food Tours start at various locations around the City we do not provide you with a bottle of water upon arrival. However, we have arranged water at all of the restaurants we plan to visit. On all other bike and walking tours where food is not offered, we do not provide water but offer it for purchase inside our bike shop where the tour begins.