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Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour
4.8
94 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
(94 Ratings)
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Nonfu
Jul 22, 2024
Not just Chinese food - Thoroughly enjoyed our stroll around Victoria's Chinatown. Our guide, Brenda, was witty and engaged. She was heartily welcomed at every stop. We got good recommendations for dining and followed up with later visits. And, yes, the food was great. Do this tour as an introduction to Victoria. You'll love it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mike_g
Jul 16, 2024
Fan Alley Fun! - This tour is a nice way to see places in the city and try foods you otherwise might not. The pace is casual, the food is great, and the length of the tour is just right. Brenda is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide.
Review provided by Viator
Lacreasia_w
Jul 14, 2024
Excellent food and cultural history. - A wonderful tour. An extremely knowledgeable tour guide. The food was fantastic. Our group had members age 4 to 62 and everyone enjoyed it.
Review provided by Viator
Dougjennyw
Jul 4, 2024
To feed the body and mind - This tour was like spending the day with your cousin, the local foodie! Brenda not only shared historical knowledge and amazing food but helped us to find the best coffee shops and unique souvenirs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
526suziq
Jul 3, 2024
Brenda was like a family showing all of the best hidden restaurants and having some fun along the way. - Brenda was a wonderful tour guide. Fine mix of history and hidden treasure restaurants/bakeries
She was a witty, warm, kind and knowledgeable guide. We will treasure the memories made on our first visit to Victoria
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ruthf810
Jun 6, 2024
Yummy hike - Julie did a wonderful job! The spots we stopped at were well curated. We appreciated the sustainability efforts of the restaurants we visited and how they were glad to have us there. We enjoyed SO much delicious food and appreciated learning more about Victoria!
Our only suggestion is the have a mic on the tour guide so we could have heard a little bit better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karla_w
Jun 5, 2024
Tasty and interesting - This was a fun way to sample different foods and learn about Victoria as well. The food samplings were excellent! Our guide was knowledgeable and took us to fun places. My only suggestion would be that we sometimes had difficulty hearing her - probably mostly because of our mild hearing impairment. Such an enjoyable tour!
Review provided by Viator
Sunnyokan
Jun 3, 2024
Food , Fun and Facts - Excellent tour our guide was informative and fun. We enjoyed a variety of food and drinks just the right size to sample. Our daughter lives in Victoria and has found some new places she will return to. Thank you Julie you were fantastic.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
