Taste of the Continents: International Food Tour
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Taste of the Continents: International Food Tour
By Chopsticks+Forks
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Kensington Market is the perfect place to experience Toronto’s diverse cuisine, but with so many options it’s hard to know where to start. Spin the globe on a delicious tour of Kensington Market and enjoy samples of six international cuisines. Not only will you experience a handpicked selection of the neighborhood’s best treats, you’ll skip the long lines that can form at popular destinations.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 14 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- This small-group tour makes your sightseeing experience personal
- Enjoy six tastings—enough for a hearty lunch
- Each tasting features a vegetarian option upon request
- Experience a colorful neighborhood through food and flavor
- Food tasting
- Local guide
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included- Gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Start:
- 201 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L4, CanadaYour guide will meet you in front of Fresco’s Fish and Chips which is the first stop and tasting.
End:- 28 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2J9, CanadaTour ends at the Fika Café which is approximately a 5-minute walk from the start location.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 49842P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infant meals not included
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- We ONLY offer Vegetarian and Pescatarian options. This tour is NOT for guests who have an aversion/allergy to: gluten, dairy, nuts. We do NOT have a "Vegan" option.
- We do not recommend this Experience for guests who have mobility issues.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 49842P1
From
$93.18
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 201 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L4, CanadaYour guide will meet you in front of Fresco’s Fish and Chips which is the first stop and tasting.
- 1Toronto's most eclectic and bohemian neighbourhood that demonstrates the beautiful mosaic of the city's diversity
- 28 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2J9, CanadaTour ends at the Fika Café which is approximately a 5-minute walk from the start location.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Footprints8020540 contributionsBest tour of our trip!Best tour in Toronto! Josep is amazing. Food was the BEST. Fun informative and delicious. My son and I revisited the pocket sushi restaurant several more times on our trip.Written December 1, 2024
- Justine S0 contributionsThis was a great tour, educational, varied and fun to do. The food is amazing and plentiful and our guide was excellent!I would highly recommend this tour that we did with Felicia. She has an amazing knowledge of Canadian history and the area in which we were based, Kensington Market. She was also incredibly knowledgeable regarding world cuisine and no question phased her. The six locations that we visited and the samples that we tried were all so different but the food was so tasty and the variety was amazing. If you’re considering a food tour this is an absolute must!Written November 16, 2024
- Tour6187790 contributionsAn excellent tour guide who guides you through the area with recommendations of restaurants to visit and foods to tryFelicia was an excellent guide providing us with a potted history of the area as well as the food establishments in the areaWritten November 16, 2024
- Joe S0 contributionsFabulous, filling and educational!Jusep was fabulous! Amazing energy and super knowledgeable about the history of Kensington Market. We felt so well taken care of as we toured the area. The food selections were exceptional. I would highly recommend, the best tour I have ever taken.Written November 5, 2024
- dlfloyd120 contributionsThis food tour should not be missed!Had a wonderful experience on this food tour! Food was amazing and included delicious fusions of flavours! Jusep was such a great guide… thoroughly enjoyed hearing all the history of the neighborhood as well as his personal stories. Highly recommend this tour! Do not miss!Written October 20, 2024
- JeffS9400 contributionsGreat food, great guides.Jesep and Jessica are passionate about their city and passionate about Kensington Market. It was great spending some time getting to know this neighbourhood and sample so many amazing local dishes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and so many historical tidbits about the market and the city.Written October 19, 2024
- 178lynettem0 contributionsWonderful guide and tasting feastKnowledgeable guide about food and the market . A wonderfull variety of food and the small group made it more enjoyable.Written September 15, 2024
- Kay H. W0 contributionsSmall group, great time, awesome food!Jessica was amazing! We loved her warm, friendly spirit and how knowledgeable she was about the history of Kensington and Toronto. The Jamaican patty and sushi were awesome!Written September 1, 2024
- Resort008003537480 contributionsA must do tour!!Absolutely amazing tour!! The food was absolutely outstanding!! Definitely food I would have had a hard time finding myself. Jesep our guide is just an amazing human! Such a great and gracious host. Do this tour!!Written August 31, 2024
- dornaz2490 contributionsBest food your ever!Jessica was amazing!!!! Best food tour ever. She was so kind and her stories were great! 10/10 would recommend and I’m from Toronto!Written August 26, 2024
- 156clairec0 contributionsTour Won't Disappoint!We had a fabulous time on our tour. Food was delicious and the tour actually helped us discover the history of Toronto in a fun way. The food is ready for you at the restaurants, no waiting, and then you walk around the neighborhood which is actually the perfect way to get a little exercise in and keep your appetite up for the next delicious serving!Written August 14, 2024
- meganl1670 contributionsToronto - Kensington MarketCannot say enough positive things about this experience. Such a unique way of exploring a new area, learning the history and enjoying some absolutely delicious food! Our group absolutely loved our host, William! He was filled with wonderful knowledge, took great care in supporting those with food allergies and/or dietary restrictions, and he went above in beyond to help us check some boxes for a scavenger hunt we were partaking in!Written August 2, 2024
- mija f0 contributionsDelicious FoodThis was such an enjoyable tour. Food was amazing. Felicity was very knowledgeable. Location was very cultural. Would recommendWritten July 6, 2024
- Seth S0 contributionsWhat an amazing timeFelicia was a fantastic guide. This was a unique experience and we tasted foods we would have otherwise overlooked. We highly recommend these tours!Written July 5, 2024
- djpH163AV0 contributionsFusion tourWilliam was really helpful with regards to the history of the community, as well as the various shops around. Every stop was well worth indulging!Written May 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
505 reviews
Excellent
474
Very good
19
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
3
erinnire27
San Jose, CA1 contribution
The Kensington Market Food Tour was the best tour I've ever been on! Since I was the only one on the tour with Jusep on a cold January day, I felt like I was in a travel show!! He was an excellent guide to the history of the market, Toronto, and the food that has made it way to different countries and to the market. All of his restaurant and food selections were excellent. I even stepped out of my comfort zone and tried a couple a foods I don't like that much. I would highly recommend anyone to take this tour to get an amazing taste of the Kensington Market and food from around the world!!
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks erinnire27 and it was a pleasure to have hosted you on our International Food Tour through Kensington Market. Glad that you got to spend your birthday with us and that you enjoyed the culinary adventure. Please visit us again and perhaps we will cross paths again in the future. Appreciate the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and endorsement! Till next time... Stay Hungry!
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeff W
2 contributions
Jan 2020
Jessica was our guide for this tour and she was amazing. We were laughing, learning, and exploring the culinary selection around Kensington Market in a way we simply could not have on our own. The tour group was small and intimate because of the winter months, but it let us ask lots of questions and really tailor the conversation to what we wanted. I consider myself a picky eater, but I ate every thing that was served, so don't be too afraid! Bon Appetit!
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much, jeffwC861PJ for this lovely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review. Jessica is certainly a fantastic host and guide and we are delighted that you enjoyed your time with her. Glad that you enjoyed each and every bite and we do pride ourselves in having selected tastings from around the world that are nothing to be afraid of and can be easily be embraced and enjoyed. Till next time... Stay Hungry!
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Deli Hanim
Greensboro, NC10 contributions
We arrived in Toronto a day early before we joined a tour of Canadian capitals in Ontario & Quebec. We wanted an activity that would be different & introduce us to Toronto. Since we love food markets & city walks, we picked this early morning tour… despite the fact we are not “foodies!” We loved it! The Kensington Square area was fascinating… the eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, street vendors, & renovated townhomes. Felicia, our tour guide was a terrific source of information on our first day in Canada, & we loved walking around & sampling goodies from the participating restaurants. We highly recommend this tour (& Felicia) if you want a “taste” of this fascinating area of Toronto!
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rzeczpospolita
London, UK485 contributions
We had been looking forward to this food tour but, as the heavens opened, our anticipation soon gave way to anguish. Of course, it is scarcely the tour operator’s fault that torrential rain occurred, but we felt it would’ve been better to cancel the tour rather than expect guests to trudge, drenched, about the streets. If prior communication with guests and cancellation isn’t possible, guests should at least be able to expect for there to be a ‘Plan B’ route available to the guide in the event of severe rain. In our case, however, we ended up standing totally uncovered in the rain whilst the tour guide murmured quietly about the local area. No effort was made to take these briefings inside, or even to somewhere with basic cover. This meant that we were very wet and uncomfortable, and thus quickly miserable. The tour guide also moved at a glacial pace, compounding the situation for all having to follow her.
We would probably have continued grinning and bearing it but the food we ate was of very low quality and the establishments we visited dirty and virtually devoid of locals — which says it all. The bagels at the beginning were acceptable, though the establishment was smelly, whilst the Jamaican patties served thereafter were ok but we found putting a patty in bread, as though the patty were a sandwich filler, to be carb overkill. Things got worse when we arrived at the empanada place: the guide mentioned a 71-year old woman preparing the empanadas, the doña of the establishment. We never saw her, which would’ve been nice given her centrality to the stop. Moreover, the empanadas needed to served with some sort of hot sauce. They were bland and sickly, especially the cheese one which was crying out for salt. When we arrived at the ‘fish and chips’ establishment, we had had enough. The place was very dirty indeed, the toilets filthy, and the fish was poor. At this moment, we chose to abandon the tour and go to a top restaurant rather than head back out into the hammering rain for more miserable morsels.
To be clear, I do not at all hold the tour operator or guide responsible for the poor weather — rain happens — but the company should think through an alternative route / experience for when the weather is as horrendous as it was today. But, most importantly, I would not be able to recommend any of these good stops to anyone, ever. Please exercise caution if considering booking. If you are serious about good food, this is not for you.
We would probably have continued grinning and bearing it but the food we ate was of very low quality and the establishments we visited dirty and virtually devoid of locals — which says it all. The bagels at the beginning were acceptable, though the establishment was smelly, whilst the Jamaican patties served thereafter were ok but we found putting a patty in bread, as though the patty were a sandwich filler, to be carb overkill. Things got worse when we arrived at the empanada place: the guide mentioned a 71-year old woman preparing the empanadas, the doña of the establishment. We never saw her, which would’ve been nice given her centrality to the stop. Moreover, the empanadas needed to served with some sort of hot sauce. They were bland and sickly, especially the cheese one which was crying out for salt. When we arrived at the ‘fish and chips’ establishment, we had had enough. The place was very dirty indeed, the toilets filthy, and the fish was poor. At this moment, we chose to abandon the tour and go to a top restaurant rather than head back out into the hammering rain for more miserable morsels.
To be clear, I do not at all hold the tour operator or guide responsible for the poor weather — rain happens — but the company should think through an alternative route / experience for when the weather is as horrendous as it was today. But, most importantly, I would not be able to recommend any of these good stops to anyone, ever. Please exercise caution if considering booking. If you are serious about good food, this is not for you.
Written May 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and I'm sorry you did not enjoy your experience.
Let's talk about the food first... I'm always saddened when people who are clearly not well-versed in international cuisine and are quick to insult. Always uncomfortable to read insults about the foods of other cultures with no apology and with such reckless abandon. Unfortunately, not rare and there will always be people who lack the empathy to realize how prideful their worldview is because they don’t “personally “ like the foods people from other countries grew up eating. Our International Tour is designed to showcase the amazing ethnic diversity of our city through food. Our tour highlights some of the cuisine of countries that many of our guests would be unfamiliar with and most of the food on our tour is made by the people from the country it represents to serve their own community in Toronto, so they are as authentic as you can find. Our tour has tastings that are staples and favorites from the country/culture that it represents and your review comes across as pretty insulting while highlighting a limited ability to appreciate food diversity and a clear lack of empathy when speaking about it. Note: Irene, at our Chilean stop is a shy immigrant grandma and we don't push her to greet our guests.
For our potential guests... We are a real company and our reviews are authentic. This guest is 1 of only 9 reviews out of a total of over 635 reviews to rate us less than 4-stars. They left halfway through, complaining about "stomach issues" but here, they had to mention that they went to a "Top Restaurant" instead of finishing the tour to give our company a "cheap shot" which was not at all necessary.
To quote a famous Canadian singer, it seems clear like this guest woke up that day with a "fly in his chardonnay" so this is all very "Ironic"
As the reader, you can see, we don't get a lot of reviews that are less than 4-stars. Yes, we are aware that this tour is NOT for everyone, and that is why our description notes that our International Tour is designed for people who are curious about the cuisine of cultures that are not their own. You may not love every bite but our goal is to tell the story of the people and culture behind the food so you can appreciate how the story landed them to create the foods that have become staples in the country of origin.
Now for the weather... You’re from England and had issues with rain? We've been running our tours for 7 years and we have hosted our tours in all weather, including snow storms, and when guests are prepared and dressed accordingly for the weather (you brought no raincoats or umbrellas when the forecast was clearly calling for rain), we've always had guests who managed through it well and when they are not prepared, we provide rain ponchos as you know.
Chopsticks+Forks will always work to make our Experiences enjoyable for everyone and to expand the horizons of people's pallets. We know we can't make everyone happy but our company will always defend our partner restaurants and the people who make the food on our tours AND we do not take lightly anyone speaking negatively about the character of Kensington Market, the most Bohemian and Hippie neighbourhood in our city, and a jewel in our hyper-diverse city.
To our potential guests... Please read ALL our negative reviews of 3-stars or less which accounts for less than 1.5% of our reviews. You will notice a common theme. If you have an appetite for adventure and to discover flavours from around the world, we look forward to hosting you. If you're NOT adventurous or prefer only personal indulgence, there are many great alternatives in Toronto that will suit your pallet, including our Fusion Tour.
Perhaps we will see you on one of our Foodie Adventures. Till then... Stay Hungry!
Written June 1, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elaine L
1 contribution
Sep 2022
My sister and I decided to take a walking food tour to get a real taste of the diverse foods that Toronto has to offer. I am SO glad that we decided to go with this one!
Jessica was an AMAZING tour guide. She was so personable, friendly, and knowledgeable about the neighborhood and its history. She threw in a lot of tidbits of information and recommendations that really elevated the experience. The fact that our tour group was so small (just 3 total) made it feel almost like a private tour for the two of us.
I've done a few food tours over the years, and I think this one was by far the biggest bang for your buck!! At nearly every stop, we got to sample more than one thing or were given huge portions (or both). And I thoroughly enjoyed all of the foods we got to sample.
I HIGHLY recommend this food tour, especially with Jessica!
Jessica was an AMAZING tour guide. She was so personable, friendly, and knowledgeable about the neighborhood and its history. She threw in a lot of tidbits of information and recommendations that really elevated the experience. The fact that our tour group was so small (just 3 total) made it feel almost like a private tour for the two of us.
I've done a few food tours over the years, and I think this one was by far the biggest bang for your buck!! At nearly every stop, we got to sample more than one thing or were given huge portions (or both). And I thoroughly enjoyed all of the foods we got to sample.
I HIGHLY recommend this food tour, especially with Jessica!
Written October 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rebecca p
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
This is my 3rd food tour. I love doing it in each city I visit to learn about the people, cuisine and history. I would not have tried these dishes if it had not been for this tour. William was a fantastic guide and kept dropping nuggets of movie knowledge, I highly recommend.
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Devona W
New York34 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Probably one of the best food tours of my life! and I’ve done many… The food was unique and delicious and the tour guide made it even more magical. I truly learned so much about Toronto during this food tour. The owner (who was our guide) truly showed his passion for this city, the people, and food! I’d recommend this tour to anyone! I hope to do another food tour again with this amazing company and Jusep! Thank you so much for being the highlight of our stay in Toronto!
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel Dean
6 contributions
This was our first food tour and was such a good experience. We were able to sample a good selection of different foods and I was very full by the last stop! Jusep, our guide was extremely clued up about such a wide range of food and culture. The smoked trout bagel and kale salad were definitely my faves!
I would highly recommend to anyone who likes food and is keen to hear a little history too.
I would highly recommend to anyone who likes food and is keen to hear a little history too.
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trini-in-Toronto
Toronto, Canada251 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We took the Taste of the continents international food tour on a Sunday morning. We had a great time. Jessica took us around. She was very attentive and personable, she had lots of interesting facts about the history of the area and despite being a local, and having visited the market many times, she showed us areas we had never noticed. The food was very good, and filling. We started out with a smoked meat poutine, meat and cheese empanadas, Jamaican patties in coco bread, interesting sushi wrapped in a tofu pocket, Tibetan salty butter tea & dumplings and Swedish iced tea with ginger cookies. I'd gladly recommend this as a good activity for anyone visiting the city, or locals who wanted to sample what different places offer, without committing to an entire serving of something you have never tried. It really showcases, the many ethnicities that make our city home.
Written October 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Trini-in- Toronto for your kind words and recommendation. We are so glad you enjoyed the food and the whole experience. Jessica is one of our best. On behalf of Jessica and all of us at Chopsticks and forks we hope to see you again soon.
Written October 15, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michelle P
Atlanta, GA58 contributions
Jul 2023
We had a great afternoon with founder and guide, Jusep! My partner and I spent 3 hours with 7 other food and culture lovers learning about this gem of a neighborhood through its food offerings. We certainly didn't leave hungry or starving for knowledge. Thanks, Jusep!
Written July 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I would like to participate in the tour, but I have the following food allergies, could it be adapted so that I could have alternatives to my allergies: sunflower seeds, parsely, celery, mango and pineapple.
I have a lactose intolerance to milk, as well, but other forms of dairy are alright. Thank you,
Cristina
Written July 3, 2022
Yes. Just let the guide know your allergies when you book or at the beginning of the tour. There was no lactose items in the food options. There was no mango or pineapple either. I think you will be fine!
Written July 5, 2022
What time does this start and end? I have a layover in Toronto in May and wonder if I could make this work?
Written April 15, 2022
Ours started at 11am (needed to be there for 10:45) and ended between 1:30-2:00pm - about 2.5-3 hours total. We also went on a Saturday - not sure about during the week.
Written April 18, 2022
Yes. Although some of the restaurants have steps to parts of them, the tour could be adapted to avoid those. And the host is very considerate and could find alternate places to eat or adjust the walking parts.
Written January 27, 2020
I'm going to be the in Toronto area January 4th and this tour came highly recommended, but it doesn't look like it is offered that weekend?
Written December 11, 2019
Email the company. They are a highly personal bunch. No promises but they’re always up to help others!
info(at)chopsticksandforks(dot)c0m
Written December 12, 2019
I have a nut allergy would I still be able to participate on this tour?
Written September 24, 2019
Yes. I think so. He asked us about our allergies before the start and we didn’t have any. However, he is thoughtful and accommodating. Just let him know and I think he will take great care of you.
Kim
Written September 24, 2019
The description says this is only offered on weekends but the availability calendar allows me to book for a week day. Anyone able to clarify?
Written August 11, 2019
chopsticksforks
Toronto, Canada
Sorry for the confusion and working to correct. The tours run more than just weekends. Please check the calendar for all available days.
Thanks!
Chopsticks+Forks
Written August 25, 2019
Most of the food on the tour is quite high in carbs. If this is something you are trying to avoid it may be difficult. You can contact the owner to see if accommodations are possible! They do their best to work with you.
Written June 8, 2019
Showing results 1-10 of 12
Buy it with
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.