During my travels in China this year, I started noticing tours in more detail. What captured my attention most were tours related to either history or food. I noticed that when history is told by the people of the land, it leaves a lasting impression. Then there’s the food, which always leaves me wanting more when I get cravings back home. Although Los Angeles is known for being highly diverse when it comes to culinary arts, you can’t really get the same feeling until you go back to the source. Finding a tour company that puts both history and food together got me excited to try it for myself.
Discovering Lost Plate
I found Lost Plate Food Tours while searching through videos on social media as I planned a three-week trip to China with some girlfriends. As soon as I saw their videos and the tours they offer, I sent them to the girls so we could book. We were not disappointed at all! The tours we did lasted around three to three and a half hours, and we walked about one to two miles while restaurant hopping. It was the perfect blend of walking, eating, and learning. You can book a private tour or a public group tour. One plus of doing a group food tour is being able to share stories and recommendations for other places to see or things to do with the people on the tour. They cap the tour at 12 people, so it doesn’t become an overcrowded experience.
The prices vary depending on the time of day and the type of tour you book. The two I did were both under $75 USD per person. In my opinion, the price was perfect for the experience. The guides were all very knowledgeable, and the food was delicious! At a lot of the places we went, we shared the food family-style, which was perfect for dishes you loved or ones that weren’t your preference. It was also nice once we started getting full and didn’t want to waste food.
Shanghai Evening Food Tour
The first tour we did was in Shanghai: the Shanghai Evening Food Tour. It was the perfect mix of trying new foods and having some of my favorites that I’d tried before. The tour starts in the French Concession district with delicious dumplings from a locally owned restaurant. Months later, I still crave these soup dumplings; they were perfect in every way. As you walk through the area, you learn about the history of where you’re walking, including how the French came over and why there is such an influence in the area, especially when it comes to the bakeries. As you try different Shanghainese dishes, you make your way to a small dessert shop that has the best mango desserts I’ve had in a while. The night ends at a local brewery in a neighborhood with dive bars, speakeasies, and places to hang out. It’s a great way to bring the evening to an end with the group if you want. We decided to bar-hop a little longer with the tour guide and some of the other people in the group.
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour
The second tour we did was in Beijing: the Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour. It starts near Shichahai Subway Station. As you make your way from a lovely rooftop hot pot restaurant to a small hole-in-the-wall noodle restaurant, you learn about the history of the alleyways you’re walking through. I love hot pot and could eat it almost every day but my favorite dish of the night was a rare Beijing delicacy nicknamed the “Door Knob.” I was surprised by how delicious it was, and I wish I could find it back home. It was warm on the inside and crispy on the outside. I made sure to save the location so I could go back on my next trip. The night ends in a quieter area of Beijing that also allows you to carry on to different bars and late-night spots if you feel like it.
Both tours left me feeling full and excited to continue walking through the cities. I also thought it was thoughtful that, at the end of the tour, they leave you in an area where you can continue your night or leave easily by public transportation. I’ve only done these two tours with Lost Plate, but they also offer tours in other cities and countries. I look forward to trying more around the world as I get the chance. I highly recommend looking at their social media and website to see if they fit into your travel plans.