Hmmm I thnk I may have initially posted my LA reveiw on the San Francisco page. Oops. On April 19 I was invited to attend the YOU ART WHAT YOU EAT event (callmemochelle.com/2017/...). I enjoyed it so much I wanted to find out more about Avital Tours. I found out they've been featured on national magazines and television shows from CNN to Travel Channel, and rank high on Yelp and TripAdvisor. I also discovered that the company started off in San Francisco. They're a food tour company that's built by locals for locals. So you don't have to be a tourist to take a tour. In fact, most of the people in the event I was at are all LA locals, who work and live in Southern California. The Los Angeles tours are broken down into 3 tour versions: - To a tourist visiting LA, looking for more than touristy destinations - To a local who wants to learn more about our great city - To a company who wants to do team building I decided to select The Local, which is a 3 hour walking tour. looking They offer 4-course progressive prix-fixe dining experience that begins with a welcome drink and then visits 4 restaurants in 3 hours - two appetizers, one entree, and one dessert, with a sprinkling of culinary history and stories in between. There are 2 walking tours to choose from: - Downtown LA - Venice Beach They also added a Korea Town Food Tour which is limited to 12 people. Prices for the 3 hour tours are (16+ yrs): $79.00, or with alcohol (21+ yrs): $95.00. If you need a unique gift, they offer gift cards. It's quite an ideal event for a girls night, celebration, or even a group outing where you can re-discover Los Angeles as a local, hosted by a fellow local. Private events are available, with a 6 person minimum. read more

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I recently went on the walking food tour in Venice and it was amazing! Madeline was our host and she did an outstanding job. She was personable and brought high levels of energy and enthusiasm which made the entire experience enjoyable. The food + wine we got to try was so delicious and by the time we were done I was stuffed! It was also very interesting to learn the history of Venice and hear the different stories of all the restaurants we've visited. I don't want to ruin the surprise and reveal the spots we've visited but I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed. Some tips: - The entire tour took 3 hours. - Parking in the area is really tough - I recommend Uber. - Food allergies + restrictions can be accommodated. read more

I remember walking through downtown LA in heels one evening, looking for a place to eat. We couldn't pick one because there were just too many places with 3-4 stars. This trip to downtown LA was a lot more successful. Sure, I could go to Bottega Louie again, but instead, Madeline takes you on an adventure and she's more than a guide, she becomes your friend and your group becomes your friends, at least for 3 hours. You can go it alone and meet new people or go with a friend and still meet new people. They cater to most food allergies or preferences. We met at the Upstairs bar at the Ace Hotel (actually, it says United Artists outside so that was a bit confusing), which has its own sign to the elevator that brings you up. She was easy to find and had a sparking wine waiting for me. Madeline's personality is as sparkling as the wine and SHE GETS TO CHOOSE THE RESTAURANTS ON THIS TOUR so her passion for the food really shows through. Not only did the chefs and staff know her, they said she went in a few times a week to eat there on her own. Our guide walked us to the Eastern Building where we introduced ourselves and our favorite foods and gave us information on the revitalization of DTLA's food scene. First stop was Wood Spoon, a small cozy Brazilian restaurant with a great story. We were treated to cinnamon water, the best sangria I've ever had, and an appetizer trio. I don't know much about Brazilian food, but I know they don't skimp on the stuffing inside their shrimp croquette. For the entree (part 1), we went to Cento Pasta Bar, a permanent pop-up restaurant in a wine bar. That means that they cook fancy pasta dishes on 4 or so burners! We had the beet pasta with goat cheese on top. I stopped eating pasta because I was over-consuming and if I lived nearby, I would have a problem. They served the dish with Malbec. For part 2 of the entree, we had 3 mini tacos from Guisado's. Yes, the famous one, but it's worth coming to. Oh, and our guide graciously went to bring us all water. On the way, our guide stopped and told us about the historic Alexandria Hotel and all the quirks on Broadway. It made the history nerd in me come alive! Finally, we went to Peddler's Creamery. I've been here before, but this time, we got a backstage tour of their small establishment. We got a scoop of half snickerdoodle and half chai. It was the perfect ending to a warm summer afternoon. Also, I got in about 5,000 steps. Hey, can I work here? read more

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Seemed so awesome to go on a food tour, then I received the cancelled e-mail a day before...

Avital is INCREDIBLE. I booked Avital's Food tours for a team gathering/end of the year celebration in Downtown Los Angeles and everyone had a blast!! Avital was thoughtful and provided so much assistance with the logistical planning from dietary restrictions to even going as far as booking a bus for the team. Thank you Penny for taking such great care of our team. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something informal for a group of friends or formal for a corporate event. read more

What an amazing time!!! If you are looking for the best food tour in L.A., then look no further! You MUST check out KoreaTown with Avital Food Tours! Penny and Sarah were our guides and provided so much information on the local culture and food. They had so much energy and passion for their tours that you can't help but have an amazing time! 5 stars, A++, #pennyisawesome, #sarahisawesome. And we had an amazing group of people. Did we mention the food? Delicious! We'd do it all over again! Thanks so much for a great day, lots of laughs, and amazing food! read more

Our walking food tour in Venice was truly divine! Lobster rolls, hidden food markets, vegan crab cakes, and fresh donuts made for one perfect afternoon. Eating my way through a neighborhood I've been to so many times was just so cool for so many reasons. Madeline was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and inspiring! 10/10 recommend. read more

Avital - Food Tours Near Me

It's been a few months, but I didn't want to forget: These tours are SO FUN! I went recently on a great "Risk takers" tour in Brooklyn which left me stuffed of delicious food and cool stories. The host Cornelius was great and friendly. Before that, I did my first tour with Hana in Venice. She was so fun and knowledgeable. The stops were great: lobster rolls, vegan enchiladas, rotisserie chicken, and top tier donuts. It's like hanging out with friends and so tasty! Great way to spend a day in LA. read more

I did my first Avivtal Food Tour this past weekend and it was one of the coolest things I've done in Venice! I hardly ever go to Venice beach so it was nice being able to visit new restaurants & learning about the history of Venice Beach. Our tour guide, Madeline was amazing. She was outgoing, friendly & super informative. We visited a total of 4 different restaurants. We were able to enjoy each restaurant and learn about the culinary history. It was definitely a unique experience. I would highly recommend this taking this tour to anyone. Even if you already live in LA, it's so much fun learning something new that LA has to offer. If you're visiting, this is the perfect tour to take especially if you're a foodie. They're currently doing tours in LA (DTLA, Venice & KTown) & in San Francisco. Overall, I am looking forward to doing another tour in San Francisco. read more

I was looking for something new to do in my home city of LA, and found Avital Food Tours. This turned into a Saturday of fantastic adventures of flavor, history, and fun! Madeline, our trusted culinary guide, knows her way around the historical sights of Downtown, sharing stories of significance and lore on our walks between morsels of delight. We were in more than capable hands, as Madeline connected our group and food with the chefs and creative proprietors of the various DTLA locations. Overall, my three friends (visitors) and I (LA local) had a terrifically curated Saturday experience, and one that we couldn't have done on our own! Three cheers to Avital Food Tours! I highly recommend to anyone who: 1) loves to try new foods 2) enjoys a walk outside 3) is eager to learn about the rise of DTLA 4) has guests in town, and wants to do something GREAT! read more

This was my first time ever trying a food tour, nevertheless Avital tours and I was pleasantly surprised! The food was amazing and our group learned a lot from our knowledgable tour guide Madeline. Be prepared to be full, they prepare a lot of food for the tour! But because of that, you definitely get your money's worth. Great way to explore and learn about new restaurants! read more

Avital - Last stop on the downtown LA your: Bottega Louie - Food Tours Near Me

Definitely do this! I can't recommend this tour enough. Our guide was great and told us so much about the history of the area and other restaurants nearby. I went on the Sunday morning tour and it was amazing. We started with coffee and proceeded to have (basically) 3 main courses and then ice cream. Enough food for breakfast and lunch! As a pescatarian (there are tons of dietary options you can choose from when you sign up), I didn't have to worry about what I would be able to eat or if I was going to have to skip something. Go enjoy downtown LA! read more

Exploring downtown Los Angeles with AvitalTours was so much fun! The afternoon was filled delicious food while learning about the diverse history of downtown Los Angeles. I really enjoyed the professional tour and delectable dishes. I highly recommend the tour as a unique and memorable way to explore Los Angeles as a LA native or tourist! read more

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I had an amazing time on my Venice Food Tour with Hana (our tour guide). Hana shared interesting stories about the history of Venice as we tasted amazing food around the neighborhood. We stopped at four different restaurants. My favorite was Rose Cafe where we tasted their Smoked Salmon Toasts. All around, a great way to spend a morning on the Westside of Los Angeles. read more

Just got back from a tour in downtown LA. Not only am I full but I have a number of new spots that I want to go back to and a new found appreciation for downtown. Our tour started at 10 AM with a cappuccino at Grand Central Market. We then proceeded to eat, drink and walk our way through downtown. It was fantastic learning not only about the amazing food scene that is there currently but also the history of the area. Our tour guide Madeline was super nice and knowledgable. Made some new friends and had a fantastic time. I live in West Hollywood and this was a great introduction to everything that downtown has to offer. Highly recommend! read more

I highly recommend Avital Food Tours to anyone and everyone! Whether you are a first time visitor to LA or a native Angeleno like myself, there is much to gain from this experience... in addition to all of the delicious tastings. I must warn you that there will be A LOT of food on this tour... I was stuffed by our last stop and couldn't even finish all of the different tacos that were prepared for me. Blasphemy, right?? I mean... tacos! I want one RIGHT NOW. We did the Downtown LA morning tour with Madeline and had a great time. She was informative, observant and flexible... she adjusted the pace to the group and we never felt rushed or bored. She shared tidbits of history about LA that I didn't know. And have I mentioned the food?! Everything that we tasted was delicious. And the portions were surprisingly generous. Okay, now I'm really hungry for more... Avital, another reservation for two, please! read more

I'm a big fan of Avital Food Tours in SF and was excited to learn that she expanded to LA! We went on the downtown LA tour and it was fantastic. I've spent most of my time in West LA and it was nice to explore a different area of the city, learn about the history, and of course, sample lots of delicious food and drinks. Downtown LA is experiencing a resurgence and Avital's tour was a great mix of old-school classics and new, hip places. I can't wait to come back and check out the Venice tour next! read more

I went on the Venice tour during a vacation to LA and it was a great way to spend an afternoon. The food was amazing - every course was different and interesting and insanely delicious. My favorite was either the soup at Plant Food + Wine or the pizza at Gjelina - though the fresh donut at the end, with strawberry mojito glaze was pretty great too... It's clear that we hit all the best spots in Venice! Our guide was also excellent - knowledgeable and full of energy. I learned a lot about the history of Venice and the significance of the restaurants we visited. By the end of the tour I had a good sense of what Venice is about and I would definitely go back to the restaurants we visited. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves food or is interested in Venice! read more

There are not enough good things I can say about Avital and her team! I wanted to plan a unique party for my dad's 60th birthday and I started thinking about a food tour. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Avital food tours. Our tour was a custom tour with a stop in Downtown and 3 in Koreatown with 17 guests (we planned this with a party bus). The tour guide Jaime Lyn was loved by the group. The restaurants are places our guests all said they plan on going back to, which means they were a big hit. I opted out of a dessert stop since my dad isn't a dessert guy but Avital sent birthday donuts and I'm glad she did since all the guys raved about them. From the planning stages to the actually event, I was able to get tons of information to ease my mind and everyone was so easy to work with. If you want a unique experience full of great food this is for you! read more

We just went on a food tour in Venice Beach and it was awesome! We went to four different stops (The Anchor, Cafe Gratitude, Gjusta and Blue Star Donuts) - all within easy walking distance of one another. Along the way, our wonderful tour guide Tamara told us all about the history of Venice and how it affected the local culture and the restaurants. It was such an enjoyable experience. We never felt rushed (Tamara always gave "5 minute warnings" and pointed out where there would be restrooms along the way. It was so apparent that she has a passion for food, restaurants and local history and this was truly the best part of the tour. Thank you Avital Tours!! read more

This tour really opened my eyes to the place I've lived for 14 years. I wasn't expecting to find so many awesome restaurant, some of which I walk past all the time. I'm excited to try the many restaurants that were pointed out, and return to the four places where we stopped for a bite. We met the managers and owners of 2 of the restaurants, and had the best seats in the house. We also stopped in to a really nice farm to table greenhouse and were given a tour. Our last stop on the tour was Blue Star donuts where they'd just sold out and locked the doors. Hungry patrons stood outside with their noses pressed to the glass. Our tour guide, Madeline, politely asked them to step aside while the doors were unlocked and we were ushered into the kitchen to watch them prepare fresh donuts they cooked up just for us. Wow. Talk about first class service. Madeline was very informative and interesting, and gave us quite a few fascinating anecdotes and tidbits, as well as a terrific historical context of the restaurants in the neighborhood. We ran into a famous actor from the 90s, and she discreetly pointed it out once he left, which was really fun. We also want to book in her tour of Downtown L.A. Hopefully she can expand her route to show us even more neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. All in all, this was a really great day. read more

Really great experience going on the Venice Beach tour. The food was great. The guide was super congenial. I have lived in Los Angeles area my whole life, and been to Venice on several occasions. They took me to new restaurants I had not been to before. I plan on going to one this weekend. I plan on doing the Koreatown tour some time soon. read more

We were given this tour as a gift from our daughter. It was spot on! Our awesome culinary guide Tamara Wilson really made our experience very interesting! She was fun , cheery, informative, making each hot spot stop special. I would definitely recommended the Venice tour to anyone wishing to experience this area and recommend Tamara for an even better experience read more

Avital assisted us with creating a custom experience for a group of food executives. The tour and support from Avital and our tour guide Jacqui was amazing! Their suggestions and research were invaluable and created a well-rounded experience for my team. Jacqui, with her culinary background, was knowledgeable about the 'scene' in Venice and was able to hold her own with an opinionated group, which is no small task. Two thumbs up! read more

I did not have the pleasure of going on the tour, but I had the honor of being graced with the presence of Madeline Barbour, and seeing her in action as she guided her guest through our restaurant (Clifton's). I couldn't even tell it was a tour because it looked like a great friend (Madeline) showing her buddy's (tour guest) around town. This doesn't even look like a job for her because she was having too much fun with her guest, and she even took over my job and got them waters, you should've seen her carrying a tray of 9 waters like a PRO!, she gave them the history of the place, they were all captivated by her. I have to admit, I was jealous ;-) All-in-all, give this girl a RAISE! she's the life blood of your company and she's well worth the investment. I'm going to add 10X More Asterisk Stars to her rating ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** read more

For many years, I have been wanting to take Avital's Food Tour in San Francisco, where she has built up the premier food tour attraction in the Bay Area. I sent friends on it and they loved it! Now...finally Avital has made her way to Los Angeles to make her unique brand of fun, food, exercise, available to our community. I went one of the first Venice Food Tours with the wine pairing and it was truly everything I wanted and more! I love to explore new neighborhoods, try different types of food, and of course good wine. All of which Avital is an expert in. She begins the experience overlooking the beautiful Venice beach while speaking about its history, arts scene, and special place in Los Angeles's history. Then on to what we all love the food and wine. Our tour consisted of four courses paired with a couple of great glasses of wine, (both of which my wino-o girlfriend was insisting upon getting the names of for later). We met with the chefs learned about their dishes and at one of the locations also got to see a vegan test kitchen. A special highlight was the community garden, where we got to taste and smell where so much of Venice's Farm to Fork movement comes from. The tour ended with delicious ice cream and we were perfectly full with food, knowledge, fun facts, and didn't even have to feel bad about it because of all the walking we did. I highly recommend this for yourself if you are a local or for a friend that comes to La and looking for a great activity. read more

We recently went on a journey with Avital Tours in downtown Los Angeles. We met our wonderful guide, Avital at the rooftop venue at the Ace Hotel. From the minute we arrived, we were ushered into the exciting revitalized world of downtown Los Angeles. During our three hour tour, we were introduced to some really unique and charming restaurants and eateries. At each site, we experienced a wonderful culinary sample with wine or cocktail pairing along with our guide's narrative of the history and character of the restaurant and area. Avital is an enthusiastic, warm, knowledgeable guide, a true master of the intimate history of the area and a skillful storyteller. Three hours passed quickly and we were soon talking about coming back to downtown for more! The Los Angeles downtown renaissance is in full swing and we were able to truly partake in this amazing city. Whether a current resident or visitor to Los Angeles, I would highly recommend Avital Food Tours for an afternoon of fun and culinary enjoyment. Do it!!! read more

I am a Los Angeles local and have been to Venice beach on multiple occasions and now I feel connected to this colorful city. I was lucky to have had Tamara as a Tour Guide because her love for delicious food, history and great energy came through in every story and information she shared on the tour. I can not pick a favorite restaurant because each place we visited had an amazing and unique dish to experience. Abbot Kinney has such a magical energy to it and I am so glad I got to experience the best it has to offer. Thank you for a lovely 3 hours! I am looking forward to experiencing many more Avital Foodie Tours in the near future. I suggest wearing comfy shoes. read more

This was a great food tour! We did the downtown tour with Madeline. We went to four different spots for food and ice cream, and learned a lot of history of the downtown streets. Madeline was extremely friendly and knowledgable, and even sent us an email afterwards with all of the places we had been as well as other recommendations. I definitely recommend this tour! read more

We have done 2 walking food tours with Avital and both have been amazing. First, the tour of Venice and then second the tour of Korea Town. The guides were knowledgeable, fun and we tried some really great spots. In Venice my highlight was the hands on sushi experience (we blow torch seared our own sushi) and in Korea Town I loved the different venues our guide showed us(from a 1920's vampy restaurant that has been used on the set of Madmen to a street art covered fusion restaurant). In K town, our guide Penny was really great, she added humor and so much personality to our tour. This is a tour for local foodies looking to explore new neighborhoods.... not a generic food tour... the food is exceptional. Very well done and I can't wait to do another tour! read more

A friend and I went on an LA food tour with Avital tours. I live in LA and wanted to experience some new places. The tour was amazing. We met at a great coffee shop in Grand Central Market, a place I had never experienced before. From there we walked to 4 interesting restaurants where we were the staff was prepared to serve us. On the journey, we were told about LA food culture and history. Overall the experience was great. Good food, interesting places and excellent service. I highly recommend for both locals and visitors. read more

This was a fantastic tour, great guide, amazing selections (god the food and wine!) There was also a lot of information, got to see chef gardens, kitchens, cooking schools, all packed into a fun couple hours. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new way to eat and explore. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32655-d10125472-r391846782-Avital_Food_Tours-Los_Angeles_California.html# read more

Amazing tour! Food was incredible and spaced out perfectly. Loved hearing the history of the locations as we moved along as well. I highly recommend. read more

If Avital Food Tours was nothing more than an excuse to get out and walk the neighborhood on a beautiful day, it would have been enough but of course it's so much more. Our guide Madeline was full of both facts and charm as we weaved our way in and out of Venice restaurants, landmarks, and street corners. Despite living in the area for several years, we still learned a great deal and met new faces. The conversation was a constant delight among the tour group and with the restaurant folk that gave us an inside look at their operations. From fascinating stats surrounding lobster roll recipes to a behind-the-counter taste of fresh donuts, the dining adventure had a little of everything. Highly recommend whether you're a tourist looking to go in-depth about where you're visiting or a local adding a new appreciation to your neighborhood. read more

My husband turned another year and really wanted to take him to LA to Enjoy some time away from the kids. I decided to go with the downtown LA tour that they offered because it all the positive reviews. We booked our tour for Saturday afternoon we were running about 10 mins late and I was of course freaking out but right when I thought we were going to lose out on the trip I get a phone call from our tour guide! That was first really sweet for her to keep In touch with us the entire time. When we got the roof top everyone was sweet and ended up with the actual owner herself! Now that's awesome right! To make this short and sweet. Getting to enjoy the homemade foods and the sweetest most amazing owners that are behind the scenes was a great experience. I enjoyed that the owner herself took her time to hear everyone's story, asked questions and completely smiled the entire time. I'm forgetting our tour guides name but she was very energetic, compassionate about her job! All around my husband and I would most definitely go to the Venice tour very soon! FYI the portions sizes are bigger then expect to be. read more

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We decided to spend a morning trying something new and we found Avital Food Tour. We did the morning brunch tour that started out at Grand central Market. The tour guide was great and very knowledgable... being a local LA-person, even I learned something new and understood more of LA's history after this tour! One tip is that do come hungry because everyone left stuffed! And the walking part of the tour is very easy and nothing hard or strenuous. A good activity whether you are in town or want to learn/experience more about downtown LA (for the tour that I did). read more

Had a great experience on the Avital Food Tour in Downtown Los Angeles. Was really fun to experience some unique restaurants in the area, learn about the history (both of the restaurant and the neighborhood), get to speak to the chefs, and try different dishes from a thoughtful selection of eateries (small plates, main course, and a dessert). Really fun group activity (would definitely recommend brining a +1) and a great way to spend an afternoon. 2 Thumbs Up. read more

Great tour! Penny was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Great thing to do with groups, you see a part of LA that you normally don't see and eat yummy food! read more

Fun and friendly tour guide. The food selections were yummy and the information given about the local secrets was nice to learn. Great way to spend the afternoon in a different way other than shopping or going to Disneyland for the normal LA tourist. read more

My first food tour in Los Angeles and it did not disappoint!! I went on the Venice Beach tour and was pleasantly surprised I hadn't been to any of the restaurants they took us to despite living pretty nearby. Loved every dish and drink I tried especially the carrot ginger soup from Plant Food Wine and the fresh, warm buttermilk old fashioned donut from Blue Star! I still have dreams about that magical donut. Avital and Madeline are fantastic tour guides who are extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of Venice Beach. They're incredibly engaging and fun! Highly recommended for anyone interested in trying something new! You don't have to be a "foodie" to enjoy! read more