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I was eager to explore San Francisco’s Mission District, and what better way than a culinary tour! I took a food tour in San Francisco’s Mission District with Secret Food Tours, and now I’m removing the guesswork to help you decide if this is the right tour for you.
When you think of food in San Francisco, I bet you aren’t thinking about Latino food, but you should be! The Mission District has a large Latino population, and a food scene that reflects that. If you want to get off the beaten track in San Francisco and taste some delicious dishes, consider taking a food tour in the Mission District!
Quick Answer: Is it worth taking a food tour in San Francisco’s Mission District?
Yes! This Secret Food Tour of the Mission District is great for seeing a different side of SF and tasting local cuisine with Latin influences.
Quick Facts About This Mission District Food Tour
| Price | $79.99/adult |
| Duration | 3 – 3.5 Hours |
| Number of Stops | 5 |
| Maximum Number of People | 12 |
Ready to book your food tour in the Mission District? Check availability and reserve your spot here!
The Mission District
The Mission District is a side of San Francisco that many people miss. It is off the typical tourist path, and hard to squeeze into a quick trip to SF because it is a little far away.
It is definitely worth visiting, though, because the Mission District has a completely different look and feel than Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, or North Beach.
It is a sprawling neighborhood on the southeast side of San Francisco. Wide, flat streets are lined with huge trees and buildings are decorated in colorful murals. The heart of the Mission District is 24th Street.
It is home to immigrant communities primarily from Central and Latin America, which heavily influences the food.
My Experience Visiting the Mission District
I took a food tour in the Mission District with Secret Food Tours. It was my first time taking a tour with them, but it won’t be my last.
On one of my first trips to San Francisco, I explored the Mission by visiting Dolores Park, eating ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery, and admiring the murals. I fell in love with this rich, colorful corner of San Francisco!
The second time I visited was right after the pandemic, and San Francisco was struggling. The Mission District didn’t feel very safe on that visit, so my friends and I didn’t spend much time here.
Recently, I visited San Francisco again, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Mission District. I was exploring on my own, so I didn’t want to take any chances. I decided to book a food tour in the Mission so I could explore safely with a local guide, meet other travelers, and taste some delicious eats all at once. I am really glad that I did because it was a highlight of my trip!
Who is the Mission District Food Tour For?
This food tour is great for:
- People who enjoy Latin and Central American food
- Seeing a different side of SF
- Learning about how the culture has impacted the food scene in the Mission
This Tour Might Not Be For You If:
It is a walking tour, so it may not be accessible to people with physical limitations. Reach out to Secret Food Tours if you have any accessibility concerns.
The tour can be adjusted for certain dietary restrictions; however, it is best to confirm before your arrival. There is a field on the booking form where you can specify any allergies, or you can email sf@secrettours.com.
What’s included in the Food Tour in the Mission District?
The Secret Food Tour in the Mission District is $79.99 per person and includes five food stops, including one dish that was rather large and several smaller dishes. You will try both savory and sweet bites.
I don’t want to give all the details away, but one of my favorites was the Mission-style burrito from a local Taqueria. We also visited a Guatemalan bakery, a taco shop with Filipino roots, and a Brazilian coffee shop. At the end of the tour, there is a sweet ending at the final “secret” stop.
The tour includes a knowledgeable local guide to show you some of the best spots. Mark was our guide. His family has lived in San Francisco for four generations, and he has worked in the food industry for many years in various roles. He was a great guide, both incredibly knowledgeable and easy to talk to.
There are non-food stops on this tour as well, where you learn about the communities that reside in the Mission District and how they have shaped it into the beautiful neighborhood it is today.
The guide will describe the meaning behind many of the murals that you see on this tour. This was one of my favorite parts of the tour! We also learned how a mural is different from street art.
Pros of the Mission District Food Tour
Mission is one of the harder areas to explore on your own. Chinatown is smaller and easier to do a DIY tour of the food stops, but the Mission District is sprawling with lots of restaurants.
The food is delicious. One of my favorites was the Mission-style burrito with carnitas. It was too big to eat the whole thing, but the guide kindly provided bags for us to take the rest home.
We tried foods influenced by Mexican, Guatemalan, Filipino, and Brazilian cultures! I was definitely full at the end.
I loved hearing more about the community and seeing the murals. Getting context about the locals always enriches my travel experiences, which is one of the things I love about food tours in general!
The tours are always limited to 12 people, but ours was particularly small because it was off-season, during the week. There were only three of us plus the guide.
Food tours are a great option for solo travelers because it is easy to meet and talk to other people, and it is safer than adventuring by yourself.
Cons of the Mission District Food Tour
In comparison to the tours I’ve taken in other countries, you get much less. I’ve seen food tour prices range from $50 to $120 per person, depending on the city, but typically, you get more than five bites. Of course, San Francisco is an expensive city, and keeping the overall price under $100 makes the tour more feasible.
Another thing I found slightly disappointing was that the booking page mentions a stop to try quesabirria, which I was excited for, but we didn’t end up doing that. The itinerary is always subject to change based on availability and other factors.
Is it Worth Taking a Food Tour in San Francisco’s Mission District?
Yes, taking a food tour in the Mission District is worth it. While it was more expensive than food tours I’ve taken abroad, I still had a great time, learned about a lesser-visited part of San Francisco, and ate delicious food. Overall, this was one of my favorite things I’ve done in San Francisco.
Book the Secrets Food Tour in the Mission District here!
Tips for Taking a Food Tour in the Mission District
How to Get to the Mission District
I recommend using public transportation to get to the Mission District. If you are staying in downtown SF, you can take the BART train from the Montgomery Station to the 16th Street Mission Station.
Uber and Lyft operate in San Francisco, or you can try one of the self-driving Waymo cars!
Driving is another option, but parking can be difficult in the Mission, so allow extra time. There is a parking garage at 3255 21st St, San Francisco.
Tip Your Guide
Make sure to bring some cash to tip your guide!
What to do after your tour?
If you haven’t seen enough murals, walk to Clarion Alley, where you can see murals by Clarion Alley Mural Project, a local, grassroots organization. The murals display messages of environmental, social, and racial issues relevant in the community. There were lots of beautiful pieces of art, some that I recognized from my first trip, and plenty of new ones.
If you need more suggestions for the Mission District, check out my three-day San Francisco itinerary!
Reflections on Taking a Food Tour in San Francisco’s Mission District
I always enjoy taking a food tour on my travels to enrich my experience, connect with locals, and taste new dishes. Taking a food tour in San Francisco definitely checked all those boxes for me. Exploring San Francisco’s Mission District with a local guide offered insight that I wouldn’t have been able to get on my own. If you decide to take the Secret Food Tour in the Mission District, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Have you ever taken a food tour? Would you take a food tour in San Francisco?
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