ABOUT CITY FOOD TOURS
City Food Tours isn't like any other tour - we take you beyond just tasting great food and give you an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at Philly's food culture, led by expert local guides who know the city inside and out.
We're the official tour team for Reading Terminal Market, one of the most iconic foodie destinations in the country. We've also been trusted to lead food tours at Christmas Village and earned the Gold Award for Philadelphia's #1 Best Tour.
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What really sets us apart? Our deep-rooted connections in the food scene, exclusive access to legendary spots, and ability to customize experiences for everything from casual outings to high-end corporate events. Whether it's a reunion with five friends or a team-building event for 100, we make sure every guest walks away full, happy, and with a new appreciation for Philly's food culture.
A taste of who we are
Adam
Adam moved to Philadelphia in 2003 and later started working as a school counselor. When he isn't working, Adam can be found at random coffee houses all over the city, drinking black coffee and drawing whatever pops into his head.
Guilty Pleasure:
Wawa apple fritters
Kathy
Kathy is a lifelong Philadelphian with deep roots in the city, starting with her dad who was born into South Philly's Italian-American community. Her curiosity about the world turned her into an intrepid world traveller, but the rich aromas and history of her native city keep calling her back home.
Guilty Pleasure:
fried chicken
Matt
Originally from North Jersey, Matt now lives right in Center City. When Matt isn't busy sharing his love of food with tour guests, he can be found biking around the city to work off his sweet tooth cravings. One of his favorite things about giving tours is seeing peoples' faces the first time they walk around Reading Terminal Market.
Guilty Pleasure:
nachos piled high
Owen
A native to Delaware County, Owen went to college in CT, taught middle school in CA, and finally returned to Philly to begin a career as an actor. He loves the food and culture of Philadelphia, having grown up going to the cities museums, theaters, concert venues, historical sites, and restaurants.
Guilty Pleasure:
Glick's pulled pork rib sandwich in
Reading Terminal Market
Mary Ann
Mary Ann was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She has fond memories of visiting and sampling foods at South Philly's Italian Market, which has become an annual tradition with her own family.
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Guilty Pleasure:
cannoli from Termini Bros. Bakery
Michael
Having only lived in Philadelphia with his wife and son since 2020, Michael dove right into Philly's food scene. When he's not sharing his passion for food with friends and family, Michael is a nationally-recognized professional opera conductor, pianist, and administrator.
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Guilty Pleasure:
pastrami sandwich from Hershel's in the Reading Terminal Market
Kaitlin
Kaitlin is originally from Hershey, PA but has lived in Philadelphia for over a decade. She loves sharing the history, food, and community of the city with everyone who comes on her tours. When she’s not showing people around the city, she’s hosting trivia nights at different bars and clubs all around Philly and is a professional actor and singer. Go Birds!
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Guilty Pleasure:
chicken dumplings from Sang Kee
Surge
Surge was born and raised in Central China, went to college in PA, and moved to Philadelphia right after graduation. He loves Philly for its vibrancy and diversity and works for a tech company and tutors Mandarin Chinese when he's not exploring our local food scene.
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Guilty Pleasure:
French toasts from Green Eggs Cafe
Karen
Karen was born and raised in the Philly area and is passionate (maybe even borderline obsessed!) with food. She loves to dine out and try the latest restaurants and cocktail bars all around Philly. She also loves to cook, travel, and spend time with her family.
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Guilty Pleasure:
warm brownie sundae with salted caramel ice cream and hot fudge
Kelly
Kelly was born, raised, and fed right here in Philadelphia. Her father worked for a local Philly treat --Tastycake -- for 32 years. Kelly loves doing tours because she gets to meet new people and show off local little treasures in the city that she loves.
Guilty Pleasure:
cream-filled donuts from
Holmesburg Bakery
Johnny
Though he has spent considerable time in Spain and Cuba, Johnny has lived most of his life in/around Philadelphia. He considers himself a Philly boy at heart and offers as evidence his first job at age 14 cooking up cheesesteaks at a neighborhood deli. When he's not eating his way around town, Johnny works off his calories as an actor and bicycling coach.
Guilty Pleasure:
Mussels and a Belgian sour ale
at Monk's Cafe
Katelyn
Katelyn has lived in Philly since 2017 but is a born + raised Pennsylvanian. When Katelyn isn't guiding the foodies around town, she's exercising with the rest of the city as a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor. You can also usually spot her at any local coffee shop.
Guilty Pleasure:
cake batter ice cream...
preferably delivered from Coldstone
Want to join our team?
Interested in becoming a City Food Tours guide? Well we would love to have you on the team! We are looking for new, bright faces with a knowledge of the city and an appetite for all the food it has to offer.
If you think you have what it takes to be a guide, submit either a 2-3 minute video (preferred method) or typed responses introducing yourself and including the following information:
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How long have you live in the Philadelphia area? If you do not live in Center City, what would your commute look like?
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Describe your experience speaking to others/ the public.
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Mention any tours you have been on or given
(doesn't have to be in Philadelphia) -
What is your availability, and what tour(s) are you most interested in?
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What's your favorite food vendor/restaurant in Philadelphia?
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If typing responses, note that you must be brief, as no more than the first 100 words of each question will be read.
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Submit your responses, video, or a link to your video by emailing it to us at operations@cityfoodtours.com
In The News
Eat, Drink and Do: Philly tasting tours, rooftop drinks by the fire and a holiday wreath workshop
November 2022
