10 Food Tours In North Carolina You Can’t Miss For A True Taste Of The State
North Carolina isn’t just barbecue and biscuits, though both are worth the trip alone.
This is a state where every region serves up something special, and the best way to experience it all is by following your appetite.
These food tours aren’t just strolls with snacks. They’re flavorful journeys through smoky pits, coastal kitchens, and everything in between.
If you want to understand what makes the Tar Heel State tick, start with a fork and some comfortable shoes.
1. Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours
Foodies rejoice! These walking tours span multiple cities including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, showcasing each area’s unique culinary identity.
Local guides share insider stories about chefs and restaurant owners while you sample everything from farm-to-table creations to innovative Southern fusion dishes.
The downtown Durham tour introduced me to chocolate-covered bacon that changed my life forever!
2. FEAST Food Tours & Culinary Events
Charlotte’s food scene explodes to life through FEAST’s carefully curated experiences. Unlike typical tours, FEAST connects you directly with the passionate people behind the food.
Meet farmers, brewers, and award-winning chefs while sampling their creations. My favorite part?
The behind-the-scenes kitchen visits where you witness culinary magic happening before the plates reach dining tables.
3. Triangle Food & City Tours
History buffs with hungry bellies, listen up! These tours masterfully blend Raleigh’s fascinating stories with mouthwatering tastings from beloved local establishments.
Walking between stops, guides reveal hidden architectural gems and quirky historical facts you’d never discover alone.
Pro tip: The Raleigh Roots tour features a secret speakeasy stop with prohibition-era cocktails that perfectly complement the Southern small plates.
4. Asheville Food Tours
Mountains and mouthwatering cuisine create the perfect pairing on these Asheville excursions.
The original food tour company in this mountain paradise showcases why Asheville earned its reputation as a culinary hotspot.
Small groups ensure intimate experiences at each stop. My guide Emma knew every chef by name and scored us extra tastings not on the regular menu!
The downtown tour balances sweet and savory perfectly across its six delicious stops.
5. Eating Asheville
Calling all food adventurers! This tour company takes Asheville’s culinary scene to new heights with specialized themed routes.
The High Roller Tour pampers you with upscale tastings and wine pairings, while the Cold One Tour combines craft beer with perfect food companions.
What makes them special? Access to chef’s tables and exclusive dishes created just for tour participants. I’m still dreaming about that truffled honey drizzled over local blue cheese!
6. Tasting History Food Tours
Step back in time while filling your belly in Winston-Salem! This unique tour transforms the city’s rich Moravian history into an edible experience you won’t soon forget.
Sample centuries-old recipes alongside modern interpretations of traditional dishes. The Old Salem tour features the famous Moravian sugar cake and lovefeast buns from recipes dating back to the 1700s!
Between bites, you’ll explore historic buildings typically closed to regular visitors.
7. Hungry Town Tours
Pedal your way through Beaufort’s charming waterfront while discovering coastal Carolina cuisine! These bicycle food tours combine exercise with indulgence in the most delightful way.
Cruise between restaurants on vintage-style cruiser bikes, working up an appetite for the next stop.
The seafood-focused tour introduces you to the freshest catches prepared in classic Carolina coastal style. Between bites, spot wild horses on nearby Carrot Island as dolphins play in the harbor!
8. Stu Helm Food Fan Tours
Rock ‘n’ roll meets gourmet goodness on these unconventional Asheville tours led by local food critic Stu Helm. Known as the “Food Fan,” Stu’s punk rock personality makes these tours anything but ordinary.
Expect brutally honest commentary and access to under-the-radar spots most tourists never find.
The Breakfast Tour completely changed my morning meal expectations with dishes like curry-infused avocado toast and maple-bacon donut holes that haunted my dreams for weeks!
9. Queen City Rides
Charlotte’s culinary treasures unfold from the comfort of an electric cart on these innovative food and brewery tours. Unlike walking tours, you’ll cover significant ground while staying refreshed between tastings.
The South End Brewery Tour hits multiple craft breweries with perfectly paired bites at each stop. My favorite surprise?
The driver’s encyclopedic knowledge of Charlotte’s brewing history and hilarious stories about each neighborhood we zoomed through.
10. Charlotte StrEATs Tasting Tour
Food truck fanatics will find paradise on this mobile feast through Charlotte’s most delicious street food scene. Forget sit-down restaurants – this tour celebrates the city’s vibrant food truck culture!
Follow your guide to hidden food truck rallies and commissary kitchens where tomorrow’s restaurant stars perfect their craft today.
The international tour introduces everything from Korean-Southern fusion tacos to West African-inspired barbecue. Come hungry – portions are surprisingly generous!