FAQs

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance? Can I pay cash for tickets?
Tickets must be purchased in advance, and tours often sell out quickly. Please book well in advance to increase your chances of getting the day and time you prefer. Tickets can be purchased with major credit cards.

To purchase tickets you may buy tickets online.

Cancellation & Reservation Change Policy

Due to the nature of arranging the proper amount of food in advance for each tour participant, our cancellation and reservation change policy is as follows:

Guest cancellations need to be made 48 hours before your scheduled tour or you will be charged 100%.  Guests canceling 48 hours before their scheduled tour will be able to reschedule their tour. We cannot provide partial refunds for no shows, late arrivals or partial attendance resulting in missed tastings. Please email us at socalfoodtour@gmail.com with any inquiries regarding these matters.

If a tour is undersold, guests will be given a 24-hour notice and a full refund or can reschedule their tour.

There will be no charge for date changes 48 hours prior to a scheduled tour date. Just email your request to socalfoodtour@gmail.com, and, if there are openings available on the date you have requested, the change will be made and a confirmation will be sent to you via email.

Is there a fee for parking?
No, parking is free.

If a tour is sold out, can I get on a waiting list?
We do not offer a waiting list for tours. If a tour is sold out, please email the time and date that you are interested in, and we will contact you with possible solutions.

How much do we walk? Is it a fast pace?
The tour is approximately three to three and a half hours of walking and tasting with numerous stops. The distance we walk is approximately 1.5 miles.  We walk at a leisurely pace.

Are tours offered in languages other than English?
No, at this time we offer tours only in English.

Do I tip the tour guide?
Yes. If you have a great time, gratuities are very much appreciated by our tour guides.  A standard gratuity for a tour guide is 15%-20% of the tour price.  SoCal Food Tours does not include gratuities in the cost of the ticket.

How much food is served on a tour?
We will be stopping at four to six establishments and sampling a variety of different foods. For most people there will be enough food that lunch or dinner afterwards is not necessary.

What restaurants will we stop at and what kind of food will we sample?
We will be stopping at a wide variety of specialty stores, eateries and restaurants. We choose a unique and delicious blend of flavors.  See the Tour Information page: Tour Info

Are there any beverages offered on the tour?
Bottled water will be provided for each guest at the tour start. Water is also provided at most of the establishments.  You are welcome to purchase any additional beverages (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) to go with your food sampling. A wine tasting may be included in the tour.

Can you accommodate special diet requests and/or food allergies?
Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or special considerations, and we will do our best to accommodate you.  SoCal Food Tours and partnering restaurants will make every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions; however, there is no guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all food allergies/special diets. It is the guests’ responsibility to let SoCal Food Tours know if they have any food allergies or restrictions when they book a tour.  We may be able to switch out food selections for you. We do need to let restaurants know 48 hours in advance, so we appreciate advance notice on any restrictions.

SoCal Food Tours will not be held responsible for any guests not informing us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Are walking tours given in bad weather?
Our tours run rain or shine.  Coronado’s weather is usually very nice, even in the winter (60 – 70 degrees).

What about taking children on the tour?
The tour route does accommodate strollers and wheelchairs as long as there is someone along who can push them.  Children 12 and older will probably enjoy the tour.  If a child is younger, please check with us before your tour by calling us at 619-723-4259 to make sure we can accommodate him or her.

Are tours pet friendly?
Although we know that your four-legged friends would love to taste too, we must honor the rules of our food establishments.  No pets are allowed unless they are service animals.

Where does the tour end?
Our tours end about .4 of a mile from our original starting point. However, we do provide a map, and tour guides are happy to help with directions.

Do we just walk around and sample food?
No! This experience is full of information, demonstrations, stories and great food.  You will be exposed to Coronado’s history, see some of its historic homes as well as learn some fun tidbits that make the city all that more charming. Along the way we will point out great places to eat, shop and explore.

Are bathrooms available on the tour?
Yes, bathrooms are available at the start and our designated stops along the way.

Are cameras allowed on the tour?
Absolutely! Both still and video cameras are allowed and encouraged along the tour.

Who would go on the tour?
SoCal Food Tour guests include locals, visitors, world travelers and corporate groups/organizations.

Do the tours offer anything to local residents?
Absolutely! Not only does this tour highlight local businesses but also nutrition, culinary facts and history.  Most guests find the tour delightful, and it helps them feel as though they know their community more intimately.

Do you offer private tours?
Yes, we welcome private tours. Please contact us for more information about setting up a private tour.